Before I went to this place, I really didn't know that Shangri-La still existed. After I went, I was very shocked and very moved. Because here is a Chinese version of "Mission Impossible", but it was done by one person alone.
This scenic spot is the Balagezong Grand Canyon, located in Shangri-La, and the person who changed everything is Sina Dingzhu.
The Story of Balagezong: One Person Changed the Fate of a Millennium Village
I think the most precious and touching part of this scenic spot lies in the story behind it. Only by understanding the story can we know the preciousness and difficulty of this road, this village, and this Grand Canyon.
This picture is what Bala Village used to be like, that is, the place where Sina Dingzhu lived when he was a child. It is located in the Balagezong Grand Canyon. It used to be a place with no coordinates on the map. They have been living for more than 1,000 years. A life in isolation that, for the rest of the planet, simply does not exist.
The picture above is what Bala Village looks like now. In the past, due to the lack of access to roads in Bala Village, it took four or five days for the poor villagers to go to the village, and each family had an annual income of only one or two thousand yuan. Few people in the local area know about this place. Only people in the village near the river valley will use this village to scare disobedient children, "If you are disobedient, I will send you to Bala Village." This sentence means that this place is too remote, and if you send it away, you will never come back.
And a man's dream drives him to change all that. Almost by himself, he built the road and built the scenic spot. For the first time, the landmark of Balagezong and the landmark of Bala Village appeared on the map, making the beauty of Balagezong known to the world. It also completely reversed the life trajectory of the local villagers. This person is Sina Dingzhu.
(I was honored to take a photo with him and I flushed with excitement) How did he do it?
Sina Dingzhu was born in 1964. When he was ten years old, he had an eye injury and walked out of the mountains for the first time. He walked for 5 days to go to the county town to see his eyes. It was also because of the inconvenient transportation that he missed the best time for treatment. lost his left eye.
Going out of the mountain this time has brought about a permanent change in his destiny and direction. The picture above is Sina Dingzhu's hut in Bala Village. Since he walked out of the mountain for the first time, he looked at the distant mountains from this window every day, and told himself silently that he must build a road to In my own village, build a road leading to the mountains of my hometown, the clouds of my hometown and the water of my hometown.
So, at the age of 13, when all the villagers and family members did not understand, he chose to run away from home under the name of "unfilial piety", and sold the natural crystal stones on Balagezong Mountain in 1980. More than 8,000 yuan, earned the first pot of gold in life. This walk is 20 years. With the tide of reform and opening up, Sina Dingzhu became a successful businessman and accumulated tens of millions of wealth. But the original dream in his heart has not been realized, which is to build a road to his hometown.
Don't forget the original intention, only then can we always succeed. In 2007, Sina Dingzhu started road construction with 40 million accumulated in 20 years. This repair lasts for 10 years. The difficulty of building roads is so great that everyone thinks it is an impossible task. Even his father doesn't believe him, but he never gives up. If he doesn't have enough money, he sells the hardware store in the county and his family. The first hot pot city created in Shangri-La. In this way, it took 10 years to invest 800 million yuan in debt to complete it with a loan. After it was repaired, there was a landslide and an earthquake, and it was repaired and restarted, and it was only today after repeated repetitions.
Although the road was repaired, his father left. The only regret that Sina Dingzhu left behind while fulfilling his dream was that his father did not see the road repaired to the gate of Bala Village with his own eyes. And this road completely changed the fate of everyone in this village.
Because this road, Balagezong, has been built into a scenic spot, the whole world knows that there is a beautiful place called Balagezong. For the first time, Balagezong is located on the map. After there were tourists, all the original houses and land in Bala Village were leased by the tourism development company of Sina Dingzhu, and opened into hotels and restaurants after renovation and reconstruction. With the assistance of the company, the villagers moved from the top of the mountain to the new village by the river valley. Now the villagers can have an annual income of 50,000 to 100,000. While Sina Dingzhu made the whole village rich, he became a billionaire.
About the itinerary of Balagezong
Balagezong is especially suitable for a weekend trip. We arrived on Friday night and returned on Sunday.
