Arrive in Lijiang.
Stay at Baisha Old Town.

From Lijiang, we will take a car for 20 minutes to one of the small Naxi villages at the base of the mountains. Then we will hike 45 hours to Wenhai Lake.
 
Today it’s a 5-hour trek to Wenhai, another Naxi village several hundred metres up on the slopes of Jade Dragon. The site of a half-hearted attempt to impose eco-tourism, Wenhai has a slightly schizophrenic character - sometimes a quiet remote village struggling with the after effects of the ‘98 logging ban, sometimes playing host to large groups of ‘eco-tourists’ with cameras and heels. Either way the views of the snow peak to and from Wenhai are beautiful and the trek, though up, relatively undemanding. A pleasant first day.
 
During this hike we climb through a pass of ‘Yulung Shan’, which offers spectacular views of the Upper Lijiang Plain, including the local villages, crops, unique floral diversity, and the surrounding mountains.  We will trek between 2500 m and 3100m above sea level. After we reach the summit of the pass we will descend to Wenhai Lake where we will stay for the night at the Ecolodge.
 
We can either have a full lunch when we arrive in Wenhai, or a simple lunch on the trail.  After arriving in Wenhai we will have free time to explore the village and take in the magnificent views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
 
Around 7 o’ clock we will have a local dinner prepared by a Naxi family. All of the food is grown locally and although the meal is simple, the ingredients are fresh and thedishes are tasteful. For example, rice with three or four different kinds of vegetables is a common meal.
The Ecolodge has been built with the support of the Nature Conservancy as a community-based tourism initiative.  The Ecologe has been owned and managed by the inhabitants of Wenhai since its creation.  At present, there are eleven bedrooms, each having between one and four beds.  Because the water at the Ecolodge is heated by a solar panel we are not always ensured a hot shower; however, this lodge offers a rustic experience that allows for intimate interactions with the Naxi people and an introduction to the local culture of the area.

Enjoy the beautiful sunrise view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the early morning, hike around one hour along the slopes to Xuehua, a much poorer Yi village and a chance to relax for the afternoon and check out a little local life. Interestingly Xuehua is also the home of one of the few 'bimo' of the area, an Yi shaman-like figure steeped in a ritualistic history infinitely longer and more complex than its newcomer counterpart amongst the Naxi - the‘Dongba priest’. Whether or not you’ll get the chance to meet him is moot, but it does give some indication as to the depth of tradition in this village.
 
Xuehua is a charming Yi ethnic village located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, some Yi people's houses are scattered in the high mountain meadows with green trees and colorful flowers. Here is abundant in potatoes because of the bad weather condition in the elevation.

Trek to Changsongping Village and Xinshang Village, visit some small rivers. Arrive in Shanghai Village in the late afternoon and stay in local family. Shanghai is a relatively affluent Naxi village and the last stop before heading east away from Jade Dragon. By now those muscles should be flowing!
 
--Bimo in Xuehua Village
"My father is 80 years old this year. He is the only Bimo in Wenhai and also the best in Lijiang County. In addition, he is a well-known intellectual of the Yi people. Each year he is invited to preside over various Bimo ceremonies by Yi people from Lijiang, Ninglang and Jianchuan, and I accompany him. Among the seven sons in my family, two were forced to work due to the Cultural Revolution, four lost their interest in Yi traditional culture, and I became the only son to inherit my father's knowledge and job."
Hong Zhengyong: 28-year-old Yi man, Xuehua Village
The Bimo, a priest of the Yi people, presides at all important life events—such as childbirth, sickness, and death—and at important seasonal rituals.

After breakfast, trek 1.5 hours down to Longpang Village with a panoramic view of the Jinsha River, the upper reach of Yangtze River in Lijiang.

Drive from Longpan Village to Qiaotou Town, then start the Tiger Leaping Gorge trekking tour from Qiaotou, after 2 hours trekking, arrive at Naxi Family Gesthouse for lunch.

Trek one hour to Qiaotou-Nuoyu Village-Bendiwan Village.

Trek 1 hour to Halfway Guesthouse in Changsheng Village,
Trek 3 hours to Tina's Hostel in the middle Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Trek 2 hours to Daju Town;

Drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and take the chairlift to visit Yak Meadow,walk around the meadow and visit the Lianhua Monastery.

After Yak Meadow, transfer to Baishuihe River and visit the Blue Moon Valley.
Transfer back to Lijiang.

Departure from Lijiang