Travelling to Yunnan this week.

1. Can anyone give info on the state of rainfall in Yunnan? Are we selfish to visit in time of drought? Should we bring water?

2. What's the view on Lijiang these day? Han-dominated and money-focused but visually gorgeous?

Can anyone recommend other neighbouring places worth staying for a few days?

3. How challenging is Tiger leaping Gorge walk? Whilst I enjoy a good solid walk, vertigo can strike me on very narrow paths. Am not a mountaineer. I've heard there can be mud slides in August. Is the path likely to be sound in June?

Look forward to hearing what people have to say.

1. Difficult, as I'm based in Kunming, and life is carrying on as normal. No need to bring water, as plenty of shops are selling bottles. If you're a farmer, as opposed to a tourist or someone living in one of the cities, you may have a different take.

2. Yes. I went last year in September, and whilst the old town is beautiful it is packed to the brim with domestic tour grips. There is some debate on just how many businesses are owned by Naxi, and it's the same shops selling the same items.

That said, Lijiang is beautiful early in the morning (before 08:00) and late at night (after 21:00), when the red lanterns are lit.

It can be quite romantic and best suited with a partner. It's also a very good base if you wish to trek further i.e. TLG, Zhongdian and Deqin (but I've read on Lonely Planet that the road from Zhongdian to Deqin is only open once every 10 days until August), or Lugu Lake.

I think Lugu Lake is stunningly beautiful and is well-worth the gruelling 7 hour bus-ride from Lijiang. Go before the new airport is finished because I suspect that it will change, for good or ill.

3. The 28 bends can be a little challenging, because the path is a series of twisty, narrow bends that really *hurt* the knees. When I went last year in September, one of the groups with whom I and my Chinese travel companion(s) met where American - one of the American guys was older, with a bad leg. He bought a walking stick and successfully navigated the 28 bends and got to his guest-house (albeit with lots of little rests - only sensible) without too much difficulty.

The path does narrow in places, and there are a couple of waterfalls that even in the dry flow over the path.

However, I feel that if one has reasonable fitness (uses a walking stick if necessary), then 7/8 hours from Qiaotou to Halfway House. If you wish to stop at an earlier guest-house, than you'll need less time.

I would advise checking weather conditions in Lijiang and getting advice from locals at the ground. Play it by ear, and be flexible. Last year when I went, two nights before I was planning to go, the heaven's opened and God's own symphony started to play i.e. thunder and lightning (very, very frightening me ..). So I bought a ticket to Lugu Lake and went there the next day. A few days later, I came back to Lijiang with my Chinese travel companion(s) and we gauged that the weather was reasonable, and we went to TLG for 2 days.

It was hot and sunny in TLG until late afternoon when we got in heavy rain approx an hour away from Halfway-House. By the time that our group (swelled to 8 due to meeting people en route) arrived, it was torrential rain! The next day, trekking down to the Tiger Leaping stone (or whatever it's called) was fine, a little drizzle.

Again, play it be ear in Lijiang. Be flexible and have a back-up plan if on the day you decide to go, the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Also, check either Tripadvisor or Lonely Planet (Thorn Tree section) for advice of others who have done this recently.

Enjoy your holiday!

Cheers!

Addendum: I trekked the 2 days in TLG wearing a short-sleeved top, a pair of white linen trousers (kid you not!) and a pair of trainers, carrying my cosmetics bag - until my Chinese travel companion decided it was unbalancing me and kindly put it in her bag.

If you follow the main trail (upper / high path) and stick to the path, you'll be fine.

Thank you for such a quick and responsive reply. We'll turn up and play it by ear, afetr doing some more due diligence at thorn tree. Love the image of the white linen. Style.

Have look Sean's Gorge private package tour !
www.tigerleapinggorge.com/Service.html

Check more review of Sean's Guesthouse please Link here: www.tigerleapinggorge.com/hotel/feedback.asp

BASICS: Take some water with you but you can also buy it at little stalls all along the way, As for weather - wear trousers even if it's warm (some of the path is a little over grown), take a hat, sunscreen, and some wet weather gear. You will need hiking boots - don't even consider doing this trek in anything less. The guesthouse supplied soap and towels plus some basic bedding which means you can keep your pack fairly light, also better not bring suitcase to the Gorge .

Tiger Leaping Gorge Sean's package tour!

This tour trip covers all Gorge views and it is the quintessential trekking trip for special people.

we needs more to keep come join the trip, more people in the group you got more cheap for your trip !

Dear Travellers, welcome to travel with Sean's Eco-tour Real travel, real trekking. The options were carefully planned with you and nature in mind. I believe this is truly a unique and special way to experience the beauty of Yunnan and the Tibetan area whilst supporting the rural economy and culture-exchange with the local minority people in a personal way. During each Eco-tour, you will be taught to help the local people in protecting nature and keeping the area clean, providing voluntary support to the local schools and sharing your time with young children and people with leprosy too.

