A Serendipitous Journey During Songkran

The recent Songkran festival in Thailand was filled with restrictions, prompting me to embark on a long-held dream: a solo backpacking trip. Initially, I planned to ride my motorcycle from Thailand to my destination, but the extensive paperwork and the requirement for a companion deterred me. Moreover, a motorcycle journey would have taken at least 15 days, which was not feasible given my time constraints. So, I opted for a more practical approach: backpacking.

Let's delve into a simplified approach to navigating your dream destination. It's important to note that I lack proficiency in Mandarin and haven't consulted any specific literature. The majority of my insights stem from conversations with fellow travelers who have embarked on this journey.

First, download the essential applications for living in China.

1. VPN

For research and information access while traveling or using social media to share stories or photos with friends, we recommend ExpressVPN, which offers a free 8-day trial (the fastest option available).

2. WeChat

WeChat is an essential tool for communication with Chinese people. Its built-in translation feature has been a lifesaver on numerous occasions. By typing in English, the app translates it to Chinese for the recipient, who can then reply in Chinese, which is then translated back to English for the user. While the process may take some time, it ensures mutual understanding, making it a valuable tool for overcoming language barriers.

3. Map me

It is essential to mark our destinations on a map before leaving Thailand. This will not only help us plan our itinerary but also facilitate communication with Chinese locals. By showing them the marked locations with Chinese characters, we can easily convey our intended destinations, ensuring a smooth and convenient journey.

With just three applications, we can travel to China with ease and peace of mind. Now that we have recommended applications for living in China, let's briefly outline the plan for this trip. Our plan will follow the image below.

Aircraft

Day 1: April 8, 2017: Bangkok (BKK) to Kunming to Shangri-La

Day 2: April 9, 2017 - Shangri-La all day.

Day 3: April 10, 2017: Shangri-la to Daocheng

Day 4: 11 Apr 17: Milk Sea (Milk Sea Niu Nai Hai) + Five-Color Lake (Five-Color Sea Wu Se Hai)

Day 5: April 12, 2017: Pearl Lake (Zhuoma La Lake)

Day 6: April 13, 2017: Daocheng --> Shangri-la

Day 7: April 14, 2017: Shangri-La to Lijiang

Day 8: April 15, 2017: Jade Dragon Valley + Bluemoon Valley --> Shenzhen

Day 9: April 16, 2017: Shenzhen to Bangkok

According to our plan on April 15, 2017, we need to leave on time because we need to catch a flight to Shenzhen in the early evening. Now is the perfect time.

**Day 1: April 8, 2017: Bangkok to Kunming to Shangri-La**

We arrived at Kunming Airport at approximately 11:40 AM. If anyone wants to access the internet, they can purchase a Chinese SIM card and insert it into their device. Upon exiting the airport, please proceed through Exit 2.

To purchase a Shuttle Bus ticket for 25 RMB to the Sai Tai Wan Bus Station, exit the building and look for a kiosk that resembles this one.

Tell him to go to the Western Bus Terminal (昆明西部汽车客运站) and show him the picture.

Upon arrival at the bus station, we headed to any available counter on the left and purchased tickets to Shangri-La (Deqen (迪庆藏族自治州)). We opted for the 8:30 PM departure to avoid arriving too early in the morning or missing the last bus. After securing our tickets, we left our luggage at the station for a fee of 10 RMB per bag. Coincidentally, we encountered two fellow Thai travelers who had arrived on the same flight. We exchanged travel plans, which seemed to align, and agreed to meet up in Shangri-La. We exchanged phone numbers, though amusingly, they were Thai numbers, as they had not yet activated WeChat or other accessible communication platforms.

After dropping off our luggage, we took bus number 89 from the opposite corner to Guanghua Street for a stroll. It's like Chatuchak in Thailand. ^_^

How are you? Your handwriting is beautiful. I love you. Haha.

We then walked to Yuantong Temple.

Upon arrival, we prayed for a smooth journey without any obstacles.

