Understand
Deqin town itself is a terrible manifestation of the worst kind of modern Chinese architecture: dirty, white-tiled, and soulless. However, if you love hiking Deqin is a superb base. If you are not a hiker you might be disappointed, though a short ride out of town does provide a great view of Meilixue Mountain, which could justify the six-hour bus ride from Zhongdian.
Deqin prefecture is where the big mountains are to be found with impossibly steep valleys, mind-blowing vistas, remote monasteries and class A trekking, for all levels, available all year round. In fact the best time to trek is during the winter months as summer is the rainy season. March is the worst month as the rains start but it's still cold enough so it comes down as snow. This is the month to get snowed in.
So, if Deqin is so great, why is it not better known? The main reason for this is that there is not a lot of information available on the area, so the average traveller is left guessing whether it is worth visiting or not. The fact that most travellers will have to return the way they came also puts them off visiting Deqin is the last town before Tibet proper in Yunnan province.
Here are ten good reasons to visit Deqin:
1. Mt Kawakarpo & Mt. Miantsomo
2. Trek up to the Mingyong Glacier
3. Trekking to Yubeng
4. Trekking along the Mekong River
5. Tashi's Mountain Lodge, Reringkha village closed
6. To organize a road trip to Lhasa the land route to Tibet is closed for foreigners
7. The spectacular drive up from Shangri-la
8. Deqin's Tibetan Disco most are closed
9. Sleeping in remote Tibetan villages
10. Special ginger, lemon tea
