[Lugu Lake, remember to bring the story back to me]

The blue of Lugu Lake
Red in Shaxi Ancient Town
Qian Wei Jiayang's Huang

By the Lugu Lake, the ends of my hair were messed up by the wind
Feel the love song in the tavern in Shaxi Ancient Town
Watching the small steam train drive through the golden field in Qianwei Jiayang

This memory with an average altitude of 2000 meters
Only slowly record

If you also come to Lugu Lake
Don't forget, come back to me with a story.

The blue of Lugu Lake is deep and intoxicating.

Be the first to celebrate spring by the Lugu Lake.

The places I have mentioned have been walked one by one.
Our steps are slowly measuring the world.

The prayer flags flying by the lake bless you with the most pious wishes.

The pig trough boat moored on the shore, the warm wind under the sun.

Lugu Lake is most suitable for aerial photography, and the moored pig trough boats have become the most beautiful decorations.

Me in the sun.

The ancient town of Shaxi is like an ink painting.

The red clouds and dead branches in the sky constitute the most beautiful scenery.

The ancient town of Shaxi under the night is quiet and beautiful.

I am well behaved with it here.

A bottle of Shaxi ancient wine, a story.


[7 hours, I will meet you again and again]

a snow
I went from Langmusi to Lugu Lake.

I have really wanted to go to Lugu Lake for several years, but when I think of the endless winding roads here, I always hold back.
Coming here this time is also considered fate.

On the first day of the new year, our planned itinerary is to go to Langmusi.
I have a natural obsession with Northwest. Even if I have been there before, even if I have been there more than once, I still cannot forget it.
When all the itinerary was arranged and the luggage was ready, a heavy snowfall in Langmusi stopped me.

Postponed the travel plan, but couldn't bear the restless heart.
Opened the mobile phone map, looked and looked, checked and checked, and finally decided to go to Lugu Lake, a place that I have been thinking about for a long time.

Starting from Chengdu by car, it takes about 6 hours to arrive in Xichang via Yaxi Expressway.
The difference from Chengdu is that the weather here is exceptionally sunny, with a feeling of light clouds and light wind, blue sky and wide water. Originally planned to go to Qionghai scenic area for the first stop, but after arriving in Xichang, the navigation found that the roads in Qionghai sea were red to purple, and the traffic jam was serious, so I gave up this idea and went to Xichang's famous brazier barbecue.

The barbecue in the brazier tastes good, but it is too much trouble to do it yourself, and sitting outside is very smokey. After a meal, I only feel ashamed from the smoke, and the dining experience is really not good.

Because I didn't expect to go to such a warm place, I didn't prepare thin clothes at all. I wandered casually on Xichang Hanghang Avenue at night, but there was nothing suitable, so the photos by the Lugu Lake all depended on fate.
At 9:00 a.m. the next day, we departed from Xichang and arrived at the Lugu Lake Scenic Area via Yanyuan Town. It was more than 200 kilometers and took 7 hours.
This section of the mountain road is really difficult to drive, with an average speed of less than 50 kilometers per hour, but fortunately, the surrounding scenery is beautiful, and it is enjoyable along the way.

First encounter in Lugu Lake.
From Xichang to Lugu Lake via Yanyuan, buy tickets at the gate of the scenic spot, 100 yuan per person. Roll down the car window and hand out the ticket, and drive into the scenic spot, leaving behind all the winding roads.
It is about 10 kilometers from the gate of the scenic spot to the scheduled inn. At the beginning, we could not see the lake.
While lamenting how far the gate of this scenic spot was set up, we waited happily for the first touch of blue to appear.

It was not yet 5 pm when we arrived at Tinghuatang Inn, and the sun was still very strong and dazzling. The inn is built on a small mountain, with a row of small houses, each of which is a lake-view room. Walking out of the door is a garden with an infinity pool and our favorite transparent hanging chair.
This seems to be a characteristic of Dali, Lijiang. I sat in Dali two years ago, but no one took pictures of me at that time.
You have to nest the whole person in it and drag Feifei to take pictures for me.
Probably all the guests staying at the hotel are still around the lake and have not returned, but there is no one here to compete with me. The wind in the evening is really strong, if you don't wear a hat, you will be laughed at as Mei Chaofeng.
Nested in the hanging chair for a long time, looking at the mountains in the distance, the lake in the distance, the small island in the distance, and hearing the voices of people in the distance.

We have traveled a lot together in the past six months, but there are very few frontal photos. With such a beautiful scenery, it is natural to take a few photos.

I don't know who put a bamboo chair by the water. It looks a bit worn out, but it suits this place unexpectedly.
In Lugu Lake in winter, it gets dark until nearly 7 o'clock, so after 5:40, the light is the softest. Taking portrait photos is the most suitable in this world. Fortunately, there is no other schedule on this day, so let's take more photos.

When I first arrived at Lugu Lake, I was really attracted by the scenery here.
The lakeside outside the inn is not the most essential part of Lugu Lake, but the scenery is also very good. There are a lot of inns and visits along the lake with azure blue lake. For a moment, I seemed to see the Erhai Lake two years ago. .
Just like back then, I came here with full of feelings.

This is a pig trough boat that has not had time to be colored, and it is parked by the lake. Before I have seen the colorful pig trough boat, this is already a good place for me to take pictures.
Because I was on the road at noon, I didn't eat anything. After relaxing at Lugu Lake, I really felt a little hungry.
Walking along the lake, I want to find a shop to wrap my stomach first.
However, most of the restaurants by the Lugu Lake have fixed business hours. For example, the Sichuan restaurant we want to go to will not open until 5:30. The door hasn't been opened yet, it's like picking up time, you can pat on the lake.