Package 1,Five Day's Lijiang via Wenhai,Gorge Back to Lijiang.

Day 1- breakfast at Lijiang, hiking about 4-5 hours to wenhai, lunch picnic, diner, sleep in Eco-tour G.H.
Day 2-breakfast at Eco-tour G.H, hiking 5-6 hours down to longpan, lunch picnic, diner, sleep in Qiaotou hotel.

Day 3 breakfast, start gorge hiking, lunch with Naxi family, dinner, sleep in guest house
Day 4- breakfast at tea house, walk to Sean's Guest House, lunch, dinner, overnight at Sean's place.
Day 5- breakfast at Sean's G.H, car to Lijiang, lunch, flight from lijiang to Kunming.

Package 2,Two day's trip from Lijiang via Gorge back to Lijiang.

Day 1,early morning pick up from lijiang hotel, two hours drive by private car to Qiaotou, then half hours drive from Qiaotou to Sean's Guest-house, have lunch (original western food). After lunch 2-4 hours trip hike down and back for the middle gorge to feel the gorge power. Over night in Sean's place (over 4 star room) have look and link the Service .

Day 2, have breakfast, 3hours hike up to the top back of Sean's Guest-house Haba mountain hill peak(3000meters, Gorge is beautiful, but this trip is amazing view of all in this area trip), on the way view the local people's farmer live and souse of walnut Garden, have pack lunch,look over all Gorge of three sections point and all jade dragon snow mountain range wall. After lunch 2hours trek down back to Sean's place, Dinner and over night in Sean's. Have look Sean's location: www.panoramio.com/photo/22872041

day 3. early morning private car take to Lijiang or Shangri-la !

　

Package 3, Three day's trip from Lijiang via Gorge back to Lijiang.

Day 1,early morning pick up from lijiang hotel, two hours drive by private car to Qiaotou, then half hours drive from Qiaotou to Sean's Guest-house, have lunch (original western food). After lunch 2-4 hours trip hike down and back for the middle gorge to feel the gorge power. Over night in Sean's place (over 4 star room)have look and link the Service .

Day 2, have breakfast, 3hours hike up to the top back of Sean's Guest-house Haba mountain hill peak(3000meters, Gorge is beautiful, but this trip is amazing view of all in this area trip), on the way view the local people's farmer live and souse of walnut Garden, have pack lunch,look over all Gorge of three sections point and all jade dragon snow mountain range wall. After lunch 2hours trek down back to Sean's place, Dinner and over night in Sean's.

Day 3, trekking around big waterfall with bamboo forest (the view over all the high trail and amazing), 2hours hike up over view all gorge, 2hours trekking cross waterfall and back to Sean's place, Dinner and over night in Sean's hotel.

Package 4,Five day's trip around Sean's place.

Day 1, pick up from Lijiang, two and half hours drive by private car to Sean's Guest-house, have food, check time then doing some short walk, over night in Sean's place have look and link the Service .

Day 2, have breakfast, 3hours hike up to the top back of Sean's Guest-house Haba mountain hill peak(3000meters, Gorge is beautiful, but this trip is amazing view of all in this area trip), on the way view the local people's farmer live and souse of walnut Garden, have pack lunch,look over all Gorge of three sections point and all jade dragon snow mountain range wall. After lunch 2hours trek down to see the river power then back to Sean's place, Dinner and over night in Sean's,have look and link the Service .

Day 3, trekking around big waterfall with bamboo forest, 2hours hike up, 2hours trekking cross waterfall and back to Sean's place, Dinner and over night in Sean's hotel.

Day 4, have breakfast, half hour car drive 10km way, then doing the 5hours Gorge high trail trekking backwards to Sean's place. On the way pass by Yacha village, Bendiwan village and 8 waterfalls, lunch in high trail, Dinner and over night in Sean's hotel.

Day 5, Have breakfast, private car one and half hour drive to Haba village, two and half hours drive up to bai shui tai (white water terrace), we could choose for hike three hours up and down to see the traditional Naxi and Yi; Hui minority people with work in the fields terrace, have lunch At Yi farmily. Then two hours drive back to Sean's place, Dinner and over night in Sean's

Day 6, Have breakfast, trekking down to the Gorge river to fell the river power,then come back about two hours trip, private car drive out to Lijiang,Shangri-la or the other place !!

Within 2 hours of Lijiang, Shaxi is far more interesting for it's old town atmosphere than Lijiang. You can see more about it at www.teahorse.net. And of course Tiger Leaping Gorge is still amazing even with the continuing construction and falling water level.