Journey Along the Tea Horse Road

Yunnan, “South of the Clouds”, is one of China’s most distinctive provinces, renowned for its spectacular scenery, its cuisine, and for the many diverse customs and cultures within its borders. There is no better way to celebrate the end of 2020 than by joining The Hutong on our journey along the ancient Tea Horse Road. 

For centuries Yunnan’s proximity to Laos, Myanmar (Burma), and Vietnam, as well as the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Tibet, has made it a vibrant hotbed of cultural exchange, driven by trade and migration.

Lying east of the Himalayas, the province boasts of some of the world’s most stunning mountain landscapes. Its rugged terrain shielded local people from much of the turbulence of China’s past, helping to insulate and preserve the traditions of its many ethnic minority cultures.

Trekking the Tea Horse Road with us, you’ll tackle arduous terrain and interact with local communities along an ancient trade route which, for over a thousand years, connected the peoples of Southwest China.

Each day you’ll have the chance to experience activities exposing you to new challenges, new flavors, and new stories. 

Get ready to experience China like never before and take home a new, unique perspective of the Middle Kingdom.

The oldest and best-preserved of the three old towns in the Lijiang valley, Baisha was once the capital of the Naxi. The village offers a glimpse into the rich history of the Tea Horse Road and the colorful culture of the Naxi people.

Just over two hours from Lijiang, the Tiger Leaping Gorge forms a formidable physical border between Lijiang County and Shangri-la County. Created by the rushing waters of the mighty Jinsha River, the Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of Yunnan’s must-visit natural sites. 

Flanked by Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (5,596m) in the east and Haba Snow Mountain (5,395m) in the west, the gorge is truly a sight to behold.

The population of the gorge is primarily made up of the indigenous Naxi people, who live in a handful of small hamlets. The Tiger Leaping Gorge hike is famous for its scenery and level of challenge.

If, however, you’re not a keen hiker, there will be other opportunities to explore the area’s farmlands and villages on two wheels.

Sleepy Shaxi Valley was the last outpost on the Tea Horse Road before caravans headed for Tibet and the harsh terrain ahead. Predominantly populated by the Bai people, Shaxi offers interaction with another of Yunnan’s distinctive local cultures alongside the chance to take in more breathtaking natural beauty.

Our final night will be in Baisha old town, Lijiang where we’ll get a chance to explore a beautiful old town, before finishing with delicious food.

Join The Hutong on an adventure along the ancient Tea Horse Road, 

hiking and cycling through history.

Our 2020 Northern Yunnan Exploration will run from Sunday, December 27th to Sunday, January 3rd, 2021.

Come to check our Itinerary:

Day 1 - December 27

Arrival in Lijiang (Baisha)

Our first stop is Baisha, a former stronghold of the Lijiang Valley, which sits in the shadow of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (5,596m).

Whether you fly into Lijiang or fly to Kunming and take a train or bus, our team will coordinate to meet you at your point of arrival and bring you to our cozy accommodation in Baisha Old Town. Baisha is the oldest of the Lijiang Valley’s three ancient Tea Horse Road hubs. The town offers a glimpse into a bygone era, where rich traditions abound.

Our team will help you check-in and you’ll have a chance to explore Baisha. In the evening, we’ll kick off the trip with a delicious traditional Naxi Meal, which includes homemade tofu, Yunnan boiled dumplings, and yak meat hot pot.

Our accommodation for the evening is in one of the town’s beautiful wooden courtyard guesthouses. 

*Lijiang valley’s altitude is approx. 2400m. Upon arrival, you may experience some slight discomfort for the first day due to altitude.

Day 2 - December 28

Baishai

On our second day, we’ll explore Lijiang Valley’s rich cultural heritage and history. In the morning, we’ll take a dive deep into Naxi culture and the history of the Tea Horse Road, with a tour of Baisha Old Town and some hands-on activities.

In the afternoon we will hike up to Puji Monastery, a 350-year-old Tibetan Buddhist monastery. 

Idyllic Shuhe old town, another former hub of the Tea Horse Road, will host us in the evening for dinner, along with some night-time shopping and, of course, exploring.  

Day 3 - December 29

Tiger Leaping Gorge - Shaxi 

Approximately 12km. The trail begins around 1800m. The total ascent will be approx. 1000 meters, and descent approx. 400m. Our sleeping altitude is approx. 2400m.

After breakfast, we’ll make our way along the Jinsha River to Tiger Leaping Gorge. As we climb, the first part of the trail will offer incredible views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After our morning ascent, we’ll stop for lunch at a quaint family guesthouse.

In the afternoon, we’ll move off-road onto part of the original Tea Horse Road to tackle the hardest part of the hike: the 28 bends.

After reaching the highest point of the trail – approximately 2,800m up – we’ll slowly descend towards our guesthouse for the evening.

At night, we’ll dine on a hearty meal prepared by our friends, the Yangs, get the bonfire going, and enjoy gazing at the stars over the gorge.

Day 4 -  December 30

Tiger Leaping Gorge - Shaxi

Over breakfast, we’ll take in the morning views of the mountains on the guesthouse terrace as we wake up to the taste of Yunnan tea and coffee. Refueled and ready to go, we’ll take on the second part of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. 

Today’s route is longer but less demanding than yesterday’s. The relatively flat, relatively exposed, first half of the trail offers spectacular views of quaint mountain villages, waterfalls, and the raging river below. 

