Yubeng Village

After visiting Lijiang and witnessing the majesty of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain After going to Shaxi and witnessing the traces of the ancient Tea Horse Road I once again embarked on a journey to Yubeng Outside the car window is the snow-covered Napahai A fleeting glimpse of the Songzanlin Monastery Further ahead is the surging Lancang River winding through the canyons Entering the Baima Snow Mountain, it becomes a vast expanse of endless white - To the east of Meili, at the foot of the sacred mountain Lies the destination of this trip, Yubeng Village In the winter, the village houses are neatly arranged With the morning smoke curling up and the sound of cowbells From the morning's sunlight on the Golden Mountain to the arrival of the blues The golden roof of the temple appears tranquil and mysterious - Staying at the Wildtalk has been the long-awaited expectation of this trip Outside is the icy world, with the snow mountain appearing and disappearing in the clouds Inside the room, the warmth remains, and the comfortable temperature relaxes one The thoughtful service is a sincere gesture to the guests No need to get up too early in the morning, waking up at 8 am allows for Enjoying breakfast in the lobby while admiring the sunlight on the Golden Mountain - 📠 Yubeng Travel Tips ① You can fly directly to Diqing Shangri-La/Lijiang ② Lijiang has opened a direct high-speed train to Shangri-La taking 1.5h ③ You can stay one night in Shangri-La, as you might miss The car to Yubeng, just stay in the city for one night, and set off early the next day ④ Take a business car from Shangri-La to Xidang Village parking lot for 4-5h Usually a 7-seater business car, 600-700 yuan/car, can be chartered or shared ⑤ Yubeng scenic area ticket is 55 yuan/person, you can take an off-road vehicle or hike in (hiking one way is about 8h) ⑥ The ticket to Lower Yubeng Village is 260 yuan/person, and the return trip is 200 yuan/person (In case of snow and extreme weather, the off-road vehicles will stop operating, and you can only hike in) ⑦ Yubeng scenic area stops selling tickets at 17:00 every day ⑧ Wildtalk breakfast starts at 8:00, and you can enjoy breakfast while watching the sunlight on the Golden Mountain (the sunlight on the Golden Mountain is also around 8:00)

A Hidden World Beyond the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain After being deeply impressed by the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, I embarked on a journey to Yubeng, where even more stunning natural beauty lies hidden. Passing through Shaxi, I witnessed the historical traces of the Tea Horse Road. Outside the car window, the snowy expanse of Napahai, a fleeting glimpse of the Songzanlin Monastery, and the Lancang River raging incessantly through the gorge. Crossing the Baima Snow Mountain, a pristine white landscape unfolded before my eyes. 🌄 The Winter Scroll of Yubeng Village East of Meili, at the foot of the sacred mountain, lies Yubeng Village, where in winter, the wooden houses are neatly scattered, smoke from cooking fires intertwines with the sound of cowbells, from the golden sunrise over the mountain to the bluesy twilight, the golden roof of the temple reveals its mystery in tranquility. 🏨 Wildtalk Hotel: A Warm Haven Checking into the Wildtalk Hotel was an anticipation of my trip. Outside was a world of ice and snow, while inside was as warm as spring, with attentive service that made one feel at home. In the morning, there was no need to rush, waking up at 8 o'clock, enjoying breakfast in the lobby while admiring the magnificent view of the sunlit golden mountain. 📝 Yubeng Travel Tips Direct flights to Diqing Shangri-La or Lijiang. The high-speed train from Lijiang to Shangri-La only takes 1.5 hours. It is recommended to stay in Shangri-La for one night to avoid missing the vehicle to Yubeng. Take a business car from Shangri-La to Xidang Village parking lot, the journey takes about 4-5 hours, and the cost is about 600-700 yuan/car. The Yubeng scenic area ticket is 55 yuan/person, you can choose to take an off-road vehicle in the scenic area or hike in (about 8 hours one way). The round-trip tickets from Yubeng Village are 260 yuan and 200 yuan respectively, and the off-road vehicle may stop running in extreme weather. The Yubeng scenic area stops selling tickets after 17:00 daily. The breakfast at Wildtalk Hotel starts at 8:00, which is the best time to watch the sunlit golden mountain.