During the day, the temperature of Lugu Lake can reach more than 20 degrees, but it is very cool in the morning and evening. Although the temperature seems to be spring already, the dead branches by the lake will not deceive you, and the performance of the four seasons on the plants is also the most obvious.
There are no leaves on the branches, and the green is depressed, but for some reason, I still feel the vitality.

A dead tree on the side of the road fell to the ground.
I pointed to it and said, I like this, I want to take a picture.
Probably because I took too many sweet photos, I always want to take some cool photos. It happened that I was wearing a sweater and jeans on this day (on weekdays, I rarely wear jeans, usually skirts.)
He sat down on the dead wood all at once, putting on a cool and explosive look.
Feifei looked disgusted, he always said that my expression was not good-looking. But I have always been unwilling to talk to him, just be happy.

You and me in the back.

Prayer flags flying by the Lugu Lake.
Only when I came here did I know that the Mosuo people also believed in Tibetan Buddhism. I don’t know which year Tibetan Buddhism was introduced here. In short, it looks very similar to some Tibetan areas. There are white pagodas and Nima piles, and more are the flying five-color prayer flags.
However, the people here are different from the Tibetans. They still retain their own customs and have their own unique ethnic characteristics.

I spent almost an hour here by a lake, and sure enough, taking pictures is never enough.
It was evening, and the wind by the lake was even stronger, and the tips of my hair were blown all over the sky.
Suddenly there was a hint of coolness, how could I forget that here at night, it is a place that needs to burn wood for heating.

In the background of my photo, there is a small island that is not too big. I saw it for two whole days and took many photos with it, but I didn’t set foot on it in the end. Probably not enough fate.

This road along the lake has only two lanes. During the peak season, as long as someone parks illegally, it will cause traffic jams. On the other side of the lake, there are a lot of lakeside inns, which are really sleeping by the lake. Every morning, when you open the curtains, you can see the soft light sprinkled on the water, and if you are lucky, you can even see the morning mist rising from the lake.
Fluttering, like in a fairyland.

There are a lot of roast chickens and suckling pigs here, all of which are directly set up on an iron rack outside and roasted over charcoal fire, which is very fragrant.

Because of the high temperature, the cherry blossoms here are already in full bloom, with small white flowers hanging on the branches, and the background is the blue and cloudless sky.
Every spring, I like to watch cherry blossoms. From the Jiming Temple in Nanjing to Yuantouzhu in Wuxi, from the cherry blossoms in Wuhan University to Japan, I am attracted by this little flower every year.
I really didn't expect that the first time I met cherry blossoms this year would be in Lugu Lake.

The sun was getting darker again, and the mountains in the distance were already hazy.
It's getting more and more like an ink painting here.

When I was walking on the road, I saw the sunset, because the mountain was so high that it blocked the sunset.
I clicked a card casually, and went to watch the sunset tomorrow.

Back at the inn, I sat in the lobby listening to music and editing pictures, watching the lights outside the window turn on, and the sky outside the window getting dark.
I watched batch after batch of tourists come back and go back, and started to burn firewood in this lobby. Firewood was burning, and the bright fire was shining, warm and bright.

I really like working in the lobby. Although I don't talk or chat, it's good to just watch the tourists coming and going and listen to everyone's stories.


[8 hours, I drank all the mountains and waters of Lugu Lake]

The highlight of Lugu Lake travel is all in this day.
Ask the front desk of the inn for a map, and follow the scenic spots on the map to circle the lake counterclockwise for a week. Lugu Lake is not too big. It is about 50 kilometers around the lake. It is enough to drive for 2 hours, but it took 8 hours to stop at the scenic spots and take pictures.

Speaking of Lugu Lake, the first reaction of many people is that it belongs to Lijiang. In fact, Lugu Lake belongs to the junction of Sichuan and Yunnan, and even more than half of the scenery is in Sichuan.

The Mosuo people living in Lugu Lake are the only ethnic group in our country that still retains a matrilineal clan. The very famous walking marriage bridge here is actually the most traditional custom here, walking marriage.
For modern people, these customs are indeed a bit novel, but they are also another culture, and you can learn more about them when you travel here.

Let's go, with a dream, go to Lugu Lake.

By the Lugu Lake in the early morning, the sun is not so glaring, so I took the car and looked at any place along the way.
Although it is already the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, there are still a lot of people, and the roads along the way are often congested by cars. Simply we are not in a hurry, anyway, we can stop to enjoy the scenery at any time throughout the day.

Starting from the inn, you will go around the lake counterclockwise. This is the first viewing platform you pass by. There are too many landscapes beside Lugu Lake, such as Lige, Daluoshui, Xiaoluoshui, Walking Marriage Bridge and so on. But there are still many places that are not so famous, and even the names will not be marked on the map. These places have beautiful scenery and not many tourists.
This place is a place without a name, but it is a highland. When you climb up, you can have a panoramic view of the lake and mountains in the distance.

There are many prayer flags here, which are very similar to many Tibetan areas. We have always found these people of faith to be respectable. Many of the places where they hang prayer flags are on the edge of cliffs, where we have no way to go down.
There is only a small area behind the railing where people can stand, mostly blocked by trees. The prayer flags are constantly fluttering in the wind, which is equivalent to chanting sutras thousands of times.

I leaned on the railing and took a lot of photos. Although it is not a very famous scenic spot, there are still many people. The car at the foot of the mountain has been fully parked, and a long queue of cars can be seen from a distance.
At 10 o'clock in the morning, the sun was already very strong, and the lake in the distance was not calm. Sure enough, where there is water, there is strong wind.

