A Historical and Folk Cultural Tour: Kublai Khan’s River Crossing with Leather Rafts at Fengke on the Jinsha River

In the first year of the Baoyou reign of Emperor Lizong of the Southern Song Dynasty (1253 AD), Möngke, the Mongolian Great Khan, ordered his younger brother Kublai to lead troops southward to conquer the Dali Kingdom. Kublai commanded the middle route army. His troops crossed the Jinsha River by means of leather rafts at the Fengke Ferry in Lijiang, crossed Taizi Pass, marched to Baoshan, then proceeded via Daju into the Lijiang Basin.

The well-known line “The Yuan army crossed the river on leather rafts” in the long couplet at Daguan Tower in Kunming records exactly this historic event.

Mai Liang, ancestor of the Mu chieftain clan, was a powerful Naxi tribal leader. He judged the political situation wisely and voluntarily surrendered to the mighty Yuan army. He went all the way to Labo to greet Kublai in person. This event marked the beginning of the Mu chieftains’ unification of all Naxi tribes and their rule over Lijiang. It was also during the Yuan Dynasty that the name “Lijiang” officially came into use.

According to legend, Baisha Fine Music, the classical Naxi folk music, was a gift from Kublai to Mai Liang. It was imperial Mongolian court music presented as a token of friendship with Mai Liang’s daughter. A touching love story between Kublai and the chieftain’s daughter has been widely passed down among local people.

This tourist route can be combined with a trip to Baoshan Stone City, as well as a hiking trail stretching from Sun-Moon Lake in Yongning to Fengke of Lijiang. The tour focuses on retracing the momentous history of Kublai’s river crossing and the romantic legends behind it. Along the journey, visitors can also enjoy mountain scenery and experience authentic folk culture of the Naxi people.