Recently came across this article about a trek along the so-called "Ambassador Road" from Yongping County in Dali Prefecture to Tengchong County in Baoshan Prefecture.

www.cnngo.com/[...]

The "road" in question is actually 1000 years old, paved with stones, but partially overgrown by jungle now that it has been largely replaced by newer, more modern highways.

Unfortunately, the article doesn't include many geographic specifics. And there's no way to contact the author.

I'm wondering if anyone here on GoKunming is familiar with this route and could provide some more details.

i.cdn.cnngo.com/[...]

Scroll down, the map is at the bottom of the article. Seems pretty specific to me.You won't find the road on google maps, because it isn't a road. Good luck, seems a nice place to get lost on a bike.

The road described in the article is more commonly known as the Bonan Road 博南古道. I have never heard the term 'Ambassador road' before.

Obviously there was a trail from Dali down to Burma and while the modern motor roads have taken the route easier for cars the route of the old road was determined by the best crossing of the Mekong. The best crossing in this case was a very narrow part where a suspension bridge, later called Jihong Rainbow Bridge, could be built. Unfortunately, this bridge was washed away already quite a while ago, but interestingly this very location is where the railway to Burma will cross the Mekong.

To my knowledge the old caravan route went from Yongping via Qudong (a Muslim place), then south of the current expressway across the mountains to modern-day Shanyang and from there descended to the Mekong. As I said, the old bridge is washed away and there remains nothing to be seen of the bridge, but on the western (Baoshan) side of the river remains an old village (partly restored), and an interesting old trail up to Shuizhai 水寨, replete with stones polished by thousands of hoofs.

I have been there in 2007
The part between Shuizhai and Jinhong bridge. I supposed it was jinhong bridge. It's no easy to go there. And the path can be really slepering

I explain my day trip on a web page. It's in french but you can use a translator. chine-ethnic.pagesperso-orange.fr/
Yunnan, route du thé et des chevaux

somenick,

The highlighted route on the google map posted below the article is incorrect. It is simply the "old" paved road that parallels the new expressway. That is not the "old road" that the article is talking about.