Lijiang-Nujiang(Salween river) 8 day extension tour
Day 1: Lijiang-Liuku
About 8 hours drive to Liuku from Lijiang (350km), enjoy the view of Nujiang gorge on your way to our destination! Stay overnight at Liuku.
Day 2: Liuku Lisu minority village-Luzhangguan
Things to see: the incredible folk activities Shangdaoshan (climb blade-ladder), Xiahuohai (dance on fire) which are held ceremoniously, an important festival to Lisu tribe as well, the folk art crystallization. Overnight at Liuku.
Day 3: Liuku-Gongshan
Gongshan is a major town for this region, even though it is just a one-street-town. It is an important town because it is the closest supply depot for hardware and other requirements to all the towns and villages north and east (to Dulong territory) of here.
The scenery between Fugong and Gongshan is fabulous with lots of steep slopes and waterfalls. The road hugs the Nujiang and there are lots of landslides along the way. Be prepared to be delayed. One also needs to have a strong heart as vehicles frequently miss the cliff by inches. It is especially spectacular after rain; which also means higher potential of delays and landslide dangers. There are Lisu and Nu farms clinging to impossible places on the steep slopes hundreds of meters up from both sides of the river. Their fields are often partially or completely destroyed by landslides. They can do nothing but re-cultivate again and again. Overnight at Gongshan village.
Day 4: Gongshan-Bingzhongluo
As a most beautiful part of Nujiang gorge, Bingzhongluo is another one-street town, It has a strong Tibetan flavor as most of the inhabitants around it are Tibetans and Nus and it is very close to Tibet itself. Immediately outside the main street to the east, small plots of farms spread out in terraces towards the river. There are more farms (mainly wheat) across the river on a beautiful peninsula jutting into the river- the Plum ˇ°Islandˇ±. The west of Bingzhongluo is backed by a few snow peaks.
Head to the First Bend of Nujiang River, visit the local farm house and local Dulong girls with unique facial tattoos, apparently this was done to avoid the women being kidnapped by the nearby Tibetans as slaves. However this is now extremely rare and such tattoos are only likely to be found on the faces of very old women, which are numbered. Stay overnight at Bingzhongluo
Day 5: Bingzhongluo-Fugong
Villages on the other bank of the river are accessed either by narrow bridges constructed of small wooden planks/bamboo stringed together with rattan tied to trees; or by sliding on overhead cables that span the river. The cables are tied to trees on either side of the river and to cross, one is suspended and slide from a rope loop attached to a harness wear around the waist. Go and experience it if you brave enough. Take a look around the Stone Moon Mountain, a god made mountain. Join the local evening banquet and party. Overnight at Fugong.
Day 6: Fugong-Yaping
We are heading to Yaping virgin forest after having a delicious breakfast, also a way to dreamlike landscape. The ancient trees, rhododendron, mountain peaks and waterfall. Overnight at Fugong.
Day 7: Fugong-Liuku
Drive all the way back to Liuku, enjoy the bus trip. Stay in Liuku.
Day 8: Liuku-Lijiang
Arrive at Lijiang old town in the late afternoon, enjoy the dinner by the canals, grab a beer in barˇ spend the last peaceful night in Lijiang. We finish the wonderful trip!
the itinerary we provide above is optional, please contact us for the exact tour cost based on your desired tour itinerary.