Hiking Tour Tips around Lijiang
Some fabulous treks around Lijiang from deep Jiangsha gorges to high snow mountains.
Trek 1: Wenhai Trek . (2 to 3 days)
At an elevation of 3000m, Wenhai is a pristine Naxi village, hidden in the Yulong Snow Mountain. Now Wenhai is accessible by car from Baisha in less than one hour. Taking a bus from Lijiang to Baisha, hikers can climb to Wenhai from Baisha via the footpath in three to four hours. Accommodations: The Wenhai Ecolodge, Link: Their website.
Trek 2: The High Trail of Tiger Leaping Gorge, 40km west of Lijiang where Jinsha River flows along a south-north direction. (2 days).
Trek 3: From Shitoucheng (Baoshan Stone Village) to Yongning near Lugu Lake.
It is very popular to hike from Baoshan Stone Town to Liuqing, Fengke, Labo, Yongning and Lugu Lake.It becomes gradually known to a lot of hikers in recent years. Simple accommodations can be found along the trail. Here Jinsha River turns from north to the south. (3 to 4 days)
Trek 4: From Jin-an Bridge or Zili 梓里 to Taiji 太极.
Descending from Baoshan in the north, Jinsha River meets the Lijiang-Yongshen road at around 50km east of Lijiang. This trek is less difficult than Trek 3. However, accommodations have not been developed yet. Hikers can only lodge themselves with the local habitants. Take the Lijiang-Yongshen bus, and get off after the Jin-an Bridge (Alt.1450M). Follow a tractor road on your right (south direction). Zili is situated at 10km south of the Jin-an Bridge. Taiji is located at 20 km south of Zili. (3 to 4 days)
Laoxie, an intrepid explorer, very famous among Chinese hikers, regularly post his adventure experiences on the traveler’s forum (sina.com). When I went to Yubeng (in the Meili Snow Mountains) last year, I was surprised to find a lot of Chinese hikers holding a print-out of his article posted in May 2003 which apparently was the only guide available for Yubeng at that time. Laoxie runs a guest house in Lijiang, his phone number: 0086-888-5116118.
Trek 5: West Haba Mountain Trail
Few hikers know this Haba Trek on the west side of Haba Mountain that passes through beautiful pastures, alpine lakes.
Trek 6: The Daju-Shitoucheng Trail
To link the famous High Trail of Tiger Leaping Gorge with the booming Shitoucheng-Yongning Trek, why not walk along the foothills of Yulong Snow Mountain in a pristine region. Walking time: 2 days. Access: Trail head: Daju (See Getting there and away) . Trail end: Baoshan Shitoucheng . Both places has daily bus connection with Lijiang. Accommodations: See Piaopiao Kezhan in Daju . Changsong Village: local people’s home. Shitoucheng: Mu’s Family G.H.
Day one : Daju Piaopiao Kezhan to Changsong Village (长松村）, 23km, 8-9 hous of walk. Stay overnight at locals home at Changsong Village. Day 2: Changsong to Shitoucheng, around 20km, 6 hours of walk. A local guide is indispensible as there are many sidetrails. It costs Y100/per day if you want to rent a horse for carrying the backpack. The owner of the guesthouse – Piaopiao Kezhan can help you find both guide and horse.
Trek 7: Hiking from Yuhu Village to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Tourists can ride horse from Yuhu Village to halfway of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and hike along the small train to 4800 meters of the mountain.
Trek 8: Hiking tour from Lijiang city to Wenbi Mountaina and Wenfeng Monastery
We can take a car to the Wenbihai Lake and start hiking to Wenfeng Monastery and Wenbifeng Peak. Visit some Naxi ethnic villages on the way.
