China Travel Forum

[Edmund]

I am looking for suggestions and recommendations on hiking/trekking
opportunities in northern Yunnan. I don't really want to go on a
commercial trek. I would rather wander into the mountains and could
use any pre-trip advice prior to leaving. Great mountains/meadows,
interesting 1-5 day ridge/meadow circuits...great scenery/vistas to
explore...

[Eric]

Northern Yunnan is real amazing place for trekking but to do it
totally on yr own might be difficult. Of course places like TIGER
LEAPING GORGE (between DALI and LIJIANG) could be done on yr own
without any problem But it will getting more difficult to get to other
(more hidden)places (if you speak mandarin of course much easier to
make all these arrangements).
There will be almost no public transport to these spots so at least
you have to hire a taxi to get there (quite common and reasonable in
china).In europe or america no problem to get a good map to get around
- in china almost no chance at all (at least very difficult to find one).
Don't get it wrong - I don't want to express YOU MUST hire a guide to
get to the treks but at least be prepared that it's getting more
difficult to go on a trek on yr own than in other countries(Every
hotel/guesthouse will offer their services). Also don't go on a too
tight schedule in yunnan. It always can happen that a road is blocked
for a while (happened to us)....