The writer with her friends at the Napa Sea Grasslands, posing between the lang du hua shrubs.
My friends and I had planned for a trip to Jiuzhaigou, China, back in 2017 but the place experienced a major earthquake, forcing us to redirect our holiday to Yunnan instead.
It turned out to be one of our best trips to China.
One of the highlights was the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain or Yulong Xueshan in Lijiang. A cable car ride took us to the viewing platform, located 4,506m above sea level. Stepping out onto the platform, our hearts sank to see the whole area shrouded in mist. But just when we thought that we would have to wast a whole hour there, the mist cleared and we saw it – the jagged peaks of the mountain in all its splendour.
The platform gave us a panoramic view of not only the mountain’s peaks but also its surroundings, including one of its glaciers.
Our next destination was the Blue Moon Valley or White Water River located at the foot of Yulong Xueshan. The scenic views along the river, of waterfalls and yaks ridden by maidens wearing traditional attire, were capped by the stunningly beautiful White Water Terraced Waterfall. This is a series of fan-shaped tiers with water cascading down each tier. Truly a sight to behold!
The beautiful White Water Terraced Waterfall. — Photos: S.L. LIM
We got to watch Zhang Yimou’s Impressions Of Lijiang theatre show, with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the backdrop. The performance was great, although it was a very hot day and we were a little uncomfortable.
Another highlight was the famed Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world, located 60km north of Lijiang. Our guide warned us that we would have to go down 1,000 steps to the gorge and then up another 860 steps to the parking area after that. We decided to give it a go and were amply rewarded.
There is nothing like being right next to the raging waters of the gorge and seeing the statue of the roaring tiger. Our huffing-and-puffing ascent, mitigated somewhat by following the guide’s advice of breathing in on one step and breathing out on the next, added to a most memorable experience.
Next on the list was the Napa Sea Grasslands in Shangri-la, meaning Land of Sacredness and Peace. En route, we saw stupas and works of art symbolic of Tibetan culture. The grasslands were dotted with red shrubs which our guide called “lang du hua”, literally translated as “wolf poison flower”. For nature lovers like us, the grasslands, with red shrubs and bordered by hills, was amazing. Further along the grasslands was Napa Lake which mirrored the sky.
The picturesque Napa Lake.
A visit to Shangri-la would not be complete without experiencing some Tibetan culture. We went to a Tibetan house, where we received a white khata (scarf) at the door. We were served some snacks comprising roasted seeds, biscuits and extremely sour yak yogurt. When we were served a small bowl of yak butter tea, I was a bit apprehensive, since I am generally squeamish when it comes to tasting new foods.
Surprisingly, it tasted quite nice and I drank the two-thirds we were instructed to, leaving the rest for making tsampa, a Tibetan staple. This we made by adding roasted barley flour to the remaining tea and mixing them to form a small ball.
Verdict? Pleasant-tasting. An experience not to be missed.
The gorgeous limestone outcrops at the Stone Forest in Kunming.
The Stone Forest or Shilin in Kunming was the final highlight in Yunnan for me. Comprising the Greater and Lesser Stone Forests, it is a spectacular set of limestone outcrops which you have to see with your own eyes to realise its magnificence. It is truly one of nature’s marvels and befits its status as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Although we enjoyed visiting the other tourist attractions in the itinerary, the above mentioned are the ones that will forever be etched in our memory.
The views expressed are entirely the reader’s own.
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