"There are sacred snow-capped mountains, deep canyons, tranquil lakes surrounded by forests, clear mirror-like skies, golden and brilliant temples..." Diqing Shangri-La has always been the pure land in the eyes of everyone and the "sun and moon in the heart" of Tibetans.
No matter how noisy the world is, the sparsely populated Shangri-La is still the paradise scene depicted in "The Vanishing Horizon", when the descendants of the Tea Horse Ancient Road lived in the meadows and ancient cities without dispute, and the solid rammed earth wall framed the undisturbed tranquility of Tibetan families.
Maybe you have seen the grand scenery of "Rizhao Golden Mountain", strolled through the ancient city of Dukezong, and prayed on pilgrimage and worship at Songzanlin Temple...
You may also punch in the majestic Tiger Leaping Gorge, go to the Napa Sea, the "wintering habitat of rare migratory birds", and visit the "primordial paradise" Pudatso...
But Shangri-La also has a "mysterious and niche secret place" - Abu Jicuo, you may not have punched the clock, or even heard of it, travelers like to call this place "a piece of Shangri-La Pure Land", "Shambhala Secret Place", "The Last Shangri-La", Abu Ji Tso is hidden in the deep mountains and old forests of Heping Village, Xiaozhongdian Town, Shangri-La City, Diqing Prefecture.
▲ The variety show "Happiness Trio" was once filmed by Abu Jicuo
"Abuji" in Tibetan means magical place, "Tso" is the lake, this is a secret place that few tourists know, 99% of people who go to Shangri-La have never heard of this place, even if it is a local indigenous, few people know, this place is sparsely populated, not yet fully developed.
Driving into Xiaozhongdian by vehicle, you can see the Dejilin Temple, the first temple in Tibet, and then enter a relatively bumpy stone section, all the way to meadows, pastures, idle cattle, sheep and horses, there are few people, and the mobile phone signal gradually disappears, as if entering the depths of Taoyuan.
Vehicles drive to the end, the rest of the road can only be measured with footsteps, explore Abu Ji Tso, hiking is the best way, into the village must be brought in by a local guide, hiking round trip takes about 4 to 5 hours, all the way accompanied by towering stone mountains, walking along the mountain spring, you can see rhubarb leaf tree, half lotus bract viola, total green velvet artemisia, wind hair chrysanthemum and other alpine vegetation, go to the right time, you can also see a large area of blooming alpine rhododendron.
In addition to the temple Dejilin Temple, the rugged majesty of Mount Abuji, the first sacred mountain, can also be seen at a glance. When you reach the summit of about 4200 meters above sea level, you will be shocked: the clear lake is like the tears of a lover, dripping on the heart of Abuji, Abujicuo is deep and clear, shaped like a fifteen-year moon, lying quietly in the mountains on all sides, and the peaks of the great shore are reflected in the mirror-like lake.
This 10km or so hiking trail is stunning, and the scenery is no less than other classic high-altitude hiking trails. "Vanishing Horizon" once said: "Shangri-La is a place where people and gods live together", so Abu Qui Tso is one of the good interpretations. In Abu Ghizo, you can see the most pristine natural appearance: snow-capped mountains, forests, rivers, alpine lakes, glaciers, yaks, sheep and horses...
This niche attraction hidden in the sacred mountain, there is no noise of the city, every day there is only the sound of wind blowing prayer flags and the copper bells on the horse, no matter when you look up, it is a cold but gentle snowy mountain, there is no network here, there is no disturbance, everyone and everything becomes simple and pure, let you only focus on your feet and heart.
Hike the rain and worship the waterfall
Yubang Hiking, one of the top ten classic hiking routes in China, is now a mature outdoor route in Meili. One of the tours will also take you on a hike to rainstorms. From Yubang Village to the Sacred Waterfall under the snowy mountains, a round trip of 12 kilometers takes about 5-6 hours. On the hike, you will see meadows, encounter cows and horses walking, and you can feel the peace and tranquility of the world.
There is a small lake on the grass of the village of Rainbang, and the reflections of the Goddess Peak and the Five Crown Peaks are framed into the lake. When tourists come to the lake, the first thing they do is to catch the flock of ducks playing in the lake to the shore, and then wait for the first rays of sunlight to light the snow peaks.
The Sacred Waterfall is a sacred place in the hearts of local villagers, and it is also the end of the traditional Merline Turning Mountain, which is 12 kilometers from The Rainy Beng Village to the Sacred Waterfall. At the top of the snow-capped mountain, the wind and snow are full of wind and snow, hiding the secret path to heaven, and the ancient ice and snow quietly melt and wash away the dust of the mortal world. Only by visiting the foot of the waterfall can you understand the shock and understand why this is a sacred place in the hearts of the locals.
In the Chronicle of the Sacred Land of Kawagbo, it is said: "Worshiping the rain and the waterfall can increase the blessing of the blessed, the blessed are blessed, the life of the life expectant is increased, and the life of the life of the end is prolonged."