Fluttering in the wind.
These five-color prayer flags represent the blue sky, white clouds, flames, green water and loess. These are the 5 essential things we live in this world. In Tibetan Buddhism, blessings are given to all things in this world.

hey how are you
There was an aunt next to me whose accent should be from Shanghai. She saw me holding the camera and asked me to take pictures for her.
"The scenery here is so beautiful. It's warm, with blue sky and white clouds. It's much more comfortable than the city." She said while taking pictures.
"Yeah, so I can't stay in the city more and more."
"Hey, the ones you took with a camera must look better, right?"
"Well, the scenery here is so beautiful, and the camera is beautiful everywhere."
"It's great, it's great..."
The aunt said it was good, and went elsewhere to continue to appreciate the gift of nature.

Because tourists in many places in Lugu Lake have no way to get close to the water, the protection of water quality is still very good.
The water quality is clear, there are no debris floating on the water surface, and the wind blows, causing waves of ripples.
I stood on high ground and took pictures, pretending to be aerial photography.

The surface of the lake is dotted with stars, and the road along the lake is not passable for pedestrians. It can be said that the scenery here can only be seen from a distance but not close.
I have stayed here for a very long time, and I am unwilling to let go of almost every scene.
The people around me changed from batch to batch, and I was probably a persistent "monster".

The lakes and mountains are beautiful, and the waves are fleeting.
With dead branches and a few scattered leaves, the mountains in the distance are in the haze, and the people nearby are intoxicated.
It seems that it is difficult to use words to describe the beauty here. No wonder many people told me not to go to Lugu Lake lightly, the beauty there is indescribable.
No wonder, the road leading to here is so difficult, tourists are still in an endless stream.

When driving on the road, I saw a pier full of pig trough boats moored below, which was very beautiful.
I yelled loudly to go down, to go down.
I missed a well-built road on the left, and I couldn't make a U-turn on the two-lane curve, so I had to go down a loess-filled passage in front of me.
After checking the windows on all sides and the sunroof, I dared to drive down after making sure that they were all closed.
Sure enough, there were waves of yellow sand rolled up. I saw a white car following the car through the rearview mirror, and I thought that the owner of this car probably had a very large psychological shadow area.

The name here is Xiaoluoshui, and it is the first scenic spot we met on this trip.
Xiaoshui can get close to the water, of course, this season is not suitable for playing in the water.
There are a lot of geese swimming around on the water, and there are some seagulls in the distance, resting on small wooden boats in the lake.

These seagulls traveling from south to north have become the best background for most people to take pictures.
There are many people who buy food by the water, 10-15 yuan a pack, generally children like it very much, jumping around with a hand of feed. The sky and the ground were scattered everywhere, but these seagulls were probably fed by the endless stream of tourists, and they didn't pay much attention to them. Occasionally, one or two flew over, took a bite or two, and then flapped their wings and left.
Without interaction, the children probably didn't think it was interesting. They threw the food bag away and ran away to other places.
This three-minute heat is really familiar.
Oh, I was like that when I was a kid too.

"Look at me, look at the camera."
"No, I want to see you."
. . .

Pretend to be taking aerial photography.
In fact, this is an uninhabited lake that I photographed standing on a high ground.
There is no road here, so no one can get down. Because of the relationship between depth and depth, the color of the water on the lake surface is also different, and the dark blue and light blue complement each other.
I smiled and said that there is probably a row of pig trough boats missing here, if there are, it will be really beautiful.

I went to stand on the side of the mountain, and suddenly many people watched me take pictures
Oh, I'm so shy.
Later, it became a good place for everyone to take pictures, but it is true that the scenery behind it is quite beautiful.

View of the Rieger Peninsula from the hills.
Driving along the winding road, there is a viewing platform on each of the two facing hills, and you can see the Lige Peninsula in the middle of the lake. Because of the difference in height and angle of the two mountains, there is a slight difference in perspective.
This peninsula can be walked directly down, but the island is basically homestays and there is nothing special about it, so if you don’t have enough time or interest, you don’t need to go to the island.
Of course, the most beautiful angle here is better to use aerial photography. But although it doesn't look far away, when you really want to fly a plane, you can't fly very far and you won't be able to reach directly above. The novice dared not let it fly out of sight for too long, and was worried about running out of power, so he hurriedly called it back, so he couldn't get a complete bird's-eye view angle.

The distance is still not transparent enough, but there is a hazy beauty instead.
Probably, the distant mountains are full of daisy, and the near water is like smoke, which is such a picture.

The pig trough boat moored on the shore, at noon, there are not many people on the cruise ship, but more people taking pictures by the boat and children playing in the water.
These ships are painted in various colors, red, yellow, and blue, and they are very beautiful in the sun. The pig trough boat was originally a means of transportation for the local people, and it was made by cutting down whole trees. But now it has become an experience tool for tourists, and the quantity is needed, and the production process is naturally different from the past.
For a vacant boat on the shore, it costs 10 yuan to take a photo on the boat. There are local boatmen sitting under the trees, and they will watch.

Picked a yellow vessel that just matched my scarf.
It is also necessary to delay the rule of charging for taking pictures, so that I can take pictures of the scene where there is no one behind the boat.
The boat has already run aground on the shore, so there is no need to worry about being unsafe. It is no problem to sit, lie, stand and take pictures.

This is Xiaoluoshui, a village I like very much.
From the perspective of the sky, the shore here is very beautiful.

The drone has taken off again, and you can see scenes that are completely different from our perspective without flying too high.
The originally very blue water with these colorful boats is really interesting.
During the Spring Festival, the price of a cruise ship has risen. Originally, the minimum itinerary was only 20 yuan, but now it costs nearly 100 yuan.
I think it's a little bit uneconomical, and the boat is full of people, and it's not easy to take pictures, so I didn't experience the fun of riding.

Changed the color of the boat and continued to take pictures.
To say that the love for Lugu Lake probably originated from the love for these colorful boats.

