Tuesday, 14 October 2025
I woke up early, showered and performed prayers. After breakfast, I headed out to the bus station to buy ticket to Dali for Thursday. Then I walked to the South Gate of Dayan Ancient Towns to find bus to Shuhe Ancient Town but I was told to go to another road to the north of Dayan. Against my will, I walked through Dayan Ancient Town again until I came upon the Giant Waterwheel. I followed the river then decided to detour a bit to find the mosque seeing as I was already in the vicinity. I had to walk down a road, cross it, walk up and climb a hill to get to the mosque but it was closed and deserted. The gate was opened but there was no sign of life. I peered among the slates and saw that it was indeed a mosque. It wasn’t prayer time yet then but weren’t there any caretakers at least?
I went back to the main road and walked up until I came upon Mao Zedong statue. After asking at a hotel, I went to wait at a bus stop near the statue. The bus came after ten minutes and I paid five yuan for my fare. We reached Shuhe Ancient Town about ten minutes later. I spent about two hours there.
I wanted to have lunch but the Muslim restaurant I went to was closed so I searched for a vegetarian restaurant and what do you know, there was actually one in Shuhe! There were two other Muslim restaurants but I decided to have vegetarian instead so I walked there and after some silent communication via Translator app, agreed to have vegetarian noodles. It came in a big bowl and believe me, I finished it all.
After walking around and stumbling upon photographers taking photos of couples in traditional wedding outfits, I walked out to catch a bus back to Lijiang. The driver let us all out at the bus stop across from Mao Zedong statue so I walked back up to Black Dragon Pool. I don’t know how China does it with its billion of people but everything is clean, orderly and structured. Park keepers are diligent in picking litters and collecting rubbish, and most people are careful and mindful enough not to litter. At Black Dragon Pool, you can enjoy view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and it makes for a special park. The water from the pool runs into the river that flows into Dayan Old Town. It all just made me sigh with contentment.
I decided not to walk through Dayan Ancient Town again so I walked along the main road back to the guesthouse, stopping en route at a fruit market to buy some peaches. I didn’t venture out for dinner - the vegetarian noodles were filling enough - and just had some snacks for dinner.
Wednesday, 15 October 2025
I left the guesthouse at 06:50 and hurried to the bus station. The 07:00 bus left at 07:05 and went around the city picking up passengers from various points. We reached the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Info Centre at around 08:25 and I went to the Information counter to ask if there were any more tickets to Glacier Park. Only 10,000 visitors are allowed at Glacier Park on any one day and I wasn’t to be one of them but I wasn’t too disappointed. I then followed signs for the bus to Yak Meadow and we had to wait about 15 minutes before we could board the next bus to Yak Meadow. The ride took more than 30 minutes before we reached the base of the cable car. I rode the cable car alone, indeed it could only seat two people comfortably. The cable car ride took another 30 minutes.
I then followed other visitors explore the park. Yak Meadow it may be called but I only saw one white yak. There were some goats pestering some visitors for food. There were signs forbidding us from feeding the wild animals because well, it would mess up with their digestive system, wouldn’t it. Some visitors though were feeding them food.
I walked for an hour around the meadow or park before returning to the cable car station for the cable car down. Before long, I had boarded the bus down. I thought the bus would go to the Information Centre and that I would have to wait for another bus to Blue Moon Valley (which I read from another visitor) but the bus stopped along the way to let visitors to Spruce Meadow down and then stopped at Blue Moon Valley so I happily went down. I walked up before walking down the lakes on the side which had fewer visitors. There are five lakes and they’re among the most beautiful scenery I’d seen in China as they’re set below the majestic and towering beauty of Yulong Snow Mountain. I spent an hour there before leaving.
I took the shuttle bus to the Information Centre and followed signs for bus number 101 back to Lijiang. Everyone was sleepy in the bus in the afternoon heat. The bus dropped us just outside Dayan Old Town so I walked back to my guesthouse. I ventured out again in the early evening to find dinner.
Thursday, 16 October 2025
I left the guesthouse at 07:40 and walked to the bus station for my 08:00 bus to Dali. Well, the bus actually left at 08:13 and stopped once for the driver to fill up and for us to use the facilities. We reached Dali just before 11:00 and I got down the bus just outside Dali Ancient Town, crossed the road and walked down the pedestrian shopping street which were thronged by shoppers and vendors.
After checking in, I ventured out to explore Dali Ancient Town, one of the few in China that is surrounded by walls. Then I walked on to the Chongsheng Temple and Three-Pagoda area. The three pagodas are the landmark of Dali. I walked in and up the many, many steps within the area to see the complex of temples. It started raining while I was there and it wouldn’t let up for the next few days. I spent exactly two hours there including waiting out the relentless rain.
I returned to the Old Town and bought some food from a halal street vendor. This would be my dinner.
To be continued
