From the Yunnan–Tibet Highway to the Sichuan–Tibet Highway via Lijiang

It is generally believed that the Yunnan–Tibet Highway starts from Kunming or Dali and Lijiang in Yunnan and ends in Mangkang, Tibet, partially overlapping with the traditional Tea Horse Road and National Highway G214. With the construction and extension of expressways, the section of the Yunnan–Tibet Highway before Shangri-La has been replaced by expressways. Unless they are typical off-road enthusiasts, few people travel directly from Yunnan to Tibet via the national highway. The one to two weeks from the end of March to the beginning of April is the season for peach blossoms, especially in the Nyingchi area. Self-driving is the best option for those who want to freely visit the Nyingchi area to see the peach blossoms. Starting from Kunming, the first stop on the Yunnan–Tibet Highway into Tibet is Lijiang, about 500 km away. The entire journey is on the expressway, so there is plenty of time and it is relatively easy. After checking in to the hotel near Lijiang Red Sun Square booked through Trip.com, the nearest leisure attraction is Black Dragon Pool Park. The advantage of visiting Black Dragon Pool Park in the early morning is that there are few tourists, the air is fresh, and the flowers are fragrant. You can also take typical Lijiang promotional photos when the weather is good. After leaving Black Dragon Pool Park, it is just in time for lunch. You can find restaurants run by locals near the park to taste Lijiang's famous mixed hot pot. After lunch, it is time to head to the next stop: Shangri-La.