Facing the wind and facing the sun.
Is this world beautiful?
This world is beautiful!

The water here is still very clear.
Although there are tourists all around, and there are B&B businesses directly opposite, everyone’s awareness of environmental protection is still very good. Protecting the water here is also tantamount to protecting your own business.
We can no longer let Lugu Lake become the next Erhai Lake.

When I got off the boat, I had to lean against the side of the boat and take two pictures.
Calling me a photo shooter is probably not wrong at all.
After taking the photo, I asked the local to pay the money, and he looked at me blankly.
"Are you going on a boat?"
"Ah, no, I'm here to pay the money I just got on the boat to take pictures."
"oh".
he glanced at me
He took one more look at me, then up at the pig trough boat
waved his hand and said
"Forget it, no need to pay."
"Oh, thank you thank you."
Then I put away the change I had prepared, and bounced away from Xiaoshuishui.

Put a few aerial photos of the pig trough boat.
Pretty?
Anyway, I was really overwhelmed by the beauty, the scenery here is really beautiful! ! ! !

Aerial view of the Rieger Peninsula. After the plane ascended, the scenic spots that were originally far away suddenly seemed to be close in front of us.
Lige Peninsula has really been occupied by inns, and there are scattered pig trough boats by the water, all of which are rowed by tourists.
The water surface is very calm, except for the traces of the boat passing by, there are no waves.

In the middle of the mountain, take a photo with the already blurred Lige Peninsula.

This is what Lige Village looks like.
The buildings of the whole village are still the same as before, some are preserved from the past, but most of them are newly built according to the previous style.
This is a village where locals gather, but now many of them have been converted into restaurants and inns.
Leaning against the mountain and facing the water, this Feng Shui is also excellent for the Han people in the Central Plains. Although I don't know if the local people here believe in Feng Shui, but the site selection for building a village is exhausted from the Han people's views.
But maybe it's flat land here, which is more suitable for living.

Scene shot through the woods.
The boat passing by on the water is the only dynamic in the whole scene.

I ate Sichuan cuisine in Lige at noon. During the few days in Lugu Lake, I never tasted local specialties.
In the afternoon, I am going to go to the Marriage Bridge. How can I not experience the fun of walking marriage when I come here.
In the afternoon, there were more clouds, and the water reflected the white clouds, which was really beautiful.
The lake here is calmer, calm like a painting, a thick and colorful oil painting.

There are many wild ducks on the surface of the water, swimming in groups, even calling together.
really interesting.

A dead branch stands alone.
In the reflection of mountains and rivers, it is the only "accident".
It broke the picture of the battle, I am inexplicably happy about it, I don't know why.

grass sea.
The Marriage Bridge is located on the Caohai Sea. After seeing this large area of ​​Caohai, the Marriage Bridge is not far away after me.

The marriage bridge is here.
Although the hottest Spring Festival period has passed, there are still many people in Lugu Lake, especially the famous Walking Marriage Bridge, where people come and go. Wanting to take a picture of an empty scene is basically a dream.

Walk to a pavilion beside the Marriage Bridge.
I smiled and said that there is a lack of a beautiful woman in ethnic costumes. If there is one, standing quietly is very beautiful.

The grass and seagrass in winter are all yellow, looking a bit depressed and lifeless.
Or the other three seasons are better, here is lush green and full of vitality.
It is said that the sea of ​​grass is naturally formed, and an adult of normal weight can mature and stand on it. But because it is winter, I don't think anyone has experienced it.
But there are still uncontrollable factors here, maybe if you don't pay attention, you will fall into this mud.
Still be careful.

On the bridge, do not walk to get married.
Continue to hold hands and see the world.
Of course, we still have to watch the world all the time, so we may not hold hands for a long time.
Maybe one day it will be released.

I love the deadwood here.
"Is this a birch forest?"
"Probably not."
Forget it, no matter what kind of forest it is, in short, this place without a trace of greenery seems to bring me back to the northwest.
On the desolate Gobi Desert, there are no other colors except yellow.

These trees look beautiful from a distance.
There is a kind of beauty only in the north.

On the pier by the seaside of Cao, there are densely parked pig trough boats.
This is mainly for visiting Caohai, and these boats need to shuttle through the dense grass.
But I think everyone's interest is very general, probably because the withered and yellow grass here really can't arouse everyone's interest.
Each person takes the pig trough boat that made it here. Because of the density, it is more beautiful. In the evening, the light is softer, and the sun begins to hide in the clouds. At this time, the retro feeling is even more wonderful.

The pig trough boat has been photographed more, and it is not as strange as in the morning.
Probably everyone has a time of aesthetic fatigue. Although Lugu Lake is beautiful, after looking at it for a whole day, I am tired and feel no beauty or ugliness.

The dogtail grass by the lake, keep floating.
In the wind, swing left and right.

While the plane still had a little power, I took off again and added some scenery.

The wind picked up again in the evening, and it started to feel a little chilly without a coat by the water. Sure enough, when the plateau arrived at night, it was like returning to winter.
It is not very far from the hotel. In one day, 8 hours completed a week around the lake.
It took 8 hours to go around the lake for 50 kilometers, and took more than 300 photos and many videos.
You said why I like to travel, I probably like to be on the road, and I like to record more.

Go back to the inn, sit in front of the big fire, roast the fire, listen to the song, and watch the night fall outside the window.
The slow pace here will not be too much for a whole month.