According to the custom, under the sacred waterfall, people who come to the mountain must go to the underwater bathing of the sacred waterfall, and turn three times clockwise along the sacred waterfall water, which means that all the darkness on the body will be washed away with holy water, praying for the protection of the sacred mountain, and from then on the body and mind are holy, it is said that only blessed and virtuous people will be drenched by the sacred waterfall.
A beautiful wild view hotel
In Yubang, arrange a stay at the newly opened Yeyu Yeyu Yeyu Yebuyejing Hotel in 2021, which occupies the excellent geographical position of Shimomura, not only can you enjoy the Meili Snow Mountain up close, but also a few minutes walk into the original forest.
Each room can face the snow-capped mountains, lie on the bed and enjoy the sunshine of the golden mountain, and the rooms and public areas are equipped with underfloor heating.
In order to maximize the beauty of the rain collapse, the lobby of the Noriel Hotel has designed a 14-meter-wide panoramic floor-to-ceiling window to give a panoramic view of the meadow forest, snow-capped mountains and other stunning views. The common area has sunken sofas and floor-to-ceiling windows, where you can sit and drink tea from the fireplace and watch horses, yaks and even Tibetan pigs graze in the meadow.
Nozomi has only 10 rooms, each of which is designed with panoramic windows and faces the Peak of the Goddess and the Five Crowns of the Meili Snow Mountain. If it is sunny, you can lie in bed and watch the Meili Snow Mountain Sunshine Golden Mountain; if it rains, you can sit and watch the fog and clouds rise all day without getting tired; if it is half sunny and half rainy, you have the opportunity to see the rainbow between the snowy mountains and the forest.
Cizhong: Church and fine wine
If the Meili Snow Mountain in Yunnan is the closest place to heaven, then Cizhong, which also belongs to Deqin County, is the passage to open the gate of heaven. Although it is not as prosperous as the ancient cities of Lijiang and Dali, it is a quiet and beautiful place of Shambhala.
Cizhong is located at the bottom of the upper valley of the Lancang River, at the junction of the Nushan Mountains and the Biluo Snow Mountain, and is also a must-visit place for Meili's pilgrimage. Nestled among green fields and vineyards, the tranquil village is surrounded by colourful horse flags, farmhouses and waterfalls.
Tsitsa has a legendary history, and as early as a hundred years ago, French missionaries used it as a gateway to the heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Catholicism and Tibetan Buddhism coexist harmoniously here, and the power of tolerance can be better understood through the distance from the church to the Buddhist church.
The most famous place here is the Church of Cizhong, which was built by French missionaries at that time and combined Chinese and Western styles. Built in 1867 and rebuilt in 1909, the main building sits west-facing east and is a brick and wood structure that reflects not only the characteristics of Basilicaan churches, but also the characteristics of Roman churches.
The front of the church is a tall bell tower, and the upper part of the bell tower, although it is a Chinese pavilion with a Chinese cornice tile roof, the cross marks at the top of its two ends still confirm its Western-style identity.
If you are visiting every Monday, Wednesday or Friday, after dinner, you can also go to the Centennial Catholic Church to visit Mass and see the local villagers wearing national costumes and chanting scriptures in Tibetan.
French missionaries brought not only churches, but also viticulture culture and winemaking techniques. Today, almost every house in Zzhong grows grapes and makes wine. Every summer and autumn, more and more domestic and foreign tourists come to visit the church and taste fine wine, and for a time this small village, which was once unknown to the world, is also famous at home and abroad.
The grape variety grown here is called Madame Hua (also known as rose honey), which was originally a variety from Bordeaux, France, and has been cultivated for more than 500 years. It is said that the variety has disappeared in France, which no one expected, but eventually survived in this remote village in the East.
This tour will take you to visit the Xiaoling WineRy here. Xiaoling is not only a Chinese winery that inherits the spirit of the Burgundy terroir, it does more than just winemaking in Shangri-La. While transmitting the terroir, cultivating the terroir and understanding the terroir is also the mission that the winery has set for itself from beginning to end. While visiting the winery, we can learn about the local brewing process and taste the unique taste of the red wine that has been bred in the land of Cizhong.
The charm of a thousand-year-old Tibetan Buddhist temple
More than 20 kilometers from Benzilan, there stands an important large monastery on the border between Yunnan and Tibet, called Kadan Dongzhulin Temple, perhaps it is too far from the county seat, only tourists to Meili will stay for a short time, so it is not as crowded as Songzanlin Temple, so it maintains a purity and purity.
Dongzhulin Temple was founded in 1667 (the sixth year of the Qing Kangxi Dynasty), and was originally named "Chong Chong TsoGang Temple", which means the temple by the shore of the Xianhe Lake. The temple has a five-story hall, a scripture academy, a dharma academy, and 104 monastic houses.
Dongzhulin Temple is one of the thirteen great temples of Kangzang, and legend has it that a long time ago, a high monk yun traveled here, saw the pyramid-shaped mountain here, and thought that it was the embodiment of the gods, so he built a temple here to worship. Today's Dongzhulin Temple is huge in scale and has many lamas, and it is not inferior to Songzanlin Temple at all.
