Shangri-la is no doubt an amazing place in Diqing of Yunnan Province. In Tibetan language, its name means the sun and moon in the heart. Shangri-La, with an average elevation of about 3459 meters, is regarded as the pearl on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It owns unique beauty in the world and is a paradise in real life. Whether in China or in the world, this wonderland is always people’s dream world, full of mystery and tranquility. As James Hilton wrote in his book lost Horizon, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, lush forests and beautiful blue lakes, so harmonious and fair, it is a real Shangri-La, a true paradise exists in this world. It will be an unforgettable experience to spend at least 1-3 days in Shangri-la, an earthly paradise. You will immerse yourself in the historical ancient town, mysterious monasteries and picturesque lakes, as well as meet the enthusiastic and hospitable Tibetan people. Surely, combining Shangri-la tour with Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and other popular destinations will delight you more.

Shangrila beckons adventurous travelers with its plunging gorges, misty mountain lakes and remote monasteries. Taking a private tour of the ancient village of Shangri La and beyond allow you to escape the crowds and take a leisure moments. Yunnan Exploration offers best Shangri-La Tours inlcuding Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking for stunning views of the Jinsha River or Haba Snow Mountain Trekking for adventurous backpackers. Visiting Songzanlin Monastery which is a typical representative of Tibet brilliant Architecture, you may amazed by the great culture relics. Dukezong Ancient Town, Pudacuo National Park, Baishuitai, Napahai Lake, Yubeng Village are also the must-visit attractions in Shangri-La.

Shangri La City Tour Itinerary

Here are three detailed itinerary options for tours around Shangri-La (Zhongdian):

Option 1: Shangri-La City Discovery

Day 1: Arrival in Shangri-La

• Arrive in Shangri-La (Zhongdian) and check into your accommodation.
• Rest and acclimatize to the altitude (if necessary).

Day 2: Shangri-La Sightseeing

• Morning:
  • Visit Dukezong Old Town, explore its ancient alleys, prayer wheels, and traditional Tibetan architecture.
• Afternoon:
  • Head to Napahai Lake Nature Reserve, known for its seasonal wetlands and grasslands. Enjoy birdwatching and scenic views.
  • Visit Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Monastery), explore the complex and learn about Tibetan Buddhism.
• Evening:
  • Optional: Attend a local Tibetan cultural show or visit a Tibetan restaurant for dinner.

Day 3: Departure from Shangri-La

• Depending on your departure time, you may have some free time in the morning.
• Transfer to Shangri-La Airport or bus station for your onward journey.

Option 2: Meili Snow Mountain Pilgrimage

Day 1: Arrival in Shangri-La

• Arrive in Shangri-La (Zhongdian) and check into your accommodation.

Day 2: Shangri-La Exploration

• Spend the day exploring Shangri-La, visiting local markets or relaxing in Dukezong Old Town.

Day 3: Shangri-La to Feilaisi

• Depart Shangri-La and drive to Benzilan.
• Continue to Feilaisi and enjoy views of Meili Snow Mountain.
• Visit the Dongzhulin Monastery on the way.

Day 4: Feilaisi to Meili Snow Mountain

• Early morning visit to Meili Snow Mountain to view sunrise at Mingyong Glacier.
• Explore Yubeng Village and hike to see the Ice Lake.

Day 5: Return to Shangri-La

• Return to Shangri-La via Ninong Valley.
• Optional visit to Shangri-La Old Town.

Day 6: Departure from Shangri-La

Option 3: Yubeng Village Hiking Tour of Meili Snow Mountain

Day 1: Arrival in Shangri-La

• Arrive in Shangri-La (Zhongdian) and check into your accommodation.

Day 2: Shangri-La Exploration

• Explore Dukezong Old Town and visit local markets.

Day 3: Shangri-La to Yubeng Village

• Drive to Benzilan and Feilaisi.
• Continue to Yubeng Village and hike to the village.

Day 4: Yubeng Village Hiking

• Hike to Ice Lake and explore the surrounding area.

Day 5: Yubeng Village to Shenpu Waterfall

• Visit Shenpu Waterfall and hike back to Yubeng Village.

Day 6: Yubeng Village to Ninong Valley

• Explore Ninong Valley and return to Shangri-La.

Day 7: Departure from Shangri-La

These itineraries offer a mix of cultural exploration, natural beauty, and adventure in the stunning landscapes of Shangri-La and the surrounding regions. Adjustments can be made based on your preferences and the time of year you plan to visit.

Choose a Gateway City

Choose a gateway city in China to take a flight or rent a car to Shangri-la. Kunming and Lijiang are the most popular gateway cities to start a shangri-la tour among tourists. Moreover, you can also start your tour from Beijing, Shanghai and other cities to appreciate more about China’s charm.

Make Travel Duration Sure(How Long to Stay)

Visit Shangri-la in one day

If you only spend one day visiting Shangri-la, you are recommended to visit the most famous Lamaist monasteries like Songzanlin Monastery, Baiji Monastery and Dabao Monastery in Shangri-La, or cycle around the Napahai Lake and visit some Tibetan Villages to discover the Tibetan culture. During a day trip, Songzanlin Monastery is not to be missed.

1 Day Shangri-La Lamaist Monasteries Tour
1 Day Napahai Lake Cycling Tour with Tibetan Village and Songzanlin Monastery

Visit Shangri-la in 2-3 days

If you want to visit more main attractions in Shangri-la, 2-3 days may be enough.

What to Do for 2-3 days Tour in Shangari-la

• Step into Ganden Sumtseling Monastery to experience Tibetan Buddhism.
• Enjoy the natural scenery of Pudacuo National Park.
• Stroll around the Napahai Natural Reserve.
• Explore the ethnic villages and discover the profound culture of local Tibetan.
• Watch the feeding of the snub-nosed monkey in Tacheng Black Snub-Nosed Monkey National Park.
• Take a walk in Dukezong Ancient Town.

2 Days Kawa Karpo Meili Snow Mountain Tour from Shangri-La
2 Days Shangri-La Tacheng Snub-nosed Monkey National Park Tour from Shangri-La
3 Days Shangri-La Niru Village Hiking Tour

Travel Shangri-la in 4-7 days

For a 4-7 days tour in Shangri-la, You can add some adventure to your journey and more fully experience the beauty of Shangri-la.

What to Do for 4-7 days Tour in Shangari-la

• Step into Ganden Sumtseling Monastery to experience Tibetan Buddhism.
• Enjoy the natural scenery of Pudacuo National Park.
• Go cycling around the Napahai Lake.
• Start your hiking adventure tour at Tiger Leaping Gorge.
• Take a walk in Dukezong Ancient Town.
• Explore the ethnic villages and discover the profound culture of local Tibetan.
• Visit the magnificent natural scenery of snow mountains, glaciers, canyons, forests, meadows, lakes and fresh air.
• Enjoy the splendid view of Meili Snow Mountain and the beautiful scenery of Haba village and Baishuitai on route.

4 Days Shangri-La City Tour
5 Days Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Adventure (Camping at 4800M) with Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour
7 Days Shangri-La Meili Snow Mountain and Yubeng Village Trekking Tour

Tour Shangri-la in more days

If you are planning a tour to Yunnan for more than 7 days, Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la Classic Tour is recommended. You can start your classic tour by high-speed bullet train or by flight. During the tour, you will:

• Visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
• Step into ethnic villages to meet colorful and mysterious ethnic cultures.
• Hiking along the Tiger Leaping Gorge to feel the grotesque and raging rapids of the magnificent gorge.
• Discover the ethnic culture of Yis, Bais, Naxis and Tibetan.
• Visit the famous attractions of Yunnan: Stone Forest, Dali Old Town, Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake, Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Songzanlin Monastery and Pudacuo National Park and the like.

8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by High Speed Bullet Train
8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by Flight
8 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La Overland Tour
8 Days Best Yunnan Small Group Tour-Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La

Read more: Shangri-la Tour

Make the Tour Theme Sure

Shangri-la tour involves many theme tours, such as Hiking Tour/Trekking Tour, Monastery Tour, Cycling Tour, Monkey Tour, Rafting Tour, Meili Snow Mountain Tour, Ethnic Minority Tour, Classic Tour, Bird watching tour, Panorama Tour. Tour packages including Shangri-la range from one day to 46 days.

Hiking Tour/Trekking Tour(Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tours)

When it comes to Shangri-la hiking tour, there must be Tiger Leaping Gorge. Tiger Leaping Gorge is spectacular and crown as the deepest gorge in the world. Foreign backpackers started hiking in the area in the 1980s and now Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour has been one of the most famous hiking tour all around the world. If you want to hike at Tiger Leaping Gorge only, there are 1-3 days Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking tours you can choose. Furthermore, tiger leaping gorge is divided into Shangri-la section and Lijiang Section, therefore, this hiking tour usually starts from Lijiang, and you can visit the highlights of Lijiang, like Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang Ancient Town, before trekking tour. Accordingly, 1-2 more days need to add.

Monastery Tour, Cycling Tour and Monkey Tour

Tourists usually need to spend 1-2 days for a monastery tour, a cycling tour or a monkey tour. These three different travel themes have different highlight; Lamaist Monasteries in Shangri-la are really worth visiting as the unique buildings. For a monastery tour, the highlight is to visit the most famous monastery in Shangri-la – Songzanlin Monastery; For a cycling tour, the highlight is going cycling around the Napahai Lake in the morning. You can not only enjoy the wonderful scenery of Napahai Lake, but also discover the Tibetan ethnic culture when visiting the Tibetan villages on the way; The highlight of monkey tour is to watch the snub-nosed monkey in Tacheng Black Snub-Nosed Monkey National Park of Weixi County.

Rafting Tour

River rafting could be a very exciting experience in a foreign country. A rafting on Yangtze River makes the tour more interesting and special. The First Bend of Yangtze River Rafting tour takes at least 3 days, and after finishing the tour at Qiaotou Town(Or Tiger Leaping Gorge Town), you can transfer to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge.

3 Days The First Bend of Yangtze River Rafting and Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour
7 Days the Upper Yangtze River Rafting Tour from Deqin to Lijiang

Meili Snow Mountain Tour

Located 10 kilometers northeast of Deqin County of Yunnan Province, sitting on the border of Yunnan Province and Tibet, Meili Snow Mountain is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. In the 1930s, they were praised by American scholars as the most beautiful mountains in the world. Meili Snow Mountain boasts numerous snow-clad ridges and peaks, thirteen of which are more than 6,000 meters above the sea level. The highest peak Kawagebo, which rises to 6,740 meters, has never been summited. Facing the main peak of Meili Snow Mountain, Feilaisi is famous for its viewing deck for amazing sunrise and sunset view of snow mountains.

Yubeng Village Trekking

Yubeng Village is known for the beautiful valley it lies in and the trekking which departs from it. Under the extraordinary craftsman by nature, Yubeng village is called the miniature version of the real Shangri-La. When trekking in Yubeng Village, tourists will have a sense of walking in Shangri-La. Located at the back of the Meli Snow Mountain, it is surrounded by mountains. Because of its unique location, there are only 20 households living here and connects outside world only with one small road. Yubeng Village is divided into upper village and lower village. From upper village, tourists can go to the base camp of the Joint Sino-Japanese, while from the lower village, tourists can go to Yubeng, Ancient Seal Character and other scenic spots. Therefore, Yubeng village trekking is usually associated with Meili Snow Mountain.

Tour packages including Meili Snow Mountain take at least 5 days: 5 Days Shangri-La Discovery with Meili Snow Mountain Pilgrimage; 7 Days Shangri-La Meili Snow Mountain and Yubeng Village Trekking Tour.

Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Tour

Haba Snow Mountain is the best mountain for climbing tours in Yunnan with an elevation of 5396 meters in the summit. Haba Snow Mountain allows you to experience the typical process of climbing a snow mountain. It is not a hard climbing route. The most difficult is to overcome the altitude sickness. For 5 days Haba Snow Mountain climbing tour, you will have one more day for adapting high altitude from Base Camp to Base Camp 1. If you often go to high altitude areas and want to have a try to reach the summit of a mountain at 5396 meters, please don’t hesitate to join our snow mountain climbing tour. And usually, before the climbing tour, you will experience the magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge first on the way.

4 Days Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Adventure with Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour
5 Days Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Adventure (Camping at 4800M) with Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour
7 Days Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Tour and Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking Tour

Others Tours

A Yunnan classic tour takes at least 7 days, during the tour, you will visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-la and discover the ethnic culture of Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan. For a birding watching tour, except for visiting the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-la, beautiful lakes in Yunnan including the Green Lake, Dianchi Lake, Erhai Lake, Lashihai Lake, Lugu Lake, Napahai Lake and the like will be visited. As for a Panorama Tour, it will spend a long time since this tour is usually designed to cover most of the popular places in Yunnan , even China.

There are a lot of tour packages including Shangri-la, we can’t list all of them at a time. Read more about Shangri-la tour, contact us YunnanExploration by Email: contact@YunnanExploration.com or Telephone: +86-871-63511469. Our attentive consultants will arrange the tour packages you choose or customize a tour according to your need.

