Things to do in Diqing

Tiger Leaping Gorge is truly breathtaking! Seeing it in person truly makes you appreciate the immense power of nature. The Jinsha River roars and surges through the gorge, its waves crashing against the banks, creating a deafening roar. The spray from the water on the viewing platform is incredibly impactful. The cliffs on both sides are majestic and precipitous, with snow-capped mountains visible in the distance – the scenery is magnificent and photogenic. The scenic walkways are well-maintained, making it relatively easy to explore, even for seniors. The signs are clear, the environment is clean, and there are no hidden fees. Although the mountain paths are quite challenging, seeing this world-class canyon scenery makes it all worthwhile. I highly recommend visiting Tiger Leaping Gorge when you come to Yunnan; it's an unforgettable stop on your trip!

The weather wasn't great, but it was still incredibly beautiful, almost unrealistically so, haha. It cleansed my soul, and I didn't want to leave. I even encountered some squirrels. Along the way by bus, we saw even more beautiful undeveloped canyons, streams, and trees. I look forward to more areas being developed in the future.

Worth to visit if it’s your first time being there but not suitable for old folks because there are a lot of stairs climbing. Big temples.

Biggest Buddhist temple outside of Tibet - a must visit if you're in Shangri-la, or Yunnan in general.

The scenery is beautiful and highly recommended. The experience is great, but it takes 6-7 hours to reach the top of the mountain. It is recommended to drive into the scenic area (there is a 200 yuan environmental protection fee per vehicle), but the time is flexible. The roads in the scenic area are narrow, steep, and have very sharp bends, so experienced drivers are needed for safety.

We were picked up by a private car, and the place felt like a self-entertaining hot pot restaurant; it was packed. There were local performances to watch, and the host was quite humorous. They gave us hada (ceremonial scarves) at the entrance, and the recommended butter tea was delicious.

I read in a travel guide that horseback riding is risky and you might get ripped off, so I just hiked up the mountain. The first viewing platform wasn't worth it; the pond was full of mud and weeds. Just head towards the crowds. The higher you go, the better the scenery. Even on a rainy or cloudy day, the pond water was a beautiful blue. It was definitely worth the trip and the hike (hiking at an altitude of over 2,000 meters is quite tiring).

The horseback riding experience on the grassland was quite cost-effective. We rode for almost an hour, with someone leading the horses. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Napa Sea Grassland, and the children had a great time.

After having a Tibetan meal in Dukezong Ancient Town, I saw some scenic views online and on a whim, my partner and I decided to drive there. It was winter, so the road conditions were quite dangerous. Because it was night, the roads were covered in black ice and snow. We didn't encounter many vehicles along the way, so it felt rather deserted, but thankfully we made it safely. We were also incredibly lucky to witness the sunrise over the sacred mountains—a sight I'd never seen before. I definitely want to see those sacred mountains again someday!

My first hike was supposed to be easy, but it took me four and a half hours to get to the village, a total elevation gain of 1700 meters. At an altitude of over 3000 meters, it gave me courage. The next day, I hiked 26km from the sacred waterfall to the village. Now I'm not afraid to climb any mountain on the plains anymore. The scenery after entering the village was unbeatable. However, with the road now open, I won't have to go through Ninong to get to the village anymore; I don't want to go through that ordeal again.