[2025 Deqin ] Travel Guide for Upper Yubeng (Updated Feb)

Yubeng is divided into Upper Yubeng and Lower Yubeng. The hiking route of Upper Yubeng includes Ninong and Ice Lake, while Lower Yubeng can lead to the Divine Waterfall and Divine Lake. This time we chose to hike in Upper Yubeng, so all the hotels are booked in Upper Yubeng. Among the three hotels, the most satisfactory one is this YOLO Snow Mountain Viewing Homestay. - 🌟Highlights Accommodation ceiling in Upper Yubeng A boutique homestay with only 10 rooms Every room has a snow mountain view Close to the starting point of hiking and Upper Yubeng CBD, it is very convenient for hiking and eating - The YOLO is considered the top-level accommodation in Upper Yubeng Village. The off-road vehicle arrives at the viewing platform at the entrance of the village, and the hotel will send a car to pick up people and luggage for free. The floor-to-ceiling windows of the room face the snow mountain, and the public area on the roof is an excellent place to shoot the sunrise on the Golden Mountain. The minimalist interior design and the homely service are all satisfying. - 🏠Check-in experience After a bumpy journey, as soon as we arrived at the hotel, the front desk lady immediately served us welcome tea and snacks. While sitting on the sofa and eating and drinking, the check-in procedures were completed. After returning to the room to rest and take pictures, we went to the public area on the roof to have afternoon tea. It was really thoughtful. The level of tea and coffee is comparable to that of the Wutong District in Shanghai. They also recommended several good restaurants in Upper Yubeng. In the evening, we strolled over and it was really delicious~ - 🍜Meals Breakfast is Chinese and Western set meals. Order the day before and agree on the approximate time to go downstairs to eat the next day. The Western style is toast, fried eggs, sausages, etc., and the Chinese style is a bowl of warm rice noodles, all delicious! There are also bedtime desserts delivered to the room at night, super warm. The most intimate thing is that when you go out, you will be given a hiking sandwich. When you are exhausted, sit down and open it to eat, and the feeling of happiness arises spontaneously. It's simply the best sandwich I've ever eaten! - 🙈Hiking experience The hotel staff are happy to share their hiking experiences with guests, as well as the different feelings of each route. It is very helpful for hiking novices. You can go back to the hotel to soak your feet at night, which is really comfortable. Moreover, YOLO is very close to the starting point of the White Pagoda in the upper village, which saves a lot of energy. - 🛌Guest room The room is very warm, comfortable and clean. You can take the drinks in the small refrigerator at will. There is a Dyson hair dryer, and you can also borrow a fascia gun and foot bath. The separate wet and dry bathroom is also good, and the toilet and shower room are separate. The sound insulation of the room is also okay. It seems that there are only 10 rooms in the entire hotel, so the ratio of service staff to guests is also ok. If you need anything, just shout in the WeChat group and you will get service immediately.

Getting There - The trail starts at the lower altitude of Xidang Hot Spring and from there you are climbing up to 3300meters. the views along the way of the snow mountain are quite incredible. You have 2 options, hike the 20km or pay for a keep to drive you to the village. I recommend you hike! Attractions - Along the way there are reststops, animals like Yaks and Cows, and of course the amazing views. Hotels - Once you arrive in Yubeng you can choose wether to travel down to lower village or up to upper village which is close to all the hikes. Food & Restaurants - The food in Yubeng is expensive because of course it is in the middle of no where. It is expensive but it is also delicious. Shopping - There is no shopping here we backpackers come here to hike! #urbanexplorer #tripblazers #mytripvlog #awesomepic #nationalpark #bucketlistreboot #2023travelwish #hiking #hikingtrails #vickwalks #backpacking #backpacking #yubeng

