Nuodeng is a fairly uninteresting village in the northwest of Yunnan Province. It is 170kms northwest of Dali and is known for its mining of salt, yet has no real redeeming features, bar the salt mines and nearby hiking.
Nuodeng was established way back in the 7th century during the Tang Dynasty and has been churning out high quality salt since. The place has withered of due to the accessibility of salt from elsewhere in the world. It is therefore a bit of a backwater, with little in the way of facilities for tourists.
The village itself hangs on the side of the mountain with salt mines all around. Many of the homes date as far back as the Ming Dynasty - from 1368 - and are of the Bai traditional mud brick.
Things to see in Nuodeng include the Old Salt Wells, a 1,000-year-old Taoist Temple, burial grounds, and bridges. For hikers, Nuodeng is a pretty cool place as it’s off the beaten path and has many established trails nearby.
Getting There & Away
The town of Xiaguan near Dali is the main transition point for visits to Nuodeng. Buses ride up the G214 to Yunlong in 3 hours, 30 minutes from where local transport goes another seven kilometers to Nuodeng. Dali Airport is under an hour’s flight from Kunming where the main international airport of Yunnan is.
Things to Do
Nuodeng Attractions
- Nuodeng village
-
The ancient ming dynasty and qing dynasty houses nestled in among tight streets are the main appeal for inquisitive tourists.
Side trips from Nuodeng
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
-
Yulong snow mountain is not far from nuodeng, a year-round snowcapped mountain which has great hiking and vistas. it is 15kms north of lijiang.
Events
- Spring Festival
-
Features a communal pig slaughter and much singing and dancing in january.