Dali City wall

Dali is surrounded by a city wall and next to a lake that you can see in the distance. I took this one from the top of the city wall. We biked down to the lake later in the day.

Comfortable House in Yubeng

This house sits on the side of the mountain in upper Yubeng, and overlooks the valley to lower Yubeng. The owners have a pretty impressive view while having their morning tea.

Sacred Trail Head

Beyond this abandoned Tibetan style house on the path to the left leads to a sacred site for for Tibetan Buddhists. The trail follows the mountains to the left and ends at an impressive waterfall created from the melting snow from the sacred mountain of Kawagebo.

Bottom of the steps

These waterfalls go down in steps, they are almost to perfect to be natural ...

Beautiful Snow Mountain (Meili Xue Shan)

This is the highest peak in the Meili xue Mountain range whose name directly translates to Beautiful Snow mountain, it is an amazing place and marks the border between Yunnan province and the Tibet Autonomous regoin.

Beautiful Snow Mountain (Meili Xue Shan)

This is the highest peak in the Meili xue Mountain range whose name directly translates to Beautiful Snow mountain, it is an amazing place and marks the border between Yunnan province and the Tibet Autonomous regoin.

Boy monk

Back in 2007 I was picked up by a Chinese photographer when hitch hiking in Northern Yunnan province. He knew when these monks were having prayers and we arrived to watch with many other locals. I took this photo as the monks were leaving the temple. I was the only foreigner there that day, maybe even that year ... This boy took a good long look at me as he walked by.

Boy monk

Back in 2007 I was picked up by a Chinese photographer when hitch hiking in Northern Yunnan province. He knew when these monks were having prayers and we arrived to watch with many other locals. I took this photo as the monks were leaving the temple. I was the only foreigner there that day, maybe even that year ... This boy took a good long look at me as he walked by.

View of Lijiang old town

Many small bars line the hill in Lijiang old town. Each offers a great view of the historic rooftops while offering hot tea or cold beer, we went with a cold beer.

LIjiang old town

Lijiang old town from a bar we stopped at while walking around one afternoon.  Lijiang old town is very touristy but has interesting architecture and a great place to spend a couple of days.  However, if you are looking for something more authentic it is best to explore the small towns and villages around Lijiang.