Brief introduction of the sights:
Yunnan Province, situated on the southwest border of China, regarded as the Pearl of the Plateau, has got a beautiful name of South of the Clouds. The typical climate here is always described as “Four seasons can be felt in one mountain, and different climates influence 10 Li of area”. (Li is an area unit in Chinese). The long history, boundary resources and splendid ethnic groups’ culture have integrated into Yunnan’s special dishes with the features of integrative and typical. Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, enjoys great fame among tourists not only because the region features a consistently warm climate, but also thanks to its wonderful vistas and landscapes.
Yuantong Temple is at the foot of Yuantong Hill in the northern part of Kunming. With a history of more than 1,200 years, Yuantong Temple is the grandest as well as the most important Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province. King Yimouxun of the Nanzhao Kingdom built the temple during the late eighth century as a continuation of Putuoluo Temple, and the restorations to the temple performed from the Qing Dynasty onward had not changed Yuantong Temple's unique mixed architectural style of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. In 1982, Thai Buddhists sent a copper statue of Sakymuni to Yuantong Temple as a symbol of friendship, and the statue is three and a half meters high and four tons in weight. A few years later, in 1985, a Copper Buddha Hall was built in a combination of Chinese and Tai styles to house this exquisite gift.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Mountain) is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Consisting of 13 peaks, among which Shanzidou is the highest one with an altitude of 5,600 meters (18,360 feet), The 13 peaks, which have the altitudes of at least 4,000 meters, are covered by snow all year round; the mountain is called the "Natural Glacier Museum" for it has all types of glacier. Move down from the mountaintop and you can see rivers and pools, which are formed by the thawed snow water running along the valley and through the forests. The plants and the animals are different according to the altitude, so are the views. Every sight brings you a surprise and every step takes you to a new scene. Each of the meadows on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has its own special character due to their different landscape and height. For instance, Yunshanping (Spruce Plateau) is grassland with gigantic spruces whilst Ganhaizi (Dry Sea) used to be a highland lake as its name tells, the meadow was formed after the water had dried up.
The Old Town of Lijiang, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture, is a central town of the Lijiang Autonomous County of the Naxi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Province. The Lijiang Old Town is built along the lie of mountains and the flow of rivers, providing a very precious sample of the research on the old-time architecture. The unique geographical location, historical background and multiracial inhabitants make the town the most special one.
Tiger Leaping Gorge which is lying between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Xueshan) and Haba Snow Mountain (Haba Xueshan) is Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Gorge), which is believed to be the deepest gorge in the world. From the top of the gorge you look down the steeply angled (70-90 degrees) mountain sides to the rushing Golden Sands (Jingsha) River with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters (about 700 feet) below. The gorge stretches about 15 kilometers (nine miles) and also affords people the possibility of rafting and drifting peacefully in its large quiet sections, for the gentler folks among us and an exciting rafting adventure for the more experienced.
The Mufu (Mu’s Mansion) is Lijiang’s ancient ruler Mu’s official residence and where he received his officials. Here Governor Mu of Ming dynasty built his mansion copying the style of the Forbidden City. The Mufu is Lijiang’s largest group of buildings that reflects Naxi people’s brilliant skills in architecture and fine arts.
Bitahai Lake, a fault lake, is an intact natural attraction with various species of flora and fauna and, of course, picturesque landscapes. In Tibetan language, Bita means "a piece of land as soft as cattle hair felt". With an altitude of 3,539 meters (about 11,608 feet), the lake is the highest in Yunnan Province. Shaped like lively deer, it also covers an area of 166 hectares. Bitahai Lake's fish are as abundant as its natural beauty. Rowing a boat on the lake, one can see shoals of precious "Bitahai Double-Lip Fish" - an ancient species left over from the Fourth Glacial Age - swimming back and forth about 10 meters beneath the surface. The small streams beside the lake are home to amphibious "Codfish", which produce a valuable medicine. Bitahai Lake is regarded as a "Holy Lake" by local Tibetans, so be on your best behavior when traveling here. Do not litter or act inappropriately, since it is said this type of behavior would disturb the gods and cause them to punish you.
Shudu Lake. The first thing that hits most visitors to Shudu Lake, is the sheer beauty of the spot. The lake is known for its clear water, and the peaceful environment of the area around here. As the source of the Shuoduogang River, the lake is 3705m above sea level and covers an area of 15 square kilometers. The lake abounds in unique species of fish, with double lips and a golden color. Bordering the lake is one of the best grazing fields in Shangri-la. Every spring and summer, herds of cattle and flocks of sheep can be seen grazing here. To the east of the lake are white birch woods which in spring and summer are jade green while in late autumn the leaves turn gold. In the untouched woods, wildlife such as bear, musk dear, lynx and leopard all live.