After that, it’ll be a fairly sharp descent to our finishing point, just above the river. We’ll stop to snap some photos and check out the gorge from below before heading south to our next stop: Shaxi.

Day 5 -  December 31

Shaxi

In Shaxi we’ll have another chance to engage with the rich history and cultural heritage so well-preserved throughout this sleepy valley. 

In the morning we’ll explore our neighborhood and Sideng Square, once its vital trading hub’s center of commerce, recently added to the World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites. 

In the afternoon, our local partners will help us stray even further from the beaten path to explore yet more remote sights and meet with some of the valley’s remarkable people, learning about how life is lived here. 

In the evening, we’ll say goodbye to 2020  by taking in – and maybe joining in with, if you’re brave – some dancing in the old theater, accompanied by traditional music

Day 6 - January 1st

Shaxi

Friday means market day in Shaxi; the entire valley, young and old, comes to Sideng Old Town. Markets were a common feature of trade hub towns along the Tea Horse Road, and Shaxi’s market is one of the last remaining traditional weekly bazaars. The market is a remarkable place to experience, especially in the early morning.

In the afternoon we’ll take to two wheels, touring more of this beautiful valley’s intriguing villages and fertile fields. Not up for two wheels? 

That’s ok! We can point you in the direction of a spectacular – and leisurely – trail leading to an azure mountain spring.

Day 7 - January 2nd

Shaxi - Lijiang

Our final full day is dedicated to one of our journey’s most special experiences: a hike around the centuries-old Buddhist grottoes and temples of Shibaoshan. We’ll also get to tuck into a local BBQ fish lunch on the shores of an idyllic mountain lake. 

With the help of our local guides, we’ll unlock the magic of this sacred mountain and learn about its importance as a sanctuary for traveling horsemen in days of old. 

In the evening, we’ll transfer back to Lijiang where, in Dayan Old Town, we’ll enjoy a final dinner, capping the end of our journey. 

Day 8 - January 3rd

Departure from Lijiang

Our Northern Yunnan journey unfortunately must end here. Whether you are staying on or heading home, flights/trains depart out of Lijiang for Kunming, Beijing, Shanghai, or anywhere else your travel plans may take you.

Trip Details

Hiking Info:

HIKE 1: Tiger Leaping Gorge

Distance: ~13km // Difficulty: 4 / 5

Challenging uphills. The trail begins at ~1,800m. The total ascent will be ~1,000m, and the descent ~400m. Our sleeping altitude is ~2,400m. 

HIKE 2: Tiger Leaping Gorge

Distance: ~13km // Difficulty: 2 / 5

The trail begins around ~2,400m. Total ascent will be around ~100 meters and total descent ~500m. 

HIKE 3: Shibaoshan

Distance: ~10km // Difficulty: 2.5-3 / 5

Steep ascent at the start before leveling off.

Cycle: Shaxi Valley

Difficulty: 2 / 5

Undulating hills on parts of the trail, but an easy cycle for most

Cycling is not a mandatory activity - if you would prefer to not cycle, we can make suggestions on alternative activities. We will do our best to accommodate participants who would like to ride, however, please note there is limited availability of smaller type bikes, with smaller children’s bikes not available. 

*For the Tiger Leaping Gorge, we will have a safe vehicle to support if you are struggling.

Price:

9,600 RMB per person.

*Family package pricing is available. Please speak to our Hutong team for more information.

Included: All meals listed on Itinerary, twin-share accommodation, mountain bike, helmet,  and vehicle transfers to and from Lijiang Airport/train station.

Not included: Your travel expenses to Lijiang. We recommend arriving in Lijiang by early afternoon on Sunday, December 27. On Sunday, January 3 we will end the program in Lijiang before lunchtime.

Accommodation:

Part of the adventure of going to Northern Yunnan is staying in guesthouses in the beautiful old towns of the Tea and Horse Road. Nights 1-6 will be spent in clean, comfortable guesthouse accommodation with private Western-style ensuite bathrooms, and the final night in a hotel.

The program fees cover accommodation based on twin occupancy. 

If a participant would like to have their own single room, we can accommodate for an additional fee of 1800 RMB.

Larger family-style rooms are also available in most guesthouses upon request.

Start Date: Sunday, December 27th, 2020 

This journey begins in Lijiang. Participants should plan their travel to arrive in Lijiang by the afternoon of Sunday, December 27th. The Hutong will help to arrange a group flight option.

Fun and engaging programming in Baisha Old Town will be available from our team for participants who arrive early (before dinner) on December 27th

Return Date: Sunday, January 3rd, 2021

The program is set to end on January 3rd back in Lijiang. Transport will be provided for participants to and from the airport/train station on the 3rd. 

For any participants that would like to travel on their own from Shaxi, instead of returning with the group to Lijiang on the evening of the 2nd, The Hutong can accommodate you that night and provide tips if you are staying in Shaxi or travel onwards.

Transportation options: 

Direct Flight to/From Lijiang: There are several daily direct flights to Lijiang from cities around China. 

Via Kunming: Kunming is a much larger airport with many more (often cheaper) flight options from various cities. From Kunming, our preferred option is High-Speed Rail. The new HSR station in Kunming makes travel easy and comfortable, around a 2.5Hours trip. There are also short flight and bus options to Lijiang. 

For those participants interested in coming early or staying longer in Northern Yunnan, The Hutong will provide tips on what to do, see and eat while exploring on your own. 

How to book:

To receive an itinerary and reserve your space, contact [e-mail]. 

Some upcoming programs:

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