Know the Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit Shangri-la

The best time to visit Shangri-la is May to October, especially from May to June. 

May to June: Through the end of spring and early summer, it is the most beautiful time of Shangri-La because of the full bloom of rhododendron(but the bloom time may delay along with the change of weather). In the middle of June, there are wild flowers in blossom, such as irises.
July to August: All kinds of wild flowers bloom. However, it is at a time of rainy season.
September to October: Rich colors of autumn beauty are suitable to photography.
November: The month of first snow with single color and cold weather.
December: Tourists can appreciate black-necked crane and snowy scenery.
Crowded Season: Chinese Spring Festival(Late Jan. or early Feb.), Labor Day(May 1-3) and National Day(Oct. 1-7). Read more: Shangri-La Climate

What to Eat in Shangri-la

Foods in Shangri-La are dominated by highland features, such as highland barley, buttered tea, yak beef, yoghurt and Zanba, which you can eat in the highland areas of China. Even more noteworthy is the Tricholoma matsutake, mainly produced from Shangri-La, it is a rare wild plant with rich nutrition. In addition, Pipa meat is also worth a try. It is a Tibetan bacon named for its appearance looks like Pipa, a traditional Chinese instrument.

Where to Stay in Shangri-la

With the popularity of Shangri-La in the world in recent years, more and more people come to visit this wonderland. Shangri-la has many modern or traditional Tibetan hotels to choose from. You can choose your favorite hotel during the Shangri-La tour, because the right hotel can make your days on the plateau more comfortable. You can choose to live in the downtown of Shangri-la, where there are many more options. You can also live in Dukezong Ancient Town, where is not far from the downtown and convenient to eat and shop. It is quieter than staying in the downtown. Read more: Shangri-La Accommodation

How to Get in Shangri-la

Three popular ways to Shangri-la: airplane, car and long-distance bus.

1. By Flight

There are 42 flights on 10 different routes from Shangri-La Diqing Airport, connecting Shangri-la to 10 different cities. The most popular routes connect Shangri-La to Kunming, Lhasa, Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi’an. There are flights from Kunming to Shangri-la everyday and takes only 55 mins. Boarding procedures should be completed 90 minutes prior to flight departure time. Check-in counters are closed 30 minutes before flight departure. The specific requirements should follow the passenger guides shown on air tickets.

2. By Car or Long-distance

Except airport, the highway is the main transportation to Shangri-la. You can rent a car or take a long-distance bus to Shangri-la. Many people choose to go to Shangri-la by long-distance bus because they can have different experiences of the scenery along the way. Buses to Shangri-la are available from Kunming, Lijiang, Dali and Deqin in Yunnan Province, Panzhihua, Daocheng Yading and Xiangcheng in Sichuan Province, as well as Lhasa in Tibet.

3. By Train

The Lijiang-Shangrila Railway is under construction. After the completion, it will take six hours from Lijiang to Shangri-La. Read more: Shangri-La Transportation

Prepare for the Tour

What to Know

1. Know some basic information about Shangri-la, Yunnan and China, which can help you understand the local culture well.

2. Learn some tips about prevent altitude sickness.

3. Do not move too fast due to the high elevation.

4. Eat more vegetable and fruit, as well as drink more water may help you acclimatize to high altitude in Shangri-la.

What to Take

1. Pay attention to keep warm. Because of the relatively high altitude, the temperature difference is large between day and night, it is suggested to  bring the thick coat and windproof jacket. Outdoor clothing will be good.

2. Pay attention to sun protection. Due to the strong solar radiation in the daytime, sun cream, sun hat, sunglasses and other sunscreen products will be needed.

3. Do remember to take the umbrella and rain gear in the rainy season, especially in July and August.

4. Bring some medicines for emergency, like cold medication and medicines for preventing altitude sickness.

5. Don’t forget your Chinese visa and passport. If you will go further to Tibet, Tibet travel permit is also required.

Main festivals

As the main minority inhabited in Shangri-La, Tibetans created brilliant culture and customs, among which the unique traditional festivals of Tibetans enjoy high reputation and attract tourists home and abroad to visit. These festivals include Horse Racing Festival, Dengba Festival, Gedong Festival and the like. More Shangri-La Festivals and Activities.

Best Things to Do

1. Experience the Buddhist Culture at Songzanlin Monastery

Built in 1679, Songzanlin monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple complex in Yunnan province and one of the famous monasteries in the Kang region, which belongs to the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelukpa order of the Dalai Lama. It is reputed as the Little Potala Palace due to its complex of Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Located in the capital of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, it is also the most important monastery in southwest China. Each year from 26th to 29th November in Tibetan calendar, Gedong festival is held there.

2. Go Cycling along Napahai Lake

With a total area of 31.25 square kilometers and an elevation of 3266 meters, the state-designated wetlands area Napahai Nature Reserve is located in Shangri-la city, Yunnan province. Established in 1984, it is a wetland ecosystem protection zone to plateau seasonal lakes and marsh meadows. The natural reserve is flat, surrounded by mountains. When October steps in, flocks of black-necked cranes, bar-headed geese, white cranes, sheldrakes regularly come here looking for food and for fun. You can go cycling along the Napahai lake or ride a horse on the grassland to enjoy the beautiful view. 

3. Take a Walk in Pudacuo National Park

Being one of the most bio-diverse regions in China’s Yunnan Province, Pudacuo National Park is the first national park in Chinese mainland which was announced on June 25, 2007. With its crystal-clear lakes, undulating mountains and gurgling streams, Pudacuo National Park is definitely a wonderful natural wonderland. Among China’s 2,500 nature reserves, Pudacuo is the only one meets the standards for national parks established by The World Conservation Union. In addition to its rare vegetation and mammal species, the stunning natural beauty of landscape is unmissable for visitors as well.

4. Enjoy the Splendid View at Meili Snow Mountain

Meili Snow Mountain is the highest peak in Yunnan Province and one of the four holy mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. It is known as the most beautiful snowy mountain in the world and is famous for its rich and precious medicinal herbs. We have to mention that the sunrise above the Meili Snow Mountains, when sunlight goes through the clouds and reflects on the mountain, the summit of snow mountain changes its pure white color to gold, which lasts only about 20 minutes, and it is rare seen in life.

Read More: Shangri-La Attractions

Dali is located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain near Erhai Lake. It has a deep cultural background and a long history in China. It is no exaggeration to say that Dali is a perfect combination of natural landscape and historical culture, and one of Yunnan’s most popular tourist destinations. Dali had once been the political, economic and cultural center of Yunnan Province for more than 500 years. Dali, with its well-preserved historical relics, unique natural scenery and splendid Bai culture, is regarded as one of the ten most attractive cities in China. Located in the low latitude plateau, the seasonal temperature difference is not big, the dry and wet season is clear, mainly the low latitude plateau monsoon climate. In Dali, the most representative attractions include Butterfly spring, Cangshan Mountain, Erhai Lake, Dali Ancient Town and Three Pagodas, etc.

Choose a Gateway City

Choose a gateway city in China to take a flight or high-speed train to Dali. Kunming is the most popular gateway city to start a Dali tour among tourists. Moreover, you can also start your tour from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu and other cities to appreciate more about China’s charm.

Make Travel Duration Sure

Visit Dali in One day

If you only spend one day in Dali, it is recommended to visit the highlights of Dali including Xizhou Ancient Town, Zhoucheng Village, Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake and Dali Ancient Town. You can also spend the day hiking Cangshan Mountain easily and enjoying the stunning view of Erhai Lake; Or pay a visit to Weishan Old Town and Donglianhua Village, and in this way, you can not merely enjoy the local culture, but also taste featured dishes and snacks.

1 Day Dali Highlights Tour
1 Day Dali Easy Hiking Tour to Cangshan Mountain
1 Day Weishan Snack Festival Tour

Visit Dali in 2-4 Days

For visiting Dali in Yunnan, 2-4 days may be enough to visit the must-see attractions in Dali.

What to Do for 2-4 days Dali Tour

• Experience the ethnic culture of Bai minority in Xizhou Town – visit Bai-style morning market.
• Visit and explore religious culture in Shibaoshan Mountain.
• Discover the important ancient town of silk road, Shaxi Old Town.
• Enjoy the beautiful view of Erhai Lake.
• Walk and explore joyfully in Dali Ancient Town between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake.
• Photography the sunrise of Jizu Mountain.
• Have a splendid view of Cangshan Mountain.
• Visit three pagodas and Chongsheng Monastery.

2 Days Shaxi Old Town and Shibaoshan Mountain Tour from Dali to Lijiang
2 Days Dali Cycling Tour around Erhai Lake
2 Days Dali City Tour from Kunming by Speed Train
4 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Group Tour

Visit Dali in 5-7 Days or More Days

Some people choose to spend about one week in Dali, enjoying leisure time and exploring local culture. They can stay in Dali old town for a few days, or spend one or two days in Shuanglang Village. For some who plan to ride their bikes all over Erhai Lake, they may stay longer in Dali. However, many tourists just take Dali as one of the stops in their Yunnan tour, where they will spend only 2-3 days in Dali during their 5-7 days or more days tour. Their itinerary is usually Kunming as the beginning of Yunnan travel, then Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La or even Xishuangbanna. Other itineraries like Yunnan classic tour, Kunming – Jianshui – Yuanyang – Dali – Lijiang – Shangri-la, and Tea culture tour, Kunming – Lijiang – Dali – Pu’er – Jinghong in Xishuangbanna, etc.

6 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang Tour
8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by High Speed Bullet Train
11 Days Yunnan Ancient Tea-Horse Road Tour with Puer and XishuangBanna Tea Culture Exploration
11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Jianshui Old Town and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

Make the Tour Theme Sure

Dali tour involves some theme tours, such as Hiking Tour/Trekking Tour, Cycling Tour, Tea Culture Tour, Classic Tour, Students Education Tour, Motorbike Tour, Botany Tour, Bird Watching Tour, Flower Trip, Festival Tour and the like. Tour packages including Dali range from one day to 46 days.

Hiking Tour(Cangshan Hiking Tour)

When it comes to Dali tour, Cangshan Mountain is a main attraction that can not be missed for those who love the natural scenery. Cangshan is a high mountain rising above the Dali city in the western of Yunnan province. It is a scenic spot and a good hiking area in Dali. While hiking at Cangshan Mountain, you will experience a 10-km hike from a small and quiet farming village at the foot of Cangshan Mountain through terraced fields, tea plantations and along the edge of a dramatic river gorge to a beautiful alpine meadow with hidden waterfalls and stunning views of Erhai Lake at an elevation of 2600 meters above sea level. If you want to hike at Cangshan Mountain only and enjoy the leisure time in Dali, there are one day Cangshan Mountain hiking tours you can choose.

1 Day Dali Cangshan Mountain Hiking Tour to Xiaocenfeng Peak 4092M
1 Day Dali Easy Hiking Tour to Cangshan Mountain

In addition, we also have 2 Days Dali Pilgrimage Hiking Tour from Erhai Lake to Jizu Mountain, through which you will enjoy the sunrise of Jizu Mountain and pay a visit to the Huashou Gate(华守门) and then Zhusheng Temple(祝圣寺) to experience the mystery of Buddhism.

Tea Culture Tour

A tea culture tour involves Pu’er, Fengqing and Jinghong, except for Dali. We have short tea culture tour, which tourists usually only need to spend 1-2 days. During the short tour, tourists normally have no time to visit other highlights of a place, but mainly tea factory, tea museum and tea plantation. For a longer tea culture tour(at least 7 days), except Dali, Pu’er, Fengqing and Jinghong, Kunming and Lijiang could be included in the itinerary. In this way, you can visit the famous attractions of Kunming, Dali and Lijiang while experiencing the tea culture.

1 Day Dali Tea Culture Tour with Xiaguan Tuocha Tea Museum and Taoxigu Valley Tea Plantation
2 Days Fengqing Dianhong Black Tea Culture Tour from Dali
2 Days Yunnan Tea Culture Tour to East Slope of Wuliangshan Mountain in Jingdong County
7 Days Kunming, Dali and Lijiang Tour with Dianhong Black Tea Culture Tour
7 Days Lincang Fengqing Dianhong Black Tea and Puer Organic Tea Tour
11 Days Yunnan Ancient Tea-Horse Road Tour with Puer and XishuangBanna Tea Culture Exploration

Students Education Tour

Students education tour includes the special visiting to local schools and experience local life with ethnic people. Students will have chance to know about the local students’ study life by having classes, games etc. They will also have opportunity to learn how to make some handicrafts, visit some well-known attractions like Dali Ancient Town, Shaxi Old Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and experience beautiful nature by hiking.