Went to a small village in Yunnan called Yubeng. It was such a magical place to relax and hike within the Tibetan Mountain Range. I will most definitely be visiting again and I enjoyed every moment I spent here. The hikes were beautiful and it was so surreal to be able to hike within these Mountains. I never thought in my lifetime I’d be immersed in snowy mountain as big as these. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who loves hiking and being out in nature. Even if you don’t enjoy hiking it’s nice to just spend time in the cozy village at the local cafes and enjoying the views. Getting there was not the easiest or the quickest but it is worth it. You have to travel to Shangri-la and then take a bus to Deqen. It’s quite a long ride but beautiful views along the ways. Then stay at any of the hotels/hostels near the Meili Snow mountains when you get off the bus. You then stay over night and wake up bright and early for the sunrise. After that there will be cars waiting to bring travelers to Yubeng. You take a car and then arrive just below the Yubeng village. You buy a ticket into the village and then a jeep will come and pick you up to take you into the village. #yunnantravel #travelchina #snowmountain

What I long for in life is nothing more than freedom and the distance. 'Paradise is to the left, Yubeng is to the right' This ancient Tibetan village deep in the Meili Snow Mountain is a secret deep in Yunnan, nine hours away From sunny days to heavy snowfall, the altitude gradually climbs and breathing becomes more labored Snow-capped mountains surround, prayer flags fluttering I was fortunate to encounter the sunrise at the sacred village in heaven, when the mountain gains color as the sunlight shines on the snow mountain All the beauty will also arrive as promised

If you don't go to heaven, go to Yubeng. This was the conclusion of hiking enthusiasts more than a decade ago about Yubeng Village in Diqing, Yunnan. Trekking in the highland forests is both a challenge and a pleasure. It's really enjoyable to go trekking in Yubeng with a few good friends. What are the things to pay attention to and the budget considerations? 1. Itinerary: Yubeng Village is quite large, with three mature trekking routes: the Ice Lake route, the Sacred Waterfall route, and the Nylam route. The most challenging is undoubtedly the Ice Lake route. It is recommended to stay overnight in lower Yubeng, rest, and then start trekking after watching the sunrise the next morning. The easiest route might be the Sacred Waterfall route, which has already been well developed. 2. Ticket budget: The current ticket price for Yubeng Village is 70 yuan, with ticket offices at the entrance of the village. Currently, tickets cannot be purchased online and must be bought on-site, but non-cash payments are supported. There are off-road vehicles from the entrance to upper Yubeng for 200 yuan per person, and from upper to lower Yubeng for 260 yuan per person. It is recommended to go just to upper Yubeng, as the stations for upper and lower Yubeng are very close to each other, and there's no need to waste an extra 60 yuan. The budget for tickets is 70 + 200×2 = 470 yuan. 3. Accommodation budget: Both upper and lower Yubeng Village have a considerable number of guesthouses. Although recent commercial development has taken away some of the original ecological charm, the accommodation conditions have improved a lot. The average cost for a standard guesthouse is around 300 yuan, while high-end homestays average about 800 yuan. The guesthouse where I stayed, which had a view, was an economical type costing 350 yuan per night. However, ordinary guesthouses in Yubeng do not provide toiletries and toothbrushes, which must be purchased separately. The cost for staying 2 nights in a guesthouse is 700 yuan. 4. Food budget: There are many more places to eat in Yubeng Village than there were ten years ago, and prices have decreased with the market mechanism. In addition to the simple restaurants opened by local Tibetans, there are also Hunan and Sichuan restaurants opened by people from other places. The average cost per person is generally over 100 yuan. The cost of dining for 3 days with friends was 2000 yuan, with an average cost of 1000 yuan per person. 5. Transportation budget: From Shangri-La city center, take a bus directly to Deqin bus station, then transfer to a rural bus to Feilaisi. Usually, you take the rural bus to Xidang Village entrance in the morning, buy a ticket, and enter Yubeng Village. There are 5 buses a day from Shangri-La to Deqin bus station, departing at 9:20, 10:30, 12:30, 14:10, and 15:40, with a ticket price of 62 yuan. It is recommended to buy tickets online in advance, as they can be quite tight. The bus fare from Deqin bus station to Feilaisi is 5 yuan, and from Feilaisi to Xidang Village (Yubeng Village ticket office) is 20 yuan, making the round-trip fare 174 yuan. In total, the cost for a 3-day, 2-night trip to Yubeng Village is 470 yuan + 700 yuan + 1000 yuan + 174 yuan = 2344 yuan.