After visiting the temple, I walked across the street and took bus route 92 to the Zhengyi Road shopping district for 1 yuan.

Around 3 pm, we returned to the bus station. This is where our map me and google map came in handy. By simply pressing from our current location to our destination, it would show us the bus routes available. This made traveling by bus a breeze, especially since the fare was only 1 yuan for the entire route.

And then wait for the time to get on the sleeper bus, and this is the condition of our sleeper bus ^_^ Sleep comfortably with a refreshing scent, hahahahahaha

Adapting to Kunming: A Three-Step Guide

Day One:

1. Shuttle Bus to Western Bus Terminal: Upon arrival, exit through Gate 2 and purchase a ticket for the Shuttle Bus to the Western Bus Terminal (昆明西部汽车客运站).

2. Overnight Bus to Shangri-La: At the Western Bus Terminal, purchase a ticket for the 8:30 PM bus to Shangri-La (Deqen (迪庆藏族自治州)). This overnight journey will ensure your arrival in Shangri-La the following morning.

3. Exploring Kunming: Utilize the remaining time to explore Kunming's city center. Take bus route 89 for approximately 7-8 stops to reach your desired destination. For your return trip, board the bus from the same location or, if unsure, utilize Google Maps to locate the nearest bus stop and search for routes to your starting point.

Day 2: April 9, 2017: Shangri-La all day

The sun's rays began to pierce my eyes, and I woke up, groaning, "Where the hell am I? Am I still here?"

Upon arriving at the Shangri-la Bus Station around 8:00 AM, proceed to the opposite side of the station to board bus routes 3 or 7 for a journey to the Old Town. The fare remains at 1 yuan (note: exact change is required).

The old city gate is located on the right-hand side. Please refer to the image below for a closer look. Once you see it, you can get off.

Upon arriving in the old town, we searched for accommodation according to our preferences. We followed online reviews, which led us on a fairly long walk.

(We suggest you find your own accommodation. The places we reviewed may not be as good as we described. We believe that everyone has different accommodation needs, so it's best to see for yourself.) After finding a place to stay, we rested, packed our things, had lunch, and returned to the bus station to buy tickets to Daocheng (稻城). There was only one bus per day. When we went to buy tickets, the seller told us that the next day, April 10, 2017, was already fully booked. We were heartbroken. (It felt like our hearts were being stomped on repeatedly. T_T) While we were waiting for the bus back to the city, some tour operators approached us with various offers. We asked them how much it would cost to go to Yading for four days using WeChat. Some of them quoted 3200 RMB, which was very expensive. Finally, an uncle offered us a price of 3000 RMB (which would be 1000 RMB per person if we split the cost). We told him we would confirm later and took bus number 3 back to the old town to visit Guishan Temple (Dafo Temple).

Stroll through the museum

Playing with this dog, walking around and looking at that. Just then, the phone rang and it turned out to be the two older brothers we met in Kunming. So we invited them to join us for dinner. They agreed because the tickets were full and they had to rent a car anyway. So we confirmed with the uncle that we would go to Yading the next day for 3000 RMB for 4 days, which is 750 RMB per day, which is not too expensive and we can afford it.

The sun had set before we finished our walk, but it was still light outside. We needed to find something to eat, so this is what we had for dinner.

After eating, we took a walk in the old town and watched people dance in front of Dafo Temple. After the dance, the atmosphere was surprisingly quiet. Haha.

Day two: Relaxing and taking photos, not as difficult as I thought.

1. Get off the bus and book your ticket to Yading for the next day (if you plan to go).

2. Walk to the opposite side of the station and take bus number 3 or 7. Get off at the gate of the old city and find your accommodation.

3. Explore Shangri-la to the fullest.

- Guishan Temple (Dafo Temple), Songzanlin Temple, Jizu Temple if you have the energy, cafes, postcard shops.

4. It is recommended that if you are going to Yadding with 5 people, you should rent a car, as it will be more convenient and time-saving than taking the bus to Daocheng first.

