Where mother nature shows off

Sunrise in Meili. [Photo by Xu Xiaomin / China Daily]

As we continued our journey to Meili, snow suddenly fell and we had to travel at a snail's pace because of the very slippery road conditions. Two hours later, we emerged from the other side of the mountain where the sun shone brightly again.

Meili is a mountain range that sits on the border of Yunnan province and the Tibet autonomous region which boasts stunning snow-capped ridges and peaks, 13 of which exceed 6,000 meters above the sea level. Kawagebo Peak, which has a height of 6,740 meters, is the highest in Yunnan and is still a "virgin peak" - it is recognized as a sacred mountain among local people and travelers are not allowed to scale it.

Catching the sun rise behind the Meili Snow Mountain is the most amazing thing I have ever seen during all my travels. It all began with a sliver of light around 7 am - sunrise in this region began later - before each of the 13 peaks of the mountain appeared one after another like giants emerging from the abyss.

At around 8 am, a tiny spot of red and gold light emerged above the Kawagebo Peak and started to expanded quickly, flowing down the mountain and glaciers like wildfire. About 20 minutes later, the entire mountain was encased in light beneath the regal blue sky. It would definitely be a picture inked in my memory forever.

Our two-week journey ended in Lugu Lake in Ninglang county on the border of Sichuan and Yunnan. The place is well-known for having a matriarchal and matrilineal society which is also termed the "Women's World".

Lugu Lake is a beautiful 50 square kilometer water body located 2,690 meters above sea level and is adorned with tiny islands and peninsulas. Watching the sunset at Lugu Lake was yet another surreal experience. The lake looked as if it was ready for slumber as a gentle breeze blew across the lake, creating ripples on the water surface that reflected the soft gray and blue hues of the dusk sky.

There are several accommodation options in Luoshui village which is close to the lake. Like the other destinations we traveled to, there is little to do here except go on peaceful strolls, sip tea in the sunshine or cycle around the lake. Time seems to slow down here, and that's where the beauty of Yunnan province lies.