I didn't plan anything (which was atypical for me as a type A person) and joined a tour group for the first time. While it wasn't all smooth sailing, especially with my mother in tow (that's a whole other story), Yunnan completely caught me off guard. Some places didn't just look pretty, they looked unreal.What could even be on par...
Songzanlin Monastery, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and more places you should add to your travel bucket list. I didn't plan anything and joined a tour group for the first time.
While it wasn't all smooth sailing, especially with my mother in tow , Yunnan completely caught me off guard. Some places didn't just look pretty, they looked unreal. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Yunnan held its own with its raw charm and beauty. Here are four places in Yunnan that completely blew me away.
Of all the places in Yunnan, this was the place I was looking forward to the most. This mountain range sits at 4,506 metres above sea level . As you go higher, the air gets thinner, the temperature drops, and suddenly you're surrounded by snowy peaks that look like they belong in a NatGeo documentary.
A surprise awaited us at the top of the mountain — it was snowing in April! The guide said this is super rare. But because it was snowing, it meant low visibility and heavy fog, so we couldn't really see the surrounding areas. The clouds parted only very briefly , but quickly closed the curtain thereafter.
Pro tip: Get Tibetan pork hotpot for lunch if you're going in the morning. Perfect for warming the body after descending from the mountain. Also, you might want to get an oxygen canister to manage altitude sickness .
After stopping for makan, it was time to visit another natural marvel — the Blue Moon Lake, nestled at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Thankfully, the sun had come out to play at this point, which made for a very surreal shade of turquoise at the lake. What I loved most was how calm everything felt. The lake is made up of several terraces, and the water flows gently from one level to another.
You'll see people dressed in bright traditional outfits posing for photos, but even with the crowd, there's a certain tranquility to it. By late morning, tour groups start pouring in and suddenly your peaceful fairyland turns into Orchard Road during GSS. If you've ever wondered what it feels like to step into a Tibetan monastery without flying all the way to Tibet, Yunnan has its very own Songzanlin Monastery. Located in Shangri-La , this is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. The architecture is stunning — golden roofs and intricate details set against a backdrop of mountains and sky. There's something about the place that feels incredibly calm yet powerful at the same time. You'll see monks going about their day, people spinning prayer wheels, and the faint sound of chanting in the background.
Also, fair warning: there are a lot of stairs. Pro tip: Remember to dress respectfully. Even though it's a tourist spot, it's still a religious site. Think about the last Chinese historical drama you watched.
Lijiang Ancient Town looks exactly like that. Cobblestone streets, wooden houses, red lanterns hanging everywhere, little canals flowing through the town — it's ridiculously picturesque. During the day, it's charming and full of little shops. At night, the town lights up.
Suddenly it becomes this chaotic, super lively place. Music blasting out of stereos and live performances from an open window on the second floor. The ancient China version of Clarke Quay. Pro tip: Don't forget the food — I nommed down Yuen Kee dumplings, charcoal boiled rose milk, wild mushroom fried rice, and steamed chicken pot.
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