"You can't always just look at Meili Snow Mountain on your phone." Because of this sentence, I chose to fly to Yunnan and head straight to Meili Snow Mountain. When the sunlight shines on the mountains, all the efforts are worth it. I also had the luck to witness the sunlit Meili Snow Mountain! 🛬【Itinerary】: Shangri-La + Meili Snow Mountain + Yubeng 5 days and 4 nights itinerary guide: D1 Shangri-La--Dukezong Ancient Town--Dukezong Flower Lane--Shangri-La Tea Horse Road Shangri-La LUX* Resort D2 Shangri-La--Jiantang Town--Songzanlin Monastery--Ganden Sumtseling Monastery--Benzilan--Deqin Deqin Jishan Meili SUNYATA Hotel D3 Deqin--Wunongding Viewing Platform--Feilai Temple Viewing Platform--Yubeng Sacred Waterfall Hiking Deqin Muchen Mountain Lodge D4 Yubeng--Baima Snow Mountain--Napa Lake--Shangri-La Shangri-La Dala Ranch D5 Leisurely stroll in Shangri-La ⛺【Must-visit attractions】: 1. Dukezong Ancient Town It is recommended to visit the Big Buddha Temple at the top of Turtle Hill Park, which has a very large prayer wheel that you can turn three times clockwise to pray; There are many snacks in the ancient town, but this shop is highly recommended: ☕️ Snow Mountain Little Kitchen Dormito Cafe A very beautiful shop~ It has coffee, desserts, and meals, with good value for money! This shop is renovated from a Tibetan-style residence, retaining most of the traditional Tibetan architecture, a very charming old house. Also, the afternoon tea at Diqing Moonlight City Indigo Hotel, where you can enjoy desserts while overlooking Dukezong Ancient Town, is very pleasant~ 2. Wunongding Viewing Platform Facing Meili Snow Mountain Kawagebo, you can ask the hotel staff about the time of the sunlit Meili Snow Mountain. There is a tree at Wunongding, a very niche but very photogenic spot!! 3. Napa Lake The sky is so blue, the clouds are so white, it looks like a world in a comic, every shot is beautiful~ 4. Yubeng Scenic Area - Sacred Waterfall Hiking to the Sacred Waterfall is really enjoyable! It feels so good to walk into nature, although the road to Yubeng is a bit difficult, the scenery is really pure!!! Along the way, there are prayer flags and mani stones, full of blessings. With a guide leading the way, it takes about 5.6 hours to walk slowly, remember to bring some food with you and drink less water! The Ice Lake is more difficult to walk, so follow your physical strength and the guide's advice~

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.

