Explore the secrets of Yunnan | Hiking in Antarctica: Crossing the "Teardrops Left by God"

| Hiking in Antarctica: Crossing the "Teardrops Left by God". If there is a hiking route that allows you to encounter herds of wild yaks at the foot of snow-capped mountains, touch the annual rings of thousand-year-old fir trees in the mist, and overlook the emerald-like alpine lakes at a pass at an altitude of 4,200 meters, it must be the Antarctic Luo hiking route in Yunnan! This "hidden road" hidden deep in northwest Yunnan is like a forgotten pearl necklace, connecting lakes, meadows, glaciers and primitive forests. Come with me and measure this "last Eden on earth" with your footsteps! 📍 Highlights of the trip - Route coordinates: Diqing, Yunnan, the core area of ​​Nanjiluo, adjacent to Meili Snow Mountain and Biluo Snow Mountain - Duration of the hike: 5 days and 4 nights (suitable for moderate hikers) - Core experience: 9 alpine lakes, pristine fir forests, alpine pastures, Tibetan villages, starry sky and Milky Way - Best season: June to September (wildflowers fill the mountains in summer and colorful forests in autumn) Day 1 Lijiang→Weixi→Badi Township: Driving to the Gate of the Secret Realm Drive from Lijiang Ancient Town, cross the Jinsha River Gorge, pass the Lisu village, and arrive at Badi Township in the evening. This is the last supply point before the hike. Smoke rises from the Tibetan wooden houses, and the aroma of butter tea mixed with the smell of burning pine wood wafts through the air. The guide Tashi handed over a bowl of hot chicken soup with matsutake mushrooms: "When you go into the mountains tomorrow, remember to put your soul in your backpack!" Tips: Prepare waterproof hiking shoes and jackets in advance 🧥; Badi Township is 2,800 meters above sea level, so you can do some moderate activities to adapt. Day 2 Badi Township→Lake No. 1 in Antarctica→Camp No. 2: First Encounter with the "Emerald Necklace" In the early morning, we headed towards the depths of the snow-capped mountains along a tributary of the Lancang River, passing through the primeval forest covered with lichen. The moss-covered fallen trees crisscrossed the trails, as if we had stepped into the Middle-earth world of The Lord of the Rings. When Lake No. 1 (Cuoge) suddenly came into view, everyone held their breath - the lake water was so blue that it seemed to be dyed by the sky, and the reflection of the snow-capped mountains on the opposite bank was shattered into sparkling waves. We set up camp at Camp No. 2 in the evening. Yaks were strolling leisurely, marmots were looking out from the cracks in the rocks, and the roar of the meltwater from the glaciers in the distance was like the heartbeat of the earth. Wild fun moment: Feed Tibetan pheasants with barley cakes, they will approach with elegant steps, their wings shining with metallic luster in the sun! Day 3: Explore Lakes 3-5 and travel through the "Garden of the Gods" Today we challenge the Zhalaqueni Pass at an altitude of 4,200 meters! When crossing the pass, the strong wind whistled past with the prayer flags, but the moment we turned over the ridge, Lake No. 3 (Cona) was like a sapphire inlaid in the center of the meadow, and the purple primroses and yellow meconopsis on the lakeside were interwoven into a carpet🌸. Cut across the mountain ridge to Lake No. 5 (Cuoqiong). The lake water is a dreamy Tiffany blue due to its rich minerals. Locals call it "the goddess' dressing mirror." Looking up at the Milky Way in the lakeside camp at night, when the shooting stars passed overhead, I didn’t even have time to make a wish. Photography tips: Take photos of the lake before and after sunrise. The morning mist floats like a veil, and the silhouettes of the fir trees and the reflections of the snow-capped mountains form a beautiful composition📸. Day 4: Visit Lake 6-9 and encounter the secret place of "Blue Tears" Going deep into the core area of ​​Antarctic Luo, the water of Lake No. 6 (Cuoga) changes depth with the light, and the calcified deposits at the bottom of the lake form a mysterious "underwater forest"🌊. At the shore of Lake No. 8 (Como), we met a Tibetan woman who was circumambulating the mountain. She scattered tsampa onto the lake and chanted scriptures. Fish jumped out of the water to eat the offering. The most amazing one is Lake No. 9 (Cochin) - the meltwater from the glacier pours down from the hundred-meter cliff, and the sunlight reflects a double rainbow across the lake, as if stepping into a mythical world🌈. Altitude countermeasures: slow down your pace at the pass, chew chocolate to replenish energy 🍫; carry a blood oxygen meter for real-time monitoring. Day 5 Antarctic Lo→Zizhong Village→Lijiang: Return with the blessing of the mountain god Passing by Cizhong Village on the way down the mountain, the amazing sight of the century-old Catholic church and prayer wheels coexisting together is astounding. Taste the rose honey wine left by French missionaries, and savor this hiking journey through time while feeling tipsy. When the phone signal was restored, Tashi sent a message: "Come back in the fall, I will take you to find snow leopard footprints!"🐾 🌟 Why is it called the "God Route"? 1. Extremely pure: The number of visitors is limited to 300 people throughout the year. There are no plank roads or trash cans in the scenic area, only yak hoof prints and prayer flags to guide the direction; 2. Ecological wonders: From 2,800 meters to 4,200 meters above sea level, there are tropical rainforests, coniferous forests, alpine meadows and glacial landforms distributed vertically; 3. Cultural fusion: The Lisu, Tibetan and Western missionary cultures collide here, and the church bells and Mani pile prayer flags create harmony; 4. Soul-shaking: While meditating by Lake No. 9, I suddenly understood why Tibetans call this place "a place for dialogue with God." 🎒 Equipment and Taboos - Essential items: waterproof trekking poles (frequent stream crossings), bear bells (for wildlife protection), water filter (for drinking glacier water directly); - Respect for religion: Do not touch the Mani stones and walk clockwise around the lake; - Iron rule of environmental protection: Even the apple core must be taken away to protect this "zero-trace land"🚯. If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of popular online attractions and long for a soul-touching hike, Antarctic Luo will tell you: the real secret is not in the navigation map, but in the unexpected encounter with nature after crossing mountains and ridges🏔️. You must be a monk in this life, only then you will know that mountains and rivers have spirits! 💫 👉 More secret places in Yunnan: Click to follow and unlock "hidden" hiking routes such as Yubeng and Abujicuo~