The First Bend of the Yangtze River is a spectacular geographical feature located in Shigu Town,Yunnan Province.Here are some key details about this iconic site:

Location and Geography

• Position:It is situated on the north side of the highway leading from Dali to Lijang,approximately 70 kilometers from Lijiang Town.The upper reaches of the Yangtze River,known as the Jinsha River,originate from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and flow southward along the Hengduan Mountain ranges.At Shigu,the river makes a dramatic 110-degree turn within a distance of just 1 kilometer,heading northeast and forming a V-shaped bend.

• Altitude:The bend is about 2,000 meters above sea level.

Scenic and Cultural Highlights

• Panoramic Views:The most iconic vantage points for capturing the bend are on the hillsides overlooking the river.There are also special viewing decks built along the No.308 provincial road,which offer grand views of the Yangtze River.

• Historical Significance:Shigu Town has been an important trading post linking Tibet with the outside world since ancient times.It has witnessed significant historical events,such as Zhuge Liang’s crossing during the Three Kingdoms period,Kublai Khan’s crossing in 1253,and the Red Army’s crossing in 1936.

• Local Culture:The area is rich in Naxi culture,with vibrant markets and traditional restaurants offering authentic local cuisine.

Travel Tips

• Transportation:You can reach Shigu Town by taking a shuttle bus from Lijiang’s center bus station,which takes about 2 hours.Alternatively,you can charter a car or join a guided tour.

• Best Time to Visit:The recommended visiting seasons are autumn and summer.Autumn has a pleasant climate,while summer offers the comfort of tree shade.

• Activities:Besides sightseeing,you can engage in activities such as hiking,boating,and shopping at local markets.

The First Bend of the Yangtze River is not only a geographical marvel but also a place steeped in history and culture,making it a must-see destination for travelers in Yunnan.

Yuhu Village (玉湖村) is a traditional Naxi settlement nestled at the southern foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, about 15–20 km north of Lijiang Old Town. Often called “the first village under the snow-capped mountain,” it sits at roughly 2,700–3,200 m above sea level and is reached by a 30–40-minute taxi or shuttle ride (¥60–80 taxi; ¥10 public tourism shuttle) .

What makes it special

Architecture: Houses are built from a local “monkey-head” stone (a mix of rock and dried earth) with cobble-stone lanes; many rooftops display small wooden fish—an old Naxi talisman against fire .

Scenery: Jade Lake (玉湖), an artificial Ming-era reservoir, mirrors the snow mountain; morning light turns the water turquoise and gold .

Joseph Rock’s former home: The Austrian-American botanist/Nat-Geo explorer lived here 1922-49; his wooden residence is now a small museum (¥10) filled with period photos and plant specimens .

Activities: horse treks on the old Tea-Horse trail (¥68–168), Dongba papermaking workshop (¥88), sunrise hike to Dripping-Water Rock, and new-wave cafés serving high-altitude coffee .

Quiet authenticity: Despite rising visitor numbers (summer 2025 daily >1,500), the village retains a slower, rural feel compared with Lijiang or Shuhe; cars stop at the gate, so you explore on foot .

Practical notes

Open all day; no ticket for the village itself, but a ¥30 environmental fee is collected on the shuttle and some checkpoints .

Dress in layers—temperatures swing sharply under the glacier—and bring sun protection (UV is strong at 3,000 m) .

Combine with Baisha or Jade-Dragon Snow Mountain scenic spots; 3–5 h is enough for a relaxed visit, or stay overnight in one of the stone-inn courtyards .

In short, Yuhu offers cobble-stone lanes, stone houses glowing against snow peaks, a slice of Naxi daily life, and the lingering spirit of Joseph Rock—all within an easy half-day hop from Lijiang.

Here’s a practical, step-by-step way to “do” Yunnan—whether you have 5 days or 10, are travelling solo or with a group, and want culture, scenery or both.

1. Pick your window
• 5–6 days: Kunming ➜ Dali ➜ Lijiang (classic mini-loop, easy by high-speed train).
• 7–8 days: add Shangri-La (dialling up Tibetan culture and 3,300 m altitude).
• 9–10 days: include Yuanyang rice-terraces or Xishuangbanna for tropical flavour.

