2020 is destined to be memorable. At the beginning of the year, I saw news reports that the Yunnan Nujiang section of National Highway 219 (also known as the Beautiful Highway) and the Degong Highway (connecting Gongshan and Deqin) were successively repaired and opened to traffic.
I remember that two years ago I began to look forward to walking the Nujiang River. At that time, the plan was to take the Bingchacha line, but due to the poor road conditions, I had to drive to Daocheng Yading after arriving at Mangkang.
Now I can get my wish, but I am trapped by the new crown epidemic. I can travel in China until June, and Yunnan has entered the rainy season again, which lasts until the end of early November. In mid-November, I quickly book a ticket and leave.
Our itinerary is as follows:
On the first day, Shanghai flies to Kunming-Dali
The next day, Dali-Tengchong
The third day, Tengchong
The fourth day, Tengchong - Lushui
On the fifth day, Lushui-Bing Zhongluo
The sixth day, Bing Zhongluo - Shangri-La
Day 7, Shangri-La - Lijiang
Day 8, Lijiang - Kunming
Day 9, Kunming-Shanghai
In the parking lot of Kunming Changshui Airport, pick up the car at the special area of the car rental company, and then proceed to Dali.
Dali has been here many times, so this time it is used as a halfway point.
The next morning, set off in the direction of Tengchong.
When I was preparing to travel in Shanghai, I paid attention to the weather in Yunnan, and found that the temperature was similar to Shanghai, so I wore thick clothes, but when I came to the field, I found that the sun on the plateau is so hot, and short sleeves are enough.
I came to Tengchong at noon, and booked a homestay converted from a single-family villa. It is surrounded by villas of various styles. It is built on the mountainside and overlooks the downtown area of Tengchong. The whole area is very quiet, and it is really a suitable place to live. .
After a short rest (mainly avoiding the sun, too hot), go to Rehai Scenic Spot in the southwest of Tengchong City, which is a geothermal scenic spot in the canyon.
Climbing along the road in the scenic area, you will pass through more than a dozen hot springs of various types, and finally arrive at the "Hot Hot Sea Hot Pot". Eggs or duck eggs in a string of plastic nets, and then boiled in a big boiling pot (one of the so-called eight strange things in Yunnan: eggs are sold on a string); there are also many people sitting in the shade of trees and soaking their feet in hot spring water, probably It can cure athlete's foot, haha.
There is a hot spring swimming pool and a hotel in the scenic area. It should be quite pleasant to stay in the hot spring, but we are not envious, because the homestay we stayed in (Waifeng Hot Spring Inn) also has hot spring hot water at fixed times at night. Yes, this way you can also take a hot spring bath at the accommodation.
Leaving Rehai to go to Heshun Ancient Town, an important town on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road, which has been prosperous for hundreds of years, and now it has become a place where tourists flock to. There are row upon row of homestays and restaurants on both sides of the main streets and alleys of the town.
On the third morning, I got up and ate the breakfast carefully prepared by the owner of the homestay, and then drove to Gingko Village. The village is not very big, and it took about an hour to go shopping.
It is a pity that the ginkgo trees are basically in a half-yellow state, and the village has not been well planned and constructed, it looks dirty and messy, and the ornamental value is not very strong. If it weren't for the half-price ticket policy implemented in the whole of Yunnan in the second half of the year, this attraction is really not cost-effective.
So we went back to the B&B early, rested to avoid the cool afternoon, and we went to Heshun Ancient Town at dusk (tickets for the ancient town can be used within 3 days).
The plan for the fourth day is to travel from Tengchong to Lushui. This journey only takes four hours, so we have a leisurely breakfast and everything is ready before we set off.
After walking a section of high speed and turning to the provincial road, the climate in Yunnan is really suitable for the growth of flowers and trees. Flowers are often in full bloom on both sides of the provincial road. Driving on such a road is also a pleasure.
After a section of the provincial road, the Nu River accompanied us. Since the rainy season has passed, the water volume of the Nu River does not seem to be large, and it is a bit dark gray-green. We joked that this is a non-angry Nu River.
After entering the provincial highway, we passed through three border checkpoints all the way. Although it is understandable to prevent illegal activities such as drug trafficking and smuggling, it is quite annoying for us tourists to go through it repeatedly.
After going to Lushui for a short rest and wandering around in the city, I can't help but be surprised that the development of the small southwestern border town is quite good.
The fifth day's itinerary was quite arduous. It took nearly seven hours to drive from Lushui to Bingzhongluo, so we set off early in the morning.
National Highway 219 has been repaired quite well, but parking service areas, leisure trails and bicycle lanes are being built on the side of the road, so building materials often occupy half of the road surface. Fortunately, there are not many vehicles passing by, so the impact on driving is not too big .
This trail is estimated to be very long. We joked, whether it is going to be built along the Nujiang River to Bingzhongluo, and now it seems that this is still possible.
The scenery along the way is not bad, and the weather is as good as ever, so I am in a good mood to drive. Passed by several interesting scenic spots: Stone Moon, the First Bay of Nujiang River, and Peach Blossom Island.