9 Days Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La Education Course Tour

Botany Tour/Flower Trip

Yunnan is the Kingdom of plants and flowers. Wherever you go, you will see different plants and flowers, for a couple of hundreds years, flowers hunters from western countries come here over and over again just want to see the new plants. If you have the interests in flowers, Yunnan including Dali is the right place for you. The best time to start a Yunnan botany tour or a flower trip is usually in May and June. In Dali, Cangshan Mountain is the best place to start your flower trip since there are plenty of azaleas. Generally, a Yunnan flower tour must include Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-la.

10 Days Yunnan Botany Tour(May&June)
13 Days Best Yunnan Flowers Trip to Snow Mountains between May and June

Festival Tour

Our Yunnan Festival Tour invites you to step backwards in time, to visit one or several of the more than 25 minorities that inhabit different corners of Yunnan, some of whose unique cultures and customs date back several thousand years. The key any China minority festival tour is all about timing. For example, the Torch Festival is on June 24th of Chinese lunar calendar; And Sanyuejie or the Third Month Fair of Bai minority is held on March 15th of Chinese lunar calendar. For travelers in general, it is wise to choose a classic itinerary during a specific time of festival.

13 Days Yunnan Festival Tour in Spring

Classic Tour

A Yunnan classic tour takes at least 7 days, during the tour, you will visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-la and discover the ethnic culture of Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan. In these cities, you will visit Kunming Stone Forest, Dali Old Town, Lijiang Old Town, Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Shangri-La Songzanlin Monastery, etc. All of them are famous attractions in Yunnan. During the classic tour, what you experience is varied and colorful. You will hike or climb a mountain, go cycling around a lake, stroll around a park or watch a show. More Attractions in the itineraries, please check the following tour packages:

8 Days Best Yunnan Small Group Tour-Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La
9 Days Kunming Dali Lijiang and Shangri-La Classic Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Adventure
9 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Muslim Culture Exploration
10 Days Yunnan Classic Tour With Xishuangbanna Tropical Forest
10 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Dongchuan Red Land Photography

Dali-Lijiang Tour

Since the transportation between Dali and Lijiang is convenient, especially the high-speed train reduces the distance between them to 1 hour and 21 minutes. 1-2 days Dali-Lijiang tours are provided. This tour combines ancient history with modern tourist attractions, and the journey usually starts from Dali and ends in Lijiang.

1 Day Dali to Lijiang Tour with Shaxi Old Town and Shibaoshan Mountain
1 Day Dali to Lijiang Tour
2 Days Shaxi Old Town and Shibaoshan Mountain Tour from Dali to Lijiang

Know the Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit Dali

Because the climate in Dali is warm and temperate, travel to Dali is available all the year round. However, the best time to visit Dali is in spring, especially in March and April, which is a good time for Cangshan mountain and Erhai Lake. The famous ethnic festival for Bai minority is around the April in Chinese solar calendar, which is so called Sanyuejie or Third Month Fair. It is the annual traditional festival of Dali, with a history of more than one thousand years.

Crowded Season: Chinese Spring Festival(Late Jan. or early Feb.), Labor Day(May 1-3) and National Day(Oct. 1-7).
Read more: Dali Climate

What to Eat in Dali

Due to its geographical location near Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, Dali is rich in various fungus and fish. On your trip to Dali, dishes like Boiled Fish in Casserole, Dali Spicy and Sour Fish, Fish boiled with Tofu are worth a try. If you’re not interested in fish, try Ersi and rice noodles boiled in small pot, which are two special kinds of noodle in Yunnan. In addition, there are many local snacks for you to choose from. The most symbolic local snack in Dali is the Rushan or Fried Dairy Fan, which is made of milk. The Dali people make it into the shape of a fan, usually fried or baked and mixed with sugar or other sweets. Dali’s another one of the special food is Xizhou Baba, a kind of crispy bread from Xizhou Town. What is worth mentioning is the Sandao Tea or three-course tea, which contains the Bai people’s life philosophy of welcoming guests. Three kinds of tea include bitter tea, sweet tea and aftertaste. Read more: Dali city Dining 

Where to Stay in Dali

There are three popular places you can choose to stay when travelling in Dali, they are Dali Ancient Town, Caicun Village and Shuanglang Village respectively.

There are a variety of restaurants and shops in Dali Old Town, very convenient for eating and shopping. It’s more enjoyable to walk and experience the local culture in Dali Old Town whenever you want. The most convenient place in ancient town is near South Gate, where you can go to Lijiang and Kunming by long-distance bus. Or you can choose a hotel near the East Gate, where there are many new hotels for you to choose from.

For those who like Erhai Lake and want to stay near Erhai Lake, they have two options, Shuanglang Village and Caicun Village(才村). There are many local shops and restaurants along the street in Shuanglang Village. It is really convenient to eat and shop. You can go to Erhai Lake by boat to get close to its beauty, or rent a bike to ride around Erhai Lake. If you not only want hotels beside Erhai Lake, but also convenient shopping streets, Shuanglang Village will meet your expectations. But if you want to enjoy Erhai Lake at different times, especially sunrise, then Caicun Village is a good choice. Hotels there are quieter and cheaper than hotels in Shuanglang Village. You can get there by No.2 bus from Dali Ancient Town. The transportation to Caicun Village is convenient, but there are few commercial shops. Read more: Dali City Accommodation

How to Get in Dali

Two popular ways to Dali: airplane and train.

1. By Flight

Dali Huangcaoba Airport(大理荒草坝机场) is an important feeder airport and tourist airport in Yunnan Province. The airport is 2155.4 meters above the sea level, belonging to plateau airport with complex original landform. Dali Airport is located on the southeast bank of Erhai Lake, there are mountains in the east, Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountain in the west. You can fly directly from Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Xishuangbanna and other cities to Dali. Because there are many airlines to Kunming, you can also choose Kunming as your first stop in Yunnan and then transfer to Dali by plane. By the way, Dali Airport is a little far from the downtown, but there are shuttle buses to and fro the airport.

Read More:
Dali Huangcaoba Airport
Dali – Kunming Flights

2. By Train

Since June 29, 2018, the normal speed trains from Kunming to Dali are all closed and the high-speed trains are formally put into use, which cut the entire journey to 2 hours. Therefore, taking a high-speed train to Dali is considered as the best way to get to Dali, fast, convenient and comfortable. The journey is just 2 hours departing from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. You can go to Dali by high-speed train from most cities in China. You can take No. 8 bus directly to the Dali Ancient Town.

Read more:
Dali Railway Station
Dali City Transportation

Main Bai Festivals in Dali

As the main ethnic group inhabited in Dali, Bai ethnic minority created brilliant culture and customs, among which the unique traditional festivals of Bai people enjoy good fame and attract tourists home and abroad to visit. These festivals include Sanyuejie or Third Month Fair(March 15th in Chinese Lunar Calendar, Lasting 7-10 days), Raosanling or Visiting Three Spirits(March 23-25 in Chinese Lunar Calendar) and the like. More Dali Festivals and Activities.

Best Things to Do in Dali

1. Take a Walk in Dali Ancient Town

Dali Ancient Town is a historic town with rich culture located between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. Unlike any other Chinese town, the traditional Bai ethnic houses give the town distinctive feel. Travelers can wonder in this leisure town to appreciate the unique ethnic architecture and discover its profound history and culture.

2. Pay a Visit to Three Pagodas in Chongsheng Monastery

The magnificent Chongsheng Monastery and the well-known Three Pagodas are another symbolic landmark of Dali. Originally, the Chongsheng Temple was built in the period of Nanzhao Kingdom in 10th century to be near the Dali Three Pagodas, so people call them “Chongsheng Temple and Three Pagodas“. If you look at it from a distance, the pagodas are like three giant ballpoint pens breaking up the landscape of the never-ending mountains and emerald rice fields of Yunnan. It’s a good choice to go to the reflection park of Three Pagodas, as you can enjoy the most beautiful reflection of pagodas with beautiful natural scenery on the pure lake water.

3. Hiking at Cangshan Mountain

Cangshan Mountain lies west of Dali Ancient Town and Erhai Lake, including 19 peaks and 18 streams. It is a scenic spot and a good hiking area in Dali. Covered by snow all the year round, Cangshan mountain may always has something special to attract your attention, snow-capped mountaintop, changeable clouds or crystal streams. If you would like to have a bird’s-eye view of Dali Ancient Town and get closer to the natural beauty of Cangshan, you can choose to take a cableway or hike up the mountain.

4. Enjoy the Beautiful View of Erhai Lake

Erhai Lake(Ear-shaped Sea), known as “Pearl of Plateau”, is the second largest highland lake of Yunnan. Since the lake has a shape of an ear, it gets the name Erhai (Ear Lake). Taking a boat and cycling around the lake are fantastic ways to explore “Silver Cangshan Mountain and Jade Erhai Lake” scenery. In a sunny day, the crystal waters of Erhai Lake and the snow mantled Cangshan Mount radiate with each other.

Read More: Erhai Lake Cruise in Dali City

5. Explore the Bai Ethnic Culture in Xizhou Old Town

Xizhou is a famous cultural town, enjoying the history of more than one thousand years. It was the center of west bank of Erhai Lake in terms of culture, politic and economy in the past. The elegant ancient town is like a architecture museum, covering typical Bai’s residence houses of different dynasties. Xizhou Town is going to show you the Bai minority culture, the local people’s daily life and profound history. And you will get closer to Bai Minority culture by tasting their unique Three-course Tea and Xizhou Baba, which is local famous snack.

Read More: Dali City Attractions

Prepare for Dali Tour

What to Know

1. Know some basic information about Dali, Yunnan and China, which can help you understand the local culture well.

2. Learn some information about Bai ethnic minority in advance.

3. If you are interested, learn some basic Chinese words and phrases, which could help you communicate with the locals easily.

What to Take

1. Dali weather has no distinctive difference, so weather in Dali is not very hot or cold. But you’d better pay attention to the strong solar radiation during the day and the changeable weather. Windproof clothing is suggested for the strong wind. Besides, warm clothes is also needed during spring and winter time. In Spring, temperature difference is relatively large between day and night; While in winter, the temperature is lower than other seasons.

2. Pay attention to sun protection. Due to the strong solar radiation in the daytime, sun cream, sun hat, sunglasses and other sunscreen products will be needed.

3. Do remember to take the umbrella and rain gear during the rainy season, especially in July and August.

4. Bring some medicines for emergency, like cold medication and medicines for a stomachache.

5. Don’t forget your Chinese visa and passport. If you will go further to Tibet, Tibet travel permit is also required.

Kunming, well-known as the city of spring, is the political, economic, transportation and cultural center of Yunnan Province, also the provincial capital and the largest city in Yunnan. Kunming is the forefront and the portal that China facing Southeast Asia, South Asia and even the Middle East, southern Europe and Africa. Kunming is regarded as one of the top ten tourist destinations in China with its beautiful scenery, splendid historical sites and colorful ethnic customs. Located on a low latitude plateau, it has a spring-like climate all the year round. In particular, the lake Dianchi on the plateau regulates the temperature and humidity, making the air fresh, the sky clear, the sun bright and the flowers often bloom. If you don’t want to travel to the places where the weather is too hot or too cold, Kunming will be an ideal destination.

Choose a Gateway City

Choose a gateway city in China to take a flight or high-speed train to Kunming. You can start your tour from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu and other cities to appreciate more about China’s charm. Or you can also fly from Taiwan, Hong Kong or cities in other countries like Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Hanoi, Dacca, Phnom Penh, Osaka, Singapore, Calcutta, Rangoon, Mandalay, Vientiane and Bangkok. Kunming is usually the first stop and the gateway city of Yunnan tour.

Make the Travel Duration Sure

Visit Kunming in One Day

If you only spend a day in Kunming, it is recommended to visit the highlights of Kunming including the Green Lake, Dianchi Lake, Birds and Flowers Market, Jinma Biji Archway, Nanping Street and Yuantong Temple. You can also spend the day exploring the Stone Forest, appreciating the beautiful scenery of Jiaozi Snow Mountain, photographing Dongchuan Red Land, the “color palette of God” or maybe enjoying the leisure time of playing golf and beautiful scenery of spring city golf and lake resort.

1 Day Kunming City Discovery Tour
1 Day Kunming Stone Forest Tour
1 Day Kunming Jiaozi Snow Mountain Tour
1 Day Kunming Dongchuan Red Land Tour
1 Kunming Golf Tour to Spring City Golf and Lake Resort

Travel Kunming in 2-3 days

For visiting Kunming in Yunnan, 2-3 days may be enough to visit the must-see attractions in Kunming.

What You Can Choose for 2-3 days Kunming Tour

• Western Hill & Dragon Gate
• Dianchi Lake
• Stone Forests
• Green Lake
• Dongchuan Red Land
• Nanping Street
• Flowers and Birds Market
• Jiaozi Snow Mountain

For 2-3 days Kunming tour, you can choose to visit the above mentioned attractions, part of them are inside the Kunming city and part are not too far from Kunming downtown. However, our 2-3 days tour packages combine Kunming with other destinations mainly Jianshui and Yuanyang.

