Yubeng, Yunnan
The far reaches of western China in the Himalayas, just bordering Tibet. Home to a low lying monsoon marine glacier.
Photos taken on 120 and 35 mm film, Kodak Gold.
Yubeng is a remote town nestled in the Himalayas at the base of a sacred glacier. It is still challenging to access, but is well worth the effort. There are two trails that you can hike to the towns. A few years ago one of the trails was expanded so that cars could take tourists in, but heavy rains washed it out mid-2024.
As far as I know, hiking in is still the only way to get to Yubeng.
The hike is several hours and a steep ascent. For most of it, you are on the edge of a sheer cliff. If it catches your fancy, you can pay a local to carry you on their motorcycle. I, for one, found this prospect terrifying.
Rivers cut through the Himalays down to the Mekong (in China called Lancang He) and the power of even these smaller tributaries is immense and inescapable.
The effort to reach Yubeng is well worth it.
A trip to Yubeng promises a peaceful getaway, an opportunity to see a small Tibetan village, and to experience a unique ecosystem.
Yubeng is a hikers’ paradise, and several hikes are very clear and easy to follow on your own. The biggest ones are the hike to the sacred waterfall (which I didn’t hike this time) and Glacier Lake (which I did hike).
Standing at the base of the Mingyong glacier is a humbling experience. The final ascent is steep and brutal, even on a chilly day you work up a sweat. Pushing over the final ledge to the glacier lake is like stepping into an entirely different climate — the cold air slaps you about, and it feels like you imagined the heat that plagued you moments ago.
As you hike or just spend time in the villages, you will come across mules and cows — resting, grazing, moving about.
