Finally, the Songzan Bingzhonglu hotel is opening! Today marks the first promotion since its opening. This year, Songzan has three major hotel openings: Shiyueliang Mountain Resort (already opened), Bingzhonglu Mountain Resort (officially opens today, soft opening on May 20), and Daocheng Yading Mountain Resort (to open before summer).
I am really looking forward to the opening of Bingzhonglu! With this, the route connecting Shiyueliang-Bingzhonglu-Deqin at Songzan Meili will become a continuous line. Additionally, with the Songzan hotels in Shangri-La and Lijiang, most destinations on the great loop of western Yunnan will have a Songzan presence. When it comes to location, I have to admire Songzan.
Today’s article is about the grand opening of Songzan Bingzhonglu. There are also cruise products and airline tickets available, featuring a highly cost-effective itinerary on Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas (14 days and 13 nights from Sydney, Australia, to Cairns Great Barrier Reef, Darwin, Indonesia Bali, and Singapore), starting at 8,139 yuan. The flight tickets are with Vietnam Airlines traveling directly from Shanghai to Phu Quoc Island, round-trip including tax and luggage priced between 2,999 and 3,899 yuan. Primarily, during the summer at 3,399 yuan, during National Day at 3,899 yuan, and other dates starting from 2,999 yuan. All of these are excellent deals.
Let’s discuss one by one. First, there are private tour options from Songzan, which have two main routes. Bingzhonglu is not near an airport, so promoting just hotel packages isn’t appropriate. Simply put, even if we promote hotel packages, it’s still quite inconvenient to get to Songzan Bingzhonglu. Therefore, having a private tour group with vehicles and drivers is essential. People will drive for you and assist in coordinating your itinerary.
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1) Songzan Canyon Secret Realm (Shishi Bingbing) 6-day 5-night private tour
This includes two nights at Songzan Shiyueliang Mountain Resort (with breakfast) + two nights at Songzan Bingzhonglu Mountain Resort (with breakfast) + one night at Songzan Shiyueliang Mountain Resort (with breakfast) + one dinner for two in Bingzhonglu, one lunch for two in Shiyueliang + daily afternoon tea + a couple’s anger carpet experience + 6 days and 5 nights all-inclusive transport (including driver, fuel, bridge, and toll fees), priced at 8,450 yuan per person. Valid until October 31, 2024, with an extra charge of 700 yuan per night for summer (July 15 to August 25) and National Day (September 28 to October 9) stays. The package starts with two people, with transport included (10 hours per day and no more than 300 kilometers).
Let me draw this route on the map. Starting from Baoshan Airport or the high-speed railway station, stay for two nights at Songzan Shiyueliang Mountain Resort, then go to stay for two nights at Songzan Bingzhonglu, and finally return for one night at Songzan Shiyueliang before heading back to Baoshan Airport or the high-speed railway station. The attractions along the way include: Nujiang Grand Canyon – Lama Village & Zhiziluo – Shiyueliang – Gongshan – Nujiang First Bend – Wuli Village – Bingzhonglu, etc.
This driving route is part of the great loop of western Yunnan. By the end of 2022, the road from Gongshan to Deqin, known as Degong Road, was opened. It allows direct access through the Nujiang Grand Canyon to the foot of Meili Snow Mountain without needing to backtrack through Dali or Lijiang, making travel much more convenient.
The second item is a product that follows this same route on the western Yunnan loop.
This driving route is currently not very well-known and hasn’t become particularly popular. However, the scenery here is truly breathtaking, with the convergence of three rivers, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, and beautiful landscapes. Let me specifically talk about the section from Shiyueliang to Bingzhonglu. This segment connects steep cliffs of the Nujiang Grand Canyon, barren hot valleys, lush primitive forests, spectacular glaciers, and the cultural traditions of various ethnic groups.
Here, the Nujiang River makes a grand 270-degree bend, which is one of the most impressive scenic spots on this driving route.
There is also a cultural component here. The director Tian Zhuangzhuang mentioned while filming a documentary in Bingzhonglu that: “The ethnic groups living there are like the mountains of the plateau, neither humble nor arrogant, filled with magical colors, coexisting harmoniously with nature. We outsiders can only look up to them, appreciate them, and praise them. There, you can feel a kind of power, peace, and a genuine joy from the heart.”
Next, I will post the recommended itinerary for this private tour:
Day 1: First encounter with the Nujiang River, stay at Songzan Shiyueliang Mountain Resort.
Gather at Baoshan (airport or train station) and depart for Bingzhonglu. Along the way, we will visit the Nujiang Grand Canyon. Baoshan has an airport, but there aren’t many flights to Baoshan. You can also take a high-speed train; there are direct trains from Dali, Lijiang, and Kunming to Baoshan, with the fastest from Dali taking just 1.5 hours.
