This morning, we officially set off for Lijiang, with a stopover in Dali along the way.
In my previous post, I shared the pros of booking a tour package. Now, let’s talk about one of the cons as quoted by my hubby being “herded around like cows/sheep.”
Wake up call is set at a specific time, you have to be down for breakfast by a set time, and be ready to leave the hotel for the next destination by a set time. It’s like clockwork… Move, move, move. Go, go, go.
Lunch Stop Along the Way
Stopped at a hotel for lunch enroute. Didn’t capture the name of the hotel unfortunately. Lunch was a full Chinese course – generous portions, lots of dishes, and more than enough food to fuel the long drive ahead.
After lunch, we took a short walk around the hotel grounds, which had a beautifully landscaped lake. A nice little stretch after sitting on the bus for hours.
Shuanglang & Erhai Lake
Next, we reached Shuanglang located on the shores of Erhai Lake. From the entrance, we were whisked off in a tram to Sun Palace, so we didn’t get to slowly walk through the cobblestone streets or browse the shops along the way.
Sun Palace
Sun Palace itself is a lovely place to chill. It’s the private villa of renowned dancer Yang Liping, and we were treated to a relaxed afternoon tea – rose tea, a dessert platter, and preserved plum snacks.
After the afternoon tea, it’s back to the shuttle tram, driven past the shops and back to the bus. The lake views were stunning. Erhai Lake is seriously beautiful, and I couldn’t help thinking how nice it would be to explore the town slowly, at my own pace. But… downside of a tour package, right? Definitely a place I’d love to return to if I ever come back to Dali on my own..
After afternoon tea, it was back onto the bus again – destination: Lijiang.
Arrival in Lijiang & Dinner
Fun fact: When we arrived in Lijiang, we have a change of tour guide. The tour guide who fetched us at Kunming and went with us from Kunming handed us over to a local Lijiang Naxi tribe guide. It’s a way of ensuring that the locals have a job, that locals benefit from tourism and I think it’s a great idea.
We arrived in Lijiang just in time for dinner. I must have been really hungry because this is the only photo I took of the meal.
After dinner, the group was treated to a welcoming dance performance – a lovely cultural touch to end a long travel day.
After that, it’s back to the hotel to wind down after a whole day of travelling. We stayed at Lijiang International Hilton Hotel for 2 nights. It’s a comfortable five-star hotel but the location ain’t fantastic. It’s pretty much in the middle of nowhere, with no shops nearby except for a small minimart on the ground floor. Very much a hotel catered for tour groups.
We turned in early for the night, knowing we had an early start the next morning to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, with a full and packed day ahead in Lijiang. You can also read our full Yunnan itinerary here.