Zhongdian Things to Do

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On our way back to Dali, on the road we noticed this small tibetan market.
Well actually I am still not sure if it was a market or if they were some kind of nomads with hanging dresses just to dry them.
We went there to give a look and take some photos and those people didn't mind about us at all, they did not offer anything.I asked my chinese guide if she had an idea about what those people were doing and she had no answer; so, once again, something able to surprise me, something able to let me wonder where I am and what is happening around me, this is probably my opinion of the thing to do while in Zhongdian, wander without wondering too much.

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The really best thing you can do in Zhongdian, is just really taking a walk in the old town.
The Lijiang old town is worldwide famout as it's unesco heritage, but I enjoyed much more this small one.
It's full of small streets not yet full of shops and anyway noone tries to sell you anything so you can stop and give a look without even being noticed.
One of the few historical centres where you really feel away from home, easy to say, but more and more difficult now a days.

Don't miss te chance to try the tibetan butter tea. It is thick and almost more like soup than tea. It is very creamy (duh!) and strong buttery smell. It is made from yak's milk. It is not my cup of tea. But at least I have tried.

Hire a jeep, or hop on a bus (prepare winter clothing!) and get closer to Meili.

If you hire a jeep, it should cost no more than RMB400 per day.
This was the driver I hired: a young tibetan chap and a sharp businessman by the name of Wang4Dui1: 139 887 68217

On the way you get to see:

1) Jin1 Sha1 River (the tributary of Yangzi River) big bend
2) Dong1 Zhu2 Lin2 lama temple/monastery (Yellow sect)
3) Benzilan town overseeing the Jin Sha River valley, and eat the river fish there
4) Cold snowy mountains

also called Guihua Monastery, is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan province, built along the mountains with a magnificent facade, the present monastery is a faithful imitation of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.
this monastery has many treasures. the most famous are the eight gold-covered sculptures of Sakyamuni, fashioned between the time of the Fifth and Seventh Dalai Lamas. in the early Qing Dynasty, the rulers of Lijiang, the Mu Family, presented the monastery with dozens of bronze sculptures, the "Ganzur" scriptures hand-written in liquid gold, scriptures written on pattra leaves, gold lamps, and many exquisite gilded silver incense burners. every morning, noon and evening, the solemn tolling of the bells and the sound of the drums from the bell and drum towers can be heard several kilometers away.

The road trip is a must see activity.. because It's really a must.. you can't avoid it..

It takes about 4-5 hours to go from LiJiang to ZhongDian, and even longer from ZhongDian to Deqin, about 8 hours. But the scenary along the road is great! It's great that we hired our own car cuz we could stop the car whenever we want and take pictures!

It is the "incised meander of Jinsha River" as described on the sign. I guess its not a famous tourist spot cuz it was not in any of the travel books I read. But it has a magnificent view! As far as I'm concern, it has a better view comparing tothe "First Bend of Yangzi River".

There's some more pictures in my travelogue, go and check them out~!

Song Zan Lin Monastery is the largest and the most famous Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. Built along the mountains with a magnificent facade, the present monastery is a faithful imitation of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

Every morning, noon and evening, during the praying time, the solemn tolling of the bells and the sound of the drums from the bell and drum towers can be heard several kilometers away.

There are several halls in the Song Zan Lin Monastery. You have to walk up quite a few steps to reach the main hall the the top. We 2 clumpsy old gals, in this wet and cold weather, took forever to walk up there.. and almost fall down a couple of times....

Some more pictures can be found in my travelogue