Cycling tour from Lijiang to Lugu Lake
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Visiting: Lijiang, Lugu lake
Duration: 7days
Biking Distance: Approx.65km/day
Biking Time: 6-8h/day
Best season:Mar-May, Sep-Oct
Itinerary :
Day1, Kunming-Lijiang (by air)
Arrive in Lijiang, pick you up from the airport and then claim your bike, start explore the ancient townof Lijiang. The town has a history going back more than 800 years and was once a confluence for trade along the old tea horse road. The Lijiang old town is famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges. The old town of Lijiang differs from other ancient Chinese cities in architecture, history and the culture of its traditional residents the Nakhi people
Overnight in 4 star local hostel in LiJiang
Day2,Lijiang/Lugu Lake/Luoshui Village (B/L/D)
Drive from Lijiang to Lugu Lake, after 6-7 hours drive, we will arrive the Luoshui village in Lugu Lake, Luoshui Village in Yunnan has 2771 inhabitants.
The village is a collection of wooden Mosuo homes and guesthouses painted in Mosuo style and built right on the Lugu lakeshore. For 2,000 years, the Mosuos have maintained a society in which women uphold the integrity and assume leadership roles in the community. The men work in the mother′s fields rather than the wife′s fields and are resident at their mother′s house.
All children born to a couple belong to the woman and live in her household: no special effort is made to recognize paternity. There are also many interesting spots for amusement and relaxation, such as the Mosuo Garden, the Goddess Garden, the Ethnic custom Garden, and the Ethnic Culture Garden.
Overnight in local hostel in Luoshui Village, Lugu Lake (B/L/D)
Day3, Lugu Lake round trip (B/L/D)
Road condition: 10km gravel road, 10km country road, and others is mainly blacktop.
Distance:50km
Evelation:around 2690m
Time:4-5hrs riding
Lugu Lake,which is a high mountain plateau lake, 2685 meters above sea level, located 202 km northeast of Lijiang on the border of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in China. The lake is 48.5 square km in area and is quite deep, being about 93.5 m at its deepest point.It is surrounded by mountains and has eight islands and many bays and beaches.
The inhabitants around the lake are the Mosuo people, a small tribe that is considered a sub clan of Naxi people. They are a matriarchal society and seek to maintain that heritage. The Mosuo currently do not have a written language
Day4, Lugu Lake/Hongqiao county(B/L/D)
Road condition: most of the road is gravel.
Distance:80km
Evelation: 2240m-2690m
Time:7-8hrs riding
This leg of the route must be the first challenge of the whole riding tour. You will be on your way to climb over 3 mountains and pass by several lovely villages then arrive Hongqiao county.
Overnight in local hostel in Hongqiao County
Day5, Hongqiao county/Ninglang town/Shudi county (B/L/D)
Road condition: most of the road is gravel.
Distance:85km
Evelation: 2240m-2800m
Time:7-8hrs riding
It is mainly a hour uphill from Hongqiao county to Ninglang,where 90 percent persons are Yi People. In this leg of the tour, there will be a 25km continuous uphill slopes and a more than 30km downhill road, should be pretty Adventurous .
Overnight in local hostel in Shudi County
Day6,Shudi county/Lijiang (B/L/D)
Road condition: most of the road is gravel.
Distance:50km
Evelation: 2800m-2400m
Time:7hrs riding
After the breakfast, ride for 2km downhill till encountering Jinsha River, then crossing the bridge, it will be turn out the most and last challenge part of the cycling tour, a 25km slope to ride up, which is famous as “18 turns from Lijiang to Ninglang”. When you accomplish that, there will be 8 km downhill and then you will enter the Lijiang border and ride straight to the finish line. Upon arrival, return the bike and relax yourselves in Lijiang town. Celebrate with a beer!!
Overnight in local hostel in LiJiang town
Day 7, Lijiang /Kumming(B)
Free day in Lijiang, Then fly to Kunming, end of the tour
Tips:
Suggestion Spots visit for your free time:
-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain:The mountain consists of 13 peaks. Among of them, the highest one is 18000 feet above sea level. It is a treasure of wild plants and rare animals.
-Yak Meadow(Maoniuping):Part of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, where the Yi and Zang Minority Ethnic Tribes live.（Tibetan）
-Baishuihe: a similar spot as Baishuitai, the birthplace of Naxi Minority Ethnic Tribe and their culture-Dongba, a wonder of water and limestone.
-Baisha Murals: With the spread of the Buddhism, people painted plenty of murals on the walls in temples since Ming Dynasty.
-Black Dragon Pool and the Ancient Lijiang City.
-The Black Dragon Pool:The park holds the Black Dragon Pool and got name because of it. The pool is listed in the Collections of Famous Pools in China because of its beauty.
-Naxi Ancient Music:also features wonderful displays of folk songs. Performances nightly 2000.
The tour cost includes:
1.Meals daily as listed in the itinerary, picnic lunches in remote area if required(B-breakfast， L-lunch, D-dinner);
2. Service of English-speaking guide
3. Scenic spots admission fee; Nature Reserve Protection fee and/ or camping permit fee (inside nature reserve) if required
4. Accommodation: double-occupancy in 4 star hotel in big city, and the best hotel in small cities or counties, clean guest house/hostel/or home-stay in villages as clarified in the itinerary; camping in non-residential area as mentioned in the itinerary(tent and mattress),
5. One bike for each and supportive vehicles as required(For tours in the mountainous area like Yunnan, Qinghai, Tibet, etc. we strongly suggest the participant bring your own mountainous bike with you.)
6. All domestic flights/trains/local airport taxes if there is in the itinerary;
