Colorful Yunnan Exploration

Today you will take the flight to Kunming. When arrival, we will pick you up from the airport and transfer to the hotel check in. The rest of the day you can have a rest at the hotel or enjoy your leisure time in Kunming on your own.

Meal: D

Altitude: 1891m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Kunming

Buffet breakfast at hotel, then drive along the new express way to Stone Forest. Stone Forest is 75 kilometers from Kunming and is accessible by a bus ride of 70 minutes. The Stone forest belongs to the typical Karst geomorphology, it consists of innumerable bizarre-shaped ancient limestone cliffs and peaks created by wind and water erosion some 200 million years ago, and this area is praised as the “First Wonder Under Heaven”. Next we are going to Jiuxiang, is a national geopark. Due to the erosion of the surface water system, the area has formed more than 500 million years ago, multi-layer karst caves, rift canyons, cave waterfalls and other karst geological wonders.

Meal: B, L, D

Altitude: 1891m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Kunming

After the breakfast, we will pay a visit to the Dragon Gate in West Hill, also known as Biji Mountain and Kunming West Mountain, is one of the most scenic spots worth visiting in Kunming. It is located between Luohan Mountain and Hang Bang Mountain, creates the beautiful scenery of nine floors and eleven pavilions of Longmen, West Mountain. Next we are going to the Jinma Biji Square, built during the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty, is a symbol of Kunming and the most representative historical and cultural district of the Qing Dynasty. It is 12 meters high and 18 meters wide. It was rebuilt in 1998. Continue to the Nanping Street and Nanqiang Street, are the showcase of the city, showing Kunming’s history, culture and customs, and becoming a center of communication with business.

Meal: B, L, D

Altitude: 2090m

Traffic: Car, Train

Hotel: In Dali

Today we will take a cable car up to Cangshan Mountain, trekking on Yudai Road for two hours, then have a vegaterain lunch in Jizhaoan Monestery. It is very famous for its gardening and vegeterain food. Next, take a small boat to visit Erhai Lake, after one hour on the boat, visit the Tianjing Island. You can walk through Bai minority houses and taste local food. You can find many caverns on the island, like Jade Dragon Palace. You also could have a cycling tour along the lakeside for 2-3 hours.
Then drive back to visit old town of Dali, weathered gray granite stands at 2,100 meters on a long, narrow rice plain between the Cangshan Mountains and the Erhai Lake, a natural configuration that seems specially designed for a good, bountiful life. Format of the old town is like a chessboard with four gates guarding in the directions of east, south, west and north, a design that was adopted by most towns in ancient China.

Meal: B, L, D

Altitude: 2090m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Dali

Today first pay a visit to the Monastery Santasi (Three Pagodas)，a symbol of the history of Dali City and a record of the development of Buddhism in the area. It occupies a scenic location at the foot of Mt. Cangshan and facing the Erhai Lake with a history of over 1,800 years. Then move to Shuanglang Town, located in the northeast shore of Erhai Lake, close to the blue waves of Erhai Lake, can overlook the nineteen peaks of Cangshan Mountain, set the essence of Canger scenery in one place. The main attractions of the town, Yuji Island and Nanzhao Style Island, are good places to watch the sunset. The architecture of different styles is also a great attraction, including dancer Yang Liping’s Sun Palace and Moon Palace and painter Zhao Qing’s Green Cottage.

Meal: B, L, D

Altitude: 2090m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Dali

Early in the morning, we will first go to the Shaxi Town, is a town with a long history dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period 2,400 years ago. It is an ethnic minority residence dominated by Bai, Han, Yi and Lisu. In the old town, we can also visit the ancient opera stage and Sideng Street. Just outside Shaxi town is Yujin Bridge, which played an important role in the traffic position of the ancient Tea Horse Road at that time. Next we go to the Xingjiao Temple, the only remaining Bai “Azhali” Buddhist temple in Ming Dynasty. It was built in the 13th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1415). There are 12 Buddhist murals in Ming Dynasty in the main hall. Following is the Pioneer Bookstore, tucked away in an ordinary residential complex. Entering the courtyard of Bai Nationality book House, the main building is the granary of the village in the past. The architect’s design concept of “repairing the old as old” makes it still maintain the old appearance when it was used as a granary.

