POST-MTP TRIP 5: Mini-trip: Shangri-La + Tiger Leaping Gorge
I ADORE Yunnan. It’s one of the most beautiful parts of China and it feels completely different from the huge cities most people associate with the country. And Shangri-La? It’s just iconic. After big city vibes in Chengdu, you’ll feel like you’re in another planet amidst the temples and Monks of Yunnan Province.
Over just four days we’ll go from the ancient streets of Lijiang to snow-capped mountains, one of the deepest and most dramatic gorges in the world, and finally up into the Tibetan-influenced landscapes around Shangri-La.
If you want a proper adventure after MTP Chengdu 2027 but don’t have time for one of the longer post-conference trips, this is a brilliant option. It’s short, relatively easy logistically, but still gives you an incredible mix of mountains, old towns, Tibetan culture and some seriously spectacular scenery.
Table of contents
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
- Explore Lijiang Old Town
- Black Dragon Pool
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- Blue Moon Valley
- Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Short hike through the gorge
- Road trip from Lijiang to Shangri-La
- Dukezong Old Town
- Giant prayer wheel
- Songzanlin Monastery
- Tibetan countryside around Shangri-La
- Napa Lake
Itinerary:
Day 1 – 25 October: Chengdu → Lijiang
We’ll leave Chengdu after the MTP conference and fly to Lijiang, arriving in the afternoon.
After checking in, we’ll head straight out to explore Lijiang Old Town and Black Dragon Pool, with the mountains forming the backdrop to one of the most beautiful old towns in China. We’ll finish the first day with dinner together in Lijiang.
Day 2 – 26 October: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain & Blue Moon Valley
Today is a full day in the mountains.
We’ll head out to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, one of the most dramatic sights in Yunnan, before visiting the surreal blue-green waters of Blue Moon Valley.
After a full day surrounded by mountain scenery, we’ll return to Lijiang for another night.
Day 3 – 27 October: Lijiang → Tiger Leaping Gorge → Shangri-La
This is probably the biggest adventure day of the trip. We’ll drive from Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge, stopping at the major viewpoints and getting out for a short hike through this enormous mountain gorge.
From there, we continue higher into the mountains towards Shangri-La. That evening we’ll explore Dukezong Old Town and see its enormous Tibetan prayer wheel before spending the night in Shangri-La.
Day 4 – 28 October: Shangri-La
Our final day is all about the Tibetan side of Yunnan. We’ll visit Songzanlin Monastery, explore the countryside around Napa Lake, and have some final time for sightseeing before the trip officially finishes in Shangri-La.
Cost and Price
$1,399
Inclusions + Exclusions
Included:
- 3 nights in local 4-star hotels
- 3 breakfasts
- English-speaking guide
- Driver and transportation
- Guide and driver tips
- Entrance tickets listed in the itinerary
- Flight from Chengdu to Lijiang
Excluded:
- Chinese visa
- Personal expenses
- Anything not specifically listed as included
HOW THIS TRIP CONNECTS WITH MTP CHENGDU 2027
This is one of our (not so mini) post-conference adventures following the MTP Chengdu Summit from 21–24 October 2027.
We’ll leave Chengdu together on 25 October, the morning after the conference finishes, and fly straight down to Lijiang to begin the trip. Four days later we finish in Shangri-La on 28 October, so this is one of the easiest post-MTP trips to add if you want something special after the conference without committing another week or two to travelling.
I’m also running much longer post-conference adventures through places like Tibet and Mongolia, but not everyone has another nine or eleven days available. Yunnan gives you a lot in a very short space of time: ancient towns, huge mountains, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Tibetan culture and some of the best scenery in this part of China.
And unlike a quick city extension, this still feels like a proper adventure. Within a few days of leaving Chengdu we’ll have flown across China, crossed mountain valleys by road, hiked inside Tiger Leaping Gorge and finished high up in Shangri-La.
OTHER MTP CHENGDU 2027 TRIPS WITH ME
PRE-MTP TRIP 1: Pakistan to China Overland (via Karakoram Highway and Khunjerab Pass)
PRE-MTP TRIP 2: Kazakhstan + Kyrgyzstan Overland
PRE-MTP TRIP 3: Mini-trip: Guilin + Yangshou
POST-MTP TRIP 1: China to Tibet to Nepal overland (via Everest Base Camp)
POST-MTP TRIP 2: Bangladesh and the Sundarbans
POST-MTP TRIP 3: Staying with the Mongolian Reindeer Tribes
POST-MTP TRIP 4: Mini-trip: Chengdu + Chongqing
POST-MTP TRIP 5: Mini-trip: Shangri-La + Tiger Leaping Gorge
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