Another well frequented sport by China expats, this is a gorgeous and peaceful village in the Yunnan mountains. There are two villages (Upper and Lower) with most people staying at the upper village. Its quite a challenging hike to get here but absolutely worth it The primary reason for these villages is to act as a camp of sorts for the various hiking trails that are nearby, including Glacier Lake ans Sacred Waterfall. The trails are well signposted and easy to follow. But are extremely difficult. The village has some charm and character as well as having a couple of restaurants and cafes. It's all basic accommodation but it does the job nicely. A wonderful, beautiful place that I was privileged to visit. The weather is very changeable here so be prepared #yearofrabbit #newyearadventure #tripblazers #china #hiking #outdoors

Getting There - hired a driver from Shangrila. then took a jeep over the mountain to the upper village. Attractions - Views, hiking and local cuisine. Hotels - Yolo inn/ amazing owner and delicious food/ also coffee! Food & Restaurants - cute bistro in the back of the village that’s sells delicious yak burgers and baked goods. Shopping -

🚴 1️⃣ By air: During peak season, there are direct flights to Shangri-La from Kunming, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Lhasa, and other cities. If there are no direct flights, you can also fly to Kunming first and then transfer to Shangri-La. Direct flights save time, allowing you to start your Shangri-La journey immediately after landing. 2️⃣ By high-speed rail 🎈 Lijiang - Shangri-La: The journey takes about 1 hour, with ticket prices starting from 63 yuan. There are 5 trains daily, offering multiple choices and suitable for tourists who want to visit Lijiang first and then travel to Shangri-La. 🎈 Kunming - Shangri-La: The journey takes about 5 hours, with ticket prices starting from 230 yuan. There are 3 trains daily. Departing from Kunming, you can enjoy the natural scenery of Yunnan along the way. 3️⃣ By bus: 🎈 Lijiang - Shangri-La: It takes about 3.5 hours to arrive, with a ticket price of 80 yuan. Buses depart every 40 minutes. The scenery along the way is beautiful, allowing you to experience the landscapes of northwest Yunnan. 🎈 Dali - Shangri-La: The journey takes about 8 hours, with a ticket price of 114 yuan. Buses depart every 45 minutes. Suitable for those with ample time who want to travel from Dali. 🎈 Local transportation 1️⃣ By bus: There are numerous bus routes within the county, reaching all major areas at affordable prices, making it an economical and convenient way to travel. 2️⃣ By taxi: Taxis and ride-hailing services are readily available, allowing you to travel anytime, anywhere, without worrying about transfers. 3️⃣ By tourist bus: To visit attractions such as Pudacuo National Park and Meili Snow Mountain, you can take a tourist bus from Dukezong Ancient Town, which provides a convenient and worry-free one-stop service directly to the scenic areas. 😻 Suggested itinerary D1: Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Pudacuo National Park - Dukezong Ancient Town Depart from Lijiang, first visit Tiger Leaping Gorge to experience the surging river, then stroll through the primeval forest in Pudacuo National Park, and arrive at Dukezong Ancient Town in the evening to enjoy the night view of the ancient town. D2: Songzanlin Monastery - Napa Lake - Balagezong - Baima Snow Mountain - Meili Snow Mountain Visit Songzanlin Monastery in the morning to experience the solemnity of Tibetan Buddhism, then head to Napa Lake to see the grassland and wetland scenery, followed by Balagezong and Baima Snow Mountain, and finally arrive at Meili Snow Mountain to witness the breathtaking sunrise over the golden mountain. 😻 Popular attractions Tiger Leaping Gorge, Pudacuo National Park, Dukezong Ancient Town, Songzanlin Monastery, Napa Lake, Balagezong, and Meili Snow Mountain each have unique characteristics and are must-visit attractions in Shangri-La. 😻 Accommodation guide 1️⃣ Shangri-La city center: It is recommended to stay in Dukezong Ancient Town, which offers various types of accommodation at affordable prices and convenient transportation. However, the roads in the ancient town are mostly paved with stone slabs, making it inconvenient to drag luggage, and there are many stairs. It is recommended to contact the homestay in advance to arrange pick-up and drop-off services. 2️⃣ Meili Snow Mountain: You can choose to stay near Feilai Temple to enjoy the stunning sunrise over the golden mountain in the early morning. However, the number of hotels is limited, and the prices are relatively high. 3️⃣ Yubeng Village: Upper Yubeng Village is located at a higher altitude, offering views of Lower Yubeng and the snow-capped mountains, making it an excellent choice for accommodation. ⭐️ Food recommendations When you come to Shangri-La, you must try yak butter tea, barley cakes, yak meat, Nixi chicken, and Tibetan pastries. Every bite is full of rich Tibetan flavor.

