Über diese Reise
The summer pasture morning starts at 6:00 a.m. with milking. The Tibetan stove heats butter tea in the early morning. In Shangri-La, pastoral life has gradually become a lifestyle of the older generation, with an average herding age of 65. They go into the mountains in the morning to pick wild vegetables and mushrooms, and in the afternoon to gather winter fodder nearby. In the evening, they watch TV for a while using solar-stored electricity and a satellite dish. The young people in the pastoral area are gradually moving to the cities, choosing to work as migrant laborers, which means more stable income and less harsh living conditions. Yet the place they live is so peaceful and beautiful.
Itinerary:
11:00 a.m. Gather at Avant-garde Bookstore (a bookstore and café converted from a Tibetan house). You can take a taxi or a bus from Shangri-La (a new bus route opened this year, not crowded, you can open the window and slowly ride into Xiaozhongdian Grassland). Hike through the pastoral forest, gather wild vegetables and fruits, and identify alpine wildflowers.
1:30 p.m. Picnic at the mountain pasture.
2:30 p.m. Start descending.
Around 4:30 p.m., the aunt's cows return home one after another, and the uncle starts milking (bring a thermos to take a cup of freshly boiled milk home).
5:30 p.m. Tour ends at Avant-garde Bookstore.
Activity notes: Children must be 7 years or older. Round-trip hiking distance is 3 km. Also not suitable for guests who are particular about cleanliness. The living environment in the pastoral area is relatively traditional; the uncle and aunt are busy every day but are very simple and warm-hearted.
Wear advice: Shangri-La's average altitude is 3,200 meters, within the acceptable range for ordinary people. UV rays are strong, so be sure to apply sunscreen before going out. Wear a windbreaker or windproof jacket. Mountain weather changes frequently, so keep warm.
Main income source in summer pasture: making dried milk curd (chhurpi).
Two-to-three-month-old calves are kept at home while the mother cows go up the mountain to graze.
Usnea hanging from trees.
Edible wild vegetable that can be boiled: purple flower bittercress (Cardamine).
June to September is mushroom picking season.
Shangri-La's average altitude is around 3,200m; besides ferns, there are also some high-altitude plants.
Rainy days are cool for yaks; on sunny days, you can often see yaks crossing streams or cooling off in the water.
Cancellation and Modification Policy:
Within 12 hours: 30% refund.
12-24 hours: 50% refund.
24-48 hours: 70% refund.
Over 48 hours: 100% refund.
No refund after activity starts.
Full refund due to weather (the guide should handle cancellation).
*Fairness principle: our cancellation policy is mutual. If the trip cannot proceed after booking and confirmation of WeChat group [except for weather reasons], compensation will be paid at the same proportion.
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