2025 Ludian Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

#discoverchina Founded in the eighth year of the Yongzheng reign (1730), Tuogu Mosque is celebrated for its unique craftsmanship and centuries-old heritage. This remarkable structure holds provincial-level recognition as a protected cultural relic, reflecting its profound historical significance. Tuogu Mosque stands as a testament to enduring traditions and intricate architectural artistry, making it a must-visit destination for those who appreciate cultural depth and historic charm. 🕌✨📜

Ludian: Where time meets the soul Stepping into Ludian is like opening an old book, each page filled with stories, exuding a unique charm. Located in northeastern Yunnan, this small town combines magnificent mountains and rivers, tranquil countryside, and a rich cultural heritage. It's like a hidden gem, quietly waiting for travelers to explore. In the morning, by the Niulan River, the sun shines down, and the river shimmers, winding like a golden ribbon. Stroll along the riverbank, the fresh air filled with the fragrance of earth and grass. In the distance, the mountains meet the blue sky, painting a beautiful landscape. Here, away from the hustle and bustle, you can fully enjoy nature's gifts. Walk into the villages of Ludian, where farmhouses are scattered among lush fields, filled with a rural atmosphere. Farmers work in the fields, their simple smiles full of love for life. The old buildings in the village, with their mottled walls and carved doors and windows, silently tell stories of the past. Tradition and modernity blend here, and the ancient farming civilization is revitalized. Food is also a highlight of a trip to Ludian. Steaming Niu Ganba (dried beef), soft and sweet Liangfen (jelly noodles), and juicy meat skewers are all full of local flavor. Tasting the food is also tasting the history and culture of Ludian. Ludian is also home to several ethnic minorities, including the Yi and Hui people, creating a tapestry of diverse cultures. During ethnic festivals, people dress up and sing and dance, conveying their love for life and cultural heritage. I am captivated by the scenery, food, and culture of Ludian. Everything here gives me a sense of warmth and belonging, like home. It's not just a travel destination, but a haven for the soul. Leaving Ludian, I am filled with nostalgia. This land has left a deep impression on my heart, and I look forward to returning and exploring more of its beauty.

💥I was attracted by the modern and fashionable style of the hotel lobby as soon as I walked in. The layout is simple and clear, making me feel at home. 💝The guest room is spacious and well-equipped with smart facilities, which can meet the needs of both entertainment and work. 🆗 🔄The hotel is in a great location with convenient transportation and complete commercial facilities nearby. It is a very good choice. 👍 ↗️The hotel gives people a high-end and classy feeling in terms of environment, facilities, and service attitude. It is a very good place to stay. 💓

🏡The hotel is highly rated by guests for its clean and tidy rooms and attentive service.👍 The rooms are spacious and well-equipped, with the smart toilet and washing machine with drying function being particularly impressive.💖 Parking is convenient🅿️ and the hotel offers great value for money.✴️ 👉Mengchen Boutique Hotel is a popular choice in Ludian for its great value and comfortable environment.👏🏻

📍: Dashanbao National Nature Reserve (at the border between Yunnan and Sichuan) 🚗: The road conditions are pretty good when driving from Sichuan. The first stop is Zhaotong City. It takes an hour and a half from Zhaotong City to Dabaoshan Scenic Area. Because there is a section of mountain road, the driving is slower, but the road conditions are still good. 🎫: 90💰 per person. You cannot drive directly into the scenic area. You need to go to the parking lot of the scenic area to transfer to a sightseeing bus to enter. Because the roads in the scenic area are really difficult to drive, a sightseeing bus is still necessary. The sightseeing bus + ticket cost 90💰 in total. It was still a bit cold on the mountain in April, so renting a bus cost 20 yuan. 🔍: There are mainly two routes for sightseeing The first stop after changing to the sightseeing bus: Go directly to the glass plank bridge. You can get to the glass plank bridge after getting off the bus and walk for 10 minutes. After the tour, return to the original route to take the bus Second stop: From the glass plank bridge to Jigong Mountain, you can see the plateau lake after getting off the sightseeing bus. There is a road next to it where you can hike into the mountain for about 1.5 hours, or you can ride a horse for 40 one-way💰 ⚠️: The scenic area has not been fully commercialized, so the parking lot transfer area is a bit unsatisfactory, but this does not affect the beautiful scenery in the scenic area. ❗️: You can see the plateau lake when you go to Jigong Mountain. You can climb the mountain at will. If you are physically fit, you can walk further. There are also some hillsides and lawns where you can take pictures. You can develop them yourself and see many cattle, sheep and horses. 🔆: Many people choose to watch the sunrise 🌞 and sunset 🌞. You don’t have to worry about the scenic area closing (only the horse riding place in Jigong Mountain closes at 6 o’clock). After watching the sunrise, the sightseeing bus can wait for you all the time, which is really touching. ❤️: There is a section of the road that the sightseeing bus takes that is not easy to drive on and may be a bit bumpy, but this place has not been developed much, the people are very simple, and the environment is not polluted. Friends who come here to play can also protect the environment. 📌: There are only a lot of black-necked cranes in winter. This is their winter habitat. You won’t see them in summer, but the lawns are green in summer, which is nice to take pictures and very healing. 📎: Weather is really important. When I first arrived, it was all foggy and I couldn't see anything. When the clouds and fog dissipated and the sun came out, it would be very beautiful. You must check the weather in advance, but the climate in the mountains is also very changeable. 🏠: You can choose a small town that is relatively large. There are many homestays and you can watch the stars at night. The 🏠 we stayed in had a barbecue at night and a resident singer. 🍖: You can eat in the town. There are mutton soup and chicken soup. The chicken is really caught by the boss on the mountain. You can contact the restaurant in advance if you want to eat fresh stewed chicken.