1⃣️Transportation🚗 Depart from Lijiang by bus to Deqin Feilai Temple. Stay at Feilai Temple for one night to wait for the sunrise on Meili Snow Mountain. The next day, share a ride to Xidang Village, then take the off-road vehicle in the village to enter the village. When booking a hotel or homestay, check whether it is in Upper Yubeng or Lower Yubeng. Just buy a ticket directly to Upper Yubeng or Lower Yubeng. The entrance fee to the village is 260/person for Lower Yubeng and 200/person for leaving Lower Yubeng. Going to Upper Yubeng will be a little cheaper. 2⃣️Preparation of items📦 Try not to bring suitcases unless you stay at Wild Language. Wild Language has an off-road vehicle to pick us up at our drop-off point. The village does not allow other hotels and homestays to have off-road vehicles, so after taking the village's off-road vehicle to the hotel, you still need to walk, especially uphill. Just prepare a backpack with necessities and clothes. My suitcase was severely worn out after a trip to Yubeng Village. 3⃣️Whether to hike into the village Many people choose to hike into the village, which takes an average of more than six hours. But in my opinion, the scenery along the hiking route into the village is not very good, the scenery is quite monotonous, and there is a lot of dust brought up by off-road vehicles on the dirt road. You can save your energy for the classic hiking routes after entering the village. It's a pity to waste time on roads with little scenery. 4⃣️Food and accommodation🥣 There are many hotels and homestays to choose from in the village, but don't expect too much from the environment in the village. It's a primitive village with many horses and cows, and a lot of animal excrement on the roads. Because transportation is inconvenient, supplies in the village are scarce and prices are relatively high. 5⃣️Photo spot selection📷 It mainly depends on how many days you stay and whether you hike. I went to the Big Lawn (a popular check-in spot) to take photos from noon to afternoon on the first day. There are snack bars, coffee shops, small bars, and Shaxian snacks, etc. The atmosphere in the small bar at night is still good. The second day I chose the Divine Waterfall route for hiking. Wearing a storm coat for hiking and taking photos is very photogenic. High-altitude hiking is very tiring, especially the Divine Waterfall route is uphill all the way. If you stay for a long time, you can choose the Ice Lake, Divine Lake, Cordyceps line, etc., but be sure to measure your strength and go with a companion. The Divine Waterfall route is suitable for those staying in Lower Yubeng, and other routes are closer to Upper Yubeng. 6⃣️Hiking selection❗️ For beginners, it is recommended to take the Divine Waterfall route. The uphill climb in the later stage is not easy, but overall it is quite friendly. The Divine Waterfall is actually a sacred place for Tibetans. There are prayer flags all over the mountains. But now the weather has frozen the Divine Waterfall. The Divine Waterfall route is a mature route that combines religious color and scenery, and the whole route is a cement road. Other routes are relatively difficult, especially the Cordyceps line. When choosing these routes, be sure to do your homework or form a group. I personally think that the difficulty of hiking in Daocheng is greater than the Divine Waterfall route. If you can accept the difficulty of hiking in Daocheng, you can choose a more difficult route in Yubeng Village.

"Paradise is to the left, Yubeng to the right" This ancient Tibetan village deep in the Meili Snow Mountain is a secret deep in Yunnan~ 📍Located within the territory of Deqin County, Diqing Prefecture, Yunnan Province, at the foot of Meili Snow Mountain, it exists at an altitude of about 3000m or more, and here it is divided into Upper Yubeng and Lower Yubeng Why choose autumn for Yubeng? From the end of October, Yubeng officially enters the dry season Clear skies are the norm, with only a few days of cloudy rain ✅No trouble from the rains, no muddy mountain roads ✅You can witness the autumn colors blooming all over the mountains ✅And there's a very high chance of seeing the golden sunrise on the mountain and the starry sky 🏠Accommodation: ✨Both Yubengs are made of wood and are Tibetan-style houses, with generally basic accommodation conditions. ✨I personally suggest staying one night at Feilai Temple before entering Yubeng, no need to get up early, and you can see Meili Snow Mountain from the hotel, with a very good angle. 🏃Main hiking routes 1. The Sacred Waterfall route (13.6km) Starting from Lower Yubeng, the whole path is cement and stone steps, friendly to beginners, the waterfall is spectacular during the rainy season, and the colorful prayer flags are a highlight 2. The Ice Lake route (14km) Starting from Upper Yubeng, you will pass through sea buckthorn and fir forests, pastures, streams, and rock piles, with beautiful scenery in summer and average in winter 3. The Caterpillar Fungus route (18km) Starting from Upper Yubeng, the most beautiful route, surrounded by snow-capped mountains on a mountain ridge Directly facing the shock of the Goddess Peak 4. The Sacred Lake route (10km) Starting from Lower Yubeng, the whole way is uphill and heart-pounding, with an altitude of up to 4600 5. The Ninnong route (14km) A must-pass route out of Yubeng, passing through forests, valleys, and cliffs 🚩Must-visit attractions 1⃣Yubeng Village A village called the residence of immortals, without the noise of the city, only blue skies, snow mountains, primeval forests, and fearless little squirrels. 2⃣Ice Lake "The heart of Kawagarbo," formed by the melting waters of the snow mountain, the lake water is deep green like jade. 3⃣Feilai Temple Directly facing the thirteen peaks of Meili Snow Mountain, it is an excellent spot to watch the golden sunrise on the mountain. Catching the first ray of golden light on the snow mountain before sunrise can bring good luck for the whole year. 4⃣Songzanlin Monastery "The Little Potala Palace," the NO.1 Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan by scale. Walking around the lake at the temple's entrance, Lamuyangcuo, can unlock the hidden position of the temple's reflection in the lake! 5⃣Napa Lake "The tear of Shangri-La," with the unique scenery of "winter sea and summer meadow," in winter the rising waters form "Napa Lake," and in summer the receding rainwater turns into "Yila Grassland." 💥Tips: 1. The ultraviolet rays are strong in the plateau area, so be sure to do enough sun protection! 2. To prevent altitude sickness: start taking Rhodiola rosea capsules a week in advance/highland Yubeng village peace, do not bathe when you first arrive at the highland, and do not engage in strenuous exercise. 3. Prepare enough vitamin tablets, energy bars, and beef jerky to replenish energy in time during hiking. 4. Friends who are hiking for the first time should try to set out early, as the mountain roads are complex to avoid walking at night. 5. You can prepare some cash as some places along the way may have poor signal. 6. The best time to see the golden sunrise on the mountain is from late October to March of the following year, remember to check the weather forecast before you go. 7. Clothing recommendation: waterproof jacket, fleece, quick-dry shirt, quick-thousand pants, and storm pants.