2. Map the rail & road spine
Kunming is the hub.
• Kunming→Dali: 2 h bullet train (¥145).
• Dali→Lijiang: 2 h train or 2 h bus.
• Lijiang→Shangri-La: 3 h bus or private car (no rail yet).
Domestic flights save time if you link Lijiang or Shangri-La directly to your exit city.

3. Lock in the “greatest hits”
Kunming: Stone Forest (UNESCO karst), Green Lake, Flowers & Birds Market.
Dali: Erhai Lake bike loop, Xizhou Bai architecture, Three Pagodas.
Lijiang: Dayan Old Town (go at 07:00 before crowds), Black Dragon Pool view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha murals.
Shangri-La: Songzanlin Monastery, Napa Lake cycle, Dukezong old town prayer-wheel.
Optional: Tiger Leaping Gorge day-hike (upper trail, 3–4 h), Yuanyang terraces (winter sunrise mirrors).

4. Layer in experiences, not just sights
• Bai tie-dye workshop in Zhoucheng village.
• Naxi orchestra concert (Lijiang; 20:00 nightly).
• Tibetan family dinner + butter-tea in Shangri-La.
• Market breakfast: cross-the-bridge rice noodles, grilled rushan cheese, rose petal jam.

5. Handle altitude & weather
• Shangri-La sits at 3,300 m; pace yourself, pack ibuprofen and altitude-lozenges.
• Yunnan is “spring all year” only below 2,000 m; Jade Dragon Snow Mountain can be –5 °C even in May—rent a down jacket at the cable-car base.

6. Move around like a local
• Didi (Chinese Uber) works in Kunming/Dali/Lijiang; cashless via Alipay/WeChat.
• Buses to trailheads: Kunming to Stone Forest (1 h), Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge (2 h).
• Bike share (Hello-Bike) for flat Erhai loop; e-bikes ¥30-40/day.

7. Sleep strategically
• Kunming: stay within 2 km of the station for 07:00 bullet trains.
• Dali: guesthouse on the west shore (Hai-xi) for lake sunrise.
• Lijiang: boutique hotel inside old town walls (cars can’t enter—porters meet you at gate).
• Shangri-La: choose a Tibetan wooden house with heated floors; oxygen bottles provided.

8. Sample 7-day itinerary (train-based, no flights)
D1 Land Kunming AM → Green Lake & market night.
D2 Stone Forest day-trip → 18:00 train to Dali.
D3 Erhai e-bike loop 30 km → Xizhou lunch → Dali old town.
D4 Bus to Lijiang (09:00) → wander Dayan, Naxi dinner.
D5 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain cable car + Blue Moon Valley → evening music show.
D6 Bus to Shangri-La (08:30) → Songzanlin, old town sunset.
D7 Napa Lake cycle → late PM bus back to Lijiang airport; fly out 21:00.

9. Cash & cards
ATMs take Visa/Plus in Kunming/Lijiang; elsewhere rely on mobile pay— preload Alipay with your passport. Guesthouses usually accept WeChat pay only.

10. Leave room for the unplanned
Morning market in a random county, a local festival (third-month street fair in Dali, Water-Splashing in Xishuangbanna April 13-15), or simply an extra day in a quiet Bai courtyard to finish that book—those often become the real highlight of “doing” Yunnan.

Follow the skeleton above, adjust days up or down, and you’ll cover the classics without box-ticking fatigue, yet still leave space for the spontaneous magic that makes Yunnan addictive.

There are actually two major bridges at Tiger Leaping Gorge – one for road traffic and one for rail – completed in the past few years.

1. Expressway suspension bridge
– Part of the Shangri-La ↔ Lijiang expressway
– 1,017 m total length, single 766 m main span, single-tower steel-truss suspension design
– Deck about 250 m above the Jinsha (upper Yangtze) River
– Road deck joined January 2020, opened to traffic soon after .

2. Railway suspension bridge (Jinshajiang Hutiaoxia Railway Bridge)
– Carries the new Lijiang–Shangri-La line (Lixiang Railway)
– 660 m main span, 250 m high, truss-stiffened suspension bridge
– One tower 194 m tall, the other 155 m; main spans 132 + 660 + 132 m
– Completed 2021, now gives a ≈1 h train ride between the two tourist cities .

