Day 1: Shaxi and ShibaoShan lie remote on the Southern Silk Road

The driver and guide will meet you at in your hotel in Dali or in Lijiang. We drive in about 2 hours to Shaxi. Of course we make photo stops on the way if you want. You stay in a guesthouse in Shaxi. After having a local lunch we make a beautiful walk through the valley.
After dinner you will wonder so many stars in the sky.
 

Once a bustling marketplace, Shaxi is the last remaining ancient market town of its kind on the Tea & Horse Caravan Trail. This trail is a trading route that connected Tibet, Sichuan, and Yunnan to countries in southeast Asia, also called the Southern Silk Road. Nestled in a flat fertile valley cut through by the Heihui River and surrounded by mountains, Shaxi is now a quiet and relaxing corner that seems to be forgotten. For years it remained a secret retreat for the few who knew its existence. Because of its isolated location, much of its culture and historical landmarks have been preserved to this day.

Though today Tibet and China don’t trade along this route, Shaxi still has that border-town feel. Old cobble-stoned alleyways still look like they did a thousand years ago. And different minorities, including the Yi and Bai, still clash every Friday during the Sideng Market when mountain villagers come down from the hills to trade their goods.

The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has listed Shaxi as one of the 100 most endangered sites in the world in 2001. Therefore, Shaxi has recently undergone massive efforts to preserve ancient architecture and culture. Shaxi also got recognized in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH) and the People's Government of Jianchuan County jointly established the Shaxi Rehabilitation Project (SRP).

Day 2:

ShibaoShan and it's magnificent views

After breakfast we drive only 20 minutes from Shaxi to ShibaoShan (Shibao Mountain). ShibaoShan - Shibao Mountain - is located about 12 km north of Shaxi.

The most prominent sight at ShibaoShan is the Stone Bell Temple with its 139, well preserved stone carvings. These magnificent stone carvings date as far back as 1300 years to the once powerful Nanzhao Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The carvings are testimony for a time when Mahayana Buddhism from Tibet started to spread in the Yunnan area. Another interesting sight is the 'Suspending Temple', also called the Baoxiang Temple. The Baoxiang temple was built on a ledge of a nearly vertical cliff and can only be reached by a long flight of stairs. On a clear day the views from the Baoxiang Temple over the Shaxi valley are simply magnificent.

On the way to Lijiang (coming from Dali) we pass by Jianshuan, a wood carving town. We have a lunch there and visit a wood carving "factory". 

We drive you to your hotel in the next town (Dali or Lijiang).

Tip:
 Shaxi and ShibaoShan are both small and ancient villages. Thus, do not expect anything other than very basic facilities. There is no Wal-Mart, no Starbucks, no McDonalds, no international ATMs, and no possibility to exchange foreign currencies. Bring enough Chinese RMB to cover your expenses before leaving for Shaxi.