8 Days from Kunming to Shangri-La

Today you will take the flight to Kunming. When arrival, we will pick you up from the airport and drive to Yuanyang, vast primitive forest, rare plants, diverse climate and obvious biota here, especially 360,000 acre of terraces layers into the clouds, better than a picture. The praise that “Yuanyang terrace is the best in the world” is the consensus of tourists from home and abroad who have been to Yuanyang.

After arriving, we’ll pay a visit to the Tiger Mouth Terrace, which is the largest and most precipitous area of Yuanyang Terrace with the most spectacular layout. The sunset here is well worth seeing, the golden view of the terraces at sunset is unforgettable and is a favorite of photography enthusiasts.

Meal: No 

Altitude: 1323m

Traffic: Car 

Hotel: In Yuanyang

Early in the morning, we’ll go to the Duoyishu Terrace, a very wonderful part of the Yuanyang terraces, and the best place to enjoy the sunrise. At sunrise, the golden light of the morning glow shines through the mist, sparkling. The water in the terraces is like a mirror, and the changing color make people dizzying. The village in Duoyishu looming under the fog is like a fantasy wonderland in reality.

Afterwards, drive back to Kunming and take the high-speed train to Dali. Head to 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 

Altitude: 2000m

Traffic: Car+train 

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 head to Zhoucheng, the Bai folk village, and experience the Bai special tye-die. In people’s minds, tie-died cloth has become the most special symbol of culture and traditional national art.

Continue the driving to Shaxi and explore the Shaxi Ancient 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.

Meal: B 

Altitude: 820m

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.

Then we drive to Lijiang. 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 

Altitude: 2400m

Traffic: Car 

Hotel: In Lijiang

Today we will first go to the Dongba Secret Land, an ancient and mysterious niche attraction that showcases the Dongba Culture. The Naxi nationality is a nation with along history and splendid culture in southwest China, with a population of more than 300,000. The Naxi people have their own language and script, Dongba hieroglyphics, as well as their own religious belief. Following is the Shuhe Ancient Town, it is one of the settlements of the ancestors of Naxi people, an important market town well preserved on the ancient Tea House Road, and a living specimen of the Naxi people’s transition from agricultural civilization to commercial civilization.

Finally take a tour of Lashihai, it used to be a seasonal lake, and the wetland park area was originally a mudflat wasteland. Lashihai means new barren dam in ancient Naxi language. Due to the construction of the dam, Lashihai has changed to a plateau lake that maintains a certain water level. The mirrored lake refects Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the wintering water birds roosts safely or soar in the blue sky, forming the unique atmosphere of the plateau wetland.

Meal: B 

Altitude: 2400m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: Lijiang

Early in the morning, we will drive to Shangri-La, and pay a visit to the Tiger Leaping Gorge on the way. It is a huge canyon between Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Shangri-La Haba Snow Mountain, and it’s also the most spectacular canyon in the world. The narrowest part of the gorge is the famous scenery Tiger Leaping Gorge, where legend has it that a tiger could leap across the Jinsha River by stepping on a boulder in the river.

Tiger Leaping Gorge has always for its “dangerous”, which brings inconvenience to the navigation, but there is a kind of breathtaking beauty in this “dangerous” that has attracted domestic and foreign tourists to explore. After our exploration, continue the driving to Shangri-La and stay overnight there.

Meal: B 

Altitude:3459m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: Shangri-La

The tour today starts from the 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 

Altitude: 3459m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: Shangri-La

Today after the delicious breakfast in the morning, you will say farewell to Shangri-La and this Yunnan tour. The driver will wait you at the hotel lobby, you will be transferred to the airport and take the flight back to your sweet home. It has been a pleasant journey and look forward to seeing you next China tour.

Meal: B 

Altitude: 3459m

Traffic: Car+flight

Hotel: No Accommodation