5 Days of Lijiang - Ninglang County - Lugu Lake - Lijiang

Lijiang Old Town

On your first day in Lijiang, wander around in this old town to feel the folkway here. Walk to the Black Dragon Pool Park, which is also called Jade Spring Park and located only 500 meters northeast of the old town. You need to pay CNY20 to buy one ticket. If the weather is clear, you are strongly recommended to get up early to get here and see the rising sun from the snow mountain far away. There is a Pearl Spring, where you shout loudly and pearl-like bubbles will emerge from the bottom. You may wish to have a try. Do not forge to climb up the Elephant Hill with an elevation of 2,704 meters (8,871 feet). You will pass a road called 'Longevity Road' and have a panoramic view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. In the afternoon, visit Mu's Palace sitting about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) south of Black Dragon Pool Park. The admission charge is CNY35 and it is regarded as "the Forbidden City" of Naxi race. A local hostel – Anna's Tavern nearby is recommended (Address: No. 26 Wenhua Lane, Qiyi Road, Lijiang; Tel: 0888-5116312).

On the morning of your second day, take a coach to Ninglang County at the Central Passenger Station at a price of CNY36. After about 4.5 hours' driving, you will reach Ninglang County. Have your lunch here. Change to a minibus as a price of CNY20 to Lugu Lake, which is located 76 kilometers (47 miles) away from the Ninglang County. It will take you no more than 2 hours on the way. Please remember to take a panoramic picture of the lake at the viewing platform. The admission fee of this scenic area is CNY82. Pull up at Luoshui Village and stay at a guesthouse here. In the evening, you may join in a local campfire party if you are still energetic. It usually charges you CNY20.

Street of Lijiang Old Town

On your third day, visit the Lugu Lake Museum nearby first. Walk to Lige Village, a more peaceful part of the lake. It is nearly 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) away from Luoshui Village. After about 2.5-hour hiking, you will reach Lige Village. Here, it seems to keep more of the real Lugu Lake. The water is only half a meter away form the gate of every home. Have you lunch here and go on hiking to Dazui Village in the afternoon. Pass by the little Luoshui along the lake and you need to spend 3-4 hours on the way. You may have a chance to view three rainbows hanging above the lake at the same time. Stay overnight here.

On the fourth day, get up before 7:00 o'clock and climb up the posterior hill of Dazui Village to watch the sunrise. After breakfast, travel to the Ocean of Grass on foot. Pass by the Zuosuo Town and a village and you will get to the Ocean of Grass. You can have your lunch at Zuosuo Town and buy some supplement here. Visit the famous Walking Marriage Bridge. After that, take a cockleshell back to Luoshui Village. It will take you about 2.5 hours on the boat. Stay overnight there.

Take a minibus back to Nilang and change to a coach back to Lijiang. Tour ends.