5 Days of Kunming - Shangri-la - Luoji - Hongxin Village - Niru Village - Shudu Lake - Shangri-la

Peaceful Niru Village, Yunnan Province

Day 01: Hire a car and drive for one hour to Shudu Lake situated at an altitude of 3,600 meters. This mirror-like alpine lake is known as the Pearl on the Plateau. Starting hiking across the forest beside the lake and it takes about an hour to reach Cuopu Pasture. Cross the Cuopu Mountain in the virgin forest and it takes around 2.5 hours to reach the vast and classic Diji Pasture, located in the Tibetan area with an altitude of 3800 meters.  Camp overnight on the pasture.

Day 02: Get up early to catch the beautiful sunrise as well as the plants and flowers on the alp. Hike for half an hour from Deji Pasture to the Benggalaka Mountain Pass. Continue for 2 hours to cross the Benggalaka Mountain (3980m), which overlooks the Dalagong Mountain. Enjoy the beauty of the pasture on the mountain. Walk along the clear Niru River in the virgin forest and you will reach Qicai Waterfall (3150 meters). Hike for another 3 hours to reach Niru Village. Along the way, enjoy the beauty of the Xiajiang Pasture and the valley of Niru River. Upon reaching the Niru Village at Xanadu, visit a local Tibetan family and the Niru elementary school. Stay overnight in the village.

Shudu Lake near Shangri-la

Day 03: Enjoy the natural beauty of the village try taking part in the class at the Niru elementary school. Niru Village is 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) away from Hongxing Village and it takes about 4 hours of hiking time. En route, visit the Xianren Cave, the valley of the Niru River, the waterfall of Yin River, the Valley of Guanmen Mountain and the village of Lisu Minority. Upon arrival at Hongxing Village, visit a local family and the elementary school. Stay overnight in the village.

Day 04: Hike 4 to 5 hours from Hongxing Village to Luoji Village (2220 meters). located 16km away. From Luoji Village, take a bus for about 2.5 hours ride back to Shangri-la located 87km away. 

After a rest in Shangri-la, it is recommended to take a bus to the Tiansheng Bridge Hot Spring Resort located on the east of Shangri-la 10km away. The Tiansheng Bridge is a natural bridge made of limestone on the upper stream of Shudugang River. The hot springs and bridges are the main characteristic of the resort and there are many of the former within the 2000 square meters of the resort. Temperature of the hot springs ranges from 40℃ to 50℃. Staying overnight at the hotel, where one can view the green mountains and river.

Day 05: Drive yourself back to Shangri-la.