Abuji Cuo Hiking
Abuji Cuo, where "Cuo" means lake, is a spot located in the heart of Yunnan, China. People like to go there for a nice day away from the busy places in Shangri-La that many tourists visit. It's not a well-known destination to tourists. We got to know about this special place from the host of our guesthouse. He suggested it when we found out that Shika Snow Mountain was closed when we visited in November 2023. Our adventure into Abuji Cuo is a lovely hike with fantastic views of the valley, mountains, and the peaceful lake.
According to the host, there are two routes you can take to get to Abuji Cuo: the old route and the new route.
The old route is approximately a 9km round trip, the one typically found when searching for Abuji Cuo online. However, during our visit, the old route was inaccessible due to some issues, leaving us with no choice but to take the new one.
The new route is much longer. The host mentioned it's an 18km hike, but our tour guide insisted it was a 26km round trip. This led to some confusion regarding the actual length of the trail, and I'll explain why this remained uncertain after our hike.
It was 260 RMB per person for the new route, inclusive of two local tour guides who accompanied us during the hike in the woods. The package also included hiking poles, pickup from the guesthouse, and a drop-off at the airport after the hike.
We left the guesthouse in the old town at 6:45, arrived at the starting point where we had parked our cars just before 7:30, and commenced our hike. The sun rose shortly after we began our journey.
The first two kilometers were a bit of an uphill climb—not very steep, but definitely not flat either. As you reach the third kilometer, a glimpse of Tianbao Snow Mountain unfolds, offering the first rewarding scenery, and the path becomes relatively flat.
Between the fifth and sixth kilometers, it felt like walking through tree tunnels. The scenery offered beautiful views of autumn foliage, occasionally revealing a snow-capped mountain in the background throughout the entire journey.
At the eighth kilometer, we reached a designated rest spot, offering stunning views of the surrounding trees and the snow-capped mountain. Taking advantage of the scenic spot, we took a 15-minute break, capturing memorable photos. There was a small hut and a few parked cars suggested that the location was somehow accessible by road...
Our guide then presented an alternative—opting for a drive to Abuji Cuo, priced at an additional 300 RMB per person for the round trip from the midway point to the destination and back. This option would save us approximately 4 hours of walking.
After some discussion, we decided to take the deal, considering our leisurely pace and the upcoming flight to Kunming that we needed to catch right after the hike. Plus, it gave us plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and take more photos.
We all squeezed into a car—nine of us, plus the guide and the driver—for an exciting 40-minute drive to the destination. The bumpy off-road path had steep slopes and slanted sections, making it feel like a roller coaster ride as we leaned to one side to keep the car steady. It was a real adventure.
Upon reaching the destination hill, we were greeted with a spectacular view of Abuji Cuo. Although not verified, indications from reviews suggested that the old 9km path might lead to a lower level by the lake, while the new route we took showcased more elegant scenery uphill.
We spent a delightful hour capturing photos and appreciate the view, with the wind at the cliff making the surroundings colder than our starting point
For the return journey, we retraced our route—40 minutes by car back to the mid-resting point, followed by an 8km hike back to the starting point. We reached our parked car at the parking area around 4:00 PM, then headed back to town to find dinner before making our way to the airport for the flight to Kunming.
The home for unique & authentic travel
