Yunnan Highlands Local Culture 11-Day Tour (CIT004) Days 7-8

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
looms over Lijiang...
(photo by Filipe Fortes)

...a constant companion to
the people of Lijiang
(photo by Daniel)

Approach the mountain from the
"Dry Sea," a vast open area
(photo by CIT)

Take a gondola up
the mountain...
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

...and enjoy more and more
spectacular views as you go
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

Be spellbound by the interplay of
sunlight, clouds, and mountains
(photo by CIT)

Walk along a secluded forest
path to Cloud Fir Meadow
(photo by CIT's Anna Qin*)

Nature's ancient
meditative silence
(photo by CIT)

The only sounds: wind in the
trees, birds, and squirrels
(photo by CIT)

The path takes you into a
high mountain clearing...
(photo by CIT's Anna Qin*)

...where you can soak up the
atmosphere (thin though it is)...
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

...and take in close-up views of
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

Stop at White Water River
(really "Clear Water River")
(photo by CIT)

Admire the falls
(photo by CIT's Anna Qin*)

Both artificial...
(photo by CIT)

...and natural
(photo by CIT)

Go ahead, stick your
hand in – do it!
(photo by CIT)

Take a yak ride
while you're at it
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

Sticking your hand in a yak's
mouth? Probably unwise.
(photo by CIT)

The bridge at White
Water River
(photo by CIT)

The greenest green
you've ever seen
(photo by CIT)

Next stop:
Jade Water Village
(photo by T.D. Xiang)

A center of local Dongba
and Naxi culture
(photo by T.D. Xiang)

A bird god sacred
to the Naxi people
(photo by T.D. Xiang)

A Naxi dance performance at
Jade Water Village
(photo by T.D. Xiang)

Walk along the secluded forest path
to Cloud Fir Meadow
(video by CIT)

Enjoy stunning views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
from Cloud Fir Meadow
(video by CIT)

Scenery on the road to Xianggelila:
The Jinsha River, Mt. Haba,
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
(photo by CIT)

Pass over the Jinsha River,
the headwaters of the Yangtze
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

The Jinsha narrows as
it enters a gorge:
(photo by Chen Zhao)

Tiger Leaping
Gorge
(photo by CIT's Anna Qin*)

You might see herds
of goats as you travel
through the gorge
(photo by Mike Locke)

Or water falling
from the heights
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

The water grows turbulent as it
flows deeper into the gorge
(photo by Chen Ying)

Descend a
long stairway
(photo by CIT)

Gaze down the
length of the gorge
(photo by CIT)

Admire the bridge
on the other side
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

Rays of sunlight
penetrate the gorge
(photo by Chen Zhao)

Pass painted rocks on the way down
(photo by CIT)

Buy snacks
and souvenirs
(photo by CIT)

People dwarfed by the
gorge's enormous rocks
(photo by Jeremi Joslin)

Water rushes
through the gorge...
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

...and around boulders
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

A closer view of the bridge
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

The statue commemorates the tiger
that was supposedly seen jumping
across the narrowest part
(photo by Tom Thai)

Don't try to leap across - not even a
tiger on steroids could make it
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

Look up at the sun blocked out
by the walls of the gorge
(photo by CIT)

Walk alongside
the rapids
(photo by CIT)

Next stop:
Xianggelila
(photo by
Poppy Wu)

Xianggelila: a land that sometimes does
seem too beautiful to be real
(photo by Liu Shu)

Remote hamlets
(photo by "The Tenth Dragon")

Traditional rural life
(photo by "The Tenth Dragon")

Horses, cows, and yaks
roam the land
(photo by Edwin Lee)

Prayer flags: symbols of
the local Tibetan culture
(photo by Poppy Wu)

Pray you never
have to leave
(photo by Poppy Wu)

A closeup of the prayer
wheel on the left
(photo by Poppy Wu)

Songzanlin Monastery and
its environs
(photo by CIT)

The entrance to Songzanlin
(photo by CIT)

A ceiling mural
(photo by CIT)

A demonic figure on the wall
(photo by CIT)

Monastery buildings
(photo by CIT)

Simple buildings give way to
grand temples as you climb
(photo by CIT)

This place does seem close to
the pure blue heavens
(photo by CIT)

Even clouds here seem like
celestial sculptures
(photo by Edwin Lee)

Traditional
architecture
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

Firewood for
the monastery
(photo by CIT)

Rooflines fit like puzzle
pieces with the sky
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

Birds of prey:
a common sight
(photo by Edwin Lee)

Climb first to
the left temple
(photo by CIT)

Colorful decor in the
courtyard below the left temple
(photo by CIT)

Imposing statues and lavish works
of art are secreted within
(photo by CIT)

Smoke and
sunlight
(photo by CIT)

A possibly taboo shot
of the interior
(photo by Chen Ying)

Monks gaze
downward
(photo by Chen Ying)

Sun and shadows
in the courtyard
(photo by CIT)

The view from the top of the stairs:
on top of the top of the world
(photo by CIT)

Pointing at the
crescent moon
(photo by CIT)

The right-hand temple
(photo by CIT)

A sight at once thrilling,
sobering, and welcoming
(photo by CIT)

A shy young monk takes a
tentative look out the window
(photo by CIT's Tracy Liu*)

Spinning a prayer wheel:
No whammies...Stop!
(photo by CIT)

Turbulent Water at Tiger Leaping Gorge
(video by CIT)

The mountain road from Lijiang to Xianggelila
(video by CIT)