The first day: direct flight from Chongqing to Diqing Shangri-La 15:40-17:35, drive for 1 hour to the gate of Balagezong Scenic Area and check in at the hotel
Day 2: One-day tour of Balagezong Scenic Area
Day 3: Shangri-La Town Dukezong rebuilds the ancient town Diqing Shangri-La returns to Chongqing 18:15—19:50
Notes on visiting Balagezong Scenic Area
Tickets: 110 yuan/person Tickets: 60 yuan/person Rafting (optional) 120 yuan/person
Whispering wall glass walkway shoe cover 1 yuan/person
Ctrip can book in advance:
[Adult ticket] Ticket + sightseeing car = 165 yuan/person
[Adult ticket] Ticket + sightseeing car + rafting ticket = -255 yuan
[Student ticket] Ticket + sightseeing car = 115 yuan
[Adult ticket] Rafting ticket = 90 yuan
At present, considering safety issues, the Balagezong Scenic Area has not yet opened the permission to enter by self-driving cars. All self-driving cars and shuttle buses arrive at the entrance of the Balagezong Scenic Area. You can take a sightseeing bus to enter the scenic spot. There are tour guides on the bus, almost all of whom are locals. They used to live in Bala Village in Balagezong, but now they have moved to the river valley. Of course, you can also rent a car (5-7 seats are optional), starting at 500 yuan/car.
Since the altitude of the scenic spot ranges from 2000+ to 5000+, it is best to eat a little rhodiola in advance if you have altitude sickness, but the stay at the highest altitude is not long.
If you are in the city of Shangri-La, you can also go to Dukezong Ancient City Consultation Point to take the Balagezong special line bus to the Tourist Reception Center of Balagezong Scenic Area (Shangri-La Grand Canyon Tourist Reception Center), the fare is 50 yuan per person (summer morning) 8:30, departure at 9:00 in winter, and return at 3:00 pm), passing through Napahai and Nixi Township. In addition, the shuttle bus from Shangri-La to Xiangcheng and Dongwang will pass through the Grand Canyon around 12:00 every day.
Questions about accommodation in Balagazon
Since Balagezong is about an hour's drive from downtown Shangri-La, it is recommended to stay in the scenic area for one night, so that you can spend a whole day or two days to feel this clean and pure place like heaven.
Most people will choose to live at the ticket office of the scenic spot, which is also located at the lowest end of the canyon. The hotels in the canyon have their own characteristics, looking up at the sky and resting their heads on the canyon water. Recommend 2 hotel options:
(1) Shangri-La Balagezong Tibetan Ecological Hotel (four or five stars)
This time we stayed at the Tibetan-style Ecological Hotel, which has strong Tibetan characteristics. In the evening, there are performances and bonfire parties at the entrance of the scenic spot.
The hotel has 277 rooms (including presidential suites, suites, deluxe standard rooms, executive standard rooms, single rooms and other room types)
It is best to drink Nixi Earthen Pot Chicken when you come here, it is very original and rich.
And you can drink Shangri-La beer here, not losing to dark beer
The breakfast buffet in the morning is also very rich and the noodles are delicious. And when you come here, you must drink rice noodles with chicken soup, it is delicious
(2) Shangri-La Balagezong Lovers Valley Hotel (four-star)
As the name suggests, this hotel is located in Lover's Valley. It is said that this place used to be called "Lover's Nest", and it has been transformed into "Lover's Valley" to be more advanced
It is a hotel and a restaurant, where you can eat authentic Shangri-La food. Compared with the Tibetan-style ecological hotel, it is closer to the canyon, suitable for couples to come here, more private
Close to the canyon stream, you can see the beautiful Gangqu River while eating.
Lover Valley Hotel has a total of 18 rooms, with video-on-demand TV, independent air-conditioning, bathroom, and 24-hour hot water in the room.
Lover Valley Hotel Restaurant is a floating restaurant located on the banks of the Gangqu River. Through the window, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Gangqu River and the river bank at close range. It can accommodate 40 people for dining, and the per capita consumption starts at 40 yuan.
(3) Dayong Toast Manor
In fact, I suggest that you live in the scenic area, so that you can see the Rizhao Jinshan more conveniently. Therefore, I recommend Dayong Tusi Manor, which is located in a treasured land of geomantic omen.
There are two chieftain manors in the scenic area, one is located in Bala Village, and the other is in a separate canyon. What I will introduce below is the super five-star Balage Zongdayong Toast Manor in this Fengshui treasured canyon, with standard rooms. Suites, and the presidential suite.