Day 3: April 10, 2017: Shangri-La to Daocheng

The original plan was to take a bus, but we changed it to a chartered car instead. The journey from Shangri-la to Yadding takes about 6 hours, which saves almost a day and eliminates the need for accommodation in Daocheng. This is considered a good value for money.

This is the car that will take us to Yadding. The engine is quiet, smooth, and comfortable to sit in, it's a Japanese car after all, haha. Let's go see the view outside.

After approximately 6 hours of travel, including waiting for the road to open, we arrived at the ticket office of Yading National Park (亚丁自然保护区) around 4:00 PM. Some sections of the road were closed for repairs.

We can purchase bus tickets and park entrance tickets for 270 RMB. They will be issued together. After entering, turn right.

After that, we took a bus to find accommodation in Yading Village (亚丁村).

The first stop will be right after the viewpoint. If you see a view of the village like this, get ready to get off. And if you see a wide open space like this, get off. Once you get off, you can choose your accommodation as you like. But we recommend the accommodation on this side (the picture below, walk in this way). Because you will be able to see beautiful views from your bedroom. But I will tell you that there is no heater here, haha.

"Okay, once we get down, let's walk over there," she pointed with her finger towards the white car.

This is the view from the front of the accommodation. Our room has a direct view of this scenery. ^_^

However, we ended up staying at this location for the first night, which cost 80 yuan per room. We were three people sharing the room.

This room is very warm, but when I walked to my room, I was confused. There was no light, not even a glimmer. This is clearly a black hotel. Haha. The next day, I quickly changed my accommodation and went to the place I mentioned above.

Today, we will rest to the fullest and prepare lunch for tomorrow. (There will be lunch boxes sold at the convenience store that can be warmed up by pouring water into the warming bag and eating it immediately.) Then we will go to experience the beauty of nature the next day.

Day 3: Easier to travel than in Bangkok

1. Wake up early and prepare to travel to Yadding. Prepare food on the car.

2. When you arrive at the ticket sales point, buy a bus ticket + park entrance fee for 270 RMB, and then take the bus into the park to go to Yading Village (亚丁村).

3. The first stop where the bus stops will be a viewing point, and the second stop will be a large open space with tables selling bracelets on the left side. Get off the bus when it stops.

4. Find a place to stay for 100 yuan, which will be convenient and allow you to sleep soundly and comfortably, so that you will have the energy to walk the next day.

5. Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water, and the symptoms of altitude sickness will not bother you.

Day 4: April 11, 2017: Milk Sea (牛奶海 niú nǎi hǎi) + Five-Color Lake (五色海 wǔ sè hǎi)

After breakfast, we waited for the bus at the same wide area where we got off yesterday. When the bus arrived, we flagged it down and hopped on. The bus took us downhill, and we got off at the second stop, Zaguangbeng (扎灌崩). Everyone else got off there too, so we followed suit. Facing the restrooms, we turned right and started walking up a steep, uphill path. The path was incredibly steep, so be prepared for a challenging climb.

After a short uphill walk, you will reach the ticket booth for the golf cart. Purchase your ticket and hop on board (follow the crowd!). The golf cart ride will take approximately 20-30 minutes to reach the starting point for the hike to the Milk Sea.

The moment the car stopped, I scrambled out and took a few steps forward to be greeted by this breathtaking view.

The Milk Lake and the Five-Colored Lake are located close to each other. Here are some extended images.

After a leisurely four-hour walk, we finally arrived at the Milk Lake. Despite our physical limitations and lingering altitude sickness, we persevered and reached our destination.

Okay, let's take a break and enjoy the Milk Sea to the fullest. Then we'll prepare to climb another hill to reach the Five-Colored Lake. It takes about 10 minutes to walk up to the Five-Colored Lake, and once you pass the hill, you'll see it right away.

Walk up the left side, and you will reach the top of the hill.

