From August 31st to September 7th, 2019, three of us from Charmisison - Fanny, Emily, and Xiaoru - embarked on a wonderful trip to Yunnan province. We explored the highlights of Shangri La, Lijiang, Shaxi, and Dali and would like to share our experiences with you.

On the first day, we took an early morning flight to the mysterious Shangri La (formerly known as Zhongdian). After a quick breakfast, we visited the Songzanlin Monastery. Inside the three grand halls of the monastery, we saw golden figures of Buddha josses, golden lamps, Tibetan lections, and silver censers.

We were able to take in the full view of the golden monastery, glittering against the backdrop of the green hills, from the bank of a nearby holy lake.

After visiting the monastery, we returned to Dekezong Old Town and wandered through its quiet streets. The night view of the old town was even more stunning than what I was able to capture with my phone.

On the second day, we took a full-day tour of Balagezong - Shangri-la Grand Canyon. Balagezong is highly admired for its mysterious ancient Bala Village, hospitable villagers, holy snow mountains, and precipitous gorges - especially the Shangri-la Grand Canyon. It is a pure land isolated from the outside world and is not to be missed!

Our original plan for days 3 and 4 was to spend two days hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge. However, due to rain, the gorge was closed and we went directly to Lijiang.

On day 4, we took a car excursion to visit Zhiyun Temple near Lashi Lake and Baisha Ancient Town. This route was originally planned as a bike tour, but our plans changed due to bad weather. Nevertheless, taking a short walk along the quiet and scenic countryside paths was a great way to relax and experience local life and culture.

In the afternoon, we visited Baisha Village, where we were able to witness the authentic life of the Naxi people, away from the crowds of tourists in Lijiang Ancient Town.

On day 5, we enjoyed a pleasant and short trek near Wenhai Lake. The weather was nice and the sky was blue when we reached the top of the hill.

After spending three nights in Lijiang, we headed to our final destination, Dali. On the way, we stopped at the charming and peaceful Shaxi Old Town. Compared to other destinations, it was more authentic and less crowded with tourists.

On day 7, we took an excursion to Cangshan Mountain and Shuanglang. We were able to take in the misty view of Cangshan from the Gantong Cable Car.

After getting off the Gantong Cable Car and climbing for a few minutes, you can enjoy the beautiful Qingbi Stream.

While strolling along Yudai Road on Cangshan Mountain, we saw tiny and colorful plants.

In the afternoon, we visited Shuanglang Town to fully enjoy the beauty and purity of Erhai Lake. The blue waters of the lake seemed to melt into the blue sky!

On day 8, we said goodbye to Dali and flew back home.

Even though the trip didn’t go exactly as planned due to the weather, it was still an unforgettable experience for us in Yunnan! If you’ve never visited Yunnan before, this route is definitely a classic one that includes all the must-see tourist spots.

By Fanny Zhu and Emily Zhu – Charmission Travel.