This Balage Zongyong Tusi Manor located in the Balage Zong Scenic Area is a super five-star hotel built according to the previous appearance. The coffee shop is on the second floor, mainly for drinking tea. There are automatic mahjong machines and There are books to read.
Pushing open the window is the entire Balagezong Grand Canyon, the scenery is unique, very suitable for a daze here.
At an altitude of nearly 2,600 meters, [Dayong Tusi Manor] is the residence of Bala's ancestor Sina Dorje. Gezong Snow Mountain stands quietly behind the Tusi Manor, like a patron saint. The manor is built according to the mountain, gradually rising from the gentle slopes and low flat terraces, surrounded by mountains and forests, secluded and quiet.
Dayong Tusi Manor is divided into two buildings, A and B, with a total of 24 rooms, including 4 viewing standard rooms, 16 viewing suites, and 4 presidential suites. Tusi Manor provides more personalized services to meet the service requirements of private customization.
There are various types of rooms, including standard rooms, suites and presidential suites, suites are 1200 yuan +, and presidential suites are 3000 yuan
After the itinerary, accommodation, and restaurants are almost introduced, we officially enter the essence of the scenic spot and start touring.
How to play in Balagezong
The Balagezong Scenic Area is really beautiful as far as the eye can see. It is an unspeakable beauty, including canyons, rivers, rocks, snow-capped mountains, grasslands, lakes and colorful Tibetan folk culture. Many very mysterious phenomena are worth exploring.
This grand canyon, which integrates snow mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows, canyons, rivers, plateau lakes and ancient villages, not only shows people the precipitous canyons, majestic mountains, verdant forests, clear lakes, and ice peaks that are within reach. Standing tall, it also tells people the story of Shangri-La, which is a perfect fusion of various geological and landform landscapes and Tibetan traditional holy mountain and holy land culture.
The highest scenic spot, the glass plank road, has an altitude of 3200+ and you can see the bottom of the valley. You can play all the scenic spots for 5-6 hours. In Balagezong, sometimes walking on the clouds and sometimes wandering by the river is a journey to cleanse the soul. It is recommended to arrive at the scenic spot before 10:00 in the morning. You don’t need to prepare dry food at noon when you start the tour at this point, because when you stop at the third scenic spot, Bala Village, you can have lunch there. There are five scenic spots in the whole tour, Balagezong Millennium Bodhi, Bandan Ram Observation Deck, Millennium Ancient Village - Bala Village, Balagezong Grand Canyon, Tongtian Gorge.
Balagezong (1) 3,000-year-old Bodhi tree grows "Buddha's hand"
The tour begins with a 3,000-year-old Bodhi tree. The most amazing thing about this gigantic thousand-year-old Bodhi tree is that a root system in the shape of a human hand grows from its trunk. People call him "Buddha's hand".
The bodhi tree grows close to the cliff. From a distance, the overall shape of the canopy looks like a phoenix, with its green tail stretched wide on the cliff, so this bodhi tree is also called "Phoenix Bodhi".
And under the tree trunk, more than 1 meter above the ground, a magical "bergamot" grows. The bergamot is dark brown, with uneven texture on the surface. Five fingers are clearly visible, and he stretches into the cracks of the rock wall Here, it seems that the rock wall is about to be peeled away. In order to protect the bergamot, the locals fenced him up, hung a hada, and prayed here. This is an auspicious and sacred bodhi tree.
It is said that this hand grew out of nowhere a few years ago. In the eyes of local elders, it is "the hand that soothes pain and suffering" and is also a hand that catches money. Countless tourists come to Balagezong to travel. In order to visit the snow-capped mountains, forests, and Bala village, there is another reason to take a look at the bergamot.
According to the investigation of botanical experts, it is inferred that the tree is more than 3,000 years old. It has traveled through thousands of years. In the magical land of Balagezong, it is leaning against the cliffs, despite the wind and rain for thousands of years, it is still lush, vibrant, and luxuriantly growing. The trunk with only a thick mouth is covered with more than 400 square meters of cliffs. People are all amazed by the strong vitality of this sacred tree. This bodhi tree is near the gate of the scenic spot, and it is also from here that we opened the chapter of our tour of the entire Balagezong scenic spot.