Both spans sit only about 1 km apart just downstream of the famous gorge viewing platform and are designed to clear a future 200 m-deep reservoir if the long-proposed Tiger Leaping Gorge dam is ever built .

Location

Balagezong is located in Shangri-La City,Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,Yunnan Province,China.It is part of the UNESCO-protected”Three Parallel Rivers”region.

Highlights

• Balagezong Village:A traditional Tibetan village with a history of over 1,300 years.The village is known for its well-preserved Tibetan culture and architecture.

• Shangri-La Pagoda:A naturally formed rock that resembles a pagoda,considered a sacred site in Tibetan Buddhism.

• Skyline Gorge:A narrow and steep canyon where you can look up at the sky from the bottom,offering breathtaking views.

• Echo Wall and Suspension Bridge:A wooden plank road along the cliffside of the canyon,providing stunning views of the Gangqu River below.

Best Time to Visit

• Summer(June to October):The weather is warm and suitable for hiking and sightseeing.

• Winter(December to February):The area is cold but serene,with beautiful winter scenery.

Transportation

• Public Transport:Buses are available from Shangri-La Bus Station to Balagezong.The journey takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

• Private Car:Hiring a private car is a convenient option,especially if you want to explore the area at your own pace.The cost is around 400 yuan for a round trip.

• Self-Drive:If you prefer driving,it takes about 40 minutes to 1 hour from Shangri-La City.Follow National Highway 214 towards Deqin,turn right at the intersection marked with a Balagezong sign(about 50 km from Shangri-La City),and continue for 17 km to the visitor center.

Ticket Information

• Adult Ticket:170 yuan.

• Discounts:

• Free Admission:Children under 1.2 meters tall(inclusive),children under 6 years old with valid identification,seniors over 70 years old with ID,retired military personnel,and disabled individuals with valid documentation.

• Other Discounts:Check local policies for additional discounts.

Accommodation

• Balagezong Tusi Manor:A boutique hotel with traditional Tibetan design,offering a unique cultural experience.

• Local Guesthouses:There are also guesthouses in Balagezong Village where you can stay and experience the local lifestyle.

Tips

• Weather:Bring warm clothing,especially if you visit in winter.

• Cultural Respect:Be mindful of local customs and traditions,especially when visiting religious sites.

• Photography:The area is photogenic,so bring your camera to capture the stunning landscapes and cultural heritage.

Balagezong is a perfect destination for nature lovers and cultural enthusiasts,offering a blend of natural beauty and rich Tibetan traditions.

Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡) is one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyons in the world, located in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. It lies between the towns of Lijiang and Shangri-La, carved by the Jinsha River (a major tributary of the Yangtze River). The gorge stretches about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) and reaches depths of up to 3,790 meters (12,434 feet), making it a dramatic destination for hikers and nature lovers.
The gorge is divided into three main sections:
Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge – The narrowest section, with a famous rock in the center of the river where, according to legend, a tiger leaped across to escape a hunter.
Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge – Known for its steep drops and dangerous rapids, including the “Mantianxing” reef area, which is considered the most treacherous part.
Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge – Offers panoramic views of the entire gorge and includes ferry crossings for hikers continuing to nearby villages.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is a world-renowned hiking destination. The most popular trail is the High Trail, which takes 1.5 to 2 days to complete and offers stunning views of the gorge, waterfalls, and the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain.
Best time to visit is during spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October), when the weather is mild and the scenery is at its most vibrant. The rainy season (June–September) is best avoided due to risks of landslides and falling rocks.
Local villages like Nuoyu Village serve as rest stops for hikers and are home to the Naxi people, who traditionally rely on agriculture and herbal medicine.
In summary, Tiger Leaping Gorge is not only a natural wonder but also a cultural and adventure hotspot, offering a memorable experience for trekkers and travelers alike.