Highlights of Kunming-Jianshui-Yuanyang Tour

• Visit Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces with gorgeous sunrise and sunset, experience the culture of Hani minority.
• Step into Jianshui Old Town and Tuanshan Village to explore different styles of Chinese traditional buildings.
• Experience the Confucius culture in Jianshui Confucius Temple;
• Be amazed at the stone scenery in the Stone Forest, the World Cultural Heritage.
• Stroll around the beautiful Green Lake.

2 Days Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Tour at a glance
2 Days Jianshui Ancient Architecture Tour from Kunming
2 Days Kunming Dongchuan Red Land and Jiaozi Snow Mountain Tour
3 Days Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Photography Tour from Kunming
3 Days Yuanyang Rice Terrace Photography Group Tour
3 Days Jianshui and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Group Tour

Tour Kunming in 4-6 days

Adding 2-3 days for the Yunnan tour, you will get more options. You will have more chances to experience local culture in the ethnic villages, get to more places in Yunnan or have more leisure time.

What You Can Choose for 4-6 days Kunming Tour

• Visit the top attractions in Kunming, including Green Lake, Dianchi Lake, Western Hill & Dragon Gate, Nanping Street, Yuantong Temple, Flowers and Birds Market and so on.
• Go to visit the magnificent World Cultural Heritage – the Stone Forest.
• Visit Dongchuan Red Land, Luoping, Jianshui, Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces and start your photography tour.
• Go to Dali and Lijiang and start your Yunnan classic tour.
• Get to Pu’er and Xishuangbanna, start your tea culture tour.
• Join the ethnic festival celebration and visit ethnic villages to experience ethnic culture.

4 Days Best Kunming City Tour with The Stone Forest
5 Days Kunming Spring City and Luoping Rapeseed Flowers Photography Tour
5 Days Kunming and Dongchuan Red Land Tour
6 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang Tour
6 Days Kunming Yuanyang Jianshui Photography Tour with Honghe Hani Rice Terraces
6 Days Kunming and Chuxiong Torch Festival Celebration Tour

Visit Kunming in More Days

If you are planning a tour to Yunnan for more than 7 days, Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la Classic Tour is recommended. You can start your classic tour by high-speed bullet train or by flight. During the tour, you will:

• Visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
• Step into ethnic villages to meet colorful and mysterious ethnic cultures.
• Hiking along the Tiger Leaping Gorge to feel the grotesque and raging rapids of the magnificent gorge.
• Discover the ethnic culture of Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan.
• Visit the famous attractions of Yunnan: Stone Forest, Dali Old Town, Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake, Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Songzanlin Monastery and Pudacuo National Park and the like.

8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by High Speed Bullet Train
8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by Flight
8 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La Overland Tour
8 Days Best Yunnan Small Group Tour-Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La
Super Deluxe 8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Aman Resort Lijiang and Banyan Tree Shangrila Experience

Except for the classic routes, other popular routes include Kunming-Pu’er-Xishuangbanna, Kunming-Jianshui-Yuanyang-Pu’er-Xishuangbanna, Kunming-Shilin-Luoping-Puzhehei-Bamei-Yanshan-Yuanyang-Jianshui-Kunming and the like.

7 Days Kunming, XishuangBanna and Puer Family Tour with Tropical Forest and Ethnic Culture Discovery
8 Days South Yunnan Ethnic Minority Discovery and Tropical Forest Photograph Tour
8 Days Deluxe Kunming, Shilin, Mile Jianshui Photo Tour with Yuanyang Rice Terraces and Fuxianhu Lake
11 Days Yunnan Spring Photograph Tour With Luoping Rapeseed Flowers, Bamei Village And Yuanyang Hani Rice Terrace Field

Read More: Kunming Tour

Make the Tour Theme Sure

Kunming tour involves many theme tours, such as Hiking Tour/Trekking Tour, Stone Forest Tour, Photography Tour, Tea Culture Tour, Golf Tour, Cycling Tour, City Tour, Ethnic Minority Discovery and Festival Tour, Muslim Tour, Student Education Tour, Winter Birding Tour and so on. Tour packages including Kunming range from one day to 46 days.

Kunming City Tour

City tour, just as the name implied, mainly visits in Kunming City. Sightseeing and activities are mainly inside Kunming city, including the Green Lake, Birds and Flowers Market, Jinma Biji Archway, Nanping Street, Yuantong Temple, East and West Pagodas and Dianchi Lake. It may also add the nearby attractions like Stone Forest.

1 Day Kunming City Discovery Tour
4 Days Best Kunming City Tour with The Stone Forest

Stone Forest Tour

Stone Forest is about 86 kilometers from Kunming city and requires 1.5-hours driving. If you only want to visit stone forest, one day is enough. And if you prefer, Jiuxiang cave and Dynamic Yunnan show can be added in your schedule.

1 Day Kunming Stone Forest Tour
1 Day Kunming Stone Forest Tour with Jiuxiang Cave
1 Day Kunming Stone Forest Group Tour

Jiaozi Snow Mountain Tour(Hiking Tour)

Jiaozi Mountain, as the First Mountain in the middle of Yunnan, is situated on the border of Luquan County and Dongchuan District of Kunming City, the main peak is 4,223 meters above the sea level. In the spring and summer, countless Indian azaleas blossom out just like sea, the color of mountain meadows becomes gorgeous; when the winter comes, the mountain is covered with snow. Jiaozi Mountain is a great tourist attraction for hiking. Since it is not far from Dongchuan, a Dongchuan Red Land tour can be continued after the Jiaozi Snow Mountain Hiking. 2 days tour is worth.

2 Days Jiaozi Snow Mountain Hiking Tour
2 Days Kunming Dongchuan Red Land and Jiaozi Snow Mountain Tour

Photography Tour

Yunnan is blessed with numberous lakes, rivers and mountains. Dongchuan Red Land, Yuanyang Rice Terreaces and Luoping Rape Flowers attracts thousands of people at home and abroad to take the best pictures. Kunming photography tours will enable you to appreciate not only the amazing natural wonders and cultural treasures , but also the friendly and welcoming local people, as well as their cultures and traditions. It will be truly an unforgettable experience.

1. Dongchuan Red Land Photography

Dongchuan, a rural place in the Wumeng Mountainous area, about 180 km north of Kunming, becomes very famous among photographers for its red soil. Thus Dongchuan Red Land Tour is one of the famous photography tours in Yunnan. It can not be missed for photographers when travelling in Kunming. The most beautiful attractions of Dongchuan Red Land are Damakan, Qicaigou, Jinxiu Yuan, Luoxiagou, Yuepuao, Ancient Tree, Luosiwan, Shuipingzi, etc. Most of them are comparatively concentrated. Have a leisure walk on the red land, watch the sunset and sunrise view of the red land, and take photos of the colorful fields. For this tour, you could see the “color palette of God” yourself. Read more: Dongchuan Red Land Climate

1 Day Kunming Dongchuan Red Land Tour
2 Days Dongchuan Red Land Photography Tour
10 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Dongchuan Red Land Photography

2. Honghe Hani Rice Terraces Photography

Yuanyang Rice Terraces occupy over a hundred thousand square kilometers of land, and it is the masterpiece crafted by the Hani people over a period of 1300 years. For this tour, the main highlights will be the sunrise and sunset of Yuanyang Rice Terraces. Yuanyang is a very good place for photographers to shoot natural large-scale terraces, sunrise, sunset and clouds sea. The best time for Hani Rice Terraces photography tour is from November to March in the following year.

2 Days Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Tour at a glance
3 Days Yuanyang Rice Terrace Photography Group Tour
11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Jianshui Old Town and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

3. Luoping Rape Flower Photography

Luoping enjoys a mild and humid climate. It is dominated by karst features with small basins among independent green hills. It is not only an important producing county of the cole in China but also a national base for raising bees and for processing honey products. The rape flowers cover an area of 250,000 mu. Every year, from February to April, countless yellow rapeseed flowers are in full bloom, looking like an expanse of a golden sea. In this trip, you will enjoy the major sights include the Jiulong waterfall(nine dragons), the Duoyi River and the Lubuge Gorges. Read More: Luoping Rapeseed Flowers, Qujing

5 Days Kunming Spring City and Luoping Rapeseed Flowers Photography Tour

Surely, these three photography destinations can be packaged together, making the whole journey more colorful and unforgettable.

8 Days Yunnan Photography Tour with Dongchuan Red Land and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
11 Days Yunnan Photograph Tour with Luoping Rapeseed Flowers Festival and Honghe Hani Rice Terraces Field (Feb-March Available)
11 Days Yunnan Spring Photograph Tour With Luoping Rapeseed Flowers, Bamei Village And Yuanyang Hani Rice Terrace Field

Tea Culture Tour

What you have to taste when travelling in Yunnan is tea, especially Pu’er Tea and Dianhong Black Tea. If you prefer, you can start a special tea culture tour in Yunnan. When it comes to Tea culture tour, several places including Pu’er, Xishuangbanna, Lincang and Dali are frequently involved. Dianhong Black Tea and Pu’er Tea are two famous tea in Yunnan Province and China. For this tour, you can step into some famous tea plantations, tea factories and learn more about the history, development and tea-making process of Dianhong Black tea and Pu’er tea. At the same time, you will also visit must-see attractions in Kunming, Dali or Lijiang. Read More: Yunnan Tea Culture Tour

7 Days Kunming, Dali and Lijiang Tour with Dianhong Black Tea Culture Tour
7 Days Lincang Fengqing Dianhong Black Tea and Pu’er Organic Tea Tour
11 Days Yunnan Ancient Tea-Horse Road Tour with Puer and XishuangBanna Tea Culture Exploration
10 Days Best Yunnan Classic Tour with Dianhong Black Tea Culture Tour
11 Days Southwest Yunnan Dianhong Black Tea and Puer Tea Culture Tour

Golf Tour

Kunming is the Spring city famous for its nice weather, which makes it one of the best destinations for playing golf all year around. Surrounded by mountains and beside the limpid lake, the Spring City Golf & Lake Resort is one of the most beautiful golf holiday resorts in the world, hence the name of the golf paradise in Asia. During the tour, you will enjoy the leisure time of playing golf and beautiful scenery of Spring City Golf and Lake Resort. After the tour, you can also visit the must-see attractions in Kunming such as Stone Forest and West Hill & Dragon Gate. Except for Kunming, Lijiang is another good choice for golf tour.

1 Kunming Golf Tour to Spring City Golf and Lake Resort
5 Days Kunming Spring City Golf Course and Lake Resort Tour
10 Days Yunnan Golf and Sightseeing Tour

Ethnic Minority Discovery/Festival Tour

Yunnan has the largest number of ethnic population in China with 25 ethnic minorities including Bai, Yi, Dai, Naxi, Hani, Miao, Tibetan, Hui and Yao. A visit to Yunnan offers an unique and exciting experience of ethnic customs with more than 400 ethnic minorities festivals celebrated throughout the year. The ethnic minorities maintain their unique folk traditions and customs full of myths and celebrated the festivals by singing, dancing, paintings and playing the ancient music.

1. Torch Festival Celebration of Yi Minority

Deemed to be “the oriental carnival”, the Torch Festival is celebrated by several ethnic minorities including the Yi, Bai, Naxi, Jinuo and Lahu etc. Enjoying a long history as an important festival of these minorities, the festival exhibits quite profound cultural connotations. Although the origin of the festival is slightly different among these minorities, it takes place on lunar June 24 or 25. In Yunnan Province, Kunming, Chuxiong, Dali, Yuxi, Wenshan, Pu’er, Honghe, Lijiang and Zhaotong are the major areas for the Torch Festival as they are inhabited by the Yi or Bai people. Our torch festival tour usually involves Chuxiong and Shilin. In this tour, you will experience and understand the ethnic culture of Yi minority better. Join our Torch Festival Celebration tour and lost yourself in the joyful atmosphere of Torch Festival.

5 Days Kunming City Tour and Shilin Torch Festival Celebration
6 Days Kunming and Chuxiong Torch Festival Celebration Tour

2. Cangyuan Monihei Carnival

“Monihei Carnival” (making you black) is a mud smearing carnival of the Wa ethnic group. It is originated from the folk custom that people smear the pot ash, ox blood and mud on their faces to frighten the evils and seek peace. The Monihei Carnival is held in late April or early May(usually April 29-May 1) each year in Cangyuan County, one of the only two Chinese Wa autonomous Counties in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. During Monihei Carnival, you can not only experience the joyful atmosphere which is full of ethnic features, but also appreciate the various natural and human scenery in Cangyuan. With pleasant weather, you can walk in the famous cliff painting valley and have a visit to Wending Village to discover the unique, extensive and profound culture of Wa minority.