Balagezong (2) Gangqu River
The Gangqu River in the Balagezong Grand Canyon is formed by the confluence of snow water flowing down from the Nine Snow Mountains.
Squeezed by the new orogeny at the bottom of the valley at an altitude of only more than 1,000 meters
The river water is transparent like glass, cool and lively like emerald.
On the two sides of the strait, there are magnificent peaks as high as four or five kilometers.
Balagadzong (3) Pandan Ram Viewpoint
I think the essence of Balagezong is the road. Because if you really understand the story behind this road, you will find that it is not easy. The way to browse all scenic spots is on this road. The curvature is great and the difficulty is great. On the way to Bala Village, you will pass through a viewing platform where you can have a panoramic view of the entire canyon.
Balagezong Scenic Area has a unique vertical three-dimensional climate of "one mountain divided into four seasons". The scenic spot is dominated by the Shangri-La Grand Canyon. All kinds of giant landscape petroglyphs formed by geological folds on the cliff complement each other with the exotic flowers and plants and Qito strange trees on the mountain.
"There are gorges in gorges, gorges in gorges, criss-crossing gorges, and gorges connecting gorges" is the biggest feature of Balagezong Scenic Area. Feel the harmonious coexistence of man and nature from here, and embark on the heavenly road to the gods from here.
Balagezong (4) Balazhuoma Lakang
This is actually a Balazang cultural experience center. There are eight Buddhist pagodas at the entrance of Dayong - turning mountains and waters to Buddha pagodas, turning mountains and turning pagodas first, and each pagoda has a different meaning. The eight white pagodas, from east to west, are: Lianju Pagoda, Four Truth Pagoda, Xizheng Pagoda, Bodhi Pagoda, Shenbian Pagoda, Jiangfan Pagoda, Victory Pagoda, and Nie Pagoda.
Zhuoma Lakang is a Guanyin temple built by the chieftain Sna Dorje after Dayong's mansion more than 1300 years ago. Due to its long life, it was rebuilt on the original 21 Tara sutra hall.
A total of 21 Tara are displayed in the temple. They are the goddesses who rescue and save suffering beings. They are also the group of female deities worshiped by various sects of Tibetan Buddhism. Therefore, 21 Tara is widely worshiped by believers and common people in Tibetan Buddhist areas, and has great regional influence.
It is the place where the Bala people celebrate major festivals or worship Buddha on the fifteenth day of the first month. According to the old site, it is divided into two floors. The first floor is the Hall of Thousand Buddhas.
On the second floor are twenty-one Tara. Buddhism pays attention to cause and effect and Buddha's relationship. Each of the 21 Tara statues is not exactly the same, and each Tara has different blessings. Therefore, in the process of visiting and worshiping, you can worship the 21 Tara one by one, or you can choose to worship the Tara who has a deep relationship with your Buddha and recite the Tara mantra: Om Da Li Du Da Lie Du Lie instigated ha!
The view from the windowsill on the second floor.
Balagezong (5) Gezong Snow Mountain
There is nothing more pleasant than eating barbecue under Gezong Snow Mountain. This is where we lie on the snow at the highest altitude to take a large aerial shot:
Gezong Shenshan is the highest peak in Shangri-La, with an altitude of 5,545 meters. It stands like a pyramid on this pure land, and the mountain is covered with snow all the year round.
We have barbecue under the snow mountain. But at the top of the mountain at an altitude of 5000+, I really felt a little high and nauseated. Students with high antipathy should pay attention, you can shorten the time you stay here.
Due to the steep slope of the mountain and the protection of the sacred mountain by the people in Tibetan areas, there is no climbing record as of 2018.
"Gezong Bensong" in Tibetan means the incarnation of the auspicious and long-lived three Buddha mothers. They are called the three sisters of Gezong. According to Buddhist scriptures, Gezong Bensong belongs to the sacred mountain of the world. Gezong Snow Mountain is covered with snow all the year round, especially from December to the next five years, it is almost completely covered with snow and ice. And from May to November every year, many Tibetan believers, photographers who pursue the great beauty, and experienced adventure enthusiasts will still not be afraid of hardships, eat and sleep in the open, hike around the mountains or cross the Gezong Snow Mountain pass, and explore the holy mountains and holy lakes.
