3 Hiking Trips to Yubeng: Blood, Sweat, and Tears Lessons—This Ultimate Guide Helps You Avoid 90% of the Detours

As a hiking fanatic completely captivated by Yubeng, I've been there three times! From gasping for breath after just a few steps on my first trip to now easily handling the entire route, I’m sharing all the pitfalls I’ve stepped into and treasures I’ve uncovered—follow this guide, and even beginners can confidently explore this "hidden paradise"✨ 🌿 Best Time & Real Feel ▪️ April-May: Rhododendrons are in full bloom! From the village entrance to the mountain pass, everything is pink and purple, with snow-capped peaks wearing white hats. Walking through the forest feels like stepping into a fairy tale📖 But the temperature difference between morning and evening can reach 20℃. Wear quick-dry clothes at noon and a windbreaker in the morning. ▪️ Mid to late October: My all-time favorite! The barley fields shine golden, maple leaves burn red, and the chance of sunny days is off the charts. Almost every day you can see the golden sunlight dye the snow mountains like orange candy🍊 Just beware of strong winds—bring a face mask for protection. ▪️ Pitfall warning: Going in July will really make you cry! On my second trip, I got caught in a heavy rainstorm. The Ninong Gorge section was all mud, I could pour half a pound of water out of my shoes, and I almost slipped... 📅 5 Days 4 Nights Precise Itinerary (with daily hidden tips) Day 1: Lijiang → Feilai Temple ✅ Must-do: Spin the prayer wheels clockwise three times at Dukezong Ancient Town. Remember to find 4 friends to push together! Afterward, head to a nearby alley to try the "yak beef covered pancake"—the pancake soaked in broth is amazing. ✅ Bonus: When parking at the Baima Snow Mountain pass, walk 20 meters to the roadside to a small slope where you can capture the snow mountain and prayer flags in one frame. It’s less crowded than the viewing platform and perfect for photos. ⚠️ Reminder: Stay at "Meili Memories" in Feilai Temple. The second-floor terrace is the prime spot to watch the golden sunlight on the mountains. Book your spot with the owner in advance; they serve hot ginger tea in the morning. Day 2: Feilai Temple → Yubeng Village ⏰ Key: Be on the terrace before 6:10! On my third trip, the clouds were thick and I thought I wouldn’t see anything, but at 6:45 the clouds suddenly parted, and the golden mountain emerged from the mist. Everyone screamed with goosebumps. 🚶‍♀️ Hiking: The first half of Ninong Gorge has an abandoned viewing platform. Descend 5 meters to touch the Lancang River’s water, which is crystal clear and green! When crossing the wooden bridge, don’t rush—crouch down to shoot reflections on the water, making it look like you’re inside the snow mountain. 🏡 Accommodation: Choose "Shenpu Guesthouse" in Lower Yubeng. There’s a big walnut tree in the courtyard. Sit under it in the afternoon, drink tea, and watch the snow mountains. The owner’s butter tea is salty and tastes great with tsampa. Day 3: Yubeng Village → Ice Lake 💡 Secret route: Walk 10 minutes through the sea buckthorn forest. There’s a fork (don’t follow the crowd!). Go 50 meters inside to see a stream emerging from between rocks. The water is icy cold—drinking it in summer is more refreshing than ice cola. ⛰️ Key point: Hang blue prayer flags at the Southern Sect Pass (blue represents the sky). After hanging them, shout your wish toward the snow mountain; the wind will carry your voice up! You can enter the wooden cabin at Xiaonong Base Camp, where photos of the 1991 climbing team are on the wall—instant time travel. ❄️ Ice Lake: Don’t just shoot the lake surface! Walk 30 meters to the left to a protruding rock. Standing there, you can capture the full panorama of Ice Lake and the snow mountain. I only discovered this spot on my third trip—previous visits were wasted! Day 4: Yubeng Village → Divine Waterfall 🌸 Surprise: You can build your own mani stone pile along the way using three stones (representing Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha). After stacking, walk around it three times. Near the waterfall, you’ll pass a small meadow full of little yellow flowers in May. Lying down watching clouds drift over the snow mountains is incredibly healing. 🙏 Custom: Walk around the Divine Waterfall clockwise three times. On the first lap, sprinkle some water to pray for blessings; on the second, let the water wet your shoulders; on the third, open your arms to catch the water. Locals say this washes away bad luck. Bring a towel—after getting wet, the wind can be very cold. Day 5: Yubeng Village → Lijiang 📌 Tip: When descending Ninong Gorge, hold your trekking pole on your left side and lower your center of gravity. This saves 30% of your energy compared to normal walking. There’s an aunt selling roasted potatoes halfway; her chili powder is homemade and mixed with small hot peppers—very flavorful. You can get 3 for 10 yuan. 🚗 Return: At Benzilan, be sure to try the "Old Stove Fish"—freshly killed Jinsha River fish stewed with tofu. The soup is milky white, paired with local "draft beer" (actually rice wine), perfect for refreshing and warming your stomach. 🎒 Gear List (in order of importance) 1. Hiking shoes: Waterproof "Scarpa" is the top choice! I wore regular sneakers on my first two trips and got soaked in mud at Ice Lake. On my third trip, I switched to waterproof shoes and stayed dry the whole time. 2. Knee braces: The kind with patella support! I didn’t wear one on the Ice Lake descent and my knees hurt for three days. Later I bought a simple one in the village for 20 yuan—it saved me. 3. Snacks: Bring a combo of "braised eggs + chocolate + beef jerky." Braised eggs replenish salt, chocolate fights hunger, and beef jerky is chewy and energizing—better than energy gels. 4. Hidden gem: Bring a small bottle of "Liushen Floral Water"! The mosquitoes in Yubeng are vicious. I got over 20 bites on my legs the first time. Spraying this helps keep them away. ⚠️ Avoid These Pitfalls! ❌ Don’t buy oxygen bottles in the village! They cost 60 yuan each and don’t work. Buy "Airun" brand at Lijiang pharmacies in advance—30 yuan per bottle is enough for the whole descent. ❌ Don’t hike in jeans! I foolishly wore them on my first trip. After sweating, they stuck to my legs and rubbed red marks all over my thighs. Quick-dry pants are the way to go. ❌ Don’t take photos of Tibetan locals randomly! Especially elders and children. Always ask "Can I take a photo?" and only shoot if they agree. Afterward, offer a candy as thanks. The beauty of Yubeng is the kind of awe that no phone camera can capture—standing by Ice Lake listening to melting snow, wrapped in prayer flags under the Divine Waterfall, the heartbeat racing when watching the golden sunlight on the mountains... These moments can only be understood by visiting in person❤️ If you have any questions, ask me in the comments! Having been three times, I can guide you with my eyes closed~