SCYTS-005: FROM MULI LAMASERY-LEGACY OF MULIKINDOM AND IT'STRADITIONAL CEREMONIES TO LUGU LAKE-SO FAR THE ONLY PLACEIN CHINA WITH LIVING MATRIARCHAL SOCIETY(A: WITH TREKKING-18DAYS)

Muli Lamasery was founded in 1660. Since it was founded, it was the religion,cultural and political headquarter of Muli Kingdom. 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 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.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.)

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.

Trekking in this region offers a rare glimpse into the rich cultural and
geographic diversity of this little visited area foothills of the Tibetan
Plateau west of the old walled city of Xichang to proceed through high nomad
country, forested woodland and remote villages to the Sichuan-Yunnan frontier.Then goes inside so far the only living matriarchal society area-Lugu Lake. 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 2660 m.

After a few days of trekking in the beauty of the lake, we descend into the valleys of the upper Yangtse. Reaching the Naxi Cultural center of Lijiang.Naxi is so far the only ethnic group with living pictographic characters.And that the local people here still plays the music of Tang Dynasty of more than one thousand years ago. Reaching the Maxi 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. It area is 12,000 square km,with a population of 9 million. Visit the open markets and it's traditional teahouses. Visit the Sichuan Embroidery Factory and admiring how the workers there working in the traditional way.
                                            Overnight at Chengdu Hotel
Day 2:Chengdu/Hanyuan (310km)                Overnight at Hanyuan Hotel
Day 3:Hanyuan/Xichang(244km)                  Overnight at Xichang Hotel
Day 4:Xichang/Muli Qu (254km)Westward drive over Xiaogaoshan Mountain through rhododendron forests and mountain scenery to Muli Qu.
                                                Overnight at Muli Hotel
Day 5:Muli Qu/Wacang(65km)After a short drive we reach Long Lake and trek to Kulu Monastery, 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 above mentioned days if

Clients want to see the Buddhist cermonies)   Overnight at Muli Hotel
Day 6:Wacang to Xilinshan: Begin trekking, south across the Shawanhe River,
trek uphill to reach first day campsite(3200m).This superb site is surrounded by forest to the south and rock peaks to the north and east.                               Overnight at Hotel or camping
Day 7:Trekking across Ki Bo Shan Mountain: Crossing through oak and pine
forest and stands of rhododendron, after the Ki Bo Shan Mountain (3835m) is crossed, descend to second camp site.(3230m)          
Overnight at Hotel or Camping
Day.8: Trekking to Wujiao: Easy downhill to Wujiao, a village situated on a terrace overlooking the river with mixed population of Tibetan, Naxi and Yi peoples.                  Overnight at Hotel Camping
Day 9:Wujiao to Yongning: Once again among rhododendron forest, then the farm-lands with the peaceful of the local Naxi residences . After refreshing ourselves at nearby hot spring, we are met by our vehicle and drive down to Yongning.            Overnight at Yongning Hotel
 
Day10: Drive to Luoshui and Lugu Lake: visit the historic monastery of Yongning while pass through the old traditional street. Then drive on to Loshui, a Naxi village by the shore of Lugu Lake.
                                          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 Lugu 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.                Overnigt at Kunming Hotel
Day17: Kunming: Sightseeing the Stone Forest located in Lunan County.
                                              Overnigt at Kunming Hotel