Next to the main peak of Gezong, there is a natural pagoda, which is very similar to a pagoda after being carved by nature, and it protects the people here. The natural pagoda is also the main attraction of the Balagezong Grand Canyon, and a stone next to it that looks like a scripture and a stone that looks like an old lama form the three treasures of "Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha".
In Balagezong, the moon never sets.
These are the footprints of my big feet on the snow.
There are some wooden houses under the snow-capped mountains, and there are firewood in the rooms for heating. The current special project is barbecue here.
Balagezong (6) Bala Village
Let's enter the key introduction object - Bala Village. The source of the story, the hometown of the protagonist, all because of this village.
This was once the last hidden paradise, a typical Tibetan village. "Bacun" means "Tibetan village from Batang" in Tibetan. It is recorded in the Tibetan scriptures that 1300 years ago, ancestors worked hard from faraway places to find an ideal home away from war and suffering. Get here and end up in seclusion.
Now the villagers of this village have moved to live in the river valley, and this place has become a place for hotels, restaurants, museums, and pottery experience.
Bala Village is about 2,900 meters above sea level. There are 10 chieftain manors, facing the highest peak of Shangri-La, Balagezong Snow Mountain, and across the forest from the opposite Dayong Tusi Manor.
You can drink delicious butter tea at the Mabang Butter Tea House:
You can also experience clay pottery making and buy handmade clay pottery products:
Bala Village is the only village in the Grand Canyon.
The outdoors of the restaurant in Bala Village is Gezong Mountain. It is close to the mountain and has a very good view. Sitting outside and basking in the sun is a kind of enjoyment.
Bala Village restaurant has 2 luxurious boxes, which can accommodate 400 people to dine at the same time, and the per capita consumption starts from 50 yuan. So I chose to eat here for lunch.
The characteristic of the building is the perfect combination of the plateau sloping roof style and the river valley watchtower style, because the whole village is on a gentle slope with an altitude of 3000, the sloping roof style is conducive to rain and snow to reduce the pressure on the houses, and the watchtower style is conducive to harvesting barley And the daily simmering mulberry.
There is a very unique custom in Bala Village, which is not to keep dogs. We know that Tibetans are a nomadic people, and dogs are indispensable herding helpers. Almost every household in Tibetan areas raises dogs, but in Bala Village, no dogs barking can be heard.
It turns out that the Bala people have always kept in mind the rules handed down from their ancestors. They don't use dogs to establish the distance and barriers between people's hearts, and they don't use dogs to guard each other's cattle and sheep, because all the people who live here are relatives. All are guests. None of the family's doors are locked, and the simple wooden door is only to prevent the intrusion of wild animals and the random entry and exit of domestic animals. They all rely on the self and conscience of Buddhism to protect their spiritual home.
Houses with civil structures are warm in winter and cool in summer, relatively strong in earthquake resistance, and are made of highly cohesive soil.
The language used is still the oldest Tibetan dialect more than 1300 years ago, which is different from the surrounding villages. Their language is called a living fossil of the Kham Tibetan dialect.
It is said that the Blue Moon Canyon described in "Lost Horizon" is the Balagezong Grand Canyon. It has been said among the locals that this is the place where the gods live, the real Shambhala.
When you come to Bala Village, you must go to the Folk House Culture Museum, which is actually Sina Dingzhu's childhood home.
The seat around the fire is also exquisite.
Balagezong (7) Whispering Wall
Echo Wall is called "Shishaandong" in Tibetan, which is the first petal on the east side of the eight-petal lotus. Unlike other sacred mountains with lush forests, the vegetation here is sparse and the walls stand thousands of feet high. They shout loudly at this unique cliff. The sound waves are reflected back by the stone walls, and they will echo in the ears layer by layer. In the village of Bala, which is good at singing and dancing, many people like to sing here. The echo wall matches the melodious ancient ballads with natural harmony. , overlapping sound, long lasting appeal.
Looking towards the cliff, there is a trail that can only be passed by one person hanging between the books. This is the passage between Bala Village and Nagra Village in the upper reaches of the canyon, and it is also a true portrayal of the hard life of the canyon residents.