4 Days Cangyuan Monihei Carnival Tour

3. New Rice Festival of Wa Ethnic Minority

New Rice Festival is one of the traditional festivals of the Wa ethnic minority. In the past, it used to be celebrated when the rice was ripe for harvest, and would last three days. During the festival, ladies would collect some rice from farmlands; dry and then husk them. Early next morning, the doors of the house would be closed to reject visitors and animals, and all the family members would stay at home enjoying the newly-harvested rice when eating, any waste wouldn’t be allowed. After the family finished, they would open the door and invite neighbors to enjoy the rice together.

In 1992, the local government of Menglian Dai, Lahu and Wa Autonomous County determined the festival as a mandatory holiday for the Wa and Lahu minorities, and the date has been confirmed during lunar August 13-15.

5 Days Wa Ethnic Minority’s New Rice Festival Tour

Other Festival tour packages: 

3 Days Yi Ethnic Minority’s Hualian Festival Tour Held in Puzhehei
3 Days Yi Ethnic Minority’s Saizhuang Festival Tour
6 Days XishuangBanna Water Splashing Festival Celebration Tour
7 Days Honghe Hani Ethnic Minority’s Long Street Banquet Festival and Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photograph Tour
13 Days Yunnan Festival Tour in Spring

Muslim Tour

This kind of tour is designed for those who are interested in mosques and Muslim culture. Start a Muslim Tour in Yunnan to explore the Muslim culture during your trip. Yunnan Muslim Tours will help travelers to get around the most well-known Muslim sites in Yunnan and share their knowledge of Islam, dinning features and other aspects of Muslim culture. Our tours are carefully arranged for travelers to visit the ancient mosque, taste delicious Muslim food and explore the lifestyle there. In the meantime, you will not miss the famous attractions in your itinerary. Read More: Shadian Grand Mosque

5 Days Kunming Muslim Tour
6 Days Kunming and Qujing Muslim Culture Tour
6 Days Kunming Shadian Muslim Tour with Yuanyang Rice Terraces and Jianshui Old Town
6 Days Kunming and Zhaotong Muslim Culture Tour

Student Education Tour

For those who are interested in Chinese culture, especially interested in Yunnan culture, students education tour includes the special visiting to local schools and experience local life with ethnic people, which can help you to learn more about Yunnan ethnic culture and daily life of local people. Students will have chance to know about the local students’ study life by having classes, games etc. They will also have opportunity to learn how to make some handicrafts, visit some ancient architecture and well-known attractions, and experience beautiful nature by hiking. Our students education tours usually start from Kunming, Dali or Lijiang. Jianshui is also a good place to begin your education tour, where you can experience the Confucius culture at Jianshui Confucius Temple.

5 Days Kunming Ethnic Culture Education Tour
7 Days Lijiang Education Tour for International School Students
7 Days Yunnan Students Education and Family Tour with Ethnic Culture Experience
8 Days China Students Education Tour to Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
9 Days Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La Education Course Tour
9 Days Yunnan Highlights Education Tour
More Students Education Tour

Winter Birding Tour

Dianchi Lake dam,  Nianhu Lake Black-necked Crane Nature Reserve and Zhaotong Dashanbao Black-necked Cranes National Nature Reserve are always included in the winter birding tour in Yunnan. During this tour, tourists can have a view of diverse birds of Yunnan, especially red-beaked seagulls and Black-necked Crane. Seagull, another name: red-beaked gull, comes from cold Siberia. Indeed, Kunming has been an important destination for watching seagulls in winter in the southwest of China since the 1980s. Therefore, your tour will start from Kunming.

6 Days Northeast Yunnan Winter Birding Tour to Dianchi Lake, Nianhu Lake and Dashanbao
8 Days Yunnan Winter Birding Tour to Dongchuan Red Land, Nianhu Lake and Dashanbao Nature Reserve

Most of Yunnan tour packages include Kunming, we can’t list all of them at a time. Read more about Kunming tour, contact us YunnanExploration by Email: contact@YunnanExploration.com or Telephone: +86-871-63511469. Our attentive consultants will arrange the tour packages you choose or customize a tour according to your need.

Best Kunming Tours

Kunming City tours

• 1 Day Kunming City Discovery Tour
• 1 Kunming Golf Tour to Spring City Golf and Lake Resort
• 4 Days Best Kunming City Tour with The Stone Forest
• 5 Days Kunming Spring City Golf Course and Lake Resort Tour
• 5 Days Kunming City Tour and Shilin Torch Festival Celebration

Stone Forest Tours

• 1 Day Kunming Stone Forest Tour
• 1 Day Kunming Stone Forest Tour with Jiuxiang Cave
• 1 Day Kunming Stone Forest Group Tour
• 1 Day Kunming Stone Forest Tour with Nuohei Ethnic Village Discovery

Dongchuan Red Land Tours

• 1 Day Kunming Dongchuan Red Land Tour
• 2 Days Dongchuan Red Land Photography Tour
• 2 Days Kunming Dongchuan Red Land and Jiaozi Snow Mountain Tour
• 5 Days Kunming and Dongchuan Red Land Tour

Jiaozi Snow Mountain Hiking Tours

• 1 Day Kunming Jiaozi Snow Mountain Tour
• 2 Days Jiaozi Snow Mountain Hiking Tour
• 2 Days Kunming Dongchuan Red Land and Jiaozi Snow Mountain Tour

Kunming Yunan Tours

• 3 Days Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Photography Tour from Kunming
• 3 Days Yuanyang Rice Terrace Photography Group Tour
• 6 Days Kunming Yuanyang Jianshui Photography Tour with Honghe Hani Rice Terraces
• 6 Days Northeast Yunnan Winter Birding Tour to Dianchi Lake, Nianhu Lake and Dashanbao
• 6 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang Tour
• 8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by High Speed Bullet Train
• 8 Days Best Yunnan Small Group Tour-Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La

Kunming China Tours

• 9 Days Yunnan-Guizhou Karst Landform Tour and Ethnic Minorities Discovery
• 12 Days Southwest China Tour from Hong Kong
• 14 Days China High Speed Train Tour with Yunnan Minorities Exploration
• 15 Days Yunnan-Tibet Small Group Tour with Mount Everest Adventure
• 16 Days Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi High Speed Rail Tour
• 20 Days Classic China Tours with Tibet and Yunnan Impression
• 23 Days Best China Small Group Tour with Yunnan and Tibet Mount Everest Discovery

Cross-border Tours including Kunming

• 11 Days China-Vietnam Overland Tour from Kunming to Hanoi
• 12 Days China-Laos Train Tour from Kunming to Luang Prabang
• 16 Days China-Thailand Mekong River Cruise Tour by Speed Boat
• 16 Days Vietnam-China(Yunnan) Railway Tour from Hanoi to Hong Kong

Student Education Tours including Kunming

For those who are interested in Chinese culture, especially interested in Yunnan culture, students education tour includes the special visiting to local schools and experience local life with ethnic people, which can help you to learn more about Yunnan ethnic culture and daily life of local people.

• 5 Days Kunming Ethnic Culture Education Tour
• 7 Days Yunnan Students Education and Family Tour with Ethnic Culture Experience
• 8 Days China Students Education Tour to Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
• 9 Days Yunnan Highlights Education Tour

Kunming Tour Planning

• How to Plan a Kunming Tour
• How to Plan Yunnan Classic Tour as Your First Time to Visit Yunnan
• Best Yunnan Winter Tour to Kunming-Jianshui-Yuanyang
• How to Plan a Hiking Tour around Kunming
• How to Plan Muslim Tour in Yunnan
• How to Plan Birdwatching Tour in Yunnan

Keep Reading

• Kunming Adoption Heritage Tours
• Kunming Birding Tours
• Kunming Cycling Tours
• Kunming Golf Tours
• Kunming Hiking Tours
• Kunming Muslim Tours
• Kunming Tea Culture Tours
• Kunming-Dali Tours
• Kunming-Lijiang Tours
• Kunming-Chuxiong Tours
• Kunming-Jianshui tours
• Kunming-Yuanyang tours
• Kunming-Jianshui-Yuanyang tours
• Kunming-Dongchuan Red Land Tours
• Kunming-Gaoligongshan Tours
• Kunming-Luoping Tours
• Kunming-Nujiang Tours
• Kunming-Pu’er-Xishuangbanna Tours
• Kunming-Puzhehei Tours
• Kunming-Wenshan Tours
• Kunming-Yuxi Tours
• Kunming-Zhaotong Tours
• Students Educational Tours

Know the Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit Kunming

Kunming belongs to the north subtropical low-latitude plateau mountain monsoon climate, with annual average temperature of 16.5 ℃, annual rainfall of 1450 mm and frost-free period of 278 days. As we mentioned, Kunming is spring-like all year round and suitable for traveling all the year round. However, the best time to travel to Kunming is from March to October. At that time, there are the most numerous celebrations of ethnic festivals, the fruit is ripe and flowers are in bloom.

Rainy Season: May to October
Crowded Season: Chinese Spring Festival(Late Jan. or early Feb.), Labor Day(May 1-3) and National Day(Oct. 1-7).
Read more: Kunming Climate

What to Eat in Kunming

Kunming has its unique eating culture, all kinds of food can stimulate your taste buds. One of the most famous, also the symbolic food of Yunnan Province, is Crossing the Bridge Rice Noodle(Guo Qiao Mi Xian in Chiese). Other popular foods, such as Steam-pot Chicken and Rice in Bamboo Tube, are also worth a try. In addition, you can try the Dai dishes, which tastes hot and sour.

Read More:
Kunming Dining
Summary of rice noodles in Kunming

Where to Stay in Kunming

1. Jinma Biji Archway: It is the most prosperous area of Kunming with many shopping centers and pedestrian streets. It’s not far from Yunnan University, Green Lake Park and Nanping Street.

2. Around Dianchi Scenic Area: With a beautiful scenery of Dianchi Lake, comfortable for vacation. And it is convenient to Western Hill, Yunnan Ethnic Village, Haigeng Park and Haigeng Dam.

3. Beside Kunming Railway station: Convenient transportation. Read more: Kunming Accommodation

How to Get in Kunming

Three popular ways to Kunming: airplane, high-speed train and long-distance bus.

1. By Flight

The Kunming Changshui International Airport currently opens 319 routes, including 275 domestic routes, 38 international routes and 6 regional routes, connecting 89 domestic cities, 3 regional cities, 26 international cities, such as Bangkok, Paris and San Francisco. Read more: Kunming Changshui International Airport Shuttle Bus Timetable

2. By High-speed Rail or Train

You can also go to Kunming by train, it’s convenient to take train to Kunming from many other cities in China.

Kunming South Railway Station(昆明南站), located in Wujiaying of Chenggong District in Kunming. It is a special station under the jurisdiction of China Railway Kunming Bureau Group Co., Ltd. and an important infrastructure for China’s “Belt and Road” program to radiate Southeast Asia. It is also an important transportation hub for the construction of the middle road network in Yunnan Province.

Kunming Railway Station(昆明火车站), located in Guandu District, Kunming City. It is under the jurisdiction of China Railway Kunming Bureau Group Co., Ltd., and it is the principal station. It is the operating start and stop station of Hu-Kunming Railway, Cheng-Kun Railway, Nan-Kun Railway . Kunming Station has 6 waiting stations and 12 tracks.

3. By Long-distance

There are 5 bus stations in Kunming, which is very convenient for your trip. Read more about Kunming Transportation.

Main Festivals in Kunming

Kunming is a typical multi-ethnic united city. Various ethnic minorities have created colorful festivals in Kunming. Some festivals include Golden Temple Fair(Jan. 9 in Chinese Lunar Calendar), Torch Festival of Yi Minority(June 24 in Chinese Lunar Calendar) and Water-splashing Festival of the Dai Minority(Around 11st of April).

Best Things to Do in Kunming

1. Visit the Most Popular Attractions inside Kunming

If you like mountaineering, Western Hill and Dragon Gate will be a perfect place for you when travelling in Kunming. Western Hills boasts an excellent environment with flourishing flowers and dense forest, providing tourists an excellent environment to enjoy the tranquility and marvelous scenery. Facing Kunming’s famous landmark Dianchi Lake, you can enjoy a great view on the Western Hill. Don’t miss the chance to experience the stone carving art at Dragon Gate.

If you like water, Dianchi Lake will be a good place to kill time. Dianchi Lake is located at the foot of the Western Hill and is the largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province. From November to January, it is the best time to watch thousands of black-headed seagulls gathering around Dianchi Lake. You can enjoy your leisure time at Haigeng Park and Baiyukou Park near Dianchi Lake.

If you are curious about ethnic culture, pay a visit to Yunnan Ethnic Village; If you are a flower lover, Flowers and Birds Market is suitable for you. Furthermore, there are many other places you can choose in Kunming, including the Green Lake, Nanping Street, Jinma Biji Archway, Yuantong Temple, Golden Temple and the like.

2. Nearby Attractions 

Or maybe you would like to go somewhere near Kunming, experience magnificent stone forest, explore Jiuxiang Karst Cave, and even go to Luoping to enjoy the sea of rape flowers there.

