Yubeng Village

Chinese name: 雨崩村 (Yu Beng Cun)
Location: the foot of Meili Snow Mountain, Diqing Tibetan Prefecture, Yunnan Province.
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY55.00
Estimated tour time: 2-3days
Recommended time to visit: Fall and Winter, especially during October to November
Nearby attractions: Meili Snow Mountain, Shika Snow Mountain, Shangri-La Grand Canyon, etc.

Yubeng Village is situated at the foot of the Meili Snow Mountain Range. Yubeng Village is divided into the upper village and the lower village. The upper village leads to the China-Japan Joint Mountain Climbing Base for climbing the Mount Kawagebo; and the lower village leads to the Sacred Waterfall of Yubeng, with the scenery wonders of Heaven Script in Ancient Seal Characters and Five Trees with One Root on the way. If you like primitive ecological landscape and if you want to get indulged in waters and mountains, come to visit Yubeng!

Legend has it that for centuries Yubeng Village was unknown to the outside world. One day, an old man arrived in Xidang Village near Lancang River (the Mekong River) and tried to buy highland barley from the villagers there. No one knew where he came from, so some of the villagers followed him when he left, but on the way over the mountain the old man disappeared.

Later, the old man came back to Xidang to buy food again. The villagers objected and told him “we aren’t going to sell you barley or wheat, but just some millet.” When they loaded the food for the old man, one of the villagers made small holes on the bags. After he started his journey back home, the old man was followed again. He didn’t realize that the holes in the bags had spilled the millet along the way. However, when he reached a huge rock, he disappeared. So the villagers pried up the rock and Yubeng Village was discovered.

● Highlights of Yubeng Village

Base Camp and Ice Lake (3850 m).

Beautiful glacier fed lake above a meadow. 5-8 hour hike. The path starts after passing through upper Yubeng - locals can point you in the direction. 

Along the path there are green trash cans - just follow them. The first part of the trail is flat, and goes through a forest where you will cross a small stream. After, there is about a one hour ascent to the top of a mountain pass. The path up starts quite easy, but gets progressively steeper. You may have to do a bit of scrambling over rocks and trees to reach the top. After the pass, there is a small climb downhill along some rocky steps, until you reach a flat bit of woodland and a river. After crossing the river, it's another short walk to a clearing, where you will find Base Camp, where it's possible to buy a bowl of rice (20RMB) or refreshments. In the summer, it is also possible to stay at Base Camp - there are basic communal lodgings and bedding provided. From Upper Yubeng to Base Camp take about 3 hours. 

From the base camp to the lake is about another hour. The path leads towards the snow mountains, and starts off fairly easy, getting progressively steeper as you get to the top. Just before the lake, you may have scramble up some rocks for the last section of the walk, which could be a bit dangerous in winter. To reach the lake, you can scramble down the rocks to reach the bottom.  

The Ice Lake is tiny but definitely worth the uphill journey. The scenery on the way is great and the area surrounding the lake is in stark contrast to the valley which leads to it. It looks like another planet, and you can even walk up onto the ice.

Shenpu (Sacred Waterfall) (3650 m).

Apparently best seen in the morning to catch rainbows. 4-5 hour hike. The path starts by crossing lower Yubeng, and turning right near the stupa. There are green trash cans along the path. There is a tea shop about 2/3 of the way to the waterfall. In the summer, the tea shops also provide basic lodgings and bedding if you want to stay overnight in the mountains.  

Holy Lake (4500 m).

A high mountain lake south of Yubeng. 10 hour hike. Begin in Lower Yubeng, crossing the bridge to the left of the stupa and then taking an immediate right up a steep trail through a wooded mountainside. This part of the hike is slippery in parts and could be difficult in wet weather. After around 3 hours the trail contours round a slope into a meadow at 4300 m which has a partial shelter. This is followed by a relatively shallow ascent over rocky (and snowy) ground to the lake. Once at the lake it's possible to go a little further towards the peak.  

● Yubeng Trekking

From Upper Yubeng, trekkers have access to the Base Camp, and Ice Lake hikes. From Lower Yubeng, you can find the paths to the Sacred Waterfall, and if you are a hardcore hiker, Holy Lake, which from a higher vantage point, has an unobstructed view of the Kawa Karpo Peak (6,740 meters), and most of the rest of the mountain range.

Day 1: Ninong - Lower Yubeng (about 6 hours, 15 km, altitude difference 1000 m up)

Day 2: Lower Yubeng - Sacred Waterfall - Upper Yubeng (about 6.5 hours, 13 km, altitude difference 600 m up and down again)

Day 3: Upper Yubeng - Glacier Lake - Upper Yubeng (about 6.5 hours, 15 km, altitude difference 800m up and down again)

Day 4: Upper Yubeng - Xidang Hot Spring - Xidang Village (about 5.5 hours, 15 km, altitude difference 700 m up and 1500 m down)

Day 5: Xidang Village - Ninong (about 3 hous, 10 km, hardly any altitude difference)