nomadchina

... (damn computer) if you can get to Weixi. Last time I asked the buses weren't running but minivans were (and this was some months ago).

If you are going to Tacheng through Weixi, there is no public bus as such but cheap minivan connection which leaves when there's enough...

From Zhongdian. There are no direct buses from Lijiang to Deqin (unless this has changed recently).

Impossible to predict the weather. It's the rainy season now but it's been incredibly dry. ...

Getting to Deqin is no problem at the moment. The road construction is still going on but the road is not too bad.

I agree with #2. Lijiang is Disneyland. If you don't want to see fake culture and Chinese tourist masses, choose something else.

Deqin is never closed, Litang is open at the moment.

No road. You need to hike over the mountains.

If you want to do trekking near Deqin, it would be better to have more time than 2 days. It takes about a day to go to Yubeng and same back...

If you enjoy tourist masses, pick Lijiang (or Dali).

Month in China too long? Take a look at the map. There are many, many places for trekking. Some of them are free.

I thought the OP wanted to do only Dali and Shangri-la (not Kunming and Lijiang). Take night buses and you'll have 2 days in each.

The bus trip from Dali to Shangri-la is 8 hours (or longer if there are stops due to road construction). It is doable (barely) if you take...

Well, he did give them vegan chocolate :D

No offense, but get over with your false ideas at once for they are just reflection of your own distorted preconception,...