Napahai Nature Reserve is situated 8 km (5 mi) north of Zhongdian County, in northwestern Yunnan, with grasslands and lakes which attract many bird species that winter here, including the endangered Black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis). Black-necked cranes, of which only 6,000 remain in the world, usually breed in high-altitude wetlands but spend the winter at lower altitudes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau or on the Yunnan-Guizou Plateau, of which, Napahai is the main wintering spot. The breeding population of these exquisite birds, however, is in rapid decline due to habitat loss and changing agricultural practices which have affected the availability of food.
Nixi is a small Tibetan village nestling along the popular adventure route from Deqin to Zhongdian in Yunnan Province. Nixi Village is the most ‘Shangri-la” part of Shangri-la. A tiny village standing by green grassland on which flocks of yaks, sheep and horses graze gives a sense of timeless tranquillity. That’s the amazing natural beauty of the village. However, the Nixi Pottery Village is by no means a one-hit-wonder. It is well known for the century-old art, making pottery. Around 70 out of the 100 families in the village are engaged in this traditional art. Many of them have built pottery workshops. It’s amazing to watch the locals processing the item. The item is purely hand-made which makes it unique and precious. The raw material clay, is taken from a mountain three kilometres away.
Dongzhulin Monastery .The Yunnan-Tibet Road passes behind the temple and cars can get straight to the temple. The Dongzhulin Monastery was built in 1667, the sixth year of the Kang Xi Period. Its original name was “Chongchongcuogang temple", meaning “the temple by the crane lake”. It was renamed "Gedandongzhulin Temple" after a combination of seven small temples, meaning “benefit others and oneself". It is also one of the "thirteen most well-known monasteries", and can hold 2,000 monks sitting and chanting scriptures. The present temple was rebuilt in 1985 when the prefecture and the county offered money. The main building is a four storied structure. In the first floor is the place where the Lamas chant scriptures. In the front stand the statues of the Three Saints. On the second floor stands a statue of Qiangba Buddha, 6·8 meters in height. The statue of Sakyamuni in the Sakyamuni Hall is 10·5 meters tall, whose Buddhist crown and the pearls and gems inlaid on the front are gifts from the Sela Temple in Lhasa . This temple has a precious painted scroll, which is 8·5meters in length and 5·2 meters in width, is a Gaurdian God woven with colorful silk threads. It will be worshiped only once every year when the grand ceremony is held. Now there are many figures of Buddha and treasures for tourists to appreciate. Every year a grand Buddhist celebration ceremony is held in the monastery and it has became a Buddhist Holy Land where people go on a pilgrimage.
Feilai Temple located some 10km west of Deqin on the road to Tibet, the temple faces Meli Snow Mountain and was built in 1614 during the Ming dynasty. The main architectural attractions are some interesting wooden carvings of people, flowers, and other designs.
The complex is comprised of six halls, the largest of which is built with a single wooden beam and seven crossbeams, all in wood. The main hall contains 18 Buddhist statues on the left, and figures from the popular Chinese Buddhist folk tale "Journey to the West" on the right.
Meili Snow Mountain, also known as Prince Snow Mountain, is located 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northeast of Deqin County of Yunnan Province. The mountain sits on the border of Yunnan Province and Tibet, where the three famous rivers, namely the Jinsha, Mekong (Nu) and Salwen (Lancang) flow. From the foot of the Kang Karpo Peak, you see the peculiar low-altitude glaciers formed in modern times. Strong updrafts collide with cloud airflow from the inner continents in this area producing frequent dense fog and heavy snow. The resulting topographic extremes include hanging glaciers, icefalls and snow slides. The Mingyong Glaciers, in particular, rushes from an elevation of 5,500 meters (18.045 feet) down to the forest zone 2,700 meters (8,858 feet) above the sea level in rainy seasons. From afar it looks like a huge white snake wriggling its way among the verdant mountains. On the south side of the peak, a waterfall named 'holy collapsing rain' falls from thousands of meters high. Pure water splashed from snow cracks and with the help of the sunlight, rainbows are often seen hanging above the fall. Meili Snow Mountain is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. 'Kang Karpo Peak' means the God of Snow Mountain in Tibetan, and is a holy land for worshiping. Pilgrims from Tibet, Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province,and Gansu Province travel to the mountain at the beginning of each winter to worship. Thousands of devout pilgrims worship together and encircle the holy mountain, adding even more mystery and loftiness to the mountain.
