Intern's first day off traveling - Yunnan (1)

🔴 Shangri-La - Daocheng Yading - Lijiang 11.7-11.16 (took 5 days off plus 4 weekend days) Fortunately, the weather was clear and cloudless for all 9 days. ✈️ Flights 11.7 Xiamen - Kunming 20:00-22:55 11.16 Kunming - Xiamen 7:00-9:20 📆 Itinerary D1 Landed at Kunming Changshui at 11:30 pm, took the airport shuttle bus to Kunming Station, stayed within 1 km of Kunming Station for convenience to catch the earliest bus to Shangri-La the next morning. The room was 95 yuan, hygiene was okay. D2 Arrived at Shangri-La Station at noon, around 2 pm took a walk around Dukezong Ancient Town, then headed to Napa Lake, took a taxi to the Alpine Botanical Garden, which overlooks the entire Napa Lake, p2, very beautiful. Then went to a grassland, took some photos, it was very windy, be sure to wear a hat or you’ll have a headache at night. The sun was strong but it wasn’t very cold. D3 At 8:30 am, set off with carpool friends on old National Road 214 to Feilai Temple in Deqin County, passing Baima Snow Mountain, the highest point over 4000 meters, extremely cold, best to wear thick clothes. About 6 hours, arrived at Feilai Temple at 2 pm, the closest county to Meili Snow Mountain. Food was expensive, unforgettable 60+ yuan at Dicos. Got very lucky again, at night not only shot the Milky Way but also the moonlight shining on the Silver Mountain. D4 Got up early to find a good spot to shoot the sunrise on the Golden Mountain, luckily the weather was still great with no clouds. Remember to wear thick clothes and gloves, it was very cold. After shooting the sunrise, took the bus back to Shangri-La City, arrived at 2 pm (if taking the high-speed train that afternoon, bring luggage on the bus; if not, leave luggage at the hotel stayed at yesterday). Rested at the hotel all afternoon, very comfortable. D5 Left at 8 am for Yading (don’t buy the wrong ticket, it’s not Daocheng County), arrived at Shangri-La Town around 2:30 pm. Accommodation must be in Shangri-La Town, not Yading Village or the scenic area entrance, because Shangri-La Town is the most convenient with food, lodging, and transportation. Entrance to the scenic area is only 10 yuan. Surprisingly, there is Luckin Coffee and Kudi in town, but Luckin is not recommended (only full price), Kudi has 9.9 yuan deals. Not recommended to enter the scenic area that afternoon due to lack of time, so rested at the hotel all afternoon. D6 Got up at 7 am, had breakfast, headed to Daocheng Yading (I booked tickets online, got a 150 yuan discount coupon from Sichuan Rural Credit Cooperative, so I only paid 90 yuan for the entrance). Entered the scenic area around 9 am, bought an electric cart ticket, started hiking from Luorong Pasture, reached Gongga Cuo around 10 am, Five Color Lake at 11 am, descended from the plank road at noon, back to Luorong Pasture at 1 pm. Feels like doing both the long and short trails in one day is possible, but I didn’t do the short trail because of afternoon backlighting making it hard to photograph Mount Xiannairi. Stayed at Luorong Pasture until after 3 pm, then returned, got off at Sacred Water Lake, took a walk and got photos like p7. Recommend getting off at Sacred Water Lake as the first stop in the scenic area, it should be more beautiful. After shooting, exited the scenic area. If not tired, you can wait for the sunset on the Golden Mountain at Chonggu Meadow. Daocheng Yading