The drive to Shiyueliang includes a significant stretch along the Nujiang Grand Canyon, offering limitless views along the way.
On this day, you will check into Songzan Shiyueliang Mountain Resort. This Songzan has been promoted and stayed at; it has a total of 55 rooms, all facing the Nujiang Grand Canyon, with excellent viewing angles.
The hotel has stunning views, with snow-capped mountains so close you can almost reach out and touch them—it is beautiful.
The hotel also features an infinity pool perched on a cliff, allowing you to swim while enjoying the panoramic view of the canyon, with the changing clouds and light creating breathtaking moments every second.
The room design reflects Songzan’s consistent traditional aesthetics, filled with warm colors that create a relaxing space. Upon opening the door, it feels like returning to a “home of your imagination.” Brass products, rough stone walls, woven baskets, and mosaic tiles cover the walls, showcasing Songzan’s distinctive charm.
Outside the window is the Nujiang Grand Canyon, with the balcony being an exceptional viewpoint.
You can also behold the eternal full moon rising above the distant mountains—the sacred circular moon of the Nujiang Lisu people.
The food at this Songzan is also quite good. We had Guanshan black truffle braised pork over rice for lunch, which was spicy and very delicious.
In the evening, we had a Qiyou chicken hot pot, using Qiyou oil, a unique edible oil from Nujiang sourced from lacquer trees. Dishes made with Qiyou oil, such as Qiyou chicken and Qiyou braised suckling pig, are considered the highest form of hospitality in Nujiang. This private tour includes one lunch at Songzan Shiyueliang.
Day 2: Secret realm of Gaoligong, stay at Songzan Shiyueliang Mountain Resort
Early in the morning, you can go to the viewing platform to appreciate the beauty of the Nujiang Grand Canyon.
Afterward, we can drive to the Yapeng Nature Reserve located in the Gaoligong Mountains. In Lisu, Yapeng means “cliff,” located near the China-Myanmar border, it is an uninhabited and mysterious area where “one mountain has four seasons, and ten miles have different climates.”
On this day, I recommend visiting the Lama Village and Zhiziluo. Many travelers familiar with Bingzhacha will recognize Lama Village. It is a stunning village hidden in the sea of clouds with the Biluo Snow Mountain on the left and Gaoligong Mountain on the right.
Of course, its unique feature is the wooden Christian church built on the edge of a cliff, the largest church in the Nujiang region, where locals come to worship. It’s hard to imagine that such a remote place has such pure faith.
Currently, Lama Village is undergoing continuous upgrades. We also came across a very chill café in the village, which would be delightful for a sunny afternoon coffee break while sitting in a camping chair.
Zhiziluo is very close to Lama Village, a short drive upwards takes about ten minutes. It is often referred to as the “Lost City,” and I used to think it was an empty town with no inhabitants. However, upon arrival, I found that people do live here, and its vibe is bustling with life.
In Zhiziluo, one can still see a glimpse of the small county town from the 60s and 70s—old government offices, familiar slogans—almost as if one has traveled through time.
You can also try the cableway over the river there.
Day 3: The Barley Fields by the Nujiang River, stay at Songzan Bingzhonglu Mountain Resort.
The itinerary is from Shiyueliang to Bingzhonglu. In the morning, we will head towards Bingzhonglu, enjoying the rushing waters of the Nujiang river until we reach Nujiang First Bend. Due to mountainous obstruction, the Nujiang effectively loops 270° here, forming a unique hoof-shaped bay, which is one of the most distinctive sights of the Nujiang River. If the timing is right, the water color of the Nujiang will be emerald green.
After lunch, we will venture upstream to Shimen Pass, where two towering cliffs stand on either side of the Nujiang River, marking the navigational point of the river and the essential pathway of the Tea Horse Road leading into Tibet.
On this day we will arrive in Bingzhonglu. The town of Bingzhonglu borders the Tibetan area of Chawalong County in Tibet and is a legendary place where humans and deities cohabit. Aside from the Han ethnicity, Bingzhonglu is home to 15 minority ethnic groups, where people converse in five different languages and practice four varied religions.
Many know of Bingzhonglu as the starting point of the legendary driving route into Tibet known as the No. 7 Line (Bingzhonglu-Chawalong-Chayu), a route only a few amateur drivers and off-road enthusiasts have come across.
To the east of Bingzhonglu is part of the Hengduan Mountains, featuring the 4,500-meter high Biluo Snow Mountain; to the west lies Gaowagapo Snow Mountain (5,128 meters), reputed as the “World’s Gene Bank” among the Gaoligong Mountain peaks; while the Nujiang runs horizontally through Bingzhonglu from north to south. With two mountains flanking one river, this is Bingzhonglu.