1. Pre-wedding build-up

• Stage & Opera: The groom’s family erects a small wooden stage in the courtyard and hires local musicians and opera singers to perform all night; this “warming-up” party is called “na-qing” and is meant to inform the whole village that a marriage is coming

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• Betrothal: Although most couples today choose each other freely, the groom still presents tea, wine and a “red-bag” gift to the bride’s parents; the amount is negotiated through a matchmaker, echoing the old parent-arranged system

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2. Wedding day – the ritual sequence

1. bitter roasted tea (life starts with hardship),
2. sweet tea with walnut, brown-sugar and milk fan (the sweetness of love),
3. spicy after-taste tea laced with ginger, pepper and honey (memories that linger)

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3. Post-wedding

• Next-morning “returning thank”: The groom sends a small gift to the bride’s parents and the bride makes her first short visit back home, signifying that she is still a daughter even while now a wife

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4. What you will see if you attend today

• Colourful hand-loomed Bai clothing—white with embroidered blue or pink trims.
• A courtyard stage with suona horns, three-string lute and opera singers.
• Indigo-dye tablecloths or quilts (zhou-cheng tie-dye, the same cloth every Bai bride takes as dowry)

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• Plenty of local specialities at the banquet: rushan (milk fan), er-kuai rice cakes, fresh carp from Erhai Lake, and of course steamed highland rice.

5. Modern twists

Getting there & away

• Air: Diqing Shangri-La Airport (DIG) has daily non-stops from Kunming (1 h) and Lhasa; most other cities connect via Kunming

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• Surface: A high-speed rail line from Lijiang to Shangri-La opened recently; the ride (≈ 1 h 20 min) is faster and far more scenic than the old 4-hour bus

  . Classic overland routes continue south to Dali (4 h by car) and Kunming (6–7 h).

What to see & do (2–5 day sample modules)

1. Songzanlin Monastery – “Little Potala” Tibetan monastery just outside town.
2. Dukezong Old Town – rebuilt Tibetan quarter with prayer-wheel square and craft shops.
3. Pudacuo National Park – China’s first national park: lakes Shudu & Bita, spruce forests, easy board-walks (1-day).
4. Tiger Leaping Gorge – one of Asia’s deepest river canyons; 2- to 3-day high-trail trek or a half-day drive to the lower gorge viewing platform (on the road from Lijiang).
5. Napa Lake – seasonal wetland for black-necked cranes; bike or horse-ride circuit.
6. Balagezong Grand Canyon – dramatic 2-day 4×4 & hiking trip into a hidden valley of the Three Parallel Rivers area

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7. Meili Snow Mountain & Yubeng Village – serious 5-day alpine trek beneath 6,740 m Kawagebo peak, starting from Feilai-si viewpoint

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Altitude tips

• Ascend gradually (sleep one night in Lijiang 2,400 m first if possible).
• Hydrate, avoid alcohol the first evening, and take short walks only on arrival day; serious AMS is rare but Diamox can be carried as backup

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Where to stay

• Upscale: Shangri-La Hotel Diqing (town centre, 230 rooms, indoor pool, spa) – the only international five-star in the county

  ; Songtsam Linka or Arro Khampa for boutique Tibetan-style lodges.

• Mid-range: Guest-houses in Dukezong Old Town (hot-water, oxygen available on request).
• Unique: Hidden Valley Resort glamping tents in a quiet valley outside town

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Sample 4-day itinerary (fits into longer Yunnan loop)

Best season

Entry requirements

• Dimensions: roughly 39 km north–south and 13 km east–west, with a storage capacity of 15.7 billion m³ .
• Origin of name: derives from the ancient Dian tribe that once lived on its shores .
• Tourism status: one of China’s 12 national-level tourist resorts, featuring sights such as Haigeng Park, Dianchi Corner, and the nearby Western Hills (a.k.a. “Sleeping Beauty Hills”)

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• Biodiversity: after decades of pollution-control efforts, wetland vegetation coverage has risen from 13 % (2007) to 81 %, plant species from 232 to 303, and bird species from 89 to 175

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• Best time to visit: March–May and September–November, when weather is mild and skies are clear .

• Morning: Yunnan Ethnic Village (25 ethnic cultures in one open-air museum).
• Mid-day: Haigeng Park—lakeside walks, seasonal black-headed gulls (Nov–Mar).
• Afternoon: Cable-car or hike up Western Hills to Dragon Gate for panoramic lake views

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