 |
| Tibetan Women in Shangri-la |
There are 23 provinces in China;
Yunnan is one of the most diverse. More than half of China's ethnic minority groups live in
Yunnan. The land is also diverse: jungles, rivers, rice terraces, and snow-capped mountains that border Tibet.
 |
| Bai woman selling goods |
We come to
Yunnan to rejuvenate, breathe in clean air, hike, explore, and leave the city crowds behind. To adjust to the high elevation, we slowly travel our way up towards
Shangri-la.
 |
Children at recess at Green Lake
in Kunming |
 |
| 1,000 year old Buddhist temple |
Our first stop is
Kunming called the "Spring City" because of its lovely, pleasant year-round weather.
 |
Our train ride is not what
we expect: 8 people seated
in each sleeper car.
We choose the jump
seats at the side aisle. |
 |
| Rice terrace views as we journey up towards Dali |
Then we take a train to
Dali. Once a backpacker hang-out, and very touristy, now it seems like most tourists have gone further north to
Lijiang. We love
Dali.
Erhai lake to the east, and the
Cang Shang mountain range to the west.
 |
| Our room overlooks Erhai Hu Lake, Dali |
 |
| Cang Shan Mountains in Dali |
 |
| Downtown Dali |
 |
We take the gondola to the top of Cang Shan,
to hike along the wild Du Jian Hua, rhododendrons. |
 |
| We made it! |
 |
| Native Rhododendrons bloom for 20 days in June |
 |
| Bike ride in Dali |
After
Dali, we take a bus to
Lijiang.
Lijiang, a United Nation World Heritage Site, is a maze of cobbled streets and canals. Tons of tourist groups, we try to find backdoor places and stay out of the main areas.
 |
| Typical Yunnanese Cuisine |
 |
| Lijiang, Yunnan |
 |
| The Naxi (people of Lijiang) Orchestra, original instruments |
 |
Music from the Han, Song, Tang
Dynasties |
 |
| 300 year old Tibetan Monestary |
Shangri-la was made famous by the book (and movie) called
The Lost Horizon. A beautiful city, with an amazing 300 year old monastery, at about 10,000 feet elevation. We spend only one night in
Shangri-la because we want to get even higher up into the mountains:
Meili Xueshan (Beautiful Snow Mountains)
 |
| Beautiful Shangri-la |
 |
| Jeanie enjoys Yak Hot Pot |
We take a scary bus ride, five hours, to our final destination. We could
have rented a driver for $300.00, but we decide on the public bus for $20.00.
Harrowing to say the least. Because the roads are not yet comfortable and convenient, this most northern location in Yunnan, is less populated with mainly Tibetan people and Chinese backpackers. Our stay at Meili Songtsam Lodge is the best part of our trip and a fabulous celebration for our anniversary!
 |
Songstam Meili Lodge
Tibetan run and owned |
 |
| We make it to the top of an 8 hour hike |
 |
Ken is thrilled to be in the mountains
and breathing clean, albeit thin air |
 |
Eating lunch near the top of hike
|
 |
Jeanie enjoys
Tibetan pastureland |
 |
| Tibetan yak |
 |
| Miacimu Mountain, 19, 862 ft |
 |
| Tallest mountain in Yunnan, Meili, (Kawa Gebo) 22, 112 ft. |
Yunnan is a magical destination in China. We are in awe of God's creation.
Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens...when I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8: 1,3
Ken and Jeanie
Next Time: New friends in Shanxi Province