The most dramatic of these attractions near Kunming City is the Stone Forest, known as the ‘First Wonder of the World’ since the Ming Dynasty. An old local saying says that “If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.” Obviously, ranking the first at its age, size and typical formation, the Stone Forest is one of the most important attractions of Yunnan. It takes 1.5 hours from Kunming for driving.

Jiuxiang Scenic spot has China’s largest karst cave group, with the most numerous and unique caves in various sizes.

Luoping, 228 kilometers from Kunming, is famous for its large-scale rape flowers. The best time to visit is from the late February to March.

Dongchuan, a rural place in the Wumeng Mountainous area, about 180 kilometers north of Kunming(3.5 hours), becomes very famous among photographers for its red soil. Dongchuan Red Land is known as “color palette of God”.

3. Watch Yunnan Impression Show

If you are interested in ethnic culture, you can go for watching a Yunnan impression Show. Dynamic Yunnan is a masterpiece of artistic work that spotlights the unique character of Yunnan. It is regarded as a milestone creation in Chinese stage and dance history. You can enjoy different ethnic dances and the most original songs through the show. This show lasts about 100 minutes.

Yunnan Art Theater云南艺术剧院
Address: 132 Dongfeng West Road, Kunming昆明东风西路132号
Mobile: 18087116007 (Chinese), 13114215023 (English)
Price: 520 CNY / 400 CNY/300 CNY / 220 CNY

Prepare for Kunming Tour

What to Know 

1. Know some basic information about Kunming, Yunnan and China, which can help you understand the local culture well.

2. Learn some information about ethnic minorities in Yunnan in advance.

3. If you are interested, learn some basic Chinese words and phrases, which could help you communicate with the locals easily.

What to Take

1. Pay attention to keep warm in winter. Because of the relatively high altitude, the temperature difference is large between day and night in winter, it is suggested to bring the thick coat and windproof jacket. Except for winter, other seasons are usually warm. Remember to bring a jacket in spring and autumn and add clothes according to the change of temperature.

2. Pay attention to sun protection. Due to the strong solar radiation in the daytime, sun cream, sun hat, sunglasses and other sunscreen products will be needed.

3. Do remember to take the umbrella and rain gear in the rainy season, especially from May to October.

4. Bring some medicines in case of emergency, like cold medication and and medicines for a stomachache.

5. Don’t forget your Chinese visa and passport. If you will go further to Tibet, Tibet travel permit is also required.

Lijiang has a history of at least 800 years and may date as far back as the Song Dynasty. It is located in the northwestern portion of Yunnan and borders Sichuan. As a popular destination in Yunnan, Lijiang is considered as a fairyland blessed with fresh air, clear streams, breathtaking snow mountains and an undisturbed landscape inhabited by Naxi ethnic minority. What’s more, Lijiang in Yunnan Province is an important passage of ancient Silk Road and Tea Horse Road in southern China. When we mention Lijiang, the first thought is definitely Lijiang ancient town, which is one of the famous historical and cultural ancient towns in China. Lijiang is a desirable place that no one will miss during the trip to Yunnan.

Choose a Gateway City

Choose a gateway city in China to take a flight or high-speed train to Lijiang. Kunming and Dali are the most popular gateway cities to start a Lijiang tour among tourists. Moreover, you can also start your tour from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu and other cities to appreciate more about China’s charm. Actually, Lijiang is another popular gateway city to start a Yunnan tour due to the convenient transportation and attractive attractions. Tourists can go to Lijiang directly and start your journey.

How Long to Stay in Lijiang

Visit Lijiang in One Day

If you only spend one day in Lijiang, it is recommended to visit the highlights of Lijiang including Lijiang Ancient Town, Shuhe Ancient Town, Baisha old Town, Mu Palace and Lion Hill, etc. You can also spend the day exploring the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain or Tiger Leaping Gorge to have a hiking tour; Or riding a bike easily from Lijiang Ancient Town to have a cycling tour.

1 Day Lijiang City Highlights Group Tour
1 Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Small Group Tour
1 Day Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour (Lijiang Part)
1 Day Lijiang Cycling Tour from Lijiang Old Town to Lashihai Lake and Zhiyun Monastery
1 Day Lijiang Cycling Tour from Lijiang Old Town to Shuhe, Baisha and Yuhu Village

Visit Lijiang in 2-3 Days

If you want to visit the must-see attractions in Lijiang, 2-3 days may be enough.

What You Can Choose for 2-3 Days Lijiang Tour

• Lijiang Ancient Town
• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
• Mufu Palace
• Lashi Lake
• Lugu Lake
• Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Shigu Town

2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking Tour with Daju Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Group Tour
3 Days Lijiang Hiking Tour from Yuhu Village to Wenhai Lake and Yangyuchang Village
3 Days The First Bend of Yangtze River Rafting and Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour

For 2-3 days Lijiang tour, you can choose to visit the above mentioned attractions. However, our 2-3 days tour packages combine Lijiang with other destinations like Dali or Shangri-La.

Highlights of Dali-Lijiang Tour

• Experience the ethnic cuture of Bai minority in Xizhou Town – visit Bai-style morning market.
• Explore the religious culture at Shibaoshan Mountain.
• Discover the important ancient town of silk road, Shaxi Old Town.
• Take a walk at Lijiang Ancient Town.

2 Days Shaxi Old Town and Shibaoshan Mountain Tour from Dali to Lijiang

Highlights of Lijiang-Shangri-La Tour

• Enjoy the spectacular views along the road: First Bend of Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge.
• Visit the top attractions in Shangri-La: Dukezong Old Town, Guishan Park, Napa Lake, Songzanlin Monastery.
• Discover the profound culture of local Tibetan.

2 Days Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La Group Tour

Visit Lijiang in 4-6 Days

Adding 2-3 days for the Lijiang tour, you will get more options. You will have more chances to experience local culture in the ethnic villages, get to more places in Yunnan or have more leisure time.

What You Can Choose to Do For 4-6 Days Lijiang Tour

• Visit the popular attractions in Lijiang City, including Lijiang Old Town, Shuhe Old Town, Baisha Old Town, Yuhu Village and Baisha Village, etc., to fully appreciate the Naxi culture in various ways.
• Challenge yourself by hiking the steep paths in the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world.
• Have a grand view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain.
• Cruise in Lugu Lake and be amazed at its intriguing lake view.
• Step into ethnic village to experience mysterious ethnic culture.
• Plan your Lijiang tour with Kunming and Dali.

4 Days Lijiang City Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge
5 Days Lijiang City Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Adventure
5 Days Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Adventure (Camping at 4800M) with Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour
6 Days Lijiang Discovery Tour with Lugu Lake and Tiger Leaping Gorge
6 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang Tour

Visit Lijiang in More Days

If you are planning a tour to Yunnan for more than 6 days, Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la Classic Tour is recommended. You can start your classic tour by high-speed bullet train or by flight. During the tour, you will:

• Visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
• Step into ethnic villages to meet colorful and mysterious ethnic cultures.
• Hiking along the Tiger Leaping Gorge to feel the grotesque and raging rapids of the magnificent gorge.
• Discover the ethnic culture of Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan.
• Visit the famous attractions of Yunnan: Stone Forest, Dali Old Town, Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake, Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Songzanlin Monastery and Pudacuo National Park and the like.

8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by High Speed Bullet Train
8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by Flight
8 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La Overland Tour
8 Days Best Yunnan Small Group Tour-Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La
Super Deluxe 8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Aman Resort Lijiang and Banyan Tree Shangrila Experience
9 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La High Speed Train Tour

Except for the classic tours, other popular tours include Snow Mountain Hiking Tour and Climbing Tour, as well as Lijiang-Shangri-La Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking, etc.

7 Days Lijiang Trekking Tour around Tiger Leaping Gorge and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
7 Days Lijiang and Shangri-La Paradise Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Adventure
7 Days Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Tour and Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking Tour
7 Days Baima Snow Mountain Hiking Tour to Nine Lakes and One Mountain Scenic Area

Read More: Lijiang Tour

Theme Tours including Lijiang

Lijiang tour involves many theme tours, such as Hiking Tour/Trekking Tour, Cycling Tour, Rafting Tour, Climbing Tour, Ethnic Minority Tour, Classic Tour, Golf Tour, Students Education Tour, etc. Tour packages including Lijiang range from one day to 40 days.

Lijiang City Tour

Lijiang, one of China’s most popular destinations and home to an amazing array of sights, activities and events. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Stroll around in the Lijiang Ancient Town and visit other natural attractions like Tiger Leaping Gorge and cultural highlighted attractions like Baisha Murals of Dongba culture.

4 Days Lijiang City Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge
5 Days Lijiang City Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Adventure

Cycling Tour

It will be a enjoyable experience to spend a day going cycling in Lijiang. There are two main cycling routes, one is from Lijiang Ancient Town to Yuhu Village, along the way, you will pass through ethnic villages, grasslands, meadows, flowers sea, rivers and lakes to enjoy the high mountain scenery and discover ethnic cultures; One is Lijiang Ancient Town to Lashihai Lake. Cycling around the beautiful Lashihai Lake with the distance view of white towering peaks of Jade Dragon Snow mountain. Pay a visit to the first lamasery temple among five main Tibetan Buddhism monasteries situating in Lijiang – Zhiyun Temple.

1 Day Lijiang Cycling Tour from Lijiang Old Town to Lashihai Lake and Zhiyun Monastery
1 Day Lijiang Cycling Tour from Lijiang Old Town to Shuhe, Baisha and Yuhu Village

Hiking Tour/Trekking Tour

When it comes to Lijiang hiking tour, there must be Tiger Leaping Gorge and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour

Tiger Leaping Gorge is spectacular and crown as the deepest gorge in the world. Foreign backpackers started hiking in the area in the 1980s and now Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour has been one of the most famous hiking tour all around the world. If you want to hike at Tiger Leaping Gorge only, there are 1-3 days Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking tours you can choose.

1 Day Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour (Lijiang Part)
1 Day Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking Tour from Tina’s Hotel to The Middle Rapid and Hetaoyuan Village
1 Day Tiger Leaping Gorge Highlight Hiking Tour from Bendiwan Village to Tina’s Hostel
2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Group Tour
2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Group Tour
3 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tour

Except for Lijiang Ancient Town and Tiger Leaping Gorge, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is another must-see attractions in Lijiang. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is included in almost all Lijiang Tour Packages. Spend at least one day hiking or visiting Jade Snow Mountain can let you enjoy the fantastic view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and explore the Naxi ethnic culture better.

1 Day Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tour with Impression Lijiang Show
1 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Hiking Tour (5100 Meters) from Yuhu Village
1 Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Hiking Tour from Yufeng Monastery to Yulong Reservoir and Yuhu Village

Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Tour

Haba Snow Mountain is the best mountain for climbing tours in Yunnan with an elevation of 5396 meters in the summit. Haba Snow Mountain allows you to experience the typical process of climbing a snow mountain. It is not a hard climbing route. The most difficult is to overcome the altitude sickness. For 5 days Haba Snow Mountain climbing tour, you will have one more day for adapting high altitude from Base Camp to Base Camp 1. If you often go to high altitude areas and want to have a try to reach the summit of a mountain at 5396 meters, please don’t hesitate to join our snow mountain climbing tour. And usually, before the climbing tour, you will experience the the magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge first on the way.

5 Days Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Adventure (Camping at 4800M) with Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour
7 Days Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Tour and Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking Tour

Golf Tour

Lijiang, with an elevation of 2400 meters, is cool in summer and warm in winter. Therefore, Lijiang is another destination for playing golf all the year round in Yunnan. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club is located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with the elevation of 3100 meters as the highest golf club in Asia. Lijiang Ancient Town Lakefront Golf Club is located at the bank of Wenbi Lake, 10 kilometers away from Lijiang Ancient Town, with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in front, which is a nice place to play golf. During the golf tour, you will enjoy the leisure time of playing golf and beautiful scenery of Lijiang. You can also visit the must-see attractions in Lijiang such as Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge and so on. Except for Lijiang, Kunming is another good choice for golf tour. Surrounded by mountains and beside the limpid lake, the Spring City Golf & Lake Resort in Kunming is one of the most beautiful golf holiday resorts in the world, hence the name of the golf paradise in Asia.

5 Days Lijiang Golf Tour with Lijiang Ancient Lakefront Golf Course and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club
7 Days Kunming Lijiang Golf Vocation and Sightseeing Tour
10 Days Yunnan Golf and Sightseeing Tour

Students Education Tour

Our students education tour provides many chances for international students to interact with local people, stay with local people, visit local school, learn local culture and do voluntary work. And after some days interaction with local people, we take the students to do some exciting and interesting programs, such as hiking, cycling, and sightseeing. Our students education tours often end in Lijiang. The last night of the tour, we could arrange an unforgettable bonfire party and barbecue dinner for the students. The students can dance, sing and enjoy the last relaxed time in Lijiang.

