SCYTS-004: FROM MULI LAMASERY-LEGACY OF MULIKINDOM AND IT'STRADITIONAL CEREMONIES TO LUGU LAKE-SO FAR THE ONLY PLACE IN CHINA WITH LIVING MATRIARCHAL CULTURE (A: WITHOUT TREKKING-18DAYS)

Muli Lamasery was founded in 1660.Since it was founded, it was the religion,
cultural and political headquater of Muli Kindom. Every year, there are two Great Buddhist Prayers here. So if you come here at the correct time(29 May 1999,22 Nov.,1999;18 May 2000 and 10 Nov.,2000; 06 June 2001 and 29 Nov.,2001),you will have chances not only to see the most typical Yellow Hat Lamasery, but also the Yellow Hat Culture. Thousands and thousands of people will visit it during the above mentioned days. So we wish that you could become one of them.

This route traverses the enchanting territories of two former Mountain
Principalities-the Lama Kingdom of Muli (Mili), and the ancient Maxi Kingdom of Yongning, a world of isolated monasteries and shaded mountain forests, inhabited by unique communities of Yi, Lolo, Tibetan and Naxi minority people.

Lugu Lake is the biggest high land fresh water lake in both Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces. It's area is 72 square km with an elevation of 2685 m. It's average depth is about 40m. And it is surrounded by green mountains.

Naxi is so far the only ethnic group with living pictographic characters.
And that the local people here still play the music of Tang Dynasty of
more than one thousand years ago. Reaching the Naxi cultural center of Lijiang we rest under the shadow of the Jade Dragon Mountain before continuing on to the ancestral home of the Bai People at Dali by the waters of Erhai Lake.

Finally on arrival in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, we have enough time to take in the city's most important sites before flying out to the comforts of Hong Kong (or other places).

Day 1:Arrive Chengdu: Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province. It has a history of more than 2,500 years. Its area is 12,000 square km, with a
population of 9 million. Visit the open markets and it's traditional tea houses. Visit the Sichuan Embroidery Factory and admiring how the workers there working in the traditional way.       Overnight at Chengdu Hotel
Day 2:Chengdu: Dufu's Thatched Cottage, the Bamboo Park and Wuhou Temple.
                                             Overnight at Chengdu Hotel
Day 3:Chengdu/Hanyuan (310km)                 Overnight at Hanyuan Hotel
Day 4:Hanyuan/Xichang (244km)Xichang is the capital of Liang Shan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. It was also named the Moon City, because here the moon looks more beautiful and brighter and bigger. The yearly average temperature here is about 17 degrees centigrade. And it has a history of more than 2,000 years.                      Overnight at Xichang Hotel
Day 5:Xichang: Explore the Qionghai Lake and Lushan Mountain.
                                            Overnight at Qionghai Hotel
Day 6:Xichang/Muli Qu (254km) Westward drive over Xiaogaoshan Mountain through rhododendron forests and mountain scenery to Muli Qu.
                                                Overnight at Muli Hotel
Day 7:Muli Qu/Wacang (65km)After a short drive we reach Long Lake and walk to Kulu Monasterym, one of the three major monasteries in Muli. Drive on to trailhead at Wacang (old Muli),visit the ruins of Muli and the reconstructed Muli Lamasery. (Please note the following mentioned days if clients want to see the Buddhist ceremonies. ( 28 May 1999,21 Nov.,1999;17 May 2000 and 9 Nov.,2000; 06 May 2001 and 28 Nov.,2001). 
Overnight at the Lamasery or camping
Day 8:Enjoying the Greatest Buddhist Ceremonies of the Lamasery. (29 May
1999,22 Nov.,1999;18 May 2000 and 10 Nov.,2000; 06 June and 29 Nov.,2001). Because the time of the ceremony is different every year. You may contact us at any time, we will tell you exact time for every year.)
                                                Overnight at Muli Hotel
Day 9:Muli Lamasery/Yanyuan (191km)          Overnight at Yanyuan Hotel
Day10: Yanyuan/Lugu Lake(186km): Lugu Lake is the biggest high land fresh water lake in both Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces. It's area is 72 square km with an elevation of 2685 m. It's average depth is about 40m. And it is surrounded by green mountains. This area is also the area that still have some traditions of matriarchal society.
                                               Overnight at Lugu Hotel
Day11:Lugu Lake: visit Lama Island, canoe riding across lake to Mukua village on the Sichuan site, from this point we trek round the lake under the face of the imposing Lion Mountain back to Luoshui.                                 Overnight at Luoshui Hotel
Day12: Luoshui to Lijiang(233km):after trekking in morning views of the lake,drive through splendid mountain scenery of the Naxi cultural center of Lijiang.                     Overnight at Lijiang Hotel
Day13: Lijiang: Explore old city, Joseph Rock's cottage, Naxi village of Baisha Xiang, Jade Peak Monastery. Superb views of Jade Dragon Mountain.
                                            Overnight at Lijiang Hotel
Day14: Lijiang to Dali(202km)drive through spectacular mountains and rice
growing valley to Dali, ancestral home of Bai People.
                                                Overnight at Dali Hotel
Day15: Dali: Explore the old market and ancient city, visit the Three Pagoda
Monastery and boat ride on Erhai Lake.     Overnight at Dali Hotel
Day16: Dali to Kunming(420km): Kunming is the capital ot Yunnan Province and a "Ever Spring" City.               Overnight at Kunming Hotel
Day17: Kunming: Sightseeing the Stone Forest located in Lunan County.
                                             Overnight at Kunming Hotel