As you ascend, you will be greeted by a panoramic view of both lakes: the milky-white Milk Lake above and the colorful Five-Colored Lake below.

Our short-lived enjoyment of the beauty of the five-colored lake was cut short as we had to rush back. It was around 3:10 PM, and we needed to catch the last boat back from the drop-off point, which was scheduled to depart at 4:30 PM. We had no choice but to speed up our pace, resulting in a hilarious scramble.

After reaching the Five-Colored Lake, we decided to avoid the long, winding route back and instead opted for a less-traveled path to save time.

We barely made it to the last bus back to Grandma Ting's village at 6:30 p.m.

I was extremely tired and exhausted today. When we arrived at our accommodation, we slept soundly until the next morning. We didn't even take any pictures, haha. The first day passed, and the second and third days gradually passed as well.

Day 4 was not as difficult as we expected.

1. Wake up and have breakfast. Then, go around the bus at the drop-off point where we arrived.

2. Prepare lunch to eat on the way + enough water.

3. Prepare yourself and your heart, the path is quite steep, haha.

4. Once you get on the bus, get off at the last stop (everyone will get off, haha).

5. Face the bathroom and you will see a steep path. Walk that way (many people walk that way).

6. When you go up, you will see a brown wooden building. Go in and queue to re-stamp your golf cart ticket there + it is a mandatory path to get on the golf cart.

7. Get on the golf cart and have fun, haha.

8. The golf cart will end around 4:30 PM. The last bus will end at 6:00 PM. Calculate the time well (but the actual bus time is as shown in the picture, haha).

Day 5: April 12, 2017: Pearl Lake (珍珠海/Zhuoma La Lake)

Today is the same as usual, but when I got off the bus, I decided to try a different route to see something new and avoid the steep climb I did yesterday. The picture below shows the last stop of the bus. You can see it here.

However, if we walk behind the last building, there will be a path leading to the destination.

We meet again at the same spot. This time, walk to the right. It will lead you to the Pearl Lake. Follow the signs (Zhuoma La Lake). It will take less than an hour to reach the Pearl Lake from here.

(Image description: The blue leak zone and the brown wooden building (left side of the picture) will lead to the Milk Lake and the Five-Color Lake. The right side of the picture will lead to the Pearl Lake. Walk along the path on the right side of the picture.)

The steep climb is finally over. We've ascended numerous stairs, haha ^_^ Let's take a quick photo of the five of us with the path we've dreamt of.

At the intersection, if you turn right, the view will be like this.

Initial confusion and a scenic discovery

The initial surprise was palpable. "Where did all the water go?" we exclaimed, bewildered. With a chuckle, we retraced our steps and took an alternative route, following the signs. It wasn't long before we arrived at our destination: the famed Pearl Lake, renowned for its breathtaking beauty.

We spent about an hour here, which was longer than the Pearl Lake and Five Flower Lake combined. Haha, because it was more beautiful than yesterday and it was easier to walk. ^_^ After we enjoyed this place to the fullest, we returned to our accommodation to take the bus down to the ticket office before coming up. So that we can find accommodation in Yading town. This is our accommodation before returning to Shangri-la.

We arrived at our accommodation around 2:30 PM. We then took some time to rest before meeting up with two other people for dinner around 5:30 PM. We also invited our uncle to join us.

Followed by a stroll through the city.

After finishing, check into your accommodation.

Day 5: Take a leisurely stroll to Pearl Lake and be the coolest person in Yadding City, turning heads among the locals.

1. Take the bus back to the original stop, but take the path with the grates instead. This will give you a new perspective and the path is not as steep.

2. When you reach the fork in the road, walk towards the temple to reach Pearl Lake (cross the wooden bridge with the prayer flags).

3. Keep walking and you will reach Pearl Lake. It's much easier than yesterday.

4. Afterwards, pick up your luggage from your accommodation and take the bus back to the ticket office. Then find accommodation in Yadding City, or if you are going to Taocen first, take a taxi directly.