The hotel, Songzan Bingzhonglu, is situated above a field of rice. Currently, I am quite embarrassed that I do not have any on-site photographs or details about Songzan Bingzhonglu. However, we have already scheduled a visit to take photographs, check in, and write articles right after it starts its trial operations on May 20. Since this is Songzan, we trust them. If some are uneasy, please consider reserving now, and then wait for our detailed review after our visit before deciding whether to redeem your trip.
Day 4: The place where humans and gods coexist, stay at Songzan Bingzhonglu Mountain Resort.
In the morning, we will visit the only Gelugpa monastery (Kagyu) in Nujiang Prefecture, the Puhua Temple. This temple has a history of over 300 years and stands out from the typical gold-gilded Tibetan monasteries, with the ancient temple’s murals still vaguely discernable. This is also where the Fifth Living Buddha, Longqiu, resides.
On this day, we can also visit Chonding Village, Wuli Village, and Qiunanxiong. Chonding Village has the famous Chonding Church, and there are many Catholics along the Nujiang River; almost every town has its church.
Wuli Village is a small village by the Nujiang River, considered one of the most beautiful towns by the river, preserving the traditions of horse caravans to this day.
Qiunanxiong Canyon is a highlight of the entire Nujiang Grand Canyon, being the last village at the northern end of the canyon, where everything feels peaceful.
Day 5: Home in the canyon, stay at Songzan Shiyueliang Mountain Resort.
We will return to Songzan Shiyueliang for an overnight stay because departing directly from Bingzhonglu back to Baoshan would take too long, so we’ll stay at Songzan Shiyueliang for one night. Typically, we would leave Bingzhonglu in the morning and reach Shiyueliang by noon, allowing for an afternoon to rest well and enjoy the hotel amenities.
Day 6: Return
It’s recommended to book flights after 1:00 PM since it takes almost 4 hours to travel from Shiyueliang to Baoshan Airport. If you book your flights back and forth from Baoshan, consider this itinerary.
The child policy for this trip is also beneficial:
Traveling with one child under 6 years old sharing a room with an adult incurs no extra charge;
Traveling with one child aged 6-11 years (including 6 years) incurs an additional fee of 190 yuan per night;
Traveling with one child aged 12 years or older incurs an additional fee of 4,225 yuan.
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2) Songzan from the Nujiang to Meili Snow Mountain (Shishi Bingbing Meixiang) 7 days 6 nights private tour
Includes two nights at Songzan Shiyueliang Mountain Resort (with breakfast) + two nights at Songzan Bingzhonglu Mountain Resort (with breakfast) + one night at Songzan Meili Mountain Resort (with breakfast) + one night at Songzan Shangri-La Linca (with breakfast) + 2*300 yuan/person dining vouchers + La Mer skincare package + Songzan cloth shoes, 7 days 6 nights all-inclusive transport (including driver, fuel, bridge, and toll fees), priced at 9,650 yuan per person. Valid until October 31, 2024, with an extra 700 yuan per night during summer (July 15 to August 25) and National Day (September 28 to October 9). Each set includes two 300 yuan dining vouchers, totaling 600 yuan. The package starts with two people, with all transport included (10 hours per day and no more than 300 kilometers).
The route for this itinerary starts from Baoshan, passing through Shiyueliang-Bingzhonglu-Meili Snow Mountain-Shangri-La, ending in Lijiang. Alternatively, trips can begin in Lijiang or Dali, thus completing a genuine loop through western Yunnan. This trip lasts a day longer than the previously mentioned itinerary but has the advantage of not looping back on itself.
As for the later stages in Meili and Shangri-La, Songzan Meili Mountain Resort is an excellent hotel with an incredible location, situated at the foot of a snow mountain in a small village of only five households, enveloped by snow mountains, forests, and pastures. Luckily, when we visited, we encountered a significant snowfall. With snow blanketing everything and complete silence, it truly felt celestial.
The terrace on the third floor of the mountain residence offers an unparalleled view directly facing the snow mountain, and the hotel has a total of 35 rooms, out of which 31 can directly view Meili Snow Mountain, the supreme deity of the Tibetan region, specifically the main peak of Kawa Kabo. Each one is a mountain-view room. Staying at Meili Mountain Residence makes viewing the snow mountain as easy as breathing. If luck has it, you can witness the sunlight illuminating the Meili Snow Mountain—truly a breathtaking sight. However, one must realize this depends heavily on luck.
Songzan Shangri-La Linca was formerly a MGallery property and happens to be my favorite MGallery in China. Songzan Linca Shangri-La and Songzan Lamasery face each other, from every room or public space, one can experience the tranquility and peace of the nearly 400-year-old Songzan Lamasery.
