Sightseeing and Activities:Naxi ethnic villages, Jinsha (Gold Sand) River rafting
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

It is 140 km from Lijiang to Tacheng. You will have 4 hours driving along the beautiful Jinsha (Gold Sand) River, which is the upper reach of Yangtze River in Lijiang. Drive through Shigu Town, Zhongxing Town, Judian Town, Shangjiang Town with some Naxi ethnic villages on the way. You will have lunch in Juxian Restaurant(a clean restaurant and best food) with local flavour in Judian Town. If you are lucky, you will find the local bazaar happened every 5th and 10th of the traditional Chinese calendar.

After lunch, continue the drive to Tacheng Town. Unload the floating equipment including tent, sleeping bag, water-proof bag, fridge, paddles, LPG container, gas cooker, life jacket and so on. You will start the rafting after inflating the drifting boat. The most beautiful part of the rafting today is the Jigong(Rooster) Stone Islet located in the middle of Jinsha River in Shangjiang Town. From a far, you will find there is a sharp peak which looks like a flying rooster, hence the name of Rooster Stone Islet. The Jinsha River is divided into two parts by the Rooster Stone Islet in the middle. Here is the most exciting rafting part of your trip because of the rapids, whirlpools and waves at the foot of the Rooster Stone Islet. After 4 hours rafting, you will build the camp for overnight in the beach island near the Judian Town.

Day 2 Judian-Zhongxing

Sightseeing and Activities:Jinsha River-the upper Yangtze River rafting
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Get up in the early morning, enjoy the sunrise of the Jinsha River with green mountain ranges. After breakfast, continue the rafting trip to Zhongxing Town. Today is a special rafting, you will raft through some islands in the middle of Jinsha River with some green willows and cows in the islands as well as you will find some farmers are fishing in the river with small canoes in the river. Especially, you will find some children swimming in the river without underwear. If they find you are coming from a far, they will be very shy and hide in the willows or they will swim very fast as a fish into the grass. This will be very special experience for your trip.

You will have a simple lunch when you land in Zhongxing. Lunch includes some watermelon, chocolate, bread, some fruit, and local pancakes as well as some drink. Build the camp in the willows forest island in the late afternoon. Have a bonfire party in the evening.

Day 3 Zhonggezi-Shigu-Tiger Leaping Gorge

Sightseeing and Activities:Stone Gate Pass, the First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu Ancient Town, Longpan Naxi ethnic village,Jihong Bridge,Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy the sunrise of the Jinsha River in the morning. After breakfast with a nice coffee and milk, continue the rafting to Shigu Old Town. You will raft through a big “S” turn in Stone Gate Pass, an millitary importance historically. Raft to the First Bend of the Yangtze River and Shigu Town. You will witness the wonder of the First Bend of the Yangtze River with a big turn from the southward to the east. You will finish the rafting in Shigu Port. Have a nice lunch in Jiangnan Restaurant in Shigu Town. Lunch with the natural river fish, wild vegetables, and local flavour.

After a short rest in Shigu Ancient Town, continue the rafting to Qiaotou Town(Tiger Leaping Gorge Town). During the rafting, you will see some Naxi ethnic village on the river side in Longpan Town, raft to Kaifaqu in Shangri-la, see the ancient Jihong Bridge, the Suspension Bridge, arrive at Qiaotou Town and finish the rafting tour in the upper Yangtze River.

After lunch in Qiaotou Town, drive to visit the upper Tiger Leaping Gorge(3900M in depth) which is the deepest gorge in the world located between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain(5596M) in Lijiang and Haba Snow Mountain(5396M) in Shangri-la. Drive back to Lijiang in the late afternoon. Service ends.