【Go to Lijiang, enjoy the sun】

The road from Xichang to Lugu Lake is really uncomfortable, and there is really nothing to visit in Xichang, so I just continue to go around Yunnan.
But it turns out that the road from Lugu Lake to Lijiang is no better than the road to Xichang.
Tell me that it takes only 3 and a half hours to get there. They are also liars. We drove this section of the road for 5 hours. It can be said that although the scenery of this section is better, the mountain road is more winding than the Sichuan section.
Going to Lijiang was also a temporary decision. When I passed Lijiang from Lugu Lake, I saw that the sun was very good, and suddenly I remembered the days when I was basking in the sun in Lijiang 4 years ago.
There is also the cured pork ribs hot pot next to the south gate of Lijiang. There are quite a lot of memories about Lijiang.
I booked an inn temporarily. Fortunately, the accommodation in Lijiang is not too tight, and the Spring Festival has just passed, so there are more inns to choose from here.
In the end, I chose Lanqituju Inn, not because of how beautiful the inn is (in fact, the inn is very beautiful), nor because of how good the location is (in fact, it is really convenient), but because of this The story of the inn, a story about an encounter.
The boss and the proprietress met in Lijiang and decided to spend their lives together. In Lijiang, where they met, they opened a homestay to receive loving people from all over the place.

The big waterwheel in Lijiang is the most representative place. Generally, people who come here will take pictures here.

I like the wind chime prayer card here in Lijiang the most.
The Naxi characters here are paired with the red, green and green signs, which jingle when the wind blows. Wishes can also be written on the back here. Lijiang, the capital of romance, can write on the back, nothing more than who is with whom for a hundred years, and who hopes who is happy and healthy.
The charm of Lijiang is brought into full play in Aventure.

In the ancient city of Lijiang, apart from the lively main streets, there are more small streets with no people like this.
The culture of the local Naxi people and the local characters are painted on the walls on both sides. Although we all use Chinese characters now, the writing of various ethnic minorities is also quite interesting.

The sky is high and the clouds are light, the sun is just right, and the breeze is not dry.

Standing on a high place, you can see the scenery of Lijiang Old Town.
In Lijiang, one of my favorite things to do is to climb on the roof and bask in the sun.
The sun is warming up when it is roasting.

In the evening when the weather is good, you can also see the beautiful sunset and sunset.
The red color on the edge of the sky is rendering the whole sky little by little.

After dark, Lijiang really ushers in its vitality.
People came out, and the bar street was bustling with noise and quiet guitar sounds.
There are tourists coming and going on Sifang Street, and the shops that are still open are brightly lit.
Walking on this street, no one knows whether there will be some stories with the people you meet in the next second.
However, as long as you are in Lijiang, everything is possible.

We only stayed in Lijiang for half a day, and went to Shaxi on the second day.
Coming here is purely to fulfill a dream in my heart. If I don’t want to visit scenic spots or be in the busy city, it’s good to just nestle in the inn and bask in the sun.
You will get "drunk" after roasting.


【Bring a bottle of wine and go to Shaxi】

"I will definitely bring you to Shaxi this year. It's so comfortable and suitable for basking in the sun."
We are separated by a thousand kilometers, chatting on the mobile phone.
"Don't always say you want to take me there, wait until you have a chance to talk about it."
Back then, the last thing I liked was to hear about undated blank checks, and it’s still the same now.
After a month, it really came, and this wish came true so quickly.

Depart in the morning and arrive at Shaxi at 1 pm. Before Shaxi, someone told me that this is what Lijiang looked like ten years ago.
The Shaxi hidden in the mountains is indeed clean and comfortable. It is probably because the high mountains cover the footsteps of tourists. There are not many people here, so the traces of commerce here are not too strong.
All in all I love it here.
Like the night here, like the quiet here.
Make a plan for yourself, and go back to Shaxi again this year.

I booked the Reunion Inn in Shaxi, and when I navigated into the ancient town of Shaxi, I couldn’t see any shadow of the ancient city.
When it was about to arrive, the spacious road suddenly turned into a narrow and small stone road, and even parking was not allowed in many places.
Feifei said that he would drive the car into a larger box in the front.
When I parked my car and passed by the alley, I was suddenly attracted by the quiet street. Before I could put down my backpack, I took a photo.
Being charged by their jokes and taking pictures.
"This building can't run away, just put your bags and come back slowly to take pictures."

The upper part of Shaxi Ancient Town is where the locals mainly live and go shopping. This is the center of the town. There are all kinds of restaurants and shops, and few of them are closed during the Spring Festival.
The day we went happened to coincide with the local market, but it was already evening, the crowd had already dispersed, and there were only a few sporadic people.

Back to the ancient town after dinner, the first sight is this big banyan tree with a history of nearly 500 years.
In winter, there are only dead branches, and there is a brief introduction on the trunk of the banyan tree. This tree has seen the prosperity of the world in this small city for 500 years, and has gone through 500 years of ups and downs.

These rammed loess walls are the most common here.
The texture of the soil is exposed in this way, and these original buildings form a strong contrast with the later local restored buildings, and the sense of age is self-evident.
Coming to an ancient town, in addition to hiding in the quiet, it is probably more about experiencing a different scene from modern ancient buildings.

When the flowers bloom in the warm spring, these branches will glow with unparalleled vitality.

In ancient China, because of the rugged roads and numerous mountains in the Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan area, almost most of the trade or transportation was done by caravans. The trade of caravans was mainly Chinese tea and silk, so the places they once walked The road is also known as the Tea Horse Road.
At that time, Shaxi was an important land wharf on the Yunnan-Tibet Tea-Horse Road. It was famous back then, but now times have changed. Although it is no longer as prosperous as before, the ancient market and the buildings of this ancient town are still well preserved. Therefore, it is known as the only surviving market on the Ancient Tea Horse Road.

The bluestone road is paved with stones on both sides.
During the Spring Festival, there are more tourists here, but they are not as popular as Lijiang Dali. The small shops on both sides of the street are still open, but they look a little deserted.

