Finally, let’s briefly summarize the experiences and lessons learned from this trip.
My stay in Kunming was limited to traveling between Kunming Railway Station and Kunming South Railway Station. A little lesson. Currently, the fastest mode of transportation between Kunming Station and Kunming South Station is the train, which takes 20 minutes. For other modes, whether it is the subway or a taxi, you should estimate at least 1 hour. Kunming Station is located in the center of the city, but it is very inconvenient to use. It has a large passenger flow, unclear instructions, is not connected to a subway station, and there is no formal taxi place. Kunming South Railway Station, as a newly built station, is very convenient with clear instructions and easy access to subways and buses, but it is located in a remote location. Because I initially underestimated the time it would take to travel between the two stations, I had no choice but to change my ticket after consulting the locals.
Lijiang Railway Station is about half an hour's bus ride from the ancient city. The station is clean and tidy, and it is very convenient to get in and get on the train.
You can use Alipay and WeChat for public transportation in Lijiang, and there are also shared bicycles in the city.
Lijiang Old Town is not big, so one day is enough to explore it. The terrain on the north side of the ancient city is higher. You can climb up and overlook the entire ancient city. The inns in the ancient city have various styles, are exquisitely decorated and carefully designed. I just visited a few of them and they were quite unique.
When it comes to accommodation, I think it’s more convenient to stay in an inn on the edge of the ancient city, otherwise you have to drag your suitcase clanking all the way.
From Xidang to Yubeng, there are two supply points on the way. If you don’t want to carry so much, you can buy it on the way. Spending money can save energy. You can choose to take a car for this journey, and it will take about half an hour to get there.
Generally, the attractions that tourists visit in Yubeng are the Binghu Lake and the Divine Waterfall. The Binghu Lake is walked in the direction of Yubeng, and the Shen waterfall is walked in the direction of Yubeng. The itinerary is a one-day round trip. The walking distance on both sides seems to be about the same, but the ice lake has two large climbs, and the descent is also very slippery, making it much more difficult. Except for a slight climb in the last section of the waterfall, the entire journey is basically flat. If you walk quickly, you can go back and forth in about four or five hours.
Another scenic spot that is forbidden to tourists is Shenhu Lake. The locals may be afraid that too many tourists will disturb the gods of Shenhu Lake, or they may be afraid of accidents due to the long distance and lack of development. The time for this trip was limited, so I didn’t go.
Descending from the Yubengzhong Ninong Grand Canyon, the whole journey is downhill, saving time and effort. But be aware that there is a long distance walking on the edge of a cliff, so be very careful.
For accommodation, you can stay in either Shangyubeng Village or Yubeng Village. The distance between Shangyubeng and Yubeng is about 1.5 kilometers, and the road is long and blocked. It is closer to Shangyubeng from Xidang. Personally, I think it is more convenient to live in Shangyubeng.
At present, the hardware facilities in the village are quite complete. Basic needs such as charging, Internet access, and bathing can be met. Drinks and snacks are also sold. Therefore, apart from personal items, you don’t need to carry too much food. You can buy it in the village, but the price is a bit expensive. I just carried two pieces of compressed biscuits, braised eggs, and some Snickers bars. I actually didn’t eat much on the way at noon, so I only had two meals in the morning and evening at the inn. I once thought I would lose two pounds when I went back, but instead of losing weight, I gained three pounds. I was really convinced.
I thought about it later, and a more reasonable itinerary was: Take a bus to Yubeng Village, and then go to Shen Waterfall on the same day; Go to Shen Lake on the second day, go to Binghu Lake on the third day, and go down the mountain on the fourth day. Save one day to enter Yubeng and add one day to Shenhu Lake, because the journey to Yubeng from Xidang is heavy with heavy loads, but the scenery is average.
Some summary about this hike:
Learn to make trade-offs. On ordinary journeys, we have a trolley suitcase, and we can easily walk with a stuffed trolley suitcase all the way, so we are used to not having to make a choice, but hiking requires you to face a choice. Because you have to carry everything on your own, you need to be very careful about what you put in your backpack. The most important thing about being rich in outdoor experience is knowing what should be put in your bag, what is necessary and what is unnecessary. My thinking: Things related to maintaining survival, ensuring safety, and improving efficiency are all must-haves. Others should be chosen based on personal preference. It is recommended to make a list and prioritize before setting off.
get the point. Outdoor equipment is a huge waste of money. Purchasing a piece of equipment can range from thousands to tens of thousands. I personally think that the most important of all equipment are shoes and bags. There is not much difference in other clothes and pants, or the price-performance ratio is too poor. Therefore, when I buy shoes and bags, I always go to the store to try them on, and I just buy everything else online (this is my own immature advice, please refer to it with caution). Then again, the strength is enough to make up for the slight difference in various equipment. The locals can go up the mountain wearing broken leather shoes, and Chopin can play the sounds of nature even if he is given a broken piano. The improvement brought by the difference in equipment is limited.
Reflect and improve. Every time we go out to play outdoors, we will always meet new friends, we will always be touched by the words and deeds of some friends, and there will always be some trivial details that warm our hearts. Those kind and upright hearts are so common and shining. One of the elder sisters I traveled with this time was the most considerate and selfless teammate I have ever seen. She would always rather endure all kinds of inconveniences herself than cause the slightest trouble to others. In contrast, every time I see the narrow-mindedness and selfishness in my heart, and every time I say hurtful words without hesitation when I am impatient, I feel really ashamed when I think of these things. I hope I can make some progress slowly
At this point, everything I want to say and don’t want to say about Yubeng’s trip has been recorded. The green mountains will not change and the green water will flow forever. We will see you again in the future.