The beauty of Yubeng in Shangri-La needs no words, its beauty is simply indescribable, only those who have visited personally know the shock When you come to Yubeng, accommodation is a must-solve problem. Where to stay is very important. This YOLO leisure is the first tier in the entire Yubeng accommodation industry. YOLO is located in the upper village of Yubeng, which is a bit more convenient to go to the Ice Lake 🚗 To the hotel: Take the off-road vehicle of Yubeng Village and get off at the upper Yubeng drop-off point, then walk down the dusty road, and there are hotel signs along the way. Of course, the hotel also has a shuttle service, which can provide transportation from the Yubeng upper village ticket checkpoint to the hotel. 🏨 Hotel features: The hotel has a total of 5 floors, which is considered to be a larger volume in the entire upper Yubeng. The appearance is also more conspicuous among the surrounding hotels and homestays Although the hotel has 5 floors, there is no elevator. This is also a common problem with Yubeng hotels. The hotel does not have many rooms, only 10 in total, and each guest room has large floor-to-ceiling windows. You don't need to go out and can see the beauty of the snowy mountains directly from the bed in the room The facilities and equipment in the room are also relatively modern. Smart toilets and projectors are standard, and some rooms are also equipped with bathtubs, so you can take a bath while enjoying the view of the snowy mountains. ☕️ Hotel restaurant: The 5th floor is a snow mountain restaurant exclusive to hotel guests. Sitting in the restaurant and drinking tea and wine while looking at the snowy mountains is indeed a pleasure 🏨 Hotel: YOLO Snow Mountain View Homestay 📍 Address: Yubeng Village, Deqin, Shangri-La, Yunnan Province 💰 Room rate: 2000+ per night

Enjoying nature is key right now🍃, and the best part is that even beginners can do it! Especially since I usually don't exercise, being a lazy person, I managed to walk it too! Some hiking experience sharing: 🏔️About the route The Divine Waterfall route is a well-established hiking trail, with clear road signs throughout. The entrance is at P3, after which you'll walk a gentle path, similar to strolling in a forest park, then reach a mountain pass with beautiful scenery and a direct view of the snow-capped mountains. There's a simple supply and rest area here. The second half of the journey starts to ascend along prayer flags, with endless stairs that are incredibly tiring and desperate. You can vividly feel your body in hell while your eyes are in heaven, and then you arrive at the foot of the Divine Waterfall. Reaching the mountaintop is like the real-life reproduction of the scene from childhood poems 'The sun shines on the incense burner, producing purple smoke; from afar, the waterfall hangs before the stream.' 🚘About transportation Shangri-La ➡️ Deqin ➡️ Xidang Village You can buy bus tickets through gzh (Diqing Transportation) or contact local drivers for a chartered car. Xidang Village ➡️ Yubeng Village You can hike or take an off-road vehicle. 🛏️About accommodation If you're only walking the Divine Waterfall route, stay in Lower Yubeng. If you're taking other routes, Upper Yubeng is recommended for a broader view. 🥣About food Yubeng Village has nice little restaurants, or you can eat at guesthouses. Remember to bring Snickers🍫 and Coke when hiking, a bite when you're tired. 🧣About clothing My outfit from October to November: Thermal underwear + wool sweater + 3-in-1 jacket (start taking off halfway) Thermal pants + work pants Hiking shoes (recommend buying one size larger and must be soft, otherwise, you'll end up like me, losing a toenail) Backpack (raincoat, thermos, food) Little tips: Shoes are quite important, comfortable sports shoes are fine for walking the Divine Waterfall. Trekking poles are not necessary, but if you have bad knees, consider knee protection. 🌳About altitude sickness: If you don't get altitude sickness in Shangri-La, you can rest assured to enter Yubeng, as the vegetation there is lush and the oxygen content is high! You can bring an oxygen canister and glucose as a precaution. 🧩A bit of rambling In Yubeng, I saw the sunlit golden mountain and the stars twinkling in the night sky🌟. Walking in the empty mountain pass felt like I was the only person left in the world. Academic stress and worries in life all seemed less important. Perhaps this is the meaning of travel.

