LIGIANG -TIGER LEAPING GORGE - SHANGRA LA

Everything that is Dali, Lijiang is X10. It is a world heritage listed town that has a history dating back over 800 years. As its backdrop it has the year round snow capped Jade Dragon Mountain.

With its central market square, the radiating streets are flagged in multi-coloured stones. The architecture is classically elegant Ming Dynasty. As in Dali, rivers that abound in brightly coloured gold fish trickle across streets that are lined with souviener shops and shaded by weeping willow trees. It paints a beautiful picture and undoubtly why so many visitors make it a must see stop on their tour of China.

TIGER LEAPING GORGE Wow!!! Where do you start with the superlatives to describe this experience. It's a majestic 25km walk from start to finish. Classified as the deepest gorge in the world it has the snow capped Habar mountain peaking at over 5000 metres towering over the Jinsha river far below. The walk starts at a relatively easy pace but then you are confronted by the 28 bends. These gruelling bends, that you unfortunatley start to count down, take you up a goat path to the peak of the walk. Here I met Pete, an American tourist, and anoter group of eight trekkers - it was good for the company and the moral support. We all walked together to the Tea Horse Inn which we all quickly decided to nominate as the half way house. A couple of beers, much needed food, a long hot shower and a good night's rest.



The next day, with the hard trekking over, we walked to the end of the gorge and caught a bus to Shangra La.

As beautiful as Shangra La is, I did not have enough warm clothing to cope with the bitterly cold weather. I stayed one night just to soak up a bit of atmosphere and then boarded the next bus to the lower altitude of Lijiang and some warmer climate.

DALI

Ah Dali - the walled ancient city that has become a tourist meca - a constant flow of tourists clambering off tour group buses and way too many souvenier shops. Narrow cobble stone streets lined with weeping willows, water wheels and canals. Planter boxes with brightly coloured flowers. Traditional dancing in coloured costumes in the market square. In the evening everything lights up with colourful red lanterns inviting you in to the cafes, bars and eateries.


LAKE EHRUI HU Did the ferry trip across the lake that is the sixth largest in China sitting at 2000metres above sea level. Too my bike on the ferry so that I could explore the villages that dot the eastern banks of the lake.

SHAPING MARKETS Caught the local bus up to the Monday markets. Many of the villagers descend the mountains in their colourful attire to sell vegetables and traditional handicrafts. Very touristy and the ridiculous asking prices can be haggled down to one fifth of the price.

CANGSHAN MOUNTAINS They rise above the Dali Valley with Mt. Malong peaking at an impressive 4122 metres. The southern cable car takes you up to over 3000 metres where an 11km waling trail gives you magnificant views over the Dali Valley and Lake Ehrui Hu.

TOILET TRAINING THE CHINESE WAY

Pre toilet trained toddlers generally don't wear disposable nappies - they are too expensive. Toddlers generally wander around the streets in crutchless jumpsuits. When the child indicates that the urges prevails the parent takes the child from behind and clasps in a rocking position from behind the knees. Number one is just done on the pavement in the street. In rural areas it is not uncommon and not very pleasant when both number one and number two are deposited on the sidewalk. Maybe doggie disposable do do bags would be a good introduction.