ROMANTIC LIJINAG TREK 

The Tea horse caravan trail Tiger leaping gorge trekking and yoga trip in Yunnan 

 

    The Tea Horse Caravan Road of Southwest China is less well known

than the famous Silk Road. Its route crosses some very high and

dangerous terrain. It begins from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in

Southwest China, runs along the eastern foothills of the Hengduan

Mountains, a center of tea production in China, then crosses the

Hengduan mountain range and deep canyons of several major rivers,

the Yalong, the Jinsha (the upper reaches of Yangtze), the Lancang

(Mekong), and the Nu (Salween), thus spanning the two highest

plateaus of China (Qinghai-Tibet and Yunnan-Guizhou) before finallv

reaching India south of the Himalayas.

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     The name of the road (Chamadao in the Chinese records meaning the

tea and horse road) indicates its importance in the trade of tea and

horses, but other products passed along it as well. Horse caravans

carried tea, sugar and salt from Sichuan and Yunnan to Tibet and

brought back colorful local mountain goods. The Chinese over the

ages often bought warhorses from Tibetan and other ethnic groups of

Southwest China, and these too came over this road. The road also

served as a significant corridor for migration as well as a channel for

cultural communication among the ethnic groups in western China:

beyond this, it was a bridge for international cultural and economic

exchange between China and India. Although silk was not included in

the trade goods carried over it, at times it has been termed the

Southern Silk Road of China, due to its importance in both economic

and cultural aspects of Chinese history.

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    The Tea Horse Road One of them starts at the original place of the

famous Pu'er tea production (today Xishuangbanna and Simao

prefectures of Yunnan) and passes through Dali, Lijiang, Zhongdian,

Deqin in Yunnan and Mangkang, Zuogong [Zogong], Bangda, Chamdo,

Luolongzong, Gongbujiangda and Lhasa in Tibet. From Lhasa it heads

south through Jiangze [Gyantse], Pali, and Yadong in Tibet and on to

Burma, Nepal and India.

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    Today, although the Tea Horse Road is no longer used as a trade route,

we can still see the evidences of many years of cultural exchange and

prosperity. Visitors will find the regions of the Tea Horse Road to be

incredibly rich, diverse and full of natural beauty.

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    Average daily itinerary: 07:00 wake up yoga meditation 08:30 breakfast, explore the village on foot 12:30 lunch 14:00 free time 19:00 dinner 21:30 meditation yoga, rest.

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Time: April-September。

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Day 1: Arrive at Lijiang ancient town from pick up from Lijiang airport ,We came to the back garden of the Naxi Kingdom to visit the stories of this ancient Naxi culture, Naxi murals, Naxi Dongba sacrificial culture, Naxi ancient music performances, and the herbal medicine family of Naxi Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, along the Jade Water Village we Hike all the way to the former residence of Locke in Yuhu Village. You can also ride horses or hike to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Base Camp, taste Naxi hot pot, and stay at the Zen B&B in Shuhe Ancient Town at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

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Day 2: We hike from Yushui Village or take a bus from Lijiang to Wenhai. Wenhai is a beautiful plateau lake at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. There are cattle and sheep all around. The scenery of cattle and sheep can be seen in the windblown grass. There are Yi and Naxi villages there. , among which the Yi people also have their sacrifice Bimo. There are salmon manors, high-end B&Bs and eco-hotels, where you can enjoy the delicious food and scenery

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Day 3: Hiking from Wenhai to Shanghai Village, then to Longpanhu Leaping Gorge, Ethnic Village to Shanghai Village. We will hike in the dense forest, we will explore a cave, the camp is next to the local families and the village is surrounded by the mist of the mountains. First take a car to the bridge and then start hiking, taking the horses through 28 turns, which is the most challenging section. Here we will officially enter the canyon, where in all its majesty the steep limestone cliffs drop thousands of meters to the roaring rapids of the Jinsha River below. We will continue walking along the path at a comfortable pace and slowly feel the canyon. We will stay at the famous Tea Horse Inn halfway up the mountain, where we can practice yoga while watching the scenery on the terrace.

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Day 4: Lower end of Tiger Leaping Gorge. We will hike along paths carved into the cliffs, past waterfalls and past a temple dedicated to the Buddhist Guanyin Bodhisattva. We will continue walking along the road and then down to the very bottom of the canyon. We will stand on a boulder in the narrowest part of the canyon, and the river will rush by. We will marvel at its magnificence. As we drive along the Lancang River, we will pass through Sanba Village of the Naxi people and Tibetan villages. This area is the most beautiful place on the Yangtze River. We will arrive at Haba, the most beautiful village under Haba Snow Mountain, and we will stay at Haba Snow Mountain Inn..

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Day5 :we visited the ethnic minority tribes on foot in Haba Village. Hike for 4-5 hours in Haba Village and visit villages of 5 different ethnic groups, including: Yi, Naxi, and Tibetan tribes. After returning, we will have lunch with their families and return to Haba Snow Mountain Inn, Haba Snow Mountain Accommodation provided: Cloud Inn.

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Day6: we took a private van to Baishuitai, where Dongba worship is held, and finally left at Shangri-La or Lijiang Airport.

 

Long distance hike: Moderate level: 6 days/5 nights Group size: 2-8 people. Cost: 6600RMB per person, including round-trip transportation, accommodation and activities, bring your own equipment, hiking intensity: Style: Hiking Difficulty: Moderate Level Period: 7 days and 7 nights Group size:2-10 people 

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