Destinations: Kunming, Yuanyang, Jianshui, Dali, Shaxizhen, Shangri-La, Lijiang, Kunming
This trip is the best choice for the travelers who are the first time to Yunnan which is the most popular route of Yunnan. During this tour you will explore the wonderful lime stones world- Stone Forest in Kunming, take a cruise tour in Erhai Lake and taste “3-Course Tea” of Bai people in Dali, transfer along the ancient Tea-horse road to explore Lijiang old town. Taking pay a trip to the holy Jade Dragon Snow mountain of Naxi people in Lijiang and make a pilgrimage to “ little Potala” --Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La -the Tibetan region in Yunnan.
Arrive at Kunming airport, our guide will pick up you at exit of the arrival Hall, then head to your hotel for check in. Rest time of the day at your leisure or have a good rest after long flying. Accommodation at Longteng hotel (4*)
In the morning, you will transfer 1.5hrs (80km) to visit Naigu Stone Forest which is located 10km east of Stone Forest park. Naigu means old and Black in Yi language. It covers 7.83 square kilometers with the characteristics of maginficence, roughness, primitiveness and simpleness. Then,transfer to next destination Yuanyang 4.5-5hrs (300km) is located at 2000 meters above sea level and the entire mountains here are sculpted with terrace-field commonly called the ladder of the sky. Lunch at Chinese restaurant, dinner on your own account. Accommodation at Havre de Paix Duoyiwan (Boutique hotel)
If weather permits, gets up early to enjoy the Sunrise view at Duoyi village to see the Terrance field.Later have a stroll in the local market to see the locals dressed with their colorful folk costume do Shopping and bargaining at the market. Then move to see the traditional Mushroom houses of Hani people in Azheke Village Spend some time to walk around in the village and climb up and down along the train of the Terrance field to see the locals farming the land. After lunch, transfer to Jianshui 3-3.5hrs (150km), enjoy the tropical climate along the Honghe River Valley. Upon arrival, visit Family Zhu’s Garden( The complex has a total area of 20, 000 square meters. With the well - arranged yards and well-furnished rooms and halls, the structure of the architecture can be described as ''streamlined'' it enjoys the fame ''the Daguan Garden at a Border Town''. Large and magnificent buildings like the private Garden of the Zhu family are now rarely seen in China)Stroll in the Old area of Jianshui to see the difference types of Old Wells in Jianshui and the Doufu workshop how to use the water for well to make the famous snack --Doufu. Lunch at Chinese restaurant, dinner on your own account. Accommodation at Hanlinyuan Boutique Hotel (Boutique hotel)
This morning,firstly visit Jianshui Confucius Temple (It was build in 1285AD which has been repaired and extended for over 50 times and now occupied an area of 7.6 hectares. This complex including a main hall, two side-halls, three pavilions, four gates, five clan halls and eight memorial archways, all of which are kept in well. Based on its scale, construction standard and excellence in preservation, Jianshui Confucius Temple stands second only in China.) Then have a stop at Twin Dragon Bridge ( This stone bridge is well combination of science and art, and endowed as the first in Yunnan in terms of size and artistic value) Later explore Tuanshan Han Village ( is a nice village about 8 km to the west of Jianshui.The village has preserved a great number of ancient and traditional architectures. Most of the houses are made of clay walls and tile roofs. The Family Zhang’s Garden is the highlight of the village.) In the afternoon, head back to Kunming 4hrs (160km), on the way, stop at Xinmeng Mongolian Village at Tonghai. It is the only Mongolian Villages in Yunnan province. Around 750 years ago, the cavalries led by Kublai Khan conquered Dali Kingdom. Some Soldiers settled down as inhabitants in Tonghai County of Yuxi Municipality, 130 km from Kunming. Xingmeng Mongolians make a living by farming rather than grazing, however they still keep the traditional Mongolian culture. Arrive at Kunming, drop off at Kunming railway station for the high speed train to Dali (2hrs running time) Upon arrival, be picked up from exit, then drive to check in your hotel. Lunch at Chinese restaurant, dinner on your own account. Accommodation at Old Story Inn Dali Ancient Town (4*)