When we arrive at Peach Blossom Island, we are already on the edge of Bingzhongluo Town. There is an observation deck where we can enjoy both Peach Blossom Island and Bingzhongluo Town.
People in Bingzhongluo call it a place where "humans and gods live together". Looking at this viewing platform really deserves this title, but I'm afraid you will be disappointed when you arrive in the town. On a main street in the town, cars are parked randomly, dust and garbage can be seen everywhere on the road, and it feels messy.
Taking advantage of the early weather, I drove to Qiunatong again, passing Wuli Village on the way. Wuli Village is known as Little Switzerland. Looking at Wuli across the Nujiang River, it has no similarities with the Switzerland we have traveled. There is still a long way to go for rural construction in remote areas of China.
After driving around in the autumn bucket cart, I really couldn't understand where the words of praise on the strategy came from. I returned to Bingzhongluo angrily. Maybe we didn't come at the right time. It might be better if the autumn colors are thicker.
In the first two days of the itinerary, along the banks of the Nujiang River, you will see relocation houses for poverty alleviation in different places. These Anju houses are multi-storey houses, and the exterior walls are painted with bright colors. I wonder if these immigrants can adapt to life outside the mountains.
The itinerary on the sixth day is more difficult, from Bingzhongluo to Shangri-La.
But unexpectedly, the Degong Highway, which has just been opened to traffic for more than half a year, has experienced landslides and water damage since the beginning of Pengdang, that is, in the process of climbing Gaoligong Mountain and Nu Mountain.
After turning over the Nushan Mountain, the road conditions gradually improved, and it will be very good when you enter the Dewei Line. Although the road conditions are bad and the driving is very hard, the scenery along the way is quite good.
Fortunately, there is a viewing platform shortly after Deqin County on National Highway 214. I have passed through Deqin four times before (two of them made a special trip to Feilai Temple to see the true face of Meili Snow Mountain). , this time unreservedly revealed in front of us. Against the backdrop of the blue sky, it is extraordinarily majestic and beautiful. Although the beauty of the Jinshan Mountain cannot be illuminated by the sun, this moment feels infinitely beautiful.
When approaching the city of Shangri-La, I saw the Napa Sea again at a high point of National Highway 214.
Entering the city of Shangri-La to feel its development, there are more vehicles, and there are many accommodation options. This time, I chose the newly opened Ramada Hotel. I also had a rather authentic Cantonese meal in its restaurant at night, which is also a comfort The stomach will be full these days.
The seventh day is leisurely, Shangri-La to Lijiang.
In the morning, I went to Pudacuo National Park, which has been absent for more than ten years, but the temperature on the plateau in Shangri-La was quite low in the morning and evening in mid-November. It was only -5°C in the morning after sunrise, which caused multiple alarm signals for vehicles. It is estimated that It was caused by the low temperature, so drive carefully on the way to Pudacuo, for fear that any accidents in the car will affect the subsequent itinerary. The road to Pudacuo was under construction all the way, and the dust was flying.
After swimming, Pudacuo came out and started the vehicle again, and found that all the alarm signals had disappeared. I thought that the vehicle returned to normal after the sun warmed up just now.
It is precisely because of the low temperature in Shangri-La that the scenery in the park feels a little bleak, and it is cloudy in the park, and the sun only shows its face occasionally, so the appreciation is not high.
After leaving Pudacuo and driving on National Highway 214, the sun was shining immediately. I can only think this way: Maybe Pudacuo hopes that we will come again in spring and summer.
I originally thought that today’s journey should be flat, but the National Highway 214 entering Lijiang was closed for some reason, so I had to follow the navigation to take another national highway and then take a short section of high speed into the city. It is a small surprise to see Lashihai from afar.
The development of Lijiang seems unbelievable. The first time I came to Lijiang was to attend a meeting. I walked from the Guanfang Hotel where I was staying to the ancient city of Lijiang. All I could see were farmland or grassland. When I saw Lijiang for the second time, I found that it was already a It is a lively small town. After the second visit and this time, I already feel that Lijiang is a very large-scale city.
On the eighth day, we returned to Kunming from Lijiang by high speed.
I thought it was a boring journey, but I didn't expect to see an unknown small lake in a parking rest area after leaving Lijiang. Under the morning light, with red land and blue lake water, the scenery is so beautiful.
In the Shuanglang service area, I was only planning to refuel, but I can enjoy the scenery of Erhai Lake from the viewing platform in the service area.
The two accidental encounters made us sigh: Please come to this free scenery for another dozen!
When I was driving on the expressway, I occasionally thought, maybe next time I come to this route, I can take the expressway all the way to Shangri-La. The country’s road construction has been really good in recent years, and Tengchong has already passed the high-speed rail.
All the way back to Kunming to stay in the hotel safely, and tomorrow I will return to Shanghai, so I will sleep well today, so that I can relive the beautiful sunshine and beauty of these days in my dreams.