This is my favorite store in the whole ancient town.
They have an oversized dog in the store, very docile and well-behaved.
The window sills outside the store are full of empty bottles of Shaxi Brew. At night, the store is a quiet folk bar, where singers sing their own songs and tourists listen to their own stories.
Most people here will have a taste of this bottle of Shaxi Brew, but no one likes beer and cocktails anymore.

I would also like to drink a bottle, but unfortunately I only sat here for a while at night.
I still want to come here to take pictures during the day.
There are so many wine bottles, there is no story, and there is no room here.

Hey, grab a bottle of wine and let's go to Shaxi.
Life at night needs the stimulation of alcohol, and the telling of folk songs also needs the taste of alcohol vapor.

A flower blooms, and winter also has color.

I like this one, it has a feeling of being lost in the wine vapor.
The store is closed in the morning, but there is a light meal at noon, tea and coffee in the afternoon, and it is naturally the main venue in the evening.
It doesn't matter if you like it here or not
Anyway, this song should accompany the ancient town to sleep.

The beauty of the original architectural colors is still preserved here.
The brick-yellow earth wall is matched with dark blue tiles, and green plants are dotted among them. Although time has passed, the building is still alive.
The beauty of the ancient town is revealed through these, seeping out bit by bit.

The super big husky is with me, it is very well behaved
Under the attention of these tourists, it suddenly became a big star

The weeping branches in front of this store are very interesting, bringing the breath of spring one by one.

These small shops are directly remodeled old buildings.
There is basically no big fight, and the items generally sold are more in line with the local style.
The authenticity of the store brings people infinite beauty.
In this quiet morning, the pace is dragged by these ancient buildings little by little. No wonder many people say that in Yunnan, one minute is as long as 80 seconds.

In front of the ancient stage, there is another big banyan tree.

The ancient stage is rarely used now, unless there are any big celebrations here.
The place that was once bustling with countless people will finally have a rest.
It's just that its exquisiteness will not be ignored. Under the sun, it still amazes the tourists who come and go.

Today, in order to restore the scene of the caravan transporting goods in the past, and to let tourists know more about the Ancient Tea Horse Road, there is a horse riding experience here.
The locals lead the horse and drive you along the old road.

The bridge, named Yujin Bridge, is an arch bridge that forms a perfect circle under the reflection of the water.
Visitors come and go on this ancient bridge, but it does not hinder its ancient beauty at all.
The bricks and stones have changed color over the years, the grayish yellow is deep and shallow, and there are horses passing by here every day, which can be regarded as a unique scenery on the bridge.

In the village on the other side of the river, the smoke from the kitchen rises in the morning.
The reflection on the water surface is beautiful, the nearby trees and houses, and the distant mountains are clearly visible, which is a Chinese freehand landscape painting.

The calm water perfectly reflects the arch bridge.
There are few people here, so I think it will definitely be a favorite place for painters to sketch.
I feel a little itchy here, but it’s a pity that I didn’t bring brushes and paints, otherwise I really want to live here for a few days, just paint, and stop thinking about any mundane things.

In the early morning of the next day, I really met a painter who was sketching by the lake.
He has only completed the laying of large tones so far. For such a painting, he needs to be patient, and it may take longer to paint for a whole morning.
In the sunshine of the plateau, it is really a test.

During the dry season, the water level drops a lot, and the stones in the riverbed are exposed.
We can just go down to the river through here, play in the water and take pictures.

Different from the light clouds and light wind in the morning, the color of the river in the evening is very strong.
The yellow of the soil, the black of the branches, the blue of the distant mountains, and the red of the sky, each touch is like a painter's splashed ink.
The beauty of Shaxi lies in the different scenery at different times.

There is no color in the field yet, and the villages in the distance are a bit dense, with the mountains at their backs, the scenery is not bad.

In addition to the stone arch bridge we often walk on, there is also a suspension bridge on the river section, which is paved with wooden boards and reinforced.
Walking on it, swaying in one step, two steps and three steps, is really interesting.

The mountains in the distance blocked the sun, we did not see the sunset
But the glow in the sky cannot be hidden, just like that, half the sky is red.

In the sunset, the colors are bright.

The camel bells jingled, and the people on horseback, just like that, went away into the distance.

After nightfall, the whole ancient town became even quieter.
Only the lights are still on in these alleys, and occasionally you can smell the smell of alcohol floating in the alleys.

The whole ancient town is not big, if you want to go around, half a day is enough.
But if you want to understand it, maybe half a week and a half month will not be too much.
Go back to the inn, make a pot of tea, sit in the yard and chat.
There were no stars in the sky that day, and when the night got darker, the temperature began to drop sharply, so I hid in my room.
Shaxi, it's time to say goodbye.


[Detour to Leshan to find the breath of spring in the mountains]

After finishing the trip to Shaxi, we will take a detour to Kunming and return to Chengdu via Yibin.
On a whim, I plan to go to Jiayang, Leshan to see the small train, and to see if the rapeseed flowers are blooming.
I came here 3 years ago, but it was a week early and I didn't see the rape blossoms blooming.
Three years later, I came here again, still a week early, and still haven't seen it.
What a trick.
Looks like there will be a 3rd time.

Jiayang Small Train is located in Qianwei County, Leshan, Sichuan. It was originally a coal mining area. The narrow-gauge small train here is mainly responsible for transporting coal and as a means of transportation for local people.
Because there are rapeseed flowers all over the mountains, the steam train is very beautiful when it passes by, which attracts a lot of tourists, so it is famous here.
Now that the tourism industry is developing, a tourist center has also been built here, and an integrated tourism has also begun to be built. There may be a better experience here in the future.

