This is a grand pilgrimage along the Nujiang River.
Over 12 days, we begin in Zhiziluo, a place lost in time, and journey north upstream into Bingzhongluo, where deities and mortals coexist, exploring the vanishing tattoo traditions of the Dulong River.
We witness nature’s might at the First Bend of the Nujiang, trek in the embrace of the Biluo Snow Mountains, and finally await the breathtaking moment of the “Golden Mountain Sunrise” over Meili Snow Mountain at Feilai Temple, completing a spiritual arrival from the roaring gorge to the silent snow peaks.
Day 1: Arrive in Kunming | Overture of the Spring City
Theme: Arrival and Acclimatization
Private car transfer from the airport. Check into a boutique hotel in Kunming. Welcome dinner in the evening. Your personal tour guide will detail the 12-day itinerary and high-altitude travel precautions. Time permitting, stroll around Green Lake to experience the leisure of Kunming.
Day 2: Kunming → Dali | First Sight of Erhai Lake
Theme: From city to lakeside, slow life begins
Drive to Dali in the morning. Check into a boutique hotel by Erhai Lake. Afternoon cycling or walking along the Erhai Ecological Corridor, overlooking the nineteen peaks of Cangshan Mountain. Bai-style dinner by Erhai Lake at dusk.
Day 3: Dali Full Day | Bai Culture and Ancient Town Exploration
Theme: Immerse in Bai ethnic customs, touch millennial heritage
Morning tour of Dali Ancient Town, visiting Wuhua Building and Foreigner Street. Afternoon visit to Xizhou Ancient Town to admire the “Three Houses with One Screen Wall” Bai architecture and taste Xizhou Baba. Optional: Experience national intangible cultural heritage Bai tie-dye in Zhoucheng and create your own blue-and-white artwork.
Day 4: Dali → Liuku → Laomudeng | First Step into the Oriental Grand Canyon
Theme: From highway to canyon, first glimpse of Nujiang’s grandeur
Drive along the Hangrui Expressway in the morning, then enter the Nujiang Grand Canyon in the afternoon. The river roars through narrow valleys, flanked by towering Biluo Snow Mountain and Gaoligong Mountain. Arrive at Laomudeng in the evening and check into a cliffside boutique inn. Overlook Crown Mountain and Nujiang Grand Canyon sunset at “Memory City” Zhiziluo.
Day 5: Laomudeng → Fugong → Gongshan | Canyon Road Tour and Stone Moon
Theme: Travel north along Nujiang, touch the heart of the canyon
Drive along the winding canyon road, passing Lisu villages with zip-line crossings. Stop at Stone Moon Viewing Platform to admire the natural hole at 3,300 meters. Arrive at Gongshan County in the evening to prepare for the next day’s trip to Bingzhongluo.
Day 6: Gongshan → Bingzhongluo | Paradise Where Humans and Gods Coexist
Theme: Arrive at the secret core, hike the Ancient Tea Horse Road relic
Arrive at Bingzhongluo, a basin surrounded by snow mountains, in the morning. Transfer to a small car to Wuli Village, accessible only by hiking the cliffside Ancient Tea Horse Road, visiting the primitive village shared by Nu and Tibetan people. Afternoon trip to Qiunatong at the canyon end to view snow mountains.
Day 7: Bingzhongluo Full Day | Explore the Peach Blossom Land of Multi-ethnic Coexistence
Theme: Deep dive into villages, experience the magic of three religions coexisting
Morning visit to Zhongding Church, a Tibetan-style Catholic church where French missionaries spread faith a century ago. Afternoon visit to Puhua Temple, where Tibetan Buddhist stupas and Catholic crosses face each other. Evening by the Nu ethnic fireplace, listening to the ancient “Ode De De” song.
Day 8: Bingzhongluo → Degong Highway → Feilai Temple | Cross Peacock Mountain, Pilgrimage to Kawagebo
Theme: Cross three rivers and three mountains in one day
Depart early, crossing the famous Degong Highway. The road winds between Biluo Snow Mountain and Gaoligong Mountain, passing primeval forests, alpine meadows, waterfalls and streams. Cross Peacock Mountain Pass at 3,882 meters, with sea of clouds on clear days. Arrive at Feilai Temple in the afternoon, the best viewing platform for Kawagebo Peak of Meili Snow Mountain. Wait for the golden sunset glow after check-in.
Day 9: Feilai Temple | Sunrise Golden Summit and Mingyong Glacier
Theme: Watch the sacred “Sunshine on Golden Summit”, touch the millennium-flowing glacier
Wait for the first golden light to light up Kawagebo Peak at the hotel terrace or viewing platform in the early morning. The moment of sunshine on the golden summit is breathtaking. After breakfast, drive to Mingyong Glacier, hike or ride horses up to closely touch the huge glacier flowing from 5,500 meters to the forest.
Day 10: Feilai Temple → Jinsha River Big Bend → Shangri-La
Theme: From snow plateau to Tibetan garden
Farewell to Meili Snow Mountain, drive south along National Highway 214. Stop at Jinsha River Big Bend Viewing Platform to admire the perfect “Ω” shape. Enter low-altitude valleys with Tibetan villages, barley racks and stupas. Arrive at Shangri-La in the evening, check into a boutique hotel near Dukezong Ancient Town.
Day 11: Shangri-La | Pilgrimage to the Little Potala Palace
Morning visit to Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, built on hills with golden roofs and red walls, known as the “Little Potala Palace”. Learn about mandalas, thangkas and prayer wheels under the guidance of Tibetan Buddhist monks. Afternoon stroll in Dukezong Ancient Town, turn the world’s largest prayer wheel for family blessings. Optional evening: Watch the large-scale song and dance show “Meet · Shangri-La” at your own expense.
Day 12: Shangri-La → Lijiang/Kunming | Return with Blessings from the Holy Mountain
Theme: Farewell to Shangri-La, return with full memories
Morning: Optional visit to Napahai Lake to overlook grasslands and snow mountains, or buy Tibetan medicine and incense as souvenirs. Private car transfer to Shangri-La Airport, fly to Kunming or direct to major domestic cities. For departure from Lijiang, drive to Lijiang (≈3 hours) and transfer to airport.
