L-R: Chew Leng Soon, Lim Cheng Tee, Ching Neng Bin, Lily Yap, Lim Sok Bee, Ng Peng Kim, Bernard Lee (Team Leader), Lee Kam Boon, Grace Ong Siew Hua, Teh Soon Shoei at Songzanlin Tibetan Monastery 西藏噶丹松賛林寺, Shangri-La, China. At an altitude of 3450m, is located in the seat of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest of Yunnan Province, about 200 km from Lijiang with 4 hours’ driving.
The route: Kuala Lumpur > Chengdu (成都) > Hailuogou (海螺沟) > Luding (泸定) > Kangding (康定) Xinduqiao (新都桥) > Danba (丹巴) > Xiaojin (小金) > Rilong (日隆) > Chengdu (成都) > Xichang (西昌) > Lugu Lake (泸沽湖) > Lijiang (丽江) > Shangri-La (香格里拉) (Zhongdian (中甸) > Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡) / Bai Shui Tai terrace waterfall（白水台）> Lijiang (丽江) > Lugu Lake (泸沽湖) > Xichang (西昌) > Chengdu (成都) > Kuala Lumpur
Day 1 (30.03.2013) AirAsia D7-320: K.Lumpur to Chengdu 成都 Sichuan 四川
Nihao! Greetings from China. As usual, the adventure started from KL LCCT at 9.15am for a 4 hour Air Asia flight to Chengdu airport arriving at 1.10pm, a half hour earlier than usual. We took 2 pre-booked vans to Traffic Inn hostel. We had lunch at a shop beside the Inn. Had some rest and at 6pm we walked to Jinli (錦里) night bazaar for dinner at Restaurant Eight Treasures.
Sleeping: Traffic Inn (交通背包客栈), 6号 Linjiang Middle Road, Chengdu.
AirAsia D7-320: K. Lumpur – Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川).
Chengdu airport arriving at 1.10pm.
Sleeping: Traffic Inn (交通背包客栈), 6号 Linjiang Middle Road, Chengdu.
The friendly staff at the Traffic Inn (交通背包客栈) Chengdu.
Used paper collector in Chengdu.
The Jinjiang River right in-front of our Traffic Inn originated from Fanjing Mountain.
The fishermen at Jinjiang River in Chengdu.
L-R: Lim Cheng Tee, Ng Peng Kim, Lim Siok Bee, Ching Neng Bin scouting for dinner in Chengdu.
We found this Tibetan traditional dried yak meat which is better than beef, is rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus, hemoglobin and other essentials in Chengdu.
Jinli Ancient Chinese Street (成都锦里古街), Chengdu, Sichuan.
Jinli Old Street is 350 meters long, paved with flagstones in Chengdu.
A little girl at a traditional Chinese musical stall in Jinli Old Street, Chengdu.
With traditional Chinese-style mansions, folk residences, tea-houses, handiwork, fashionable cafes and barrooms, the age-old street reflects the integration of ancient and modern Chengdu.
Jinli is a street full of traditional Chinese houses hosting shops that offer food and souvenir in Chengdu.
Jinli shops offer wide verity of traditional Chinese biscuits and food in Chengdu.
Jinli visitors can taste the authentic Chengdu foods and snacks.
A night view of Jinjiang River in Chengdu.
A night view of Jinjiang River in Chengdu.
A night view of Jinjiang River in Chengdu.
A night view of Jinjiang River in Chengdu.
Day 2 (31.03.2013) Chengdu to Hailuogou (海螺沟) (296km / 7.5hrs bus)
Had Y5 breakfast at our Inn and then walked to the Xinnanmen bus station, leaving at 9:30 (Y119 including Y2 insurance) for Hailuogou. Along the way, we stopped at Ya’an (雅安) for lunch at 12noon. The bus driver informed us that the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou is closed due to landslide and had to take an alternate route which is further and attracts toll – and for that all of us have to pay additional Y20 each. I must say that this new highway route is worth passing through as the sight is breathtaking. We passed through a town Ziamin which is to be flooded after the completion of the highway and a dam downstream.
After a 7.5 hour bus journey, we arrived at Moxi town (磨西鎮) at 4.30pm. Mr Liew the proprietor of Xinfei Backpackers Inn came with his motor cart tuk-tuk to pick us up. Lee Kam Boon and Ching Neng Bin walked out to the Old Street and other places in town. We came back at 6pm for dinner at Jiang You Speciality Restaurant recommended by Mr. Liew. After dinner we all went to a pub for Budweiser beer and came back just before 11pm.
Sleeping: Xinfei Backpackers Inn (鑫飞背包客栈), Hailuogou
We had the cheapest breakfast (Y5pp) at Traffic Inn Hotel (交通背包客栈) with lots to eat.
We stopped here at Ya’an (雅安) for lunch at 12noon - the bus driver informed us that the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou is closed due to landslide and had to take an alternate route which is further and attracts toll.
