TREK001-3: From Lugu Lake to Daocheng
Introduction Lugu Lake is located in northwest part of Yunnan province, it covers 58 square kms, the water is very clear. The unique matriarchal Mosuo people live by the lake, which earned this area another name: the Mysterious Queendom. Trekking from Daocheng to Lugu Lake is surely one of the best trekking route in China.
From Lugu Lake to Daocheng In this tour, you will have a sightseeing in Beijing. Will also visit the southern city of China, Dali, Lijiang. And the beautiful lake which is humanity finally together matriarchal society the big homeland.
Day1: Arrive in Beijing
Day2: Sightseeing in Beijing area Drive 1 hour to Badaling Great Wall. Badaling is typical of the wall during the Ming dynasty, the gigantic feat of construction is most impressive, trek for 1.5 hours. in the afternoon, drive to Ming Tombs and visit, where 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were buried.
Day3: Fly to Kunming and to Dali Fly to Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province, then fly to Dali. Dali, the capital of Dali Bai Autonomous Region, famous for the Cangshan Mountains (4122m) and the Erhai Lake that extends 40 Km. About 80% of Bai people dwell in Dali, embracing Taoism and Buddhism.
Day4: Sightseeing in Dali Visit the symbol of Dali – the Three Pagodas, has a history of over 1,800 years; it is a record of the development of Buddhism in the area. Then trek to Zhonghesi Monastery of Taoism in Cangshan Mountains, then overlook the city of Dali and the Erhai Lake from here. Afternoon cycle along the bank of the Erhai Lake, since it has a shape of an ear, it gets the name Erhai. It stretches 42km from north to south and 39km from east to west; the lake covers an area of more than 250 square kilometers and is 21.5 meters at the deepest.
Day5: Drive to Lijiang Drive to Xizhou to see the morning market and in the afternoon reach Lijiang (2600m), a city inhabited by Naxi people. Have some free activities in the old city, such as walking to the central part – Sifangjie: the streets are paved with quadrate slates, and several streams wind through. Many two-stores houses are built along the streets, forming a large, busy market. We may have a chance to visit one or two Naxi families here.
Day6: Visit in Lijiang In the morning sightseeing in the city: Heilongtan Park, has a large pool with a five-arch bridge over it and a pavilion on a beautiful background of snow-covered and pyramid-shaped. Yulong (Jade Dragon) Mountains (5596m), which we often see on post card. Drive to the Baisha Village at the foot of Yulong Mountains to visit the Dabaoji Palace, well-known for its incredible frescos integrated with Han, Tibet and Naxi cultures, and visit Dr. He’s pharmacy.
Day7: Drive to Lugu Lake Drive to Lugu Lake, lies 200 kilometers from the center of Lijiang City, on the border between Ninglang County in Yunan Province and Yanyuan County in Sichuan Province. The lake is like a beautiful pearl shining among the hills of the northwest plateau in Yunan. Overnight by the lake, guesthouse.
Day8: Drive to the Walabie Drive to Walabie (2620m), visit a maternal clan’s village – in the past 700 years Mosuo people live here with their peculiar life style. Overnight by the lake. Guesthouse
Day9: Trek to Wujiaoxiang Trek 6 hours to Wujiaoxiang, crossing two hills and passing by a Mosuo village – Lijiazui. We will see some Mani Stone Piles on the way. Hike over a mountain of 3000 meters, downward to a Yi village and have a rest. Camp on the grassland (2900m) in front of Wujiaoxiang, seeing great mountains in the distance.
Day10: Trek to Cigou Pass Trek 6 hours from Wujiaoxiang to the Cigou Pass, crossing two mountains named Shuerga and Walabao: walk to the highway from a town inhabited by Mosuo, Yi and Pumi people, then trek 2 hours along the highway to the Shuerga Village (3280m). climb up and reach the highway again 1 hour later. Hike down along a path by the highway to the Walabao Village, seeing many wooden houses here. Climb up again through virgin forests to the highway, and walk along it to a place below the Cigou Pass 1 hours later. Camp on the grassland (3580m) by the highway.
Day11: Trek to the Qaer Pasture Trek 6 hours through the Duku Pass and Qaer Pass to the Qaer Pasture: start out in the early morning, spend about 2 hours climbing to the Cigou Pass. Enjoy the beautiful view at the pass. Walk down from the pass, meet a patch of rhododendrons on the way, then we will see two large Mani stone piles with prayer scriptures. Continue to trek, through grasslands to the Duku Pass (4360m). Numerous wooden and stone houses in Tibetan style, patches of flowers and lakes can be seen from the pass. If the weather is fine, snow mountains in the distance will be in sight. Go on walking to the Qaer Pass (4320m) passing by a lake. Then have a quite steep descent to a place (4100m) and camp.
Day12: Trek to Qiongren Village From the Qaer Pastuer to Qiongren Village: trek about 7 hours. Walk through two patches of rhododendrons, down along the river, cross grasslands scattered with herds of cattle and sheep, and Tibetan villages. After a succession of climbing up and down (4100-2900m), get to Qiongren, a Tibetan village. Camp at a place of 2900m.
Day13: Trek to ShuiLuo Departure from Qiongren, cross high mountains to Shuiluo Village or Tongtianhe River. Camp near the Baola School or by the river.
Day14: Trek to Galuo Climb along the river to cross a 700-meter-high mountain, then downward to a Tibetan village, Galuo (3000m). Tent
Day15: Trek to Caowuqi Climb up to the Caowuqi Pass and then walk down easily for 2 hours. Camp on the grassland (4300m).
Day16: Trek Caowuqi – Yushan Pass – Chonggusi Monastery Set out after breakfast, climb 2 hours (the highest point is 4800m), crossing the pasture to Yusha Pass. From the pass, we will see three holy mountains in Yading: Xiannairi, Yongmaiyong and Xianuoduoji. Trek down to Chonggusi Monastery (the end of trekking) and camp.
Day17: Arrive to Daocheng Drive 120km, 5 hours to Daocheng. Daocheng located on the southeast of Qinghai Tibet Plateau and the east of Hengduan Mountains, is a county on the southwest border of Sichuan. Daocheng is special in geographical features, its north the is higher than its south, the west higher than the east. Winding and majestic mountains like billows of the sea alternate with valley. Hence, the high-altitude mountain peaks clad with snow all the year round, deep serene valleys with gurgling brooks and broad pastures. The scenes are various and bewitching. Guesthouse.
Day18: Drive to Litang Drive 160km to Litang – one of the highest counties in the world, visit Changqingchun Monastery, the largest monastery of Gulu Sect (Yellow Sect) in Kangba area. A horse racing festival is held at the beginning of August every year. Overnight in Litang. Guesthouse
Day19: Drive to Kangding Drive some hours to Kangding, the county seat has a largest a large Chinese population, the countryside is very traditional and very Tibetan. The county has high mountains, grasslands inhabited by nomads, fanciful castle-like houses, and rich farms. There are plenty of monasteries in Kanding, too, and colorful festivals. Overnight in Kangding.
Day20: Drive to Chengdu Drive some hours to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, is China’s important industrial base, covering an area of 12,390 square kilometers and with a population of 9,4 million. Chengdu is mountainous in the north-west area, with plains in the south-east area, and low hills in-between. It has a sub-tropical climate with an annual average temperature of 16 degree Celsius. Overnight in Chengdu. Day21: Fly to Beijing Check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport station to catch the flight to Beijing.
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