Walking on the glass plank road with a vertical drop of 700 meters, watching the clouds and mist drifting by under your feet, some people may be afraid, but facing the beautiful scenery, they can't help moving forward, moving to change scenes, turning around to change scenes, looking up at the sky The snow-capped mountains are the scenery, and the green water and blue waves are the scenery when looking down.
You can also take a zipline in the canyon here, but because the wind was too strong when I went, the operation was suspended.
The 1106-meter plank road considerately reserves four viewing platforms for tourists at the best photo spots.
The glass plank road with the highest altitude needs to wear shoe covers to enter, 1 yuan/person/pair.
Balagezong (8) Grand Canyon Rafting
Walk 2.5km along the plank road by the river, and you can drift down by boat, or return the same way. Rafting: 120 yuan/person
Because it was winter when I went, forget it, rafting is so cold when I think about it, but it can still be exciting in summer.
Balagezong (9) Shenquan
Shenquan is at the foot of the snow-capped mountains at an altitude of 3,400 meters. The spring is as small as a fist, but it is said that this is the baptism holy place where Simba living Buddha led believers in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan to pray for a son.
Nine out of ten women who come here to pray will conceive and give birth a year later. It is said that it is very effective, so I quickly drank a few sips.
Balagezong (10) Naidang Ranch
Altitude: 3500 meters Naidang Ranch is really beautiful. "Naidang" means Pingzi with a residence, and it is the "summer resort" of Bala villagers.
According to the oral stories passed down by the elders of the Bala village, the ancestor of the Bala people who had just crossed the snow-capped mountains, Snadorji, migrated from Batang and arrived at the Naidang Ranch at an altitude of 3,700 meters on the mountainside of the snow-capped mountains. , because the pasture here is rich and suitable for living, so the tribe lived in this place for 3 years before migrating to Bala Village at an altitude of 2,900 meters. The Naidang Ranch is one of the very important origins of the Bala tribe's heritage.
Naidang Ranch is the closest pasture to Gezong Snow Mountain. It is surrounded by mountains, green grass, abundant rainfall, fat cattle and sheep, beautiful scenery and pleasant climate. Here, almost every household in Bala Village has a three- to four-meter-high blockhouse-style small building made of stones. It is divided into two floors. The stone house is connected with the stone house, and one household connects with another, forming a stone house alley in an alpine pasture. After years of development, a ranch village consisting of small stone bunker-like buildings on the subalpine meadow has also been formed.
In recent years, Naidang Ranch has also been opened to tourists under the protected development of the scenic spot. Starting from Dayong Tusi Manor, walk about 7 kilometers through the original sub-forest to Naidang Ranch. The pasture is a free self-service "hotel" for hiking enthusiasts. The mountain spring outside the pasture is clear and sweet, and the Gezong Snow Mountain lies quietly in the distance. Crossing Naidang Ranch, the 18 snow-covered holy lakes at the foot of Gezong Snow Mountain, the scenery is even more amazing.
Balagezong (11) watching performances + bonfire party at night
Why stay in the scenic canyon for one night? Because there are performances to watch at night. You can learn about the history of Bala Village, and all the Tibetan boys and girls can sing, soaring high notes with ease, surpassing "Qinghai-Tibet Plateau" in minutes.
After being seated, everyone can still eat traditional Tibetan food at the table: highland barley wine, mahua, buttered tea, and meat!
Tibetan clothes are really beautiful
After watching the performance for about an hour, you can go to the nearby square to participate in the bonfire party, and everyone provoked a circle dance around the bonfire
Really busy from morning till night.
If Dali and Lijiang are suitable for a daze, then Balagezong is the place to cleanse the soul. Here you can feel the power of nature, especially the power of mountains, and you can initially understand why Tibetans love and respect mountains so much.
Dukezong Ancient Town (Reconstruction)
After the tour of Balagezong, return to the main city of Shangri-La, you can go to the last stop before the return journey: Dukezong Ancient Town (reconstruction).
A fire burned down the former Dukezong ancient town. I visited it many years ago. This is what the old town looked like:
Me in the past
The current Dukezong ancient city was rebuilt on the original site, and you can still drop by
I think I am very lucky to be able to come to this simple land, understand the story behind it, and be able to take a photo with Sina Dingzhu, who exists like a "hero". May the emotion always be there.