5-Day Roaming Diary in Western Yunnan! Living Poetically in Lijiang, Dali, and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Who understands! After spending 5 days in Western Yunnan, I even wanted to throw my phone away at the hotel — the lights of Lijiang Old Town can speak, the wind of Erhai Lake can embrace you, and the glaciers of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain can make all worries seem small. This guide, full of my personal hidden feelings, reveals even the best photo angles and tips to avoid pitfalls. After reading, just pack your bags and set off~ Day 1: Lijiang Old Town | Encountering Slow Time in the Lights When I first arrived at Lijiang Old Town, I was still navigating with my phone, turning east and west, but then I followed an auntie dressed in ethnic clothing down a small alley, instantly opening a new world! The bluestone pavement shone wet from the rain, wooden houses on both sides hung red lanterns, and when passing a tie-dye shop, the shop owner warmly handed me freshly brewed Pu'er tea, saying, "Don’t rush to check in, have some tea and rest first." At dusk, be sure to go to the stone bridge near Sifang Street. The sunset dyes the flowing water golden, a Naxi grandmother sits by the bridge weaving scarves, and occasionally a stall selling fresh flower cakes wafts a sweet fragrance. I originally wanted to take a popular check-in photo before dark, but ended up squatting on the stone bridge watching the flowing water for half an hour, even forgetting to take out my phone — have you ever had such a moment? Doing nothing in particular, yet feeling especially healing. At night, avoid the overly commercialized bar street; walk towards Lion Hill and you can find a small, quiet bar hidden in an alley. Order a glass of locally brewed plum wine, listen to the resident singer playing guitar and singing folk songs, and outside the window, lanterns light up one by one, wrapping the entire old town in gentle light. A reminder: when choosing a guesthouse in the old town, try to pick one on the second floor with a balcony. You can be woken up by birdsong in the morning, open the window to see blue-tiled roofs, and your happiness will be instantly maximized! Day 2: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain | Encountering Awe Under the Glacier Before going to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, I hesitated about joining a tour, but finally chose a local small group, which proved totally worth it! The guide prepared oxygen tanks and cold-proof clothing for us in advance and repeatedly reminded us, "Walk slowly, don’t run or jump." Riding the large cable car up the mountain, watching the vegetation outside the window change from green trees to snow, my heart raced — until stepping out of the cable car station and seeing the vast white glacier spread before me, I was speechless. Walking up along the plank road, every step required deep breaths, but when I saw Blue Moon Valley, all fatigue vanished! The lake water looked like shattered sapphires, changing color under the sunlight. I squatted by the lake taking photos for 20 minutes; my friend said, "Your phone storage is about to explode." By the way, be sure to wear bright-colored clothes. I wore a red jacket and took photos in front of Blue Moon Valley and the glacier; every shot looked like a masterpiece (don’t wear black, white, or gray, as you’ll blend into the snowy scenery!). In the afternoon on the way down, I watched the sunset at Gan Haizi. The snow mountain was dyed orange-red, yaks grazed leisurely on the grassland, and the wind carried the coolness of snow. The guide said, "Many people come to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain just to check in, but the best experience is to feel it slowly." Have you ever suddenly felt "life is so good" at a certain spot? I had that feeling at Gan Haizi~ Day 3-Day 4: Erhai Lake in Dali | Living Days in the Shape of the Wind Taking the high-speed train from Lijiang to Dali, I was immediately hit by the wind of Erhai Lake as soon as I left the station. I stayed at a guesthouse near Caicun Pier; opening the window revealed Erhai Lake, waking up to the sunrise in the morning and falling asleep to the sound of waves at night — this is what a vacation should be like! Renting a small electric scooter to circle Erhai Lake was the best decision of this trip. Starting from Caicun, when passing Xizhou Ancient Town, be sure to stop and try freshly baked Rushan Shaqima, sweet but not greasy, with a strong milky flavor; after arriving at Shuanglang Ancient Town, avoid the crowded popular check-in spots and walk into the small alleys by the sea, where you can find deserted rocky beaches. Sitting on the rocks watching Erhai Lake, even time seems to slow down. On the morning of the fourth day, I deliberately got up early to go to Panxi Village’s S Curve. The morning mist hadn’t yet dispersed, and Erhai Lake looked like it was wrapped in a thin veil. Occasionally, cyclists passed by, creating a scene like a movie. I sat on a bench by the road, watching the sun slowly rise, the wind carrying the scent of grass and seawater, suddenly feeling, "So happiness is this simple." When you circle Erhai Lake, which section do you like best? I think the morning mist at Panxi Village and the rice fields in Xizhou are both worth making a special detour to see~ Final Words These 5 days in Western Yunnan, I didn’t rush to any attractions, but remembered the lanterns of Lijiang Old Town, the glaciers of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the wind of Erhai Lake. Sometimes travel isn’t about how many photos you take, but about finding long-lost peace in a strange place. If you also want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, why not take a trip to Western Yunnan — the wind here will tell you to take it slow, so you can encounter more beauty.