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.
England's Prince William in China, to visit Yunnan
Posted byin certain western countries, at certain times, in certain regions and under certain conditions, hunting is a good thing. It keeps populations of e.g. fox under control. It's also the only viable excuse Americans still have for owning a gun (but not an assault rifle).
Yunnan Drifter: Nizu, the end of the road
Posted by@Kaiwen, it would seem the cycle road takes you across a bit of a scramble then drops you at what on Google Earth seems to be a dirt road along a river heading to Daocheng. I then just wonder how bad the scramble would be.
Yunnan Drifter: Nizu, the end of the road
Posted byI've also heard it should be possible to ride a bicycle from there into Sichuan direction daocheng. From peering at Google earth there seems to be a road albeit a difficult one. Would love to hear whether it really is possible!
Announcing the return of Green Drinks Kunming
Posted byYes! I'll definitely be there! :)
Yunnan Drifter: Rebels with a cause
Posted byhoodlums :)
you're right. No-one should be charged just to use a road if there's no other way around.