Today visit the morning market of Xizhou Town It’s known as a historical town, a classic Bai ethnic town. Followed by a walking around in the old street of Xizhou and to witness the Bai traditional architectures. Then you will go to a Bai court-yard to enjoy the “Three-Course Tea “ ceremony which is the traditional treating for Bai people to their honored guests, the Bai women will offering tea for three times including the first course of tea is called bitter tea, the second sweet tea and the third, aftertaste tea. Then take the boat tour in Erhai Lake by the small boat Erhai means, "sea shaped like an ear", in Chinese. Implying that the lake is ear shaped and as large as a sea, hence it was so named.It is like a crescent lying between Cangshan and Dali city as seen from Cangshan Mount. Finally discover the Dali Old Town. (It was set up in 1382 A.D during the Ming Dynasty as the capital of the Dali kingdom. At present, only the south and north gate towers remain standing. There are well-preserved traditional houses of the Bai Ethnic Group people. Here you can take a stop of Catholic Church of Dali or drink a cup of coffee at one restaurant of "Foreigners Street" also is a nice choose. Lunch at Chinese restaurant, dinner on your own account. Accommodation at Old Story Inn Dali Ancient Town (4*)
In the morning,transfer to Jianchuan County 1.5 -2hrs (140km). Tour of Shibaoshan Mountain (Stone Treasure Mountain) which the famous writer Jinyong extolled as “The Treasure of South China” is located at Jianchuan County, Dali. The scenery is wonderful, and rather unique in being adorn with red rock geomorphology. Later visit Shaxi Old Town The remains of an ancient market town and once an active trade stop on the Southern Silk Road that connected Tibet and China with Southeast Asia and on to Europe. This Road is actually older than the more famous Silk Road (in the North), predating it by at least 300 years. Shaxi has been listed by the World Monuments Fund as one of the world's 100 most endangered sites. Then head to Lijiang. 3 hrs (220km)with your Chinese speaking driver. Lunch at Chinese restaurant, dinner on your own account. Accommodation at Diqing Argyle hotel (4*)
In the morning, visit Lake Napa Nature Reserve is 3270 meters above sea level and covers 660 square kilometers; it is approximately 8 kilometers to northwest of Shangri-La town. It’s a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides which are covered in snow during winter and spring time. The water melts from the surrounding mountains and another over 10 small rivers flow into the lake after zigzagging through grassland.) In the afternoon,visit Songzanlin Monastery, or 'Little Potala' as it is affectionately known, is a spiritual place that invites you to discover the mystery and traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Since the 5th Dalai Lama chose the site through divination in 1679, the monastery has grown into the most important community of its kind in Yunnan. Then you will make a visiting a local Tibetan Family to charting with the local people to know about their local life and at try to drink a cup of Yak Butter Tea. Lunch at Chinese restaurant, dinner on your own account. Accommodation at Diqing Argyle hotel (4*)
This morning further driving to Lijiang 2.5hrs (160km). Have a tour of Tiger Leaping Gorge (Shangri-La section) the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river. Afterward, you will further the driving to Lijiang with Chinese speaking driver only 2.5hrs (120km) . At last, you will stroll in Lijiang Ancient Town, which is a well-preserved Naxi ancient town, listed as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. It is one of the four best-preserved ancient cities in China. Accommodation at Old Story Inn Lijiang Ancient Town (4*)
Morning transfer to Yuhu Village Yuhu located right at the southern foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, is a gorgeous village far enough away from the tourist centers of Lijiang to maintain a more genuine authenticity, while still close enough to be convenient to visit. Continue to Yufeng Temple - one of the Scarlet Sect lamaseries of Lijiang. First built in 1756, It is surrounded by the flourishing forest and a never-dried river. All this makes it a really good place to visit.Then visit Black Dragon Pond (Located at the foot of the Xiangshan Mountain (Elephant Hill) north of the city of Lijiang. As the water here is a lucid green color, it gained another name Jade Spring Park (Yuquan Park). There are many distinctive and ravishing sites in the park. Hiding in the lush trees or standing along the liquid pool is the antique and exquisite architectural pieces, which are in the style of Naxi.), and know about the Dongba Culture of Naxi people at the Dongba Culture Museum nearby. Later explore Lijiang Old Town.Lijiang Ancient Town has a history more than 800 years; it was listed as the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997. Here you will see the wonderful wooden architecture of Naxi ethnic people. Lunch and dinner at restaurant on your own account. Accommodation at Old Story Inn Lijiang Ancient Town (4*)
Free at leisure before transfer to Lijiang train station for the bullet train to Lijiang. Upon arrival Kunming airport, you will OWN take the connection departure flight (OWN TICKETS ) to go back home. Remark : No any guide transit service at Kunming.
Accommodation: Rated Good by past passengers
Guide: Rated Good by past passengers
Meals:Rated Good by past passengers
Transport: Rated Good by past passengers
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