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.

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.

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.

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. We will kick our program off with some fun exploration around the old town and a delicious welcome dinner.

*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

Jade Dragon Snow Mountian

After breakfast, we’ll head into the hills for a full day hike along with parts of the ancient Tea Horse Road in the shadow of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. finishing back in our cozy accommodation. A challenging day, but an incredible day of hiking on a plateau of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

• Day 4 - December 30

Wenhai Lake - Shaxi

We’ll tackle yet another challenging trail in the shadow of the mountain. We begin by traveling back up to Wenhai Lake (3,000+ meters) and taking the trail to Longpan via the isolated Y minority village of Xuehua Village. Upon completion of our hike, we will transfer by bus to the sleepy valley of Shaxi for our next set of adventures.

• Day 5 - December 31

Shaxi

We will spend our time in Shaxi engaging with the rich history and cultural heritage so well-preserved throughout the 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

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 travel@thehutong.com.