5. Relax and eat until your stomach bursts, because we know you are as hungry as we are, haha.

**Day 6: April 13, 2017: Daocheng (稻城) to Shangri-la**

Today, we will travel back to Shangri-la. We left around 9:00 AM. Shortly after leaving the city, we saw something that reminded me of the dream road to Shangri-la, a road that all bikers dream of riding at least once. It is a dream road for bikers, taking them and their beloved motorcycles on a beautiful journey.

Shortly after we continued our journey, we encountered a group of Thai people on motorcycles. We were envious of them. Along the way, there were road closures due to rockfalls and road repairs.

It took almost 7 pm to reach Shangri-La. We lost almost 2 hours due to road closures.

As I mentioned, there are many accommodations near Shangri-La. We walked around and found a place to stay near the city gate. We will stay near the front gate tonight and will not stay at trav.. 47 or anything like that, as it is quite a walk from the bus stop.

If you face the old city gate, it will be on your right-hand side. Try to find it. When we returned to Shangri-La, we separated from the other two people because they wanted to continue their trip. We have to go to Lijiang tomorrow. ^_^ Let's find something to eat. The restaurant is close to our accommodation, on the same side of the street as the accommodation, just a short distance from the old city gate, less than 50 meters away.

After a hearty meal, we took a stroll to Guishan Park to admire the night view of the "Roof of the World." Despite the late hour, around 11 pm, there were still a considerable number of tourists visiting the park.

Day 6: Surprisingly, there was nothing difficult today.

1. Woke up and took a comfortable ride back to Shagrila.

2. Found accommodation near the old city gate + had lunch. Then went for a walk and enjoyed the view of the world's roof at Guishan Park.

3. Went back to rest and will continue tomorrow.

Day 7: April 14, 2017: Shangri-La to Lijiang

This morning, we planned to go to Lijiang in the afternoon. As soon as we woke up, we immediately took a taxi to the bus station to buy tickets to Lijiang. However, they told us that we could buy tickets whenever we wanted, so we ended up taking a taxi to Songzanlin Temple to save time. The taxi driver charged us 20 yuan for a round trip.

We obtained tickets for 100 RMB from Travern47 accommodation. We took a bus to the front of the temple, but we could also have taken bus number 3 from the old town. However, we were short on time, so we chartered a car for 20 RMB, which was not expensive. Now, let's go and see the Songzanlin Temple and see if it lives up to its reputation.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

After strolling around the temple, we retrieved our luggage and returned to the bus station to board a bus to Lijiang. The bus fare was only 58 RMB per person.

Four hours passed, sleeping all the way. Haha.

The first thing we need to do is find a bus to the Old Town. Walk out of the bus station and take bus number 11 to the Old Town (the bus stop is in front of the station).

Get off after 7-8 stops. Look for the building on the left-hand side across the street.

Then we went straight down and walked in the same direction as the road, and we found the entrance to the old town. The entrance is on the right-hand side (there are signs all the way). Then we walked around looking for accommodation in the old town. There are a lot of places to stay here, so you can choose whatever you like. But we were too lazy to walk around looking for a place, haha, so we just took the first one we saw. It's located right at the entrance to the old town.

After resting and recovering from our fatigue, we set out to find a car to take us to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain the next day.

After we got the car, we went for a walk at Black Dragon Pool. The scenery along the way was breathtaking, with pink flowers blooming in full splendor on both sides of the path.

After visiting the Black Dragon Pool, we continued our exploration of the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in search of dinner. It's worth noting that by approximately 7:30 PM, entrance fees are no longer collected.

The highlight is here, Emerald City has coyote too, haha.

The main issue is that there are too many tourists. Haha, it's a real tourist town. When we were about to take photos on the temple, it turned out to be closed. The restaurants near the temple entrance were also very expensive. So we only got this far. We went into the restaurant to look at the view before leaving.

Day 7: Exploring Shangri-La and Traveling to Lijiang

Morning:

• We visited Songzanlin Monastery, hiring a car for 20 yuan.