My first-ever hiking trip was dedicated to Yubeng. I have longed to visit Yubeng for a very long time, and since 2019, I have finally realized my dream of hiking there. It took a whole day to travel from Lijiang to Yubeng Village, and by the time I checked into the Upper Yubeng hostel, it was already six in the evening. The plan was to take two routes: the first day was Upper Yubeng to the Ice Lake; the second day was Upper Yubeng to Lower Yubeng to the Sacred Waterfall. 1️⃣ The hike to the Ice Lake was exhilarating with many steep slopes. We set off at 8:30 in the morning and successfully reached the summit before one in the afternoon. On the way down, we 'slid' all the way; 2️⃣ The second day's hike to the Sacred Waterfall was much easier compared to the Ice Lake route. Unfortunately, it has been snowing in Yubeng for the past few days, and we couldn't reach the top of the waterfall due to an avalanche. Therefore, we only made it to the base camp before turning back. However, the snowy scenery of the Sacred Waterfall route was much more spectacular than that of the Ice Lake, and it was also particularly suitable for snowball fights. Hanging prayer flags and performing the Sarlonba were all done on the Sacred Waterfall route. Each has its own charm, but the path from Lower Yubeng to Upper Yubeng was really difficult to walk, with steep slopes all the way . The original plan for the third day was to go down the mountain by off-road vehicle, but continuous snowfall in Yubeng had blocked the mountain roads. So we hiked from Upper Yubeng to Lower Yubeng, took a ride to the starting point of Ninong, and hiked eight kilometers down the mountain. It was indeed a pleasant surprise. The Ninong Grand Canyon is also very beautiful. The downhill was too shaky, and the last kilometer was completed entirely by willpower.

December Yubeng Ice Lake The sudden visit of heavy snow Cut off the traffic between the mountains and the outside world Even if it's short-lived Yubeng Village has quieted down · We set off from Shang Yubeng to trek to the Ice Lake Walking in a pure white dream all the way Only the occasional sound of the wind reminds me This unreal beauty · In this pure white world There is all the gentleness of fantasy Under the ice lake, the water is surging The sun is slightly drunk and blurred The world is quiet Lonely and free · 📒 Route: Shang Yubeng-Ice Lake 15 kilometers round trip, climbing about 800 · ‼️ Some small trekking tips: 1. Winter trekking to the Ice Lake, remember to have ice claws! Snow covers to protect the trouser legs from getting wet! Climbing sticks and snow shoes! Goggles🥽. These aids can make you more relaxed when trekking in snowy days 2. The last 1 kilometer to the Ice Lake is uphill, the snow is thick, about to the knees and thighs, be very careful of your feet. Although the lake surface is frozen🧊, the recent weather is not cold enough, the ice layer is thin, do not play on the ice surface

Starting Point: Yubeng Upper Village Difficulty: 4/5 (easy to navigate hiking paths, but due to high altitude and elevation requires good fitness level) Distance: 16km Altitude: 3.200m to 3.900m (total 800m elevation) Duration: 7-9 hours The hike is starting peacefully from the Upper Yubeng Village through grassland. Early the hiking will start with slight elevation until you reach a stunning viewpoint to the Snow Mountain. From there hike down a little bit until reaching the basecamp. From the basecamp a steep elevation will start until you reach the Iced Lake with stunning views on waterfalls and snow mountains. Hike down the same path.

If you’re looking for the best place to stay I would recommend to look for some hotels at the upper village. #trip #travel #yubengvillage #yunnan #yunnantravel