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190km northwest of Zhongdian, Deqin is tucked between Sichuan Province (to the east), Tibet (to the north-west) and Myanmar (to the west). It is a Tibetan town of around 7,000 people. The surrounding county of the same name is home to 56,000 residents, 80% of which are Tibetan. The remaining 20% of the population is made up over a dozen minority groups including Pumi, Naxi and Lisu. At a height of 3480m, Deqin lies nestled in the cleft of one of the deep valleys that carve up the area. Its position between the Mekong (Lancang) and Yangtze rivers and as the last major settlement on the road to Lhasa have made it a trading post and market town of considerable influence. The main scenic attraction of this area is the Meili Snow Mountain. Meili Snow Mountain has long been famous for its main peak, Kagebo, which stands at an elevation of 6,470 meters making it the tallest mountain in Yunnan Province. It is regarded as a holy mountain by local Tibetans, and each autumn, countless Tibetans from near and far make pilgrimmages here. On a clear morning, the sunrise over the Meili Snow Mountains makes for an unforgettable experience. There are numerous day hikes which can be undertaken around the Meili Snow Mountains, including the low-altitude glaciers of Mingyong and Si, which give spectacular views of the towering Kagebo Peak. If you find trekking too hard due to the altitude, horses are also available to take you up to the glacier lookouts. The fall colours in late October and early November, contrasted with the bright white of the glacier are particularly spectacular. For a much more challenging trek, a 3-4 day trip to Yubeng is strongly recommended. On this trip you will hike through primeval forests, across vast grasslands, past Tibetan settlements as well as visiting the Yubeng Sacred Waterfall. Buddhists on a pilgrimage to the area circumambulate the waterfall 13 times with the belief that this act will erase all sins from this life. |
