Overview
Tracing the partially trails of the former Tea-Horse Trading Route in Yunnan
Kunming –Xishuangbanna – Simao – Lincang - Dali – Nuodeng - Shaxi – Lijiang – Zhongdian – Deqin – Zhongdian
For more than a millennium, only humans and horses treaded the mountains of Southwest China as they followed an ancient rugged pathway winding through some immensely high and dangerous terrains. It stretched from the verdant Chinese hinterlands to the frigid Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, as far as the torrid plains of northern India. As the Chinese tea and Tibetan horses were long and mainly traded on this legendary trail, the road earned the name of the Tea-Horse Trading Road. The road, like a big corridor, connects economy, cultures and ethnic groups in western China with outside world. Today remnants of the passageway reveal grand vistas in paradise of natures and cultures. More than twenty different minorities inhabit in such beautiful and mysterious areas, in form of various religions and colorful customs. Some intact old towns and villages which once were thrived outposts of the Tea and Horse Caravan Road are perfectly preserved to render vibrant present. The Tea and Horse Road roughly follows two main routes. One starts from the middle part of Yunnan via Lijiang, Zhongdian, Deqin onto Tibetan plateau to Lhasa, along Himalaya range into India continental. The other route starts west Sichuan to Lhasa via southern route and then onward to Nepal, India. For this trip, we will take some impressions for the Tea-Horse Road by traveling the portions of it through Yunnan province. The awakening experience must leave you back-in-time images for the clippety-clops and the hoof beats into the bygone era.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival Kunming & City Sightseeing (D)
Day 02 Flight to Xishuangbanna (B)
Day 03 Xishuangbanna Sightseeing (B)
Day 04 Simao Tea-Horse Trail & Tea Cultures (B)
Day 05 Drive to Lincang (B)
Day 06 Dali Sightseeing (B)
Day 07 Scenic drive to Nuodeng (B)
Day 08 Discover Nuodeng & Explore Shaxi (B)
Day 09 Drive to Lijiang via Jianchuan (B)
Day 10 Lijiang Explorations (B)
Day 11 Zhongdian via Tiger Leaping Gorge (B)
Day 12 Zhongdian Sightseeing (B)
Day 13 Deqin via Dhongdrupling Monastery (B)
Day 14 Sunrise of Mt. Meili & Mingyong glacier hike (B)
Day 15 Return to Zhongdian (B)
Day 16 Zhongdian Departure (B)
Get Inspired
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Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Kunming & City Sightseeing (D)
Upon arrival in Kunming and transferred to hotel. After some rest visit Bamboo Temple, a Buddhist temple established during the Tang Dynasty, displayed exquisite 500 arhats sculptures. Then take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of teahouses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and paintings. Later free wander the interesting flower market. Dinner will be served as the local flavor mushroom hot pot, one of Yunnan’s characters with infinite varieties.
Day 02: Flight to Xishuangbanna (B)
Take the morning flight to Jinghong, the capital of Xishuangbanna prefecture. After short rest we get to Nannuo Hill, visit a huge and old tea tree with over 700 years, have a delightful walking descending through the fragrant tea mountain and some small rice fields. There are a few ethnic villages dot the area, we may have unplanned stop to visit and see the tea producing in the family workshop depending on the chance permits. In any case a tea factory will be visited after walking, where you learn more about the Pu’er tea production. Later we drive to Menglun. En the route, we visit a Dai village and their traditional wooden houses built on stilts, some villagers believe Catholicism and you may visit an interesting catholic church. Spend a night in Menglun, a splendour site for Menglun Tropical Botanic Garden.
Day 03: Xishuangbanna Sightseeing (B)
Get up early this morning and head out for an active local market at Menglun, some Dai and Jinuo ethnics come from their nearby villages. Then we wander in Menglun Botanic Garden for the gorgeous plants, over 8,000 species of tropical plants housing here, including many rare exotic and endangered species. Later, visit a historical town of Yiwu, a tiny but crucial starting point of the Tea-Horse trading route. Visit a small Tea Museum, learn about history and cultures concerning Tea-Horse road and tea. In the late afternoon, drive back to Jinghong.
