Baoshan 保山
Some pictures of Baoshan
Baoshan Village in Northern Yunnan
The village of Baoshan, nicknamed the Stone Village, is located on a huge rock overlooking the Yangtze River. The small houses are tightly packed together and give an impression of disorder. The winding streets will allow you to discover magnificent houses and appreciate the daily life of the village, which is very peaceful. Just like the inhabitants, you will be truly cut off from the life of the big tourist cities of Yunnan. You will probably be the only tourists there, and foreigners at that, so don’t be surprised by the insistent glances of the locals. A smile and a little nod will be enough to greet them!
The climate of Baoshan is quite hot and humid. The land is dry but the crops are abundant. Coming from Lijiang, you really feel like you are in another world as the landscapes, climate and pace of life are so different! Depending on your desires, several walks are possible. You can go down near the river through the terraced fields to reach a small gray sand beach surrounded by palm trees. You can watch the locals working the land and dip your feet in the cold water of the Yangtze. You can also leave the village along the crops and find yourself on the mountainside in the middle of thousands of cacti with a breathtaking view of the Yangtze.
To get there, you have to take the road leading to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and pay the entrance fee of 190 yuan. You can therefore take the opportunity to take a short break near the mountain site. The road to Baoshan is mainly used by trucks and depending on the weather conditions, it can turn into a 4×4 track in places. However, you will drive on the mountainside, through magnificent landscapes and very charming villages, in the Yunnan countryside. After a 4-hour drive from Lijiang, you will have to leave the car, to do the last few hundred meters on foot by stairs overlooking the village. You will be staying in one of the two inns in the village, quite basic but charming.
It is difficult to describe the possible walks because there is no path as such or they are not very visible without prior reconnaissance. You just have to try to venture out and follow your desires. The mountain sides are quite steep, good walking shoes are necessary.