The Buddha statues in the courtyard are exquisitely complete, preserving the rare Shambhala Kalachakra Three-dimensional Mandala, carrying the intact traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastic culture, just waiting quietly, the soul can also get a moment of peace.
Look for the Shambhala of your dreams
Shangri-La, a haunting place. And Duke Dzong City, located in the southeast corner of Shangri-La County, may be the white moonlight in the hearts of Tibetan travelers.
As one of the oldest Tibetan residential groups, the ancient city of Dukezong was first established in the tang yifeng and tiaolu years (676-679 AD) and was developed from a fortress on the top of The Big Turtle Mountain. Legend has it that the concept of building the city at that time was due to the fact that there were living Buddhas looking at the ancient city from the top of the mountain opposite the ancient city, and found that the big turtle mountain was like a lotus master sitting on a lotus, so the construction layout of the ancient city resembled an eight-petal lotus, forming a space due to natural changes.
In the construction of the ancient city, most of the building materials are made of local materials. Craftsmen discovered that a locally produced white clay could be used as paint for the exterior walls of houses, so the facades of ancient city houses were painted white, a style that has been used to this day.
On the night of the moon, the silver moonlight dresses the white ancient city as enchanting, so the locals call the ancient city "Duke Sect", which means white stone city in Tibetan, meaning moonlight city.
The itinerary specially arranges a night tour of The Ancient City of Dukezong, exploring a hidden leisure place in the ancient city, which is an old house with a history of more than 400 years, where there are few tourists, but there is a very wonderful Tibetan music, the owner of the small shop is good at interpreting the original Tibetan folk tunes, sometimes high-pitched and sometimes low chanting makes people completely relaxed.
Luxurious stay
On the first night, after flying to Diqing Shangri-La Airport, we will take a special car to Benzilan, which is a warm station in the dry and hot river valley and a secret garden with melons and fruits. Songzan Benzilan Mountain Residence is hidden in a green valley in this room, from the desolate to the plump green, the natural changes between the steps are easily stretched.
It is also the lowest hotel in the Songzan series, with an altitude of less than 2 kilometers. The hotel is surrounded by authentic White-walled Tibetan residential buildings, with iconic wooden and stone-framed Tibetan-style buildings complementing the wooden-roofed white-walled farmhouses.
The second night of the trip stayed at the Songzantz Mountain Residence. The hotel is located on the high ground of the village of Cizhong Village, two two-storey Tibetan-style stone and wood structures are surrounded by mountains and water, leaning on the white pagoda and the statue of Master Lotus At the head of the village, overlooking the Lancang River Gorge and the Cizhong Catholic Church.
The interior design of the mountain house combines Chinese and Western aesthetic characteristics: blue and white porcelain table lamps, walnut wood floors and old-fashioned furniture, exuding a subtle and simple oriental beauty; European chandeliers, copper candlesticks and fireplaces and other elements add old-school European aesthetic traces.
You will also punch down the hill SUNYATA Meili, the hotel is located next to China's most beautiful national highway - 214 National Highway, the commanding heights of foggy village, this earth ash "castle" was formerly known as the Seasonal Migratory Bird Snow Mountain Hotel, the transformation of the designer is Zhao Yang from Meidao and Shi, this wide and narrow Tibetan building quietly stands at the foot of the snow mountain.
The magnificent curved gold roof of the room is condensed with Tibetan essence, and the warm light and shadow intersect between the contours of the corners, minimalism is the main theme here, and the mottled walls, ceramics and paintings are lined up, exuding ethereal beauty under the gaze of the snow-capped mountains.
The rooms are simple and dignified, the main color of the earth and the log two-tone blend, zen vase flowers low-key embellishment, coupled with the quaint and mottled tea table, a wisp of tranquility instantly occupies your heart, the white wall, is a long-lasting oil painting.
Lying on the soft bed, you can see the dense jungle with progressive colors through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can also see the smoke of the Tibetan houses, and you can also enjoy the valley where the Lancang River and the Nu River converge, but the most luxurious thing is to be able to enjoy the two snowy mountains of Baima and Meili, and every morning, you can also see the famous "Rizhao Golden Mountain".
In addition, the itinerary will also arrange a stay at the Hotel Indigo Diqing Moonlight City, located at the commanding heights of Dukezong Ancient City, adjacent to National Highway 214, inspired by the historical context of Shangri-La, and outlines a Tibetan "Moonlight City" between the buildings.
The hotel is full of local-style artwork and decoration, full of rich Tibetan cultural atmosphere, 99 rooms, most of which can overlook the whole city, Guishan Park and Plateau Mountain.
You can also enjoy panoramic views of the ancient city from the hotel's feast all-day dining restaurant and special viewing terrace, offering a panoramic view of the Great Buddha Temple and the sacred site of the prayer wheel.
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