Afternoon:

• After purchasing tickets, we boarded a bus to Lijiang for 58 yuan, with a travel time of 4 hours.
• Arriving at the Lijiang bus station, we took bus number 11 for 7-8 stops to reach the Lijiang Old Town.
• We found accommodation in the Old Town and then hired a car to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (alternatively, you can take a bus from the Black Dragon Pool).

Evening:

• We walked to Black Dragon Pool using the map app.
• Finally, we enjoyed exploring the Lijiang Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I will continue with the final part tomorrow.

Day 8: April 15, 2017: Jade Dragon Valley + Bluemoon Valley to Shenzhen

Our plan for today is to rush to buy tickets as soon as possible and then queue up to go up to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. We have an appointment with Uncle at around 7:00 am at the entrance of the Old Town. We have also prepared breakfast.

We arrived at the ticket booth around 7:30 am. Surprisingly, there was no one there except for the staff and a few vendors. We waited until around 8:00 am when the staff arrived and started setting up the equipment. At approximately 8:30 am, ticket sales began. There were many tour guides who also had to queue to purchase tickets for their clients. (The ticket booth is the first point of arrival and is located on the left-hand side.)

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

From the hole on the top, walk to the left and buy channels 5 and 6.

The total cost is 200 RMB per person, which includes 180 RMB for park admission and 20 RMB for the bus ride to the cable car station.

The entrance fee to the park is 130 RMB per person. Once you have passed through this point, ask the driver to step on the gas as there will be a lot of traffic. For those who have rented a car, you can have the driver drop you off in front of this building to save time queuing for the bus. Walk into the building.

He soon let us get on the bus, and at this point, it was a real squeeze. If we hadn't pushed, we wouldn't have made it. After a short bus ride, we had to queue again to get on the cable car.

If you need to use the restroom, there is one inside the building we are entering before you board the cable car. This will save you time from having to queue outside. We will be boarding the cable car shortly.

Upon reaching the summit, we were greeted by a breathtaking view. The mountain peak, towering at an altitude of 4506 meters, offered panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape.

Upon exiting, a sign indicating the bus stop for Blue Moon Valley will be visible. Board the bus and proceed to Blue Moon Valley. Upon arrival, two options are available: walking or taking a golf cart. We opted to walk due to the short distance and the high cost of the golf cart.

The bus stop for the park is located at the top of the hill. To return, simply board the bus at the same location. The walking path is on the left side of the image, marked by a small path leading downwards. To ride the golf cart, purchase tickets at the booth with the crowd, then walk towards the upper left corner of the image.

Upon arrival, we encountered the Blue Moon Valley, which, as described in the reviews, presented a different kind of beauty, though not quite awe-inspiring.

After a brief stop at the viewpoint, we returned to the original bus stop and took the same bus back to the initial boarding point. We then asked the driver who had brought us to take us to Blue Sky, where we boarded a shuttle bus to Lijiang Airport for 20 yuan.

It takes about 45 minutes to reach Lijiang Airport.

It's time to go home.

Day 8, the last day to access the essence of the Shangri-la Trail

1. Wake up early and take a bus to the ticket office, which will be the first place on the right. The ticket price is 180 RMB + bus fare 20 RMB + park entrance fee 130 RMB = 330 RMB. Prepare it for your friends so you don't waste time.

2. After buying the ticket, hurry up and take the bus to the building where you take the cable car. If you take a taxi, ask him to take you there. If you walk, it will be behind the show. Then walk into the second building inside (follow the route they have).

3. When you get to the exit, the right hand side will be the queue to take the bus to Blue Moon Valley.

4. Then go back ^_^ For those who plan to fly back, it is recommended to take the flight at Blue Sky, because there is a shuttle bus to get there.

Thank you all so much for reading this far. Haha, is it too much? Haha!

Note: The subway in Kunming City is nearing completion. If you plan to visit after around August or September, you can take the subway, which will be the most convenient option.