Yunnan Highlands Local Culture 11-Day Tour (CIT004) Photo Itinerary: Day 8
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Day 8: Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Xianggelila (Shangri-La)
Xianggelila Accommodations: Holy Palace Hotel – Shangri-la 龙凤祥 (4-Star) or equivalent
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| 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) |
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| —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 Chris Feser) |
The water grows turbulent as it flows deeper into the gorge (photo by Chen Ying) |
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| 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) |
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| 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*) |
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| …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) |
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| 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) |
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| Xianggelila: a land that sometimes does seem too beautiful to be real (photo by Liu Shu) |
Remote hamlets (photo by “The Tenth Dragon“) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| The entrance to Songzanlin (photo by CIT) |
A ceiling mural (photo by CIT) |
A demonic figure on the wall (photo by CIT) |
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| 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) |
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| Even clouds here seem like celestial sculptures (photo by Edwin Lee) |
Traditional architecture (photo by Tracy Liu*) |
Firewood for the monastery (photo by CIT) |
Rooflines fit like puzzle pieces with the sky (photo by CIT’s Tracy Liu*) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
* Unlicensed photos are used by permission of the photographer.
Continue to Yunnan Highlands Local Culture 11-Day Tour Days 9–11
Return to Yunnan Highlands Local Culture 11-Day Tour Days 6–7