Meal: B, L, D

Altitude: 1300m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Shaxi

After the breakfast，we will visit the Shibao Mountain, here especially the stone bell Mountain grottoes are the rarest, it is named because there is a large stone shaped like a big bell on the hillside. Shizhong Mountain grottoes are distributed in Shizhong Temple, Shiziguan and Shadeng Village. They are artistic treasures created by Bai nationality in Nanzhao period. They are also the largest and well-preserved grottoes group in Yunnan with high historical and artistic value. Next to the Napa Nature Reserve, is the largest grassland in Zhongdian County and one of the most scenic spots with plateau characteristics. Due to the careful care of Tibetans, whenever autumn comes, many birds will visit here, such as black-necked cranes, yellow ducks, bar-headed geese flying high and low in the grasslands.

Meal: B, L, D

Altitude: 5545m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Shangri-La

After breakfast, drive to Shangri-La, first visit Songzanlin Monastery, which is one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Yunnan. Here, tranquillity prevails, as its 700 monks and acolytes (often beginning their training at the age of five) go about their daily lives – just as they have done for more than three centuries. Next we will drive to Pudacuo National Park, the first national park in mainland China. In Tibetan language, Pudacuo means reaching the opposite side of the lake by boat under the help of deity. forest, marsh, valley, alpine meadow and so on can be seen in the park. Then travel to the Dukezong Ancient Town, Dukezong Ancient Town is Located on the southeast corner of Shangri-La County in Yunnan province, Dukezong Ancient Town is an ancient Tibetan town with a history of more than 1,300 years. Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and was built for the Tubo Kingdom of the Tang Dynasty. “Dukezong” is a Tibetan pronunciation, meaning “Moonlight City” and “castle built on stone”. Just behind Dukezong is Guishan Park with the world biggest prayer wheel. Climb up to the temple on the top, enjoy the panoramic view of the city. At night, you can join locals dancing in the square.

Meal: B, L, D

Altitude: 5545m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Shangri-La

Today we will drive to Shangri-La and visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge on the way. The Tiger Leaping Gorge, or Hutiaoxia in Chinese, is the Yangzi’s best-known gorge after the Three Gorges in Sichuan and Hubei. Wedged tightly between titanic cliffs, the river is so narrow here, as legend tells us, that a hunted tiger made his escape to the other side in a single bound. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient city of Lijiang can be traced back to more than 800 years ago. Besides its unique architecture and local ethnic culture, it is also known for its orderly arrangement of bridges and waterways. Walk along the winding cobbled paths — it is said that you won’t get lost as long as you follow the water.

Meal: B, L, D

Altitude: 2466m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Lijiang

What a fantastic day today! In the morning, we will go out early to visit the magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which is the snow mountain closest to the equator of the Northern Hemisphere. Taking 25 minutes’ cable car to Glacier Park, you will see the vegetations changes with ascending altitude. Walk along the plank road to reach 4680m and appreciate the fairyland with ice and snow. Take cable car down, and drive to visit Blue Moon Valley with turquoise-colored water.
After that, drive you to Yushui Village, It retains the traditional style of Naxi nationality. From the building facilities to every detail of life, you can feel the traditional Naxi nationality culture.

Meal: B, L, D

Altitude: 2466m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Lijiang

Start the journey to Black Dragon Pool Park, Somewhat idiosyncratically known as Black Dragon Pool, the Jade Spring Park to the north of Lijiang derives its name from the waters which sparkle like jade and are as clear as spring water. The entire park is green with grass and shaded by swaying willow trees. Under the Shuocui Bridge, a waterfall creates a constant roar as it cascades downstream. Next is to Shuhe Old Town, a well-preserved market town on the ancient Tea Horse Road.

Meal: B, L, D

Altitude: 2466m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Lijiang

Today you will take the train back to Kunming and say farewell to Yunnan, transfer to the airport to catch your flight back to your sweet home. It has been a great holiday and we look forward to seeing you another China trip.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1891m

Traffic: Train, Flight

Hotel: No