7 Days Lijiang Education Tour for International School Students
8 Days Lijiang Students Education Tour
9 Days Yunnan Highlights Education Tour

Classic Tour

A Yunnan classic tour takes at least 7 days, during the tour, you will visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-la and discover the ethnic culture of Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan. In these cities, you will visit Kunming Stone Forest, Dali Old Town, Lijiang Old Town, Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Shangri-La Songzanlin Monastery, etc. All of them are famous attractions in Yunnan. During the classic tour, what you experience is varied and colorful. You will hike or climb a mountain, go cycling around a lake, stroll around a park or watch a show. More Attractions in the itineraries, please check the following tour packages:

8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by High Speed Bullet Train
8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by Flight
9 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La High Speed Train Tour
10 Days Yunnan Classic Tour With Xishuangbanna Tropical Forest
11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Haba Snow Mountain (5396M) Climbing Adventure
11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Holy Lugu Lake and Mosuo Matriarchal Society (Departure from Shangrila)

Dali-Lijiang Tour

Since the transportation between Dali and Lijiang is convenient, especially the high-speed train reduces the distance between them to 1 hour and 21 minutes. 1-2 days Dali-Lijiang tours are provided. This tour combines ancient history with modern tourist attractions, and the journey usually starts from Dali and ends in Lijiang.

1 Day Dali to Lijiang Tour with Shaxi Old Town and Shibaoshan Mountain
1 Day Dali to Lijiang Tour
2 Days Shaxi Old Town and Shibaoshan Mountain Tour from Dali to Lijiang

Lijiang-Shangri-La Tour

A sightseeing tour between Lijiang and Shangrila usually includes the First Bend of the Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge. The first bend of Yangtze River, as its name denotes, is the spot where the south running river suddenly turns northward due to changes in the shape of the nearby mountain ranges which form a mammoth V shape at this spot. Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges on earth with spectacular views. On these kinds of trips, you will enjoy the spectacular views along the road: First Bend of Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge, and also visit the popular attractions in Lijiang and Shangri-La: Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Dukezong Old Town, Guishan Park, Napa Lake, Songzanlin Monastery and so on. According to your travel duration and requirements, attractions will increase or decrease accordingly.

1 Day Lijiang to Shangri-la Tour with The First Bend of Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge
2 Days Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La Group Tour
9 Days Shangri-La and Lijiang Cycling Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking Adventure
9 Days Lijiang and Shangrila Adventure Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking and Haba Snow Mountain(5396M) Climbing
9 Days Shangri-La Circle Tour and Three Parallel Rivers Adventure (Depart from Lijiang)
10 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Adventure and Meili Snow Mountain Pilgrimage Tour
10 Days Lijiang and Shangri-La Exploration Tour with Meili Snow Mountain and Daocheng Yading Nature Reserve
12 Days Lijiang and Shangri-La Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour with Haba Snow Mountain Climbing and Baoshan Stone Town

There are a lot of tour packages including Lijiang, we can’t list all of them at a time. Read more about Lijiang tour, contact us YunnanExploration by Email: contact@YunnanExploration.com or Telephone: +86-871-63511469. Our attentive consultants will arrange the tour packages you choose or customize a tour according to your need.

Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit Lijiang

Lijiang is suitable for traveling all year round. You can experience different scenery in four seasons. But, the best time to visit Lijiang is considered from April to October. July and August are in the rainy season. When you are planning a Lijiang tour, please try to avoid the Chinese legal holidays, especially Chinese Spring Festival(Late Jan. or early Feb.), Labor Day(May 1-3) and National Day(Oct. 1-7). Read More: Lijiang Climate

What to Eat in Lijiang

In addition to providing tourists with the best sceneries, food in Lijiang may also meet your expectations. Among the famous dishes in Lijiang, you are suggested to try the black goat hot pot, because black goat is one of the most common foods for the local people. Cured pork chop is also popular, and it is usually seen when eating hot pot. There are all kinds of fish dishes in Lijiang, maybe you can try the salmon fish, which may not be the same as you have eaten before. Read More: Lijiang Dining

Where to Stay in Lijiang

As a top tourist city, there’s no necessary to worry about the lodging. There are a lot of inns and hotels in Lijiang with different standard. For the convenience of eating and sightseeing, most tourists will stay in Lijiang Ancient Town, like Sifang Street and Wuyi Street. And some travelers will stay in Shuhe Ancient Town, which is smaller but quieter than Lijiang Ancient Town. Hotels there has specific Naxi Style. Read More: Lijiang Accommodation

How to Get in Lijiang

Two popular ways to Lijiang: airplane and high-speed train.

1. By Flight

There is an airport in Lijiang, named Lijiang Sanyi International Airport. According to the comprehensive information of August 2017 on airport’s official website, the total number of navigation cities at Lijiang Sanyi International Airport is 59, among which 53 are domestic navigation cities, which cover the first tier cities and most of the provincial capitals. The remaining 6 cities are international navigation cities leading to Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan and Hong Kong area. There are 29 operating airlines. There are direct flights to Lijiang from some cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Chengdu, Guangzhou, etc. Read More: Lijiang Transportation

2. By High-speed Train

The high-speed train between Kunming and Lijiang has been put into operation on January 5, 2019. The new high-speed line, which has 10 stations, cut travel time from Kunming to Lijiang from more than 8 hours to 3 hours. The travel time from Dali to Lijiang is reduced to 1 hour 21 minutes. Read More: Lijiang Railway Station

Besides, taxi, bus and bicycle are available to get around the Lijiang City.

Main Festivals

As one of the minority enclaves, Lijiang has some special festivals to celebrate due to its minority customs, including Bangbang Festival, Sanduo Festival, Dongba Fair, Torch Festival, July Festival, Zhuanshan(Mountain Circling) Festival and Lugu Lake Circling Festival. Moreover, the well-known Lijiang Folk Festival and Snow Mountain Festival is also held in Lijiang. Read More: Lijiang Festivals and Activities

Best Things to Do in Lijiang

1. Take a Walk in Ancient Tow

Lijiang Ancient Town, also known as Dayan Ancient Town, is one of the best preserved ancient towns in China. Influenced by Chinese traditional architectural style and Naxi culture, the ancient town is full of ancient Naxi customs. The ingenious architectural design art of the Lijiang ancient town makes it a perfect combination of natural beauty and artificial beauty. Lijiang ancient Town has colorful local customs and entertainment activities, Naxi ancient music, Dongba ceremony, divination culture, ancient town bars and Naxi torch festival, etc., unique and peculiar. And Lijiang Ancient Town embodies the achievements in the construction of ancient Chinese cities, and is one of the types with distinctive characteristics and styles in Chinese folk houses.

If you are interested in exploring local cultures in different ancient towns, you can also go to Shuhe Ancient Town, Baisha Old Town and Shigu Ancient Town.

2. Enjoy a Splendid View of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Located in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is 15 kilometers north of the downtown, which has a highest altitude of 5596 meters and an area of 455 square kilometers. With thirteen perennial snow peak, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence the name. Featured by its magnificence, precipitousness, uniqueness and beauty, the scenery of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain changes in accordance with seasons and weathers. It is a kingdom of plants and wild animals. For its beautiful snow-covered scenery, the best time to visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is November to March of the following year.

3. Cruise the Lugu Lake and Explore Mosuo Culture

Lugu Lake is surrounded by high and sublime mountains and is snowbound for over 3 months. Since the lake is rather deep, a definite regulating influence is exerted on the temperature of the lake shores. Therefore the surrounding mountains abound in forest resources which afford an exquisite beauty, much fresh air and charming scenery. At present it is one of the places in China which is least damaged by human efforts and best preserved in its natural features. Regardless of the pure blue water, dense forest and colorful flowers, this fairyland is also the mother lake of Mosuo people near Lugu Lake.  The rainy season runs from July to September. Pay attention to the road condition because it will be slippery.

4. Start Your Hiking Tour at Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge is spectacular and crown as the deepest gorge in the world. Foreign backpackers started hiking in the area in the 1980s and now Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour has been one of the most famous hiking tours all around the world. From the top of Tiger Leaping Gorge, you can look down the steeply angled (70-90 degrees) mountain sides to the rushing Jinsha River with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters below. April to June and September to October are the best time for hiking.

5. Watch the Wonderful Show of Impression Lijiang

Impression Lijiang, with the specific Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as its natural background, shows the ancient Naxi culture, music and traditional legends. This charming outdoor show is an unparalleled work of art.

● Chinese Name: 印象丽江
● Keywords: outdoor performance, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, ethic groups, folk songs and dances
● Location: Ganhaizi Meadow, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, Lijiang, Yunnan, China
● Admission Fee: 190 RMB for adult ticket(standard-seat),  260 RMB for adults(VIP-seat)
● Director: Zhangyimou, Wangchaoge, Fanyue
● Performing Duration: an hour
● Open Time: 09:00-18:00(all the year round); Off Season: 13:30-14:30; Peak Season: 12:50-13:50.

Prepare for Lijiang Tour

What to Know

1. Know some basic information about Lijiang, Yunnan and China, which can help you understand the local culture well.

2. Learn some information about Naxi ethnic minorities in Lijiang in advance.

3. If you are interested, learn some basic Chinese words and phrases, which could help you communicate with the locals easily.

What to Take

1. Pay attention to keep warm in winter. Because of the relatively high altitude, the temperature difference is large between day and night in winter, it is suggested to bring the thick coat and windproof jacket. Except for winter, other seasons are usually warm. Remember to wear long sleeves and trousers, as well as bring a jacket in spring and autumn, add clothes according to the change of temperature.

2. If you plan to climb the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, thick clothing like down jacket is needed.

3. Pay attention to sun protection. Due to the strong solar radiation in the daytime, sun cream, sun hat, sunglasses and other sunscreen products will be needed.

4. Do remember to take the umbrella and rain gear in the rainy season, especially in July and August.

5. Bring some medicines in case of emergency, like cold medication and and medicines for a stomachache.

6. Prepare moisturizer because the weather in Lijiang is dry.

7. Don’t forget your Chinese visa and passport.

When preparing gear and clothing for trekking in Yunnan, especially in varied terrains and climates, it’s essential to pack wisely to ensure comfort, safety, and readiness for changing weather conditions. Here’s a detailed guide on trek gear and clothing essentials:

Trek Gear Essentials:

1. Hiking Boots: Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support are crucial for varying terrains and conditions.
2. Backpack: A comfortable, well-fitted backpack with padded straps and hip belt to distribute weight evenly.
3. Trekking Poles: Optional but recommended for stability, especially on uneven terrain or steep ascents/descents.
4. Sleeping Gear: Lightweight tent, sleeping bag suitable for the season’s temperatures, and a sleeping pad for insulation.
5. Navigation Tools: Detailed map of the trekking area, compass or GPS device, and knowledge of how to use them.
6. First Aid Kit: Essentials like bandages, blister treatment, pain relievers, antiseptic wipes, and personal medications.
7. Water and Hydration System: Water bottles or hydration reservoir with a filtration system for refilling.
8. Headlamp or Flashlight: Essential for navigating at night or in low light conditions.

Clothing Essentials:

1. Base Layers: Moisture-wicking, quick-drying base layers (tops and bottoms) to regulate body temperature and manage sweat.
2. Insulating Layers: Depending on the season, pack insulating layers such as fleece jackets or lightweight down jackets for warmth.
3. Outer Shell: Waterproof and windproof jacket with hood to protect against rain, wind, and occasional snow at higher altitudes.
4. Hiking Pants: Lightweight, quick-drying hiking pants that offer mobility and protection from brush and insects.
5. Socks: Pack several pairs of moisture-wicking socks to prevent blisters. Consider wearing a thin liner sock underneath for added comfort.
6. Gloves and Hat: Lightweight gloves and a warm hat or beanie for chilly mornings and higher altitudes.
7. Sun Protection: Sunglasses with UV protection, sunscreen (SPF 30+), and lip balm with SPF to protect against sunburn.
8. Buff or Neck Gaiter: Versatile for protecting your neck and face from sun, wind, and dust.

Additional Considerations:

• Layering: Dress in layers to easily adjust to changing temperatures throughout the day.
• Pack for Comfort: Avoid overpacking but ensure you have enough clothing for varying conditions.
• Local Weather: Check weather forecasts before your trek and pack accordingly, considering potential weather changes at higher altitudes.

By preparing with the right gear and clothing, you’ll enhance your comfort and safety while trekking through the diverse landscapes of Yunnan, whether exploring rainforests in Xishuangbanna or hiking the rugged trails of Yuanyang’s rice terraces.

Yunnan Hiking Tours will mainly introduce the best Yunnan Hiking Tour Packages, best places to take a Yunnan Hiking Tour, and some travel tips for Yunnan Hiking Tours. Yunnan Exploration professionally offers the different Yunnan Trekking Tours or Yunnan Hiking Tours for the guests according to the the guests’ requirements, such as the duration of your Yunnan Hiking Travel, different customs you are focused on, what to do you like between the tough Yunnan Trekking Tour. What’s more, Yunnan Exploration have designed the Yunnan Trekking Tours aimed at young people, senior people and family with kids. The classic and famous hiking routes of Tiger Leaping Gorge, Meili Snow Mountain, Yubeng Village, ect. favored by thousands of adventure tourists.Please also read How to Plan Your Yunnan Hiking Tours fore more Yunnan adventure.

