9 Days Shangri-La and Lijiang Cycling Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking Adventure

We begin with a short transfer out of town, passing through arid plateau towards Pudacuo National Park where to start the day’s cycling. We set off on the bikes with a downhill stretch on good road and continue cycling through a series of valleys and mountains, as well as a changing rural scenery gradually descending to the village of Baishuitai. Our final stretch of the route brings us through conifer forest. Located below the Haba Snow Mountain (the other side of Tiger Leaping Gorge), Baishuitai is famed for its natural white water terrace created by calcium carbonate depositing from the melting mountain spring water.

We set off today with a few gentle hills before challenging a more serious climb. Once we reach the top of the pass we will have views of the magnificent Haba Mountain peaks. The highest point is at a dizzying 5,396 meters. With alpine moraine lake, endless clusters of azalea and waterfalls cascading down snow-covered cliffs, the glacier on the Haba Snow Mountain is the southmost glacier in China. We make a short descent into Haba Village, whose resident minorities include Naxi, Hui (Muslim) and Yi peoples, as well as a few Tibetans. 

This afternoon, we climb to our next pass then cycle down into the Yangtze River Valley. At the village of Yonke we will turn into the legendary Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world’s deepest ravines.

Today you will visit Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge. You will spend your half day trekking and half day free in the gorge. After breakfast, trek from Tina’s Guesthouse up to Bendiwan Village, you will visit Guanyin Waterfalls, Bamboo Forest, Guanyin Temple, Wuzhishan (Five Fingers) Mountain, Dashengou Waterfalls, Sheshen Cliffs, Qianyan Stone House.

You will have lunch in Halfway Guesthouse in Bendiwan Village. Halfway Guesthouse is the best position to enjoy the Tiger Leaping Gorge and the thirteen peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After lunch, trek about one hour down to the road and your driver will pick you up and transfer back to Tina’s Guesthouse. You will be free in the afternoon and explore the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge by yourself.

In the morning, you will trek down to the Middle Rapids of Jinsha River, you will witness the narrowest part of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Trek through the Yixiantian(Tiny Sky), which is considered as a very dangerous section of a few dozen meters long. You will trek to the Walnut Grove Garden(Hetaoyuan in Chinese) and drive back to Tina’s Hostel for your lunch. After lunch, ride to the Lower Part of  Tiger Leaping Gorge. You will arrive at HaLong Meng Guesthouse and have a panoramic view of Daju before cross the Daju Ferry. Take the bike down to Jinsha River and take the boat to Daju Tow

In the morning, the driver will pick you to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and then take the chairlift up to Yak Meadow(3700 meters), which is the best location to enjoy the nice view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. You will pay a visit to the Lama monastery and walk around the Yak Meadow.

Take the chairlift back to the Bus Station and continue the cycling to Ganhaizi Meadow for your lunch in Dongbala Restaurant. In the afternoon, ride down to Baisha Old Town and visit Baisha Murals. Ride 10 km more to Lijiang Old Town, finish your cycling and visit the night view of Lijiang Old Town.

Around 9 o’clock in the morning, drive 30 minutes to the entrance of the Lashihai Lake. Then start biking around the lake for 2-3 hours and visit some Naxi villages, Zhiyun Monastery, and the different crops in the farmland. Lashi Lake is a Nature Reserve and is a haven for migratory birds. More than 70 species of birds come to nest in this area during the winter. At noon, you will ride to have some delicious local food for your lunch at a friendly Naxi family.

After lunch, you will ride down to Shuhe Old Town , which is the important town of the Tea Horse Trade Caravan from the upper Mekong River to Tibet and India. You will visit the Tea Horse Trade Caravan Museum in Shuhe Old Town.

After Shuhe, you will ride about 4 Km to Black Dragon Pool , which is the main headwater of the Yushui River that goes through the Old Town. It is just like the bright eyes of the town, shining with the wisdom. Pay a visit to the Dongba Ethnic Museum and learn the Naxi Dongba culture. Ride back to Lijiang Old Town and stroll around by your own