Western Hill is home to remarkable steles, sculptures, corridors, grottoes, pavilions and pathways. These are all works of art that were hewn and carved from the rocky cliffs by hand. They form the bequest of the marvelous craftsmanship, ingenious ideas, and dedicated work created by artists, craftsperson and laborers of the past. The most famous four places on the Western Hills are: Huanting Temple, Taihua Temple, Sanqing Pavilion and Dragon Gate. The panoramic views from these hills are unforgettably beautiful and you will certainly want to bring your camera to capture these glorious scenes.
Golden Horse-Green Rooster is a traditional piece of architecture. The emblem of the city of Kunming is composed of a golden horse and a green rooster. It was designed according to a popular legend about Dianchi Lake; on the eastern bank of Dianchi Lake stands the Jinma (Golden Horse) Hill; and on the lake's western bank stands the Biji (Green Rooster) Hill. The two hills form a pass of strategic importance in the city. In remote antiquity, a golden horse ran out of the sun while a green rooster flew out of the moon. Wherever the horse and rooster appeared, trees grew; luxuriantly and flowers bloomed, signaling prosperity. They eventually settled on the banks of Dianchi Lake and protected the people of Kunming. Nearby Jinma Biji Square is the symbol of Kunming, and the best place for leisure and entertainment.
Please do emphasize the tips for the responsible traveler to your clients! Thanks a lot!
We committed to the enjoyment of our beautiful but fragile planet, whilst keeping the environmental and cultural demands upon it as low as possible. Here are some simple but effective tips designed to help you support our objectives.
BEFORE YOU GO.....
Language
Know some lingo! Learning a few words of the local language is a great way to break barriers: greet shopkeepers, waiters, drivers, clerks, etc. It is equally important to say your thank you and goodbye.
Local Customs
Religious customs and local traditions vary enormously around the world and play a large part in the local way of life. It is important to familiarize yourself with the local people’s dress codes and thought patterns, and recognize them;. Remember – you are the visitor, and by showing respect you will be respected and appreciated yourself!
Packing
Keep your packaging down to a minimum and avoid disposable goods. Eco-friendly soap gets our thumbs-up.
Presents
You may make special friendships and experience generous hospitality when abroad. Gifts that are evocative of your home country such as postcards and photographs make ideal presents – check your dossier for any specific tips about the area you are visiting; once on tour, your tour leader will also be able to advise you on the appropriate circumstances to give.
ON TOUR.....
Water: pollution & usage
If it is necessary to wash in streams or rivers, do not use detergents or other chemicals. There are a number of eco-friendly soaps available for travelers. Remember, it may be someone’s drinking water further downstream. Use water sparingly in dry areas.
Souvenirs & Shopping
Avoid buying souvenirs that exploit wildlife or threaten endangered species. Buying local souvenirs helps the local economy; whilst it is often customary and even fun to haggle, stop once you have got a reasonable price: the low price you achieve may only be due to the desperation and poverty of others.
Wildlife
Avoid disturbing wildlife and damaging their natural habitats. Take care not feed animals or fish. Stay quiet when viewing animals on safari.
Plants
One of the joys of travelling is the spectacular variety of wild plants you will see. These should remain in their natural environment, so avoid picking any. It is also illegal to import some plant species.
Begging
Don’t give out sweets or money, especially to children. Giving will only teach them that begging is rewarding and can undermine parental authority. It is far better to interact with children. Cat’s cradle, frisbees or simply exchanging drawings or photos can be more fulfilling and fun for both you and the children.
Litter
To state the obvious, the world is full of it and you don’t want to add to it yourself! Beyond that, however, it’s up to you to decide how strongly you should feel about other people’s litter: many walkers, for example, are happy to pick up litter along the trail. It’s your call. Remember, however – many areas do not have adequate litter collection, never mind recycling or waste reduction schemes; so the less you create, the better.
Photos: think before you click
People in colorful local dress always make good subjects for photographs, but think before you snap. Many people, for whatever reason, do not like being photographed. Always ask permission before taking photographs.
ONCE BACK HOME....
Continuing support
Why not consider contributing to the many projects and organizations you may have come across on your tour.