Day 04: Simao Tea-Horse Trail & Tea Cultures (B)
Today drive up northward towards Simao, the home for famous Pu’er tea. Visit a small town, one of the remained Tea-Horse caravan oases in Yunnan. The caravan inns, the wind-rain corridor bridges, and courtyards still reserved that used by mabang (caravans) who transported brick tea to Tibet along here. Later visit a grand Pu’er tea garden. Walking through the fragrance filled tea hills, gain the scenic vista for green lush tea plantations spread over 10,000 square meters, learn more about the Chinese tea cultures. Spend the night in serene tea garden.
Day 05: Drive to Lincang (B)
Enjoy the fresh air in the tea garden. Then leave for Lincang along the former Tea-Horse trail. En the route, visit Mengwofo Temple, a very special Dai Buddhist temple set with two unique pagodas, one is ‘pagoda in the tree’, while another is ‘tree in the pagoda’. Drive further westward, the road cuts through by the Mekong River. Short stop at a village for visiting the traditional handmade pottery bowl industry since 1736. Rest time you can enjoy free leisure time in a tea house in Lincang, where is also one of the tea planting areas in Yunnan.
Day 06: Dali Sightseeing (B)
The Mekong River is almost parallel as the road ascends northward to Nanjian, where we turn left to visit Dong Lianhua Village, a charming village populated by Hui Muslim with complex of old architectures constructed early of 20th century. Arrive in Dali in the afternoon, take the cable car to one of the Dali’s landmark of Cangshan Mountain, walk along the side path for the spectacular views over the Dali valley and Erhai Lake below. Rest time leave your own explorations in Dali old town.
Day 07: Scenic drive to Nuodeng (B)
Head for Nuodeng, a town heavily populated by Bai, was one of the epicenters of the crucial salt trade, you’ll find once thrived salt administration buildings and many salt wells that still make salt. Two historical spots sit further uphill, the Confucian Temple, now home to a primary school, and gorgeous Yuhuang Pavilion, built since the 16th century. Out of the town, visit another outstanding sight by a few kilometers uphill hiking, where offer the prime view point to see local’s remarkable symbol, a naturally formed Yin-Yang figure by a serpentine roll of the Bi River.
Day 08: Discover Nuodeng & Explore Shaxi (B)
Nuodeng is known for myriad ancient bridges. Various old bridges built across the rivers in centuries, we will see them along the way driving to Shaxi. At Shaxi, visit Shibao Mountain, a notable site with the exquisite Buddhist grottos and the best Bai stone carvings. Rest time stroll in serene and pristine Shaxi town, the crucial outpost on one of the old Tea-Horse trading routes.
Day 09: Drive to Lijiang via Jianchuan (B)
Enjoy the calm morning of Shaxi, then takes around 2 hours drive to Lijiang. Rest time sink yourself in old town of Lijiang, famed for its brilliant ancient architectures, unique Dongpa pictographic script, excellent traditional music, and fabulous lifestyles of Naxi people. Explore the town through deep alleys spreading out in all directions, visit the Mu’s Palace, the former residence of the chieftain Mu Clan that ruled Naxi people for over 400 years. As the way up the hill behind it, get a finest bird’s view of panoramic Lijiang old town. Later visit Black Dragon Pond, where offers the best view of the majestic backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Get insight about Naxi Dongba cultures and traditions in Dongba Culture Museum. In evening time, many joyous Naxi square folk dances could watch in central Sifang Street, join them or just take a look.
Day 10: Lijiang Explorations (B)
Today out of Lijiang to visit a pristine village of Yuhu (Jade Lake Village), where gains the name due to a nearby turquoise lake. Additionally, it is the ancient home of famed botanist Joseph Rock who lived here decades of earlier 20th century. Horse trek or moderate hike around for pretty countryside views. Next, visit Baisha village and see the ancient murals preserved there, fusion of Chinese Taoist, Tibetan and Naxi Buddhists and Dongba shamans. Another ancient town of Shuhe will also be visited in the late afternoon. Situated at the foot of Jade Snow Dragon Mountain, Shuhe is one of the earliest settlements for Naxi people and is a former staging post on the Tea-Horse trading route.
