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We depart this morning from southern Yunnan for the road journey to Zhong Dian in Tibet. The drive will take around five hours and along the way we will see Yi people with their magnificent “kite” headdresses, we are climbing in altitude and the countryside is spectacular as we cut into river gorges and mountain peaks. We reach Tiger Leaping Gorge by lunch time and take an extended walk along the side of the Yangtze River. The cliffs rise, sheer from the river bank, our path cuts its way along the side leading to Tiger Leaping rock. Legend has it that a tiger, being chased by a hunter, traversed the river in two mighty leaps, using the rock as a springboard. Further on from the Gorge we notice the houses change to a more Tibetan style, with thick mud brick walls and three levels, for livestock, people and storage. We reach Zhong Zian and our hotel for the evening at the foot of the Songstam Lama Temple
Accommodation: The Songstam Hotel Diqing Prefecture Tibet
The landscape of Zhon Ziang has an immediate impact. Broad, green fields interspersed with the yellow of Rape seed. Soaring Mountain peaks once again. Here we are at 3500 meters so the air is cool and clean.
We start our touring with a visit to the Songstam Lama Monastery. The monastery was originally built in 1679 and is one of the largest Lama temples in Diqing Prefecture. There are over 700 Buddhist monks in the temple, located on top of a small hill with panoramic views to the valley. We will spend as much time as we need to discover the nooks and crannies of the temple, chat with monks and enjoy the views. Later today we will visit a local Tibetan house and try some Yak milk tea, fired tofu and barley powder.
Later this afternoon there will be time to wander in the meadows behind our hotel and reflect on our journey from Yangon to Zhong Zian
Accommodation: The Songstam Hotel Diqing Prefecture Tibet Last changed: Saturday October 18, 2014
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