Trip Overview
Yunnan, as its name describes in Chinese, to the south of colorul clouds, is a fantastic province for any tours particularly biking. Our trip will star right from Kunming where is well-known for its eternal spring. Then fly to Dali, the ancient capital of Nanzhao Kingdom and a hub on Tea-horse Caravan road. Next head north to Lijiang, an old town listed on UNESCO. In Lijiang, you also will visit the former residence of Joseph Rock on base whose records, Hilton wrote his world popular fiction the Lost Horizon. Then bike through the Tiger Leaping Gorge north to Shangri-la. Shangri-la, once was a fairy name, now is the official name of Gyalthang, a place with essence beauties of Kham Tibet of snowcapped mountains, alpine lakes and the unique Tibetan culture.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Kunming
Fly to Kunming, meet the guide and transfer to hotel for check in. Then have an easy ride around Kunming downtown, as the warm-up of our coming ride. As the origin of Tea-horse Caravan road, Yunnan is well-known for its Pu’er tea. As one of the most famous teas among the top ten Chinese teas, Pu’er tea is popular with the Chinese communities especially for its taste and health benefits.
This afternoon, we will stop at a local tea house to taste the Pu’er tea. Then have our welcome dinner in an authentic local restaurant.
Biking distance 40km/25miles
Overnight Golden Dragon Hotel (1,890m/6,237ft)
Day 2 Kunming to Dali
Take morning flight to Dali, and then start our ride from the Haidong Road to huanglang Village along the bank of Erhai Lake. Dali once was the capital of Nanzhao Kingdom, now is a lovely and peaceful town to hang around and a great place for cycling.
45kms later, get to a lovely Shuanglang village and have lunch there. Shuanglang is a small village around the Erhai Lake. Generations of Bai people have lived here who regard this village as the peach garden which is far from the madding crowd. After lunch, continue our 15 km’s ride to Jiangwei village where we drive 15 minutes to Xizhou Bai village. This village is a culturally perse town and to the Bai people. Meeting different ethnic group people is helpful to learn about their culture and history from different angles.
After the trip in Xizhou, drive to the Dali Old Town and check-in. Dali Old Town is another great example of ancient and modern fusing together in China.
Biking distance of today 60km/30miles
Overnight Landscape Hotel (2,000m/6,600ft,)
Day 3 Dali to Shaxi
After breakfast, drive 30km firstly, along the western bank of Erhai Lake. The local farmers of Bai or Han nationality are working in fields, their plain but traditional buildings filled with joy of kids. 30 km then, wave goodbye to Erhai and start riding into mountains. The road with bends in the mountains will take us to a highland view gradually.
En route, take stops to visit local villages to communicate with to local people.
In late afternoon, get to Shaxi town which was a bustling trade station on the Tea & Horse Caravan that linked Yunnan and Tibet with Southeast Asia for tea and horses trading. The World Monuments Fund has listed Shaxi as one of the 100 most endangered sites in the world because of its historical importance as the only surviving example of a Tea & Horse Caravan trade center. Stay here for one night.
Biking distance 90km/56miles partially use vehicle.
Overnight Old Horse Guesthouse (2,000m/6,600ft,)
Day 4 Shaxi to Lijiang
In the morning, drive 20kms to the main road, then, start our biking to Lijiang. The road mostly goes up with soft slopes but still has some steep slopes, since the altitude is getting higher. When getting to the top of the hill, we will see a wetland called Lashi Lake.
Then ride along the road next to the lake. Biking up to another mountain you will see the breath-taking view of the entire Lijiang downtown. Then 15 kms away is Lijiang old town, where our hotel is located. The town has a history going back more than 800 years and was once a confluence for trade along the old tea horse road. The Lijiang old town is famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges. And it differs from other ancient Chinese cities in architecture, history and the culture.
Biking distance 85km/53miles
Overnight Wangfu Hotel (2,400m/7,920ft)
Day 5 Lijiang
Lijiang, situated at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, is incredibly rich in cultural resources, home to the Baisha Frescoes (a national historical relic) and "Naxi Music" being living examples of Tang and Song Dynasty art, and also Dongba hieroglyphs, the only existing pictographs in the world.
This morning, cycle to Yuhu village where Joseph Rock stayed dozen years in early 1900’s at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After getting back Lijiang old town, we walk to visit the Black Dragon Pool, Dongba culture museum.
In the evening, enjoy your free time in the lovely town.
Biking distance 40km/25miles
Overnight Wangfu Hotel (2,400m/7,872ft)
Day 6 Lijiang to Shangri-la (Zhongdian)
In the morning, drive about 1.5 hours to admire Stone Drum Town and Tiger Leaping Gorge. The altitude is 1800m/5940ft there.
The Yangtze River flows between the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain for 16 km hereby come to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. It is one of the longest, deepest, and narrowest gorges in the world.
In later afternoon, drive up to Xiaozhongdian, where is 3,240m/10,692ft above the sea level. It is 40km away from the Shangri-la downtown and we will start our biking here to Shangri-la. The road is nice and you will ride on the highland with grassland, privilege forests and alpine lakes. Black Yaks and nomads houses or tents can be also seen.
Biking distance 40km/25miles
Overnight Gyalthang Hotel (3,300m/10,824ft)
Day 7 Shangri-la
Gyalthang is an historic caravan point and now has been renamed as Shangri-la because it is believed to be the most similar area to the Shangri-la in the Lost Horizon. And it is the most southern area of Kham Tibet.
In the morning, bike to Napa Lake which is an alpine lake at the foot of a huge mountain, surrounded with green grassland and nomads. One way back, bike to visit Songtsam Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan and appraised as Lesser Potala.
Shangri-la old town is another place to get quite lot of fun.
Biking distance 50km/31miles
Overnight Gyalthang Hotel (3,300m/10,824ft)
Day 8 Shangri-la
This morning, ride 26km to admire the Pudacuo National Park and ride back hotel in the late afternoon. Pudacuo National Park is the first national park on the Chinese mainland. The elevation there ranges from 3,500m/11,550ft to 4,000m/13,200ft above the sea level. It is mainly comprised of Shudu Lake, Militang Pasture and Bita Lake. We can trek along the planked path by Shudu Lake and Bita Lake to enjoy the picturesque sceneries.
Biking distance 55km/34miles
Overnight Gyalthang Hotel (3,300m/10,824ft)
Day 9 Depart Shangri-la
Take morning flight to Kunming and then fly back home.
Cycling tour ends.
