After breakfast, you’ll set out for Baisha village, an early settlement of the Naxi people situated at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Although it’s not far from Lijiang, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, the village streets and rhythms of life here in Baisha remain relatively untouched by tourism and the 21st century. Founded in the Ming Dynasty, the town’s rich assemblage of historical treasures includes the finely preserved frescoes of Dabaoji Palace, built in the late 16th century. Comprised of twelve different murals, you’ll find depictions of daily life, plants and animals, images of Buddha, and other religious motifs.
After lunch, you’ll discover the sublime beauty of Blue Moon Valley. Set beneath the craggy peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the brilliantly blue waters of the Baishui River round a bend here, forming what appears from a distance as a blue crescent moon set at the foot of the mountain. But after a heavy rain, the riverbed - comprised of white clay and limestone – can be churned up, making the water appear nearly as opaque and white as milk. Indeed, in the local Naxi language, the name of this waterway is the “white water river.” After sightseeing, we’ll take you back to the Banyan Tree Lijiang Hotel. Meals B+L