Winter Hiking Budget Guide to Yubeng Village

Have you ever carried all your belongings and walked 6 hours on a muddy and rocky road into a village? That afternoon, fine snow was falling from the sky. I dragged my lead-weighted legs up to Nanzong Pass, where the wind cut my face like a knife. Suddenly, a gap appeared in the clouds ahead—the golden light shone on the summit of Kawagebo Peak, and the entire snow mountain looked like a divine presence. At that moment, I cried. Not because I was tired, but because I finally understood: some scenery is worth exchanging for with your own two feet. This is Yubeng Village, which means "Place where scriptures are sealed" in Tibetan. It is surrounded by the Meili Snow Mountain, inaccessible by road, and can only be reached by hiking or horseback. It is one of the "holy lands" in China's hiking community and a spiritual sanctuary in the hearts of many. Today, I will share my personal experience on how to complete a "low-budget + high-intensity + highly impressive" two-day, one-night extreme light hiking trip to Yubeng in early winter for under 1000 yuan. 🧳 Pre-trip Notes (Must Read) Recommended time: Late November to mid-December, when autumn leaves are fading, the first snow covers the mountains, there are fewer tourists, and the chance of golden sunlight on the mountains is high Altitude: Xidang Hot Spring entrance about 2200m, Yubeng Village about 3000–3200m, beware of altitude sickness Risk warning: Early winter mountain roads may be icy and snowy, wear anti-slip shoes; many areas have no signal, download offline maps in advance This guide is suitable for: physically fit backpackers without serious chronic diseases, willing to stay in dormitories, and bring their own food 🚄 Transportation: 480 yuan (Train + Bus is the most economical) Departure → Lijiang: Recommended K9626 regular train (transfer possible from Kunming/Guiyang/Changsha), hard seat ticket about 100–180 yuan Or night sleeper (saves one night's accommodation) Lijiang Bus Station → Shangri-La: Bus ticket 70 yuan, 4-hour ride Shangri-La → Feilai Temple (viewing platform): Carpool/shuttle 30 yuan, 2.5-hour ride Feilai Temple → Xidang Hot Spring (hiking start point): Local carpool about 60 yuan one way (cheaper with more people) ✅ Total round-trip transportation controlled within 480 yuan (nearly half the cost compared to high-speed train + private car) 📌 Alternative: If departing from Dali, take a night sleeper directly to Shangri-La (about 120 yuan) to further reduce costs 🏡 Accommodation: 120 yuan (two nights minimalist accommodation strategy) First night: Stay in a hostel dorm in Shangri-La | about 40 yuan/person (recommended "Zhaxi Youth Hostel") Second night: Stay in a dormitory in Yubeng Village | about 80 yuan/person (includes bedding, no private bathroom) Recommended inns: "Yubeng Reception Station," "Shenpu Mountain Villa" offer shared rooms, basic but safe and reliable ✅ Do not stay in standard rooms! Even in the off-season, standard rooms cost 300+ yuan in the village, decisively avoid; dormitory is the only budget choice 🍽️ Food: 220 yuan (self-sufficient + basic supplies) ✔️ Strategy: Bring your own staple food + order meals only when necessary Before hiking: Buy compressed biscuits, chocolate, beef jerky, instant noodles, thermos with ginger tea at Lijiang supermarket (about 80 yuan total) During hiking: Cook all your own food, avoid buying expensive hot water/instant noodles on the trail (instant noodles cost at least 15 yuan per bowl at the summit) Meals in the village: Dinner: order a bowl of mixed sauce noodles or pickled yak meat soup (about 30 yuan) Breakfast: porridge + steamed buns provided by the inn (under 10 yuan) Reward after descending: eat a bowl of hot rice noodles at Feilai Temple (15 yuan) ✅ Keep total food cost within 220 yuan, simple but enough energy 🎒 Hiking Route & Checkpoints: 180 yuan (core expenses not to be cut) ✔️ Day 1: Xidang Hot Spring → Nanzong Pass → Upper Yubeng Village (core challenge day) Route: Xidang Hot Spring (2200m) → primeval forest → Nanzong Pass (3700m) → Upper Yubeng Village (3050m) Distance: about 18km | elevation gain 1500m | duration 6–8 hours Highlights: Cross the 3700m pass, passing through coniferous forest, streams, and snow slopes From the pass, you can see the thirteen peaks of Meili Snow Mountain; on clear days, the full view of Kawagebo is visible The descent is steep and requires caution 📌 Cost notes: No entrance fee (Yubeng currently does not charge a gate fee) Sightseeing car/horse fees: walk the entire way, no horseback riding (horseback one way about 200 yuan, firmly saved) ✔️ Day 2: Short light hike in Yubeng + return the same way Route: Yubeng Village → Divine Waterfall (7km round trip) or Ice Lake (14km round trip, recommended only for strong hikers) Recommended to choose the Divine Waterfall route: moderate distance, frozen waterfall spectacle, Tibetan pilgrimage site Start return in the afternoon: hike back to Xidang Hot Spring and take transport back to Feilai Temple 📸 Photo spots recommended: Looking back from Nanzong Pass: shoot epic "walking in the clouds" photos Early morning in Yubeng Village: Tibetan wooden houses and cooking smoke in the mist Frozen Divine Waterfall moment: blue ice and prayer flags in the frame Recommended filters: VSCO A6 / Lightroom preset "cool tone film" 🧣 Blogger’s private tips: ✅ Essential gear (can borrow or buy second-hand cheaply): Anti-slip hiking shoes (must-have! Winter gravel + snow is very slippery) Warm three-layer clothing: thermal underwear + fleece + windproof shell jacket Gloves, wool hat, sunglasses (to protect from strong snow glare) Trekking poles (can rent on site for 20 yuan/time, strongly recommended) Phone power bank + hand warmers (to prevent shutdown in cold) ❌ Safety reminders: Early winter mountain roads may be icy, avoid entering on rainy or snowy days Do not hike alone, try to go with companions If feeling unwell (headache, vomiting), descend immediately, do not push yourself 💰 Total budget breakdown: Transportation 480 + Accommodation 120 + Food 220 + Miscellaneous 180 (rental/emergency) = 1000 yuan This trip taught me: True pilgrimage is not about reaching the destination, but asking yourself at every step: Am I still willing to continue? It is your figure trembling in the cold wind yet still climbing upward, It is the moment sunlight breaks through the clouds and lights your face, It is standing between heaven and earth, finally hearing: your own heartbeat. 📢 Follow me, and I’ll teach you how to make every departure a poem on a thousand-yuan budget. ⚠️ Friendly reminder: This is an extreme budget travel plan, suitable for seasoned backpackers; families or comfort seekers should increase the budget to 1800+ yuan.