Sacred Waterfall hike in Yubeng Getting There - Start your hike at either Lower or Upper Yubeng. Stone path leads the way to the waterfall! Attractions - Many sacred sites and colorful prayer flags along the way. The first half of the hike follows the river 💦 Hotels - Many options in Lower and Upper Yubeng - I liked Gap Time Hostel Food & Restaurants - Small shop just before the summit for water and snacks but I recommend bringing your own I completed this hike in about 3 hours. #naturalwonders#summervacation#hikingtrails

Yubeng Village: A secluded and unknown place in an alphine valley mere kms from the Tibetan border. It was never discovered and not accesible by road. You can either trek in on your own or ride a mule to go to the village. Everyone may have heard of tiger leaping gorge or Jade Dragon Snow Mountain but not many people have heard of this small village - A village that is situated 3000m above sea level. Day 1: Yubeng Village 13-16km Day 2: Sacred waterfall 14-18km DAY 3: Glacier lake trek 18km Glacier lake formed by snow water from Meili Snow Mountain and the main water resource of Yubeng Village. Absolutely intimidated by the snowmelt point and the narrow path along the way and the trek itself was no easy feat mainly due to the uninvited visitor AMS at 3.6ft. As we ascend and descend so quickly for the first 3-4km, the AMS symtoms started showing when i was at 3.6 and above. But i conquered the entire trail and managed to reach to the top (3.8ft above sea level). #urbanexplorer #mydestinations #hikes #mountainview #yunnantravel

Yubeng Village is an idyllic land of 3000m altitude with only 2 available roads from Xidang Village or Ninong direction. It takes 6-8 hours to hike into the village from Xidang Village or 1 hour drive (cost 200 RMB, other cars are not allowed to drive into the village as it's really difficult to drive). It was stunning all along not only because of the virgin forest with snow, but also the amazing snow mountains, which you will feel so close to. The village is seperated as upper village and lower village with 900m altitude difference, takes 35-40 minutes to reach. Staying in upper village, you can enjoy two snow mountains: 神女峰 & 五佛峰, and a nice view of lower village, closer to the Icy Lake(冰湖). While in lower village, there is a temper and small lake with the reflection of the snow mountain, feels like a drawing, it's closer to Sacred Waterfall（神瀑）and Sacred Lake（神湖）and the Ninong valley. In the morning, you can enjoy morning bell ring of the cows, early sunrise reflecting on the snow mountains; enjoy the forest or stream at noon, and sunset in lower village. What else can we ask for!? #momentsmission #vacation