Ya'an town - we were all very lucky indeed, twenty days later on 20th April 2013 an earthquake of 7 magnitude struck here causing serious casualties and property losses and millions of people in distress.
A chopping board street vendor in Ya'an.
A popcorn vendor making popcorn using a popcorn cannon along the main road of Ya'an.
The corn kernels is put in a little cast-iron cannon-type canister which is sealed with a heavy lid over an open flame - when the pressure gauge on the canister reaches a certain level and with one poptastic explosion, all the popcorn shoots out at once into a rubber tyre container.
A view of the countryside and its villages on foot-hills along the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
Notice the new highway above our highway along the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
Notice the elevated S-shape highway along the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
The Gangzishang Tunnel 1452m along the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
Another elevated S-shape highway - this new highway route is worth passing through as the sight is breathtaking.
A view of the countryside and its villages on foot-hills along the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
The Xudianzi Tunnel 1272m along the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
It was toilet time at this newly built tourist WC along the highway from Ya’an to Hailuogou - very clean.
Another 80km to Hailuogou.
A newly constructed bridge across the river along the highway from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
A beautiful lake along the highway from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
Oranges for sale along the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
Passed through a dam downstream under construction along the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
Passed through this town Ziamin which is to be flooded after the completion of the highway and a dam downstream along the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou. 
Passed by a new highway bridge under construction along the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
Passed through this badly damaged road caused by landslide along the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
Passed by a boy with two horses along the road from Ya’an to Hailuogou.
Mr Liew the proprietor of Xinfei Backpackers Inn, Hailuogou, waited for us at the bus stop to drive us in his tuk-tuk to his Inn.
Mr Liew's self made tuk-tuk for transportation - Lee Kam Boon seems to be driving in Hailuogou.
Sleeping: Xinfei Backpackers Inn (鑫飞背包客栈), Hailuogou.
Sleeping: Xinfei Backpackers Inn (鑫飞背包客栈), Hailuogou.
Lee Kam Boon with Mr. and Mrs Liew the proprietors of Xinfei Backpackers Inn, Hailuogou,
Moxi Old Town is located in the south of the Luding County in Garze, close to the Mount Gongga and the Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park. It is about 304 km away from Chengdu city, and about 70 km from Kangding.
This western Catholic Church in the Moxi Old Town was first built by romantic French missionaries; but in building style, it blended in southwest China's traditional temples style. It is said that during the Red Army's Long March, Mao Zedong had put this church as a headquarter, planning the future of the Red Army here in 1935.
Road side roasted lamb for sale in Moxi, Hailuogou.
Our 6pm dinner at JiangYou Speciality Restaurant, Hailuogou, recommended by Mr. Liew.
The roasted pork was so tasty that with just one helping, its almost gone - see below.
The roasted pork was so tasty that with just one helping, its gone.
Moxi Town is the settlement of the Han, Yi and Tibetan Nationality. It has kept a complete ancient town blocks; those blocks are the ancient building group built during late Qing Dynasty. Note: Ching Neng Bin's forefathers are actually from this dynasty - Ching Neng Bin Chinese name: 秦 能 斌.
Ladies dancing at a public open playground in Hailuogou.
Our newly made friends from Hongkong met in the bus.
Evening roadside vegetable vendor in Hailuogou.
A beautiful Tibetan building along the Hailuogou main road.
Chilling in Moxi Old Town pub for Budweiser beer in the evening.
Sleeping: Xinfei Backpackers Inn (鑫飞背包客栈), Hailuogou
/// Backpacking Adventure to ShangriLa the Last Frontier 30 March to 23 April 2013 (25 days)
I like the 1st group pic with the Tibetan temples built on the hills as background, it's well arranged to be seated or standing like that, well balanced. Night scenes on the streets or along the river of Chengdu is absolutely charming. The motor cart Tuk Tuk seemed so fragile, guess it's only for short distance to the Backpackers' Inn. Lee Kam Boon again showing his smiling disposition. With chopsticks ready, you folks were hungry or the dish was too good to resist? I noticed that the Chinese people liked to dance in the public, as hobby or as a way of life to exercise etc. The Backpackers'Inn looked simple and basic, but NB Ching was smiling, guess it's comfortable enough. Thank Goodness you folks missed the earthquake!
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Alan K, KL.
Dear Alan, I love to read all your comments in my blog. Many thanks. Many of my friends also told me that they too love to read your comments, and always looking forward to read more. Alan, please carry on writing.
ReplyDeleteInteresting... felt a wave of admiration... a quite longing to be one in the group...
ReplyDeleteThanks 4 sharing your passion. The planning has been so meticulous.
ReplyDeleteYour group is certainly blessed. If only we are in Malaysia; we would have pestered you to include us in your second-to-none trips.
Well done, Neng Bin.