having biked the area extensively and always on the lookout for traffic free areas, I can recommend the following:
Diqin (I assume you mean Shangri-la): head out east on the East Ring road, over Baishuitai, Haba and the east end of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Go to the west end. Do the trek back to the east. Hop in a ferry or take the new bridge over to Daju. Get transport or hike or ride towards Lijiang on this old road. It has a couple inevitable touristy spots, though. From Lijiang, if you are walking, there's a beautiful hike over Shigu (at the first bend of the Yangtze) on an old horse trail towards Jianchuan. If you can't hike, you're stuck to a fairly tourist-laden road to Jianchuan.
At Jianchuan head out to Shaxi, do Shibaoshan etc. Continue down the valley over Yangbi, or head out to Yunlong if that's not too far out of your way, go into Dali. From Dali take the old road over Chuxiong to Kunming.
Of course, if you can meander more, I suggest you approach Kunming from the north.
Myanmar to Tibet: Hiking the Dulong, part I
Posted byAt any rate, you cannot go in the winter (closed pass) and summer is rainy season.
Myanmar to Tibet: Hiking the Dulong, part I
Posted byChangkt: given the extreme variation in climate along the river, it's hard to say. We ourselves asked around before going and learned that October is the best month to go, but when we were in the northern end (you'll have to wait for part two), we learned from locals that May is a lot better.
I think they may be right about that: after all, the more interesting part is the northern trail and warmer temperatures and less rain would've been nice. The southern part may be very hot by then, but I guess that still beats rain and cold.
Myanmar to Tibet: Hiking the Dulong, part I
Posted byYes
Recipe: Seaweed, ginseng and sage root soup
Posted byYou mean willow bark? Just peel it off.
Recipe: Seaweed, ginseng and sage root soup
Posted by"chemicals don't belong in the human body". Yaaawn. Go knit yourself a couple of woollen socks.