Totaling 3,200 kilometers, the grand tourist ring route in west Yunnan connects 13 prefectures and cities in the province.

Here, scenic beauties involve highlands, canyons, snow peaks，meadows, rivers, lakes, hot springs, old towns, ethnic cultures, and border customs. Anyone can find his favorite on the tourist ring route. 

Starting on May 14, an 11-day media journey to west Yunnan province just came to an end. The event is managed by Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and organized by Yunnan Tourism Planning Research Institute.

The journey took reporters to Lijiang, Diqing, Nujiang and others. The areas boast top destinations in west Yunnan.

Lijiang, a good place for leisure

Participants of the media tour along the Yunnan grand ring route gathered in Lijiang on May 14.

For the city dwellers in Yunnan, leisure means a transcendent lifestyle that is far away from the madding crowds.

With snow peaks in sight, you can enjoy a local flavor and the Dongba music in a little restaurant. Lijiang presents tourists a best pastime.

Weixi, hill-side inns for visitors

The journey took the reporters to Weixi County in Diqing on May 15, when hill-side inns along the route were discussed by the participants.

With good views, the hill-side inns gain popularity across Yunnan now. The inns can be built near a tea garden, a terraced field, a rain forest, a flower market, a hot spring, a canyon, a snow peak, or a grass land.

In Weixi, the inns feature local Guozhuang dance, fresh air and organic meals outdoors. It’s fantastic to be in the county.

Cizhong, a beauty hidden deep

On May 16, the reporters reached the Cizhong village in Deqin County, Diqing.

Cizhong is like a natural beauty hidden deep among the peaks, lakes and meadows that complement one another. There’s a lot to see.

As an inclusive place, Cizhong features multi-religious families that live together in harmony.

In Tongle, a Lisu settlement at the heart of the three parallel rivers, the media tourists were greeted by an Achimugua/goat dance, looking into other ethnic details.

Getting away from bustling cities, the reporters were amazed by the grace from nature. They named the tourist ring route in varied ways.

Deqin-Gongshan highway of snowscape

The media team was on the Deqin-Gongshan highway on May 17, heading for Bingzhongluo Town.

The highway is dubbed as the top route for drive tours in northwest Yunnan. Snow peaks, blossoms, meadows, woods, streams, and rare species are here and there. 

While folks in Xishuangbanna, the southernmost part of the grand tourist ring route, are in T-shirts and shorts, the highway is covered by snow as deep as 3 meters. Some reporters had a snowball fight merrily.

Bingzhongluo, poverty no more

On May 18, the reporters reached Bingzhongluo in Nujiang prefecture, and they were impressed by the pristine beauty.

Here, rural tourism drew in global tourists, and villagers are running inns and home lodges, offering organic meals and others.