Day 11: Zhongdian via Tiger Leaping Gorge (B)
Today drive to Zhongdian, known as Shangrila for its natural beauty. On the way, stop at Shigu township for the U-shaped vista of the First Bend of Yangtze River. At town of Qiaotou, visit Tiger Leaping Gorge. Take short hike down to the bottom of the gorge, up-close view the raging Jinshajiang River plunges through sharp, large rocks and crashes down into the river forming swirling whirlpools. As the countryside changes to Tibetan barley fields and villages, Zhongdian is arrived. Free stroll in Gyalthang old town. In the evening around 7pm, there are often street dances at the central square, you can join them and have fun.
Day 12: Zhongdian Sightseeing (B)
Morning visit Gedan Sumtseling Monastery, built by the fifth Dalai Lama during 16th century, it is the most important site in Shangri-la. Later visit Shangri-La Institute sponsored by an international funds for universal education and ecology. Visit school facilities and interesting artworks made by local students. After lunch, take a beautiful trail to a tranquil Tibetan village of Chuni, the colorful wildflowers carpeted verdant meadows extending as far as distant serenity. Hike up to nearby Hampi Gompa, set on atop of hill and built as the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Zhongdian though it is small in size. Rest time free stroll in Gyalthang (or Dukezong) old town.
Day 13: Deqin via Dhongdrupling Monastery (B)
The trail extends north along the spectacular gorges towards the Tibetan border. The scenes start to change from here on scary mountains. Uphill to halfway town of Benzilan, have the great view of the first bend of Yangtze River. The road then winds northwest to pass Dhongdrupling, visit this Gelukpa monastery. Climbing further to cross Baima Pass (4,292m), enters into the Baima Nature Reserve through the dense forests, clusters of rhododendrons crown the hills in summer. As the snow peaks of Mt. Meili are visible, the road turns into the outpost town of Deqin and immediate track to vicinity of Feilai Si, where the Kawa Karpo in close at hand.
Day 14: Sunrise of Mt. Meili & Mingyong glacier hike (B)
Wake up early morning to witness the magical sunrise of the Mount Meili range, including the Yunnan’s highest peak Kawa Karpo (6,740m) soaring over the numerous stupas and fluttering prayer flags. Later head out further north to deep of Meili Snow Mountain by following the dramatic Mekong River. Hike or horse trek 4-5 hours here till the ice toe in order to get the closer views of the Mingyong glacier that offers you the joyous experiences of the villages, temples and rich biodiversity along the uphill trails.
Day 15: Return to Zhongdian (B)
Take the original route returning to Zhongdian via the original route. As approaching Gyalthang, hop off the main road and turn into a fascinated Tibetan village of Nixi, where is renowned for its black pottery made at home by village people, dating back some 1,000 years. Rest time you can free leisure in Gyalthang old town.
Day 16: Zhongdian Departure (B)
Transfer to the airport flying out for Lhasa, Kunming or Chengdu, or extend the trip to overland western Sichuan.
Experiences & Activities
- Laze in Xishuangbanna and find out the starting point of the Tea-Horse route
- Stop over Simao, gain the knowledge and history for the famous Pu’er Tea
- Step back in time in flagstone streets of ancient Dali old town
- Discover Shaxi & Nuodeng, the crucial nodes on the old Tea-Horse route
- Get lost amongst the old town of Lijiang & nearby Tea-Horse trail villages
- Explore Shangri-la by the hints from Lost Horizon at your own eyesight
- Marvel at sublime Mt. Meili snow peak & hike the rigorous glaciers
- Lose breath for the fabulous, deep, and awe-inspiring Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Experience the unique multiple ethnic minorities cultures and lifestyles
