A salty journey on the cliff! Three days and two nights in Nuodeng Ancient Village

📍Address of scenic spot: Nuodeng Ancient Village, Yunlong County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province 📅Travel route: Day1: Visit the ancient salt well → Stroll through the Jade Emperor Pavilion → Immerse yourself in the history of the Tizhusi Yamen (stay overnight in a quadrangle B&B) Day2: Taste the ham drying field → Explore the Tai Chi Locking Water Observation Deck → Cultural tour of the Huang Family Ancestral Hall Day3: Exile your soul at Tianchi Ranch → Experience Bai ethnic group tie-dyeing → Starry sky ham feast for taste buds 🌄Must-visit check-in point 1: Ancient Salt Well When you enter Nuodeng, the first stop must be the Ancient Salt Well. 72 steps lead deep into the earth, with mossy marks and gurgling brine. This is the starting point of the delicious Nuodeng ham. Scoop up a ladle with your own hands, feel the sweetness brought by the minerals, and listen to the salt worker Lao Li telling the thousand-year-old story of the salt wells, as if you were traveling back to the days when the horse caravans were trading salt. 🌄Must-visit check-in point 2: Jade Emperor Pavilion A Ming Dynasty Taoist temple suspended in the clouds, the Jade Emperor Pavilion is not only a religious holy place, but also a witness to the history of Nuodeng. The 28 constellations in the caisson ceiling have been shining for 400 years. Climb up to the observation deck, overlooking the entire ancient village, and listen to the caretaker Yang Shu telling about the indissoluble bond between Xu Xiake and Nuodeng ham. It seems as if the air is filled with the fragrance of history. 🌄Must-visit check-in point 3: Ham drying yard and Tai Chi water-locking viewing platform Walking into the ham drying yard, 2,000 hams are hung on century-old wooden racks, with rose-colored oil oozing out and a salty aroma. Cut a piece and eat it raw, the salty and fresh taste blooms on the tip of your tongue, this is the unique taste of Nuodeng. Then we went to the Tai Chi Locking Water Observation Deck, where the Nuodeng River and the Bin River meet to form a natural Tai Chi diagram, and the legend of the shepherd boy adds to the mystery. 🚗Transportation strategy: Self-driving is the most convenient way. Starting from Dali, the scenery along the way is picturesque and it takes about 4 hours to reach Nuodeng. But please note that the last 8 kilometers of winding mountain road is quite rugged and will test your driving skills, so you must drive carefully. If you don't want to drive yourself, you can also choose to take a shuttle bus to Yunlong County in Dali Ancient Town, and then transfer to local transportation to arrive. 💗Other tips: 1. Best time to visit: November to March of the following year is the best time to enjoy ham. Going there at this time not only allows you to taste the most delicious ham, but also allows you to avoid the crowds during the peak tourist season. 2. Clothing suggestions: There are many mountainous roads in Nuodeng Ancient Village. It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes to avoid falling on slippery places such as the salt well steps. At the same time, considering the large temperature difference between morning and evening, it is recommended to bring warm clothes. 3. Food recommendations: In addition to Nuodeng ham, salt-baked chicken and buckwheat cakes are also delicacies not to be missed. Try it at a B&B or local restaurant to experience the perfect blend of original malt aroma and caramel aroma. 4. Accommodation recommendation: Choose a courtyard homestay, where you can not only experience the traditional Bai architectural style, but also look up at the stars at night and enjoy the romance of the Milky Way. 5. Photography tips: Salt Well Dusk, Ham Forest, Starry Courtyard, and Confucian Temple Red Walls are four magical photo spots. Use the soft light of dusk and night to capture the tranquility and mystery of the ancient village. 6. Cultural experience: You may wish to participate in a Bai ethnic group tie-dye experience, make your own tie-dye work by hand, and feel the unique charm of Bai culture. Nuodeng Ancient Village, an ancient Bai village hidden in the folds of western Yunnan, has created a landscape poem that will make people linger with its thousand-year-old salt wells and unique ham culture. Here, you can slow down, feel the passage of time, and savor the freshness of life. You might as well plan a three-day and two-night trip to Nuodeng to let your soul be healed by the fragrance of salt.