Because of the flowering period in March, the number of tourists here has increased sharply. In order to facilitate tourists to enjoy the flowers, the sightseeing train here has increased the frequency, but the fare is very high, 80 yuan for a one-way trip, and 160 yuan for a round trip. The locals take only two trains in the morning and evening. Although more tourists have increased income, it is not so convenient for locals to travel.
The locals can only walk home along the railway tracks with their backs on their backs.

Look, little girl picking flowers.
Because it is in the mountains, although the rapeseed flowers are blooming, there are not too many of them, scattered here and there.
I was photographed by Feifei when I was concentrating on playing with my mobile phone, and I really like it.

We walked along the track and heard the whistle of the train in the distance. We guessed that the train was going to pass, so we stood on a high place and waited early.
It's just that the train is really moving slowly, and the honking of the horn may be just a warning. I waited for half an hour on the high ground.

The train is coming.
Clanking and clanging, and black smoke and steam rising from time to time.
Although it is a small sightseeing train, it makes the best use of everything. There is still coal pulled in the front of the locomotive, but not too much.
It is very loud, and you can still smell the smell of burning coal for a long time after driving by. Although this is called "the out-of-print landscape of the industrial revolution", the pollution to the environment is still real.

Just to take these photos.
Duanjiawan, the most beautiful place by train, was too far away to go in, and naturally I didn't appreciate the scene of the train passing through the sea of ​​flowers.
A little disappointed.

There are 5 carriages, each of which is full of people.
The flowering period has not yet arrived, and it is already so lively here.

If you don’t have any good-looking flowers, then take a couple of pictures to make up for yourself.

Qianwei is close to Yibin, so bamboo can be seen everywhere here.
As March approaches, the winter bamboo shoots are about to go out of the market, and the spring bamboo shoots are about to come up, and people here are having a good time again.

On this railroad track, it is often repeated.

Looking at the locomotive, it really has a sense of age.
Compared with the decorations in the museum, the ones here are more real and tasteful.
If you are interested in the Industrial Revolution, you probably can't go wrong here.

Yuejin Station really has the feeling of the last century.

When I came to Jiayang, I didn't see the train to spring, but I saw the epitome of the old days.
The factory buildings here are the same as all places in the country. I remember that when I came here with my mother for the first time, she was very touched.

After the trip to Jiayang is over, the self-driving tour for 7 days and 6 nights has come to an end.
It took about 2 and a half hours to drive back to Chengdu from here. When we arrived at the door, it happened to be 2525 kilometers. We laughed and said that this self-driving number is really interesting. We are probably all 25, so we only go out during the Spring Festival, which is crowded and expensive.

But there are still a lot of memories of this journey, and it is worth it.


[The important thing about accommodation during the trip]

This trip has a total of 7 days and 6 nights, one night in Xichang, two nights in Lugu Lake, one night in Lijiang Ancient Town, one night in Shaxi Ancient Town, and one night in Kunming.
Xichang and Kunming are ordinary cities, so the hotels are nothing special, they are all chain hotels.
It is different in Lugu Lake and Shaxi Ancient Town, where there are a lot of homestays.
So after staying in three beautiful and romantic inns, I must recommend them.

1. Tinghuatang Seaview Garden Inn (Lugu Lake Flagship Store)
There are many inns near the lake by Lugu Lake, and Tinghuatang is also located by the lake, on a hillside, with a very good view.
Not only can you see the scenery of Lugu Lake at a glance, but you can also see the daily sunset, sit on the hanging chair, and enjoy the sunshine and breeze slowly.
Of course, what I like the most is the lobby. As a public area, it is beautifully decorated. The fireplace used to burn fire for warmth at night is more emotional. Nesting here, writing articles and chatting quietly, is very comfortable.

I stayed in a twin room with sea view, and there was a couch in the room, so the check-in experience was very comfortable.

The first floor of the inn is the lobby, and the second floor is the accommodation area, facing Lugu Lake, with a panoramic view of mountains, rivers and waters.
This is like a townhouse, with two floors, a large balcony on the second floor and a large yard on the first floor.

Decorated with retro lamps, it lights up as soon as the sun sets, warm yellow, with a British-style coal-burning feel.
Tinghuatang Tinghuatang, there are naturally many flowers, but it is winter after all, so the flowers here are not too many, and it is not yet the time for the flowers to bloom.

There are two fronts of the small company row. Residents on the second floor can probably see the blue Lugu Lake directly from the large floor-to-ceiling windows.
After waking up in this kind of room, you will probably feel very good. Even if you don't go out for a day, you won't feel bored.

This kind of hanging chair is probably the standard equipment in Yunnan. At first, it was a must have at the Erhai Lake, but later it was invisible due to the renovation of the Erhai Lake.
Now I see it again by the side of Lugu Lake, and I am naturally very happy. Swaying in the hanging chair.
There is also an infinity pool here, which must be very suitable for taking pictures in summer.
The outdoor of Tinghuatang is really like a big garden. You can enjoy the scenery and drink tea. It’s such a good place to take pictures. Girls will definitely not be able to stop taking pictures.

Looking at the distance, mountains and rivers and houses from a high place.

Tinghuatang's lobby is my favorite here.
There is a big sofa, and it is very comfortable to nest in it and do your own things. There are snacks and fruits on every table here, and you can pick them up if you need them.
A big piano, with a history of a hundred years, is said to be a product of 1912.
The people who decorate here are really careful, and they have a little thought about everything.

There are some wines in the bar, including red wine, white wine and foreign wine. If you want to drink at night, you can buy it directly here.

This is my favorite fireplace area, warm and fun after a fire at night.
Looking at the flames dancing in the fireplace through the glass, I probably rarely see the fireplace, so I feel happy.

In the inn at night, the warm yellow lights are lit up.
The blue of the night sky is very beautiful with this warm yellow.
Staying here, I really feel comfortable.