This establishment is quite expansive compared to other Songzan mountain resorts. Inside Songzan Shangri-La Linca, there is even a museum with many artifacts.
There are three gift shops, a reading room, an art gallery, and a Thangka painting studio.
This package includes two dining vouchers of 300 yuan each, totaling 600 yuan, along with a La Mer skincare package and Songzan cloth shoes. The offer includes many practical items.
During the later part of the trip, you can visit Pudacuo, Dukezong Ancient Town, and Songzan Lamasery. Along this route, you will encounter beautiful landscapes of Gaoligong Mountain, Biluo Snow Mountain, Peacock Mountain, Meili Snow Mountain, and White Horse Snow Mountain while crossing the Nujiang, Lancang, and Jinsha rivers—truly a classic itinerary.
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Next, there’s a cruise
3) Departing April 3, 2025, Royal Caribbean Spectrum of the Seas cruise from Sydney, Australia, to Cairns Great Barrier Reef, Darwin, Indonesia Bali, Singapore for 14 days and 13 nights, starting at 8,139 yuan.
The itinerary is as follows:
From Sydney to Singapore, this is a transit cruise. The distinctive feature of a transit cruise is its cost-effectiveness. It’s not an exaggeration; domestic homeport cruises typically cost around 5k+ for a 5-day 4-night trip. This 14-day 13-night cruise starts at just 8,139 yuan, making its value completely surpass others. Additionally, transit cruises generally provide better experiences since the vessel is seldom at full capacity; the embarkation rate rarely exceeds 70%, often even below 50%.
Moreover, this cruise’s ultimate destination is China, with a subsequent leg from Singapore to Hong Kong, which we previously promoted as extremely cost-effective (though prices have slightly increased now). You could combine these two segments into one grand journey from Sydney to Hong Kong for an incredible 19 days and 18 nights.
Afterward, the ship will be operating in China for an extended period. Hence, it will employ Chinese-speaking staff, making this cruise suitable for those who are less proficient in English. As for the downside, transit cruises generally have more sea days.
Here’s the detailed itinerary:
April 3: Depart from Sydney
One advantage of Sydney is the abundance of flights at reasonable prices. I randomly checked flights from Hangzhou and Shanghai to Sydney, with one-way fares under 1,000 yuan, including tax, if backing up a layover. You can easily travel around Australia, hitting Canberra and Melbourne and finally boarding the ship in Sydney.
April 4-5: Days at sea
April 6-7: Cairns
The cruise will stay overnight in Cairns, allowing two full days for exploration there. Cairns is known primarily for the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and Australia’s most celebrated site. It is home to a plethora of ocean wildlife, boasting over 1,500 species of brightly colored tropical fish and around 300 types of hard coral.
April 8-9: Days at sea
April 10: Darwin
Darwin is located at the northernmost point of Australia, serving as the capital of the Northern Territory, where a tropical vibe prevails amid lush, green surroundings. Nearby, there are numerous national parks such as Litchfield National Park, Mary River National Park, Kakadu National Park, Nitmiluk National Park, and Elsey National Park.
April 11-12: Days at sea
April 13: Bali
Everyone is undoubtedly familiar with Bali; even though a single day’s visit cannot provide an in-depth experience, it serves as a lovely teaser.
April 14-15: Days at sea
April 16: Arrive in Singapore
Singapore has a visa-free entry, allowing you to enjoy a few days in the city upon arrival.
Regarding the Spectrum of the Seas cruise, it is a sister ship to Quantum of the Seas. Both vessels are nearly identical; whatever facilities Quantum has, Spectrum has too. Quantum has long operated in domestic waters, which many should be quite familiar with.
Spectrum belongs to the Quantum series (which includes Spectrum, Quantum, and Anthem), regarded in the same class as current competitive domestic options. Comparing the price between Singapore as a home port and domestic ones can conclude that competition in domestic markets is quite fierce.
The specific prices are as follows:
The value for double occupancy tickets is comparatively high, with no advantage for three or four occupants. This is because double rooms receive group pricing, significantly lower than regular FIT rates, while triple or quad rooms lack group rates, charged at the standard FIT price. Thus, double occupancy is recommended, and pricing is as follows. For triple rooms, specific inquiries will need to be made later; feel free to consult for assistance.
Please note that these are calendar-based products and cannot be canceled without penalty. The cancellation policies are as follows, so please avoid buying indiscriminately.
How to purchase:
Cruise packages can be somewhat complex; ordering directly isn’t always reliable and will require consultation and Q&A. If anyone is interested, feel free to contact the assistant (xiyoutravel5), who will invite everyone to join the [Cruise Group]. Most international product arrangements necessitate a secondary confirmation of space, so make sure to check in after booking.
