First Bend of the Yangtze River

In Shigu Town, about 50 kilometers away from Lijiang City, the rolling Yangtze River is blocked by a cliff and turns sharply into a "V."-shaped bend, which is the famous first bay of the Yangtze River. The river here is as gentle as a mirror, and on both sides are green hills, uniform farmland, and villages and towns in the south of the river, and the scenery on the plateau is amazing.

National Highway 214 will pass by on the way to Shangri-La, if it is a chartered car or self-driving, you can stop here to take a picture. However, due to the large area of the first bay of the Yangtze River, you cannot see the whole picture from a low place, and the superior location of the first bay of the Yangtze River is on the high mountain behind Shigu Town.

Not far from Shigu Town, there is a Shigu Yangtze River First Bay Observation Deck Inn, his family has an observation deck, which climbs up for about 10 minutes, and charges about 5 yuan, generally, tourists will come here. In fact, this is not a very good viewing position, and it is difficult to appreciate the magnitude of the first bay of the Yangtze River from an almost head-up angle. The excellent location of the first bay of the Yangtze River is on the top of the hill behind the inn, the owner opened a path on the mountain and collected a guide fee to take tourists up the mountain, it takes about 2 hours to climb up, it is very hard and easy to get lost. Usually departing 3 hours before dawn, the atmosphere and shock overlooking the first bay of the Yangtze River from the top of the mountain are self-evident. In addition to taking photos, you can also participate in the first bay rafting of the Yangtze River at the Shigu stall in Shigu Town, and you can buy tickets and contact them online in advance.

The location of the first bay of the Yangtze River is also an important transportation artery for Lijiang tourism. To the north, you can go to Dawn, Liguang, Judian, and Tacheng, to the west you can reach Laojun Mountain Scenic Area, along the Jinsha River you can also reach the Tiger Leaping Gorge if you charter a car, you can visit several attractions together.

The first bend of the Yangtze River has always been famous for its "danger". First of all, there is mountain risk. On both sides of the canyon, the mountains are towering. Tiger Leaping Gorge is not only deep, but also narrow, and in many places, the twin peaks are close like a door ajar; In the valley, look at the sky and a dragon; The cliffs above your head, and the rapids at your feet are terrifying.

The second is water risk, due to the collapse of the fault of the mountain rock, causing countless stone beams to fall, coupled with the steep slopes on both sides, the rock walls, the weathering of the mountains and rocks, and the boulders often collapse to the bottom of the valley, forming a reef in the river, canine teeth intertwined, dangerous beaches dense, and waterfalls. From the upper tiger leaping gorge to the mouth of the lower gorge, the drop is 210 meters, an average of 14 meters per kilometer, and the river flows extremely fast, many sections, reaching six to eight meters per second. Therefore, the situation of the river changes rapidly, or the roar of fury, the rocks and waters, the snow waves, or the whirlpool, the roar of the waterfall, and the fog is empty. It constitutes a rare landscape wonder in the world.

When you cross the Jinsha River by ferry, you come to Shangri-La City, Sasubi and Baluo opposite Shigu Town. Climb to the first bay plank road observation platform of the Yangtze River, a kind of return to nature; A feeling of cleansing the soul quietly rushes to your heart; Let you truly feel the beauty of the first bay of the Yangtze River integrated into the depths of the soul.

History

According to legend, during the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang pacified Nanzhong, where he "crossed Lu in May" (Jinsha River was called Lushui in ancient times); In 1253, Kublai Khan "crossed the river" here. In April 1936, the Second Front of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, led by He Long, Ren Bishi, and Xiao Ke, crossed the river from here and went north to resist the Japanese. After liberation, on the high slope behind the stone drum stele, the 8.1-meter-high "Red Army Long March Ferry Monument" was built, standing on the abrupt high slope, majestic, solemn and solemn, and overlooking the "first bay", which can make you suddenly revere and be a key cultural relic protection unit in Yunnan Province. The archway in front of the monument is the Memorial Room of the Red Army crossing the river, and the relics of the Long March of the Red Army displayed in the "Exhibition Room" will make you more vividly understand this great army more than half a century ago. On the embankment of Jiangwan on the right side of the stone drum style, there is a berm willow forest; On the left side of the monument, there is the Chong River and the Ren River. The river is built with an iron rainbow bridge, which is 17 meters long, with wooden planks on iron chains and iron chains on both sides. The bridge was built at the initiative of Zhou Lanping, a late Qing dynasty stone drummer.

Touring Activities

1. Walk in the scenic areas.

2. Hike in the area.

3. Shop.

4. Relax in a Naxi restaurant and have traditional food.

5. Learn about the history of the region.

6. Go boating.

7. There is good hiking in the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Tour Guide

From the passenger terminal of Lijiang City, you can take a shuttle bus directly to Shigu Town, which is 45 kilometers away from Shigu, about 2 hours by car. Tourists take the county shuttle bus to Shigu Town, the fare is 15 yuan per person. It can also be chartered, but the price is negotiable. To visit the First Bay of the Yangtze River and Shigu, you can take a special tour bus in front of various bus stations and major hotels in Lijiang City. You can choose a combination of Tiger Leaping Gorge and this attraction.

Best time to visit:

Autumn first, followed by summer. Autumn is high and cool, the climate is pleasant, and the cool summer is also very pleasant, Lijiang spring flowers bloom, and winter sunshine, is a good choice, warm winter and cool summer, all seasons.

Transportation information

Independent travelers can only charter a bus and take the county shuttle bus to Shigu Town at the Lijiang Bus Terminal or the coach ticket point on Xindajie Street, and the fare is 10 RMB per person. The entrance fee for the first bay of the Yangtze River (Shigu Town) is 5 yuan, 1 yuan for Tiehong Bridge, 2 yuan for Shigu, and 2 yuan for the Red Army Crossing Monument.

Shigu Town is on a hill next to the first bay of the Yangtze River. The high mountains behind Shigu Town are also the best place to see the "first bay of the Yangtze River". In addition, Shigu is an important transportation artery for Lijiang tourism. To the north, you can reach Dawn, Liguang, Judian and Tacheng; To the west, you can reach the Laojun Mountain Scenic Area, and along the Jinsha River, you can also reach the Tiger Leaping Gorge.