2. Lijiang Lanqitu Residence
Lijiang is already a very mature tourist city, and there are many characteristic inns in Dayan Ancient Town and Shuhe Ancient Town. There are inns with the background of Naxi culture, and there are also very high-end inns like Banyan Tree. So it can be said that you can get what you want here.
The last time I came to Lijiang, I chose an inn full of Naxi characteristics, but this time, I prefer the environment and comfort. Of course, it's more about finding the story.
After staying in this inn, the biggest feeling is literature and art. A book and a cup of tea can spend an afternoon at leisure. The yard of the inn is very large, with a total of 700 square meters in three sets of courtyards. It is said to be the largest inn in the ancient city. With such a large venue, I don’t want to go out at all, so I just nest quietly in the yard of the inn. The days are beautiful.

Lan Qitu is located in the ancient city, close to Sifang Street and Mufu, the location is very convenient, and it is also easy to find in the winding ancient city of Lijiang. Because I have been to Mufu once before, it can be said that I found it easily.
However, I have been complaining about the damage to the luggage on the stone road in the ancient city of Lijiang.
As soon as I arrived at the gate, I felt the enthusiasm of the flowers. In this city where there is water everywhere and every family has flowers, it is really wonderful.
There is a long flower alley here, through which is the inn.

After checking in, I booked a big bed room with ethnic characteristics, with two floors and a lot of space.
The afternoon sun shines in, and the light and shadow are really beautiful.
The service here is still very considerate, there is water in the room, and there are fruit snacks in the yard. For people like me who are on the road and are hungry, it is really "send charcoal in the snow".

There is also a long sofa in the public area on the first floor. You can enjoy the sun while sitting indoors.

In the afternoon, there happened to be a couple taking a photo here (it might also be a wedding photo shoot, I'm not ashamed to ask).
This scene is quite beautiful, so I took the opportunity to take a snapshot with my camera.

Even when I am traveling, I have the habit of carrying books and picture books with me. When you are tired, just sit in the inn, make a pot of tea, and read a few pages of books.
In the sun, it was warm.
During the trip, I like to read Shen Congwen, read Shen Congwen's travel notes, and experience the Chinese scenery decades ago and what he saw and felt.

The flowers in the yard are blooming.
This tree is said to be a cherry tree, which naturally has two colors of flowers, which is very magical.
At first I thought it was grafting, but after asking, I found out that it was originally like this. I laughed and asked if it would be a few months before we could eat cherries here, so it seems that I will come to Lijiang again in a few months.

The Gesang flowers in the courtyard are blooming just right, one by one, with rich colors.

This long dining table is very suitable for drinking tea, chatting and having dinner.
It's a pity that there are only two of us, if a group of friends come, it will be lively.

In the evening, a group of people really came here for dinner. I live on the second floor, and I can just see their lively scene.
Take a quick photo, I will also travel with my family like this in the future, it is both lively and interesting.

It was night, and it was quiet again.
Listen to music, chat, meet the boss and his wife, and listen to their stories of encounters.
Listen to the past and present life here.


3. Jianchuan Shaxi Reunion Courtyard Boutique Hotel
Shaxi Ancient Town is not a particularly commercialized place. It is located in the middle of Dali, Lijiang, and it can be regarded as a place like a paradise.
Because it is not so commercial, and the popularity is not so high, so there are not too many tourists. But because the tourism industry is being vigorously developed here in recent years, there are quite a few inns and homestays built here.
The Reunion Inn I stayed in is one of the best inns in Shaxi.
The inn is a courtyard pattern, and the old building is rebuilt, which not only has local characteristics, but also endows it with its own unique style.

As soon as you enter the courtyard, you will see such a scene. There are flowing water, fish, and plants are also blessed.
It's just my favorite scene in the design of Chinese people's residences. When I first saw it, I felt that it was a bit like the architecture in the south of the Yangtze River, which is very magical.

The layout of the hotel is still the local residential model, facing the lobby. When the business is not busy, the waiters are sitting in the yard to bask in the sun. If guests come here, people will come and go, it is very lively.

On the right hand side of the lobby is a sofa and tea table.
I cook tea and read books here, and there are Chinese freehand paintings and calligraphy on the walls. The overall decoration of this inn is still very Chinese, from the exterior to the interior decoration, it is the same tone.
I really love this place, probably because of the style here.

Looking at the inn through small objects.
The red paint and green leaves in the courtyard complement each other, and it looks like summer from here.

We stayed in a duplex room, divided into upper and lower floors. The first floor is mainly used for the living room. There are sofas and tatami mats. The tatami mats can be covered with quilts and turned into beds. The sofa is so comfortable and soft that I don’t want to move in it.

On the shelf in front of the bed, some small objects are very interesting, sitting one by one.

There is a balcony outside the room, and you can open the door to go out. The view on the second floor is very good, and you can have a panoramic view of the courtyard.
The windows of the room are in the shape of carved glass, which is very old-fashioned. Looking outside through them is more Chinese-style.
If I go to Shaxi next time, I will definitely come here again.


【Self-introduction is always required】

On the left, a Buddhist post-90s who has just graduated and is taking a gap year.
Born in design department, amateur illustrator, likes to walk around.
I dream of traveling around the world before the age of 30. After all, it will not look good to take pictures when I am old.

Our trip is a self-driving tour
Chengdu - Xichang - Lugu Lake - Shaxi - Kunming - Yibin - Qianwei - Chengdu
I went around Yunnan for a total of 2525 kilometers.
I went to see the blue of Lugu Lake, the red of Shaxi, and the yellow of Qianwei. Although it was not a long time, I also saw the most beautiful scenery.
So there is no special traffic strategy for this trip, if you need it, just go to Baidu~

Finally, this travel note is finished, Sahuahua
Continue to wait for me in the next one~