Yunnan Province in China offers an incredible array of hiking destinations, each with unique landscapes and cultural experiences. Here’s a comprehensive list of top hiking destinations and routes you mentioned:

1. Dulongjiang River Valley Hiking: Explore the remote and scenic valley inhabited by the Dulong ethnic minority.
2. Biluo Snow Mountain Hiking: Trek through Biluo Snow Mountain for panoramic views and alpine scenery.
3. Yubeng Village Hiking: Accessible from Deqin, Yubeng offers stunning views of Meili Snow Mountain and sacred waterfalls.
4. Meili Beipo Hiking: Explore the northern side of Meili Snow Mountain with less crowded trails and pristine landscapes.
5. Meili Snow Mountain Hiking: Known for its pilgrimage trek to Kawagebo Peak, one of the highest peaks in Yunnan.
6. Haba Snow Mountain Hiking and Climbing: Offers challenging climbs and breathtaking views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
7. Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking: Famous for its dramatic gorge scenery and adventurous trekking trails along the Jinsha River.
8. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Hiking: Near Lijiang, offers various trails with views of the iconic snow-capped peaks.
9. Baoshan Stone Village to Lugu Lake Hiking: Scenic hike passing through traditional villages and culminating at the picturesque Lugu Lake.
10. Cangshan Mountain Hiking: Near Dali, offers diverse trails through forests and past alpine lakes with views of Erhai Lake.
11. Three Parallel Rivers Hiking: Explore the rugged landscapes and deep river gorges of the Nu, Lancang, and Jinsha Rivers.
12. Yuanyang Rice Terraces Hiking: UNESCO site with terraced fields offering cultural immersion and stunning vistas.
13. Ancient Tea Horse Road Hiking: Historical trade route passing through tea-growing regions of Yunnan and Tibet.
14. Xishuangbanna Tea Mountain Hiking: Southern Yunnan offers hikes through tea plantations and tropical rainforests.
15. Lincang Tea Mountain Hiking: Known for its high-quality tea production, with hikes through terraced fields and villages.
16. Daocheng Yading Hiking: Sacred Tibetan region with stunning peaks, pristine lakes, and challenging high-altitude trails.
17. Lugu Lake to Daocheng Yading Hiking: Long-distance trek combining highland lakes and remote Tibetan villages.
18. Baimang Snow Mountain Hiking: Offers remote and less-traveled trails with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks.
19. Lijiang Laojun Mountain Hiking: Near Lijiang, offers scenic trails through lush forests and alpine meadows.
20. Jizu Mountain Hiking: Sacred Buddhist mountain with pilgrimage routes and ancient temples.
21. Yuxi Ailao Mountain Hiking: Southern Yunnan, known for its biodiversity and scenic mountain trails.
22. Puer Wuliang Mountain Hiking: Known for its tea plantations and biodiversity, with trails through lush forests.
23. Lincang Big Snow Mountains Hiking: Offers challenging hikes and stunning views of the rugged landscape.

These destinations showcase the diversity of Yunnan’s landscapes, from snow-capped mountains and deep river valleys to lush forests and ancient cultural sites. Whether you’re an avid trekker or a casual hiker, Yunnan’s hiking trails offer something unforgettable for everyone.

 

 

“Yunnan is full of beautiful sceneries.” is not only praised by Yunnan people, but also visitors to Yunnan. it is no exaggeration to say that every place in Yunnan is a scenery. Meanwhile, in different seasons, you can enjoy the different charms of Yunnan. So, “When is the best time to visit Yunnan?” has become a concern of many friends. In fact, friends who come to Yunnan to travel, do not have to worry about this problem, because all seasons are the best time to travel Yunnan. Of course, for shutterbugs, there are beautiful sceneries in every month, every season. If you want to ask me when to go to Yunnan, then look at the best time for Yunnan Photography Trip in 2019!

1. December-January of the next year

Winter is the best travel season. Xishuangbanna enters the dry season and the weather is sunny and comfortable. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces from sun to sun.

Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

In February, Yuanyang has cloud sea almost every day. The Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces are large in scale and magnificent. They stretch across Honghe, Yuanyang, Lvchun and Jinping counties on the south bank of the Red River. There are only 190,000 acres of terraces in Yuanyang County. Photographers don’t need to bring equipments as much as in winter for photograph tour. It is very easy to take a beautiful photo without PS skills.

Recommended Tours including:

• 3 Days Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Photography Tour from Kunming
• 3 Days Yuanyang Rice Terrace Photography Group Tour
• 4 Days Long Street Banquet Festival and Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photography Tour
• 4 Days Long Street Banquet Festival and Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photography Tour

Read more about Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Tours

Tengchong

Tengchong is one of the most famous volcanic areas in China. There are 97 cenozoic volcanoes in the area and 139 hot springs. It has volcanoes, geothermal heat and hot springs, which are rare in China and the world. Yunnan is becoming an increasingly popular birding destination and Tengchong is one of the excellent areas for bird watching in Yunnan. What’s more, Tengchong was the scene of fierce battles between the Japanese during WWII. The Graveyard of the National Heroes, The Museum of Yunnan-Burmese Anti-Japanese War are the must-see places of Tengchong red tour.

Recommended Tours including:

• 8 Days Yunnan Gaoli Gongshan Mountain Birding Tour
• 15 Days Southwest Yunnan Birding Tour

Read more about Nujiang Tours

Weather in Tiger Leaping Gorge: The Best Season to Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge

About 100 km north from Lijiang, the Gorge is precisely located between the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the Yulong County, part of the city-prefecture area of Lijiang and the Haba Snow Mountain in the the Shangri-La City, part of the Diqing prefecture. As the deepest gorge in the world, the scenery of Tiger Leaping Gorge is spectacular. Foreign backpackers started hiking in the area in the 1980s and now Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour has been one of the most famous hiking tour all around the world. 

Climate of Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge weather is generally mild, with abundant rainfall and plenty of sunshine. It has an average annual temperature between 13°C (55 F) and 20°C (68 F), without too much change from spring to winter. In summer, the temperature just falls between 10 – 26°C (50 – 79 F) low because of the continuous rain. Coming to winter, the high mountains block the cold air from northern China, so it is still as warm as spring for most of the days.

Spring: 

By the end of February through May, temperature average is between 20℃ to 30℃. The afternoon sun already hints at a hot summer ahead. By March other colour of nature help paint the scene with soft creams and pinks as the first fruit trees flower. This period has the most comfortable weather with temperatures up to 20°C. Take a light jacket. May is even more warmer than April and there are more blooming flora. Try to avoid the Chinese Spring Festival due to the heavy pressure of transport and accommodation.

Summer:

It’s the rainy season of Tiger Leaping Gorge from June to September. The heavy rain maybe result the gorge closed on certain days. After several days of rain, landslides may block the way, especially on the lower road. These landslides can range from the “very easy to across” to the totally impassable. Check this area’s weather in advance. 

Autumn:

The scenery from mid-autumn to November is also excellent. The treacherous summer rains ease, and the trails become firm and dry underfoot. Usually dry and sunny, bring a long-sleeve, light sweater and a coat. 

Winter:

A good time to hike the gorge for the sunny weather, dry and clear. While it’s cold at night and chilly at morning. There are much fewer travelers in winter, so it is cheaper to travel for this season. Prepare warm clothes such as down jacket and thick sweater.

Best Time to Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge hike can be undertaken at any time around the year as it enjoys a mild climate even in winter (5-15 degrees Celsius), but the temperature difference of a day is great. Between April and June and the autumn time during September to October is the best time to travel. During these two periods it is suitable to go hiking on the Tiger Leaping Gorge, also can see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain scenery. The late spring and early summer the temperature is moderate, flowers on the meadow blooming like a piece of brocade which is charming.

However, it rains a lot during the rainy season from July to September and there is some risk that paths could be blocked due to landslides. So try to avoid this rainy period. 

Keep Reading:

Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge Transportation
How to Travel to Tiger Leaping Gorge from Kunming
How to Get to Tiger Leaping Gorge from Shangrila
Where to Stay in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour Tips

Generally speaking, the weather in most areas of Yunnan is mild in winter and cool in summer. Featuring in diverse climate types of north-tropical, south-subtropical central-subtropical, etc, the weather in Yunnan province varies in different regions and cities. It is suitable to visit Yunnan all year round. The time to go depends largely on what you want to see and which part you want to go to. Spring and early summer are the best times to see the flora and fauna. Fall and winter are the best times to see snow-capped mountains and peaks. 

Spring(March–May)

The temperature in Spring ranges from 7–21°C (45–70°F) in Kunming, and from 5–17°C (41–63°F) in Lijiang and Shangri-La. It’s still cold in March. May is the beginning of the rainy season and temperatures begin to rise. Daily temperature difference in the spring can reach 12° C to 20° C. Warm clothes are highly recommended. Remember to bring an umbrella.

Things to Do

March is a good time to see the snowy mountains. April is the golden season for Yunnan travel. The temperature is suitable, and it is not the rainy season. The scenery in Kunming, Lijiang and Shangri-la is very beautiful. It’s also the best time to hike Tiger Leaping Gorge. March to April is also the best time to experience Bai’s festivals and ceremonies in Dali. Besides, Yunnan is the kingdom for flora and fauna. In Spring, you can enjoy the sea of flowers.

Recommended Tour Packages:
13 Days Yunnan Festival Tour in Spring
11 Days Yunnan Spring Photograph Tour With Luoping Rapeseed Flowers, Bamei Village And Yuanyang Hani Rice Terrace Field

Summer(June-September)

The temperature in summer ranges from 16–24°C (61–75°F) in Kunming, and from 13–23°C (55–73°F) in Lijiang and Shangri-La. The temperature difference is not as great as in spring, but you can still experience a 10-degree drop in temperature in a rainy day. Wear long sleeves even on the hottest days. Besides, umbrellas are useful on both sunny and rainy days.

Things to Do

From late spring to early summer, Shangri-la boasts the most beautiful flowers. This is also the best time to enjoy the plateau scenery. Summer is the best time to visit Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-la. July and August are rainy season of Yunnan and peak season of Yunnan travel. Prices at tourist attractions and hotels are rising and tourists are increasing. However, more rain increases the amount of water in the rivers and lakes, and the scenery around Kunming and Lijiang is more impressive.

Recommended Tour Packages:
6 Days Yunnan Ancient Villages Tour with Puzhehei Scenic Area and Bamei Xanadu Village
4 Days Shangri-La Alpine Pasture and Niru Village Hiking Tour

Autumn(October–November)

The temperature in autumn ranges from 14–22°C (57–72°F) in Kunming, and from 12–21°C (54–70°F) in Lijiang and Shangri-La. In autumn, rainfall is greatly reduced, the weather is drier with more sunshine. After October, the weather turned cold and the temperature changed significantly in one day. A thick sweater and jacket are recommended. Also wear protective skin care products, sunglasses or hats to protect your skin from the sun.

Things to Do

You can enjoy more sunny days in autumn. This is another golden period of Yunnan travel. In the countryside, you have the chance to see the beautiful scenery of harvest. Autumn is also the best time to enjoy the colorful scenery of Shangri-la and hike Tiger Leaping Gorge. Try to avoid the National Holiday, when there are crowded transportation and accommodation. What’s more, you will spend more time on queueing when you visit attractions.

Recommended Tour Packages:
7 Days Lijiang and Shangri-La Paradise Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Adventure
8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by High Speed Bullet Train

Winter(December–February)

The temperature in winter ranges from 4–16°C (39–61°F) in Kunming, and from 1–15°C (34–59°F) in Lijiang and Shangri-La. Winter in Yunnan is not cold and there is much less rain. There may be more sunshine in this season. If you don’t mind taking more clothes, traveling to Yunnan in winter is a good choice. Bring warm clothes, such as knit hats, gloves, thick sweaters, down jackets or winter jackets. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun in high places. 

Things to Do

If you would like to visit Haba Snow Mountain, Meili Snow Mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and other snow mountains, winter is a good time to visit. With clear air and fewer clouds, you have a greater opportunity to see their peaks. Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces is marked by spectacular terraces that cascade down the slopes of the towering Ailao Mountains to the banks of the Honghe River. In winter, with the change of sunray, terrace presents different beautiful scenery. Sea of clouds often appears at these months.

Recommended Tour Packages:
6 Days Kunming Yuanyang Jianshui Photography Tour with Honghe Hani Rice Terraces
6 Days Northeast Yunnan Winter Birding Tour to Dianchi Lake, Nianhu Lake and Dashanbao

Keeping Reading:

Best Time for Yunnan Photography Trip
Weather in Tiger Leaping Gorge: The Best Season to Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge
Yunnan Travel Advice on Clothes to Pack in Different Seasons

Tips on Traveling to Yunnan in Autumn