Two-day trip to the Lancang River | Great river, ancient road, villages, and forest

Pass through the warm Shanyang Basin in winter, attend a local market, retrace the core part of the Southern Silk Road: the Bonan Ancient Road, cross the Lancang River, and arrive at the junction of Dali Prefecture and Baoshan City. Visit the ancient villages by the riverbank, attend a local rural market, and enter the forest of Mulian Mountain.

Activity Arrangement:

The activity requires at least two participants

Departure time: 10:00 AM, gather at Poshi Bakery, with a driving time of 2 hours and 40 minutes

Return time: 8:30 PM on the second day

 

Cost includes: round-trip transportation, travel insurance, one night's accommodation, four meals (breakfast and dinner on the first day, breakfast and lunch on the second day (no other costs))

Note: On the first night, we will stay at a local hotel in Shanyang Town. The accommodations in the town are basic hotels with limited facilities.

The cost is per person, same price for adults and children, no group discounts

 

For consultation and itinerary arrangements after booking, please add me on WeChat:

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Our car is passing through the warm basin of Shanyang Town; the soft evening sunlight shines into the car windows. We are now near the border between Dali Prefecture and Baoshan. At this moment, the Lancang River flows quietly towards the sunset.

 

Mr. Zhuang, a local middle school art teacher traveling with us, enthusiastically introduces the history of Shanyang Town, the Lancang River, and the Bonan Ancient Road. Just a few minutes ago, he naturally walked into our view, completing his self-introduction within a dozen seconds and getting into our car—like a scene from a road movie. His sincerity and enthusiasm touched us from the very beginning.

 

 

 

During our journey along the Lancang River, we were warmly treated by locals like Mr. Zhuang. Even days after returning to Dali, when recalling the Lancang River and Shanyang Town, we still feel a lingering warmth... Crossing over Bonan Mountain from the east bank of the Lancang River, we found an old brick-and-stone archway at the summit, inscribed on one side with 'Juelu Yao' and on the other with 'Guan Songzhi'.

 

 

Looking westward through the archway, layers of mountains stretch endlessly. It seems that once you cross here, a broader horizon awaits. A few days earlier, He Chen sent me a screenshot of a map. Staring at the words 'Juelu Yao,' my flu-weary eyes widened slightly.

 

'Juelu Yao, Guan Songzhi'—these words capture the heartfelt farewells over modest drinks, the swallowing of wind and kissing of rain during travels. 'Just because of this name, I want to go there,' was my thought at the time.

 

Jiangding Temple, originally built in the Ming Dynasty, has lost its former appearance after enduring the test of time. The monk guarding the temple served us a homemade enzyme drink, which was incredibly refreshing and sweet.

 

Passing through the stone archway, we followed the winding mountain road downward, and soon the Lancang River came into view.

Even while driving, one must be extremely cautious. It’s hard to imagine how, in the past, caravans of people and horses navigated this treacherous canyon with its surging waters and perilous high roads.

 

 

 

Most rivers in Yunnan’s water system cannot support long-distance navigation but only offer ferry crossings for people and horses. 'Lanjin Ancient Ferry' is the most famous crossing on the Southern Silk Road, renowned as the 'Cliffside Marvelous Crossing.' Countless caravans, travelers, and refugees passed through here to reach places like Myanmar and India.

 

Today, the ancient ferry and the Jihong Bridge, which was once a crucial pass on the Bonan Ancient Road, have both sunk to the bottom of the river. Looking up, the highest point now hosts an oil pipeline bridge entering Yunnan from Myanmar’s Kyaukpyu Port. Crude oil from the Middle East and Africa no longer needs to pass entirely through the Malacca Strait but can be directly transported via pipeline to southwestern China, as if continuing and inheriting this ancient 'Southwest Silk Road.' The river still flows, but the shouts of herders and the sound of horse hooves have vanished.

 

 

On the opposite bank in the ancient village of Pingpo, the stone pathways still bear the imprints of horseshoes, indented by the repeated trampling of horse caravans from the past. These imprints vary in size and shape.

 

 

On the way back to Shanyang Dam late at night, looking down at the scattered lights of the village from the mountaintop, I said to Zhenhao: So beautiful, it looks like the Milky Way over a lake!

 

Early the next morning, Mrs. Zhuang told us that we were lucky enough to catch the market day in the nearby Yonghe Village, and suggested we go take a look.

 

 

On the recommendation of Teacher Zhuang, while on our way to the Mulian Mountain Forest, we stopped for lunch at a farmhouse at the foot of the mountain. The hostess was cheerful and kind, and the food was surprisingly delicious. After a hearty meal, I strolled along the village paths. The autumn sun illuminated the lush green seedlings on both sides of the road, making them even greener. The gentle breeze and the sound of birds chirping created a truly idyllic scene.

 

 

We entered Mulian Mountain, known for its variety of Magnolia trees (scientific name: Magnolia diancang). Inspired by the moment, the owner of the farmhouse decided to join us; it was a forest she knew well and visited often.

 

Some of our small discoveries.

 

Teacher Zhuang, who climbed the tree at night to pick passion fruits for us.