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Lijiang: city on the beautiful river.
Your journey begins at Lijiang Airport in southwest China. Lijiang literally means “city on the beautiful river”, which refers to the Jinsha River. Your personal shuttle service will take you directly to your first hotel, where the Porsche Experience Team will greet you with a welcome drink and dinner.
Lijiang itself lies on the southeastern foothills of the Himalayas and is characterised by a rich cultural heritage and a network of water canals with over 300 bridges. The ancient city belongs to the Yunnan province, which is home to a large number of ethnic minorities such as the Dai, Bai and Naxi. You will explore this exciting environment in your Porsche over the next few days.
Lijiang: discovery tour with flair.
A drivers’ briefing and the local driver’s licence will get you ready for the next few days in your Porsche. After lunch and a traditional tea ceremony, you will set out on foot to explore. It is well worth it: the historic centre of Lijiang, also called Dayan, is one of the best-preserved Old Towns in China and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
You can explore town and get to know the elegant Naxi houses, two-storey wooden structures with brick walls, ornately carved door panels and curved roofs. Cobbled streets lead from the market square in all directions, lined with shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. Allow the wealth of impressions to sink in over a dinner of regional specialities.
Lijiang, Lugu Lake: all in the spirit of water.
Your first day of driving on Chinese soil will take you from Lijiang towards the northeast. You will pass the Yangtze River, also known to locals as the “Long River” and at 6,380 kilometres, it is the third longest river in the world after the Amazon and the Nile. After a light Western-style lunch, a boat tour awaits you at Lake Lugu, one of the largest mountain lakes in Asia.
On the Lugu, the Mosuo minority lives according to the principles of matriarchy – women are at the head of the family clan, make all important decisions and pass on names and property to their daughters, which is why the Lugu is also called “Mother Lake”. Afterwards you will be taken to your accommodation, where you can enjoy another culinary highlight.
Lugu Lake, Lijiang: a guest in the Naxi village.
On the journey back to the Lijiang region, your Porsche will again have the opportunity to take on the fabulous mountain roads. Your destination is the village of Yuhu, a picturesque town inhabited by the Naxi people. In addition to music and dance, the Naxi are characterised by their pictographic Dongba script, which consists of around 1,400 symbols.
In Yuhu, a local family will welcome you into their home, giving you fascinating insights into the typical way of life of the Naxi community. You can even get involved in activities such as tofu making. During a walk, you will also have the opportunity to see free-roaming horses and other farm animals that are part of the village scene here. In the late afternoon, you will drive to your hotel, where you will enjoy the wonderful view of the sublime Jade Dragon Snow Mountains, which are up to 5,600 metres high, as well as an aperitif and dinner.
Lijiang, Shangri-La: majestic moments.
In the morning you will set off for Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest and most spectacular gorges in the world. Steep rock faces, thundering waterfalls, wonderful hiking trails: on the viewing platforms you can experience the magic of this natural spectacle up close.
You will continue to the northwest of Yunnan to Shangri-La, the entrance gate to the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan”. Sections of this region around Asia’s 3 largest rivers are designated as nature reserves and National Parks. Once there, you will head for the Ganden Songtsenling Monastery. The largest Tibetan Buddhism temple in Yunnan was built towards the end of the 17th century, completely destroyed during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, but extensively reconstructed in the 1980s. Explore this cultural and historical site before ending your day with a relaxing dinner.
Shangri-La: unique nature impressions.
In the clear air of Shangri-La, around 3,450 metres above sea level, the sky seems close enough to touch. Your first stop of the day is Potatso National Park, famous for untouched landscapes, dense forests and rare animal and plant species. Here you can experience the entire spectrum of Tibetan culture: locals invite you to learn more about their religion and way of life – including an cosy hut ambience where you will be served a traditional hot pot.
The next stop is the nature reserve around the changing Napahai Lake: in summer the melted snow from the surrounding mountains collects, and in the dry season the lake shrinks into a swampy grassland. During your time in the national park and at the Napahai Lake, you will have the opportunity to observe numerous mountain and farm animals such as horses, pigs and cattle in the wild – an integral part of the alpine cultural landscape of this region. Take in the unique natural impressions with all your senses before heading back to the hotel in Shangri-La in your Porsche. There you will celebrate the last evening of your Yunnan trip with a festive Farewell Dinner. The perfect setting to share your most impressive experiences of the past few days with other participants.
Shangri-La: memories for a lifetime.
In the morning, enjoy another hearty breakfast and make the most of the final morning (for now) in the Middle Kingdom. In accordance with your departure time, you will end the Porsche Travel Experience Shangri-La as comfortably as you started it: with a shuttle service that will take you to the airport.
The travel route at a glance.
