We were very happy using a foreign guide, based in Lijiang - Keith Lyons at Lijiang Guides - earlier this year. We aren't guided tour people, but as we didn't speak any Chinese, and were new the area, we found it saved us a great deal of hassle, time and energy.
He took us around Lijiang, to Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Shangri-la, taking us to small villages, temples, lakes, etc.
Keith has lived in a area for a long time, knows a lot about the different minorities and was fun to be with.
keithalyons@gmail.com
137 6900 1439