Coming to Zhaotong, Yunnan, I can say it was the closest I've ever been to the clouds. I could even touch them with my hands☁️ In the morning, I first went to the glass plank road in Dashanbao Scenic Area. At that time, the clouds were still under my feet. Later, I chose a horse🐎 to take me to see the more beautiful sea of clouds in the distance. Facing the clouds and following the green grassland, I arrived at Jigong Mountain. Here, the view is wide, and there are herds of cattle and sheep. Following the plank road, you can also appreciate the steepness of the grassland cliffs. There is also a plank road built on the middle ridge. Looking from the adjacent ridge, it really looks like a road in the sky, so beautiful. After I crossed the mountain stream, I came to the main observation deck of Jigong Mountain, and there's no need to worry about taking photos, it's very sturdy. 🌇In the evening, the old city area near Zhaotong's steep streets has many old buildings, and with Zhaotong's unique sloped roads📷, no matter how you take photos, they look good~! If the weather is good and there's a bit of sunset, it's even more beautiful. The sunset will tell you that the warmth of the fireworks doesn't need any filters. The most unforgettable things for me are Zhaotong's baked potatoes that you eat with the skin, a bowl of mutton noodles for ten yuan full of meat, and Zhaotong barbecue. If you come, you must not miss it🌈

★There is no admission fee for Dashanbao, only a transportation fee for the scenic area. ★The fare from the visitor center to Dahai Zi (Black-necked Crane) is 68 yuan (round trip), and from the visitor center to Jigong Mountain (including the glass plank road) is 98 yuan (round trip). To enter the glass plank road, you need to show the 98 yuan scenic area transportation ticket. There is no discount for purchasing both, and the scenic area transportation ticket is only valid for the day. ★The scenic area transportation basically departs in a rolling manner, there is no limit to the departure frequency. In the afternoon, I was alone on the bus, didn't wait too long, and still went to the glass plank road. ★The ticket has the visitor center's phone number. The latest time for the scenic area transportation to stop is 6:30 pm, but you can call to arrange for a pick-up (for example, if you watch the sunset on Jigong Mountain too late). This is a promise from the scenic area, but I haven't tried it. ★The scenery of the Jigong Mountain hiking plank road is good. The horse riding road and the hiking plank road are two lines, the former is much closer than the latter. I walked the hiking plank road on the way there (taking pictures while walking, about 1 and a half hours to the end), and walked the horse riding road on the way back (about half an hour on foot), the viewing angles are different. ★Overall, the scenery of Dashanbao is magnificent and domineering, worth a visit! The dance of the Black-necked Crane depends on luck, and the feeding time is currently not fixed! ★Drones are not allowed in the Black-necked Crane viewing area, but they can fly on Jigong Mountain. However, the wind is too strong to fly.

Yunnan harbors a gourmet capital, it does not compete, it is quiet and comfortable, it is Zhaotong. As a C-position city in Yunnan, its barbecue is not lost to Zibo, and there are a lot of beautiful scenery! · ✔Oil cake bait Oil cake bait is a must for breakfast in Zhaotong. Split it into two main parts, oil cake + bait, grilled and smeared with peanut butter, sweet sauce, chili sauce, soft and delicious. ✔Thin bean powder The good CP of the oil cake bait is thin bean powder, which smells fragrant, and is embellished with green onion, chili oil, and pepper powder. Put a plate of fried buckwheat skin, the combination of red, green and yellow colors makes you appetite. It is said that locals like to soak the oil cake bait in thin bean powder, which is easier to swallow. ✔Lamb rice noodles Bone soup boiled rice noodles, most of the lamb is with skin, pinch a few mint leaves and sprinkle it, force out the mint fragrance, a few drops of chili add flavor. ✔Potatoes It is said that no one in Yunnan and Guizhou can refuse potatoes! The people of Zhaotong in the Wumeng Mountain area have unique planting conditions. The potatoes grown here are soft and crispy, and the flavor is more intense. The basic way to eat is to set up a pot on the charcoal fire, and the potatoes are directly roasted. Peel off the burnt skin and dip it in local chili powder to eat, the aroma is tangy~ ✔Water powder Water powder is a bit like Zhaotong version of hot and sour powder, using handmade sweet potato powder, the seasoning tends to be sour and spicy in Yunnan, refreshing and full, and the powder is tender when it enters the mouth. · 📣📣Local tourist attractions recommended: Dashanbao, Jigong Mountain Grand Canyon, Fir Forest, Biao Water Rock Waterfall, Mannan Mountain Cloud Grassland