Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangrila tour is the most welcomed tour in Yunnan. Discover Yunnan’s ethnic culture and its beautiful towns and scenery during this mazing 6 days’ tour! This tour includes the major attractions of Yunnan Province, such as Stone Forest, Erhai Lake, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Songzanlin Monasteryand some ethnic towns and villages. You can also experience the culture of Yis, Naxis, Bais, and Tibetan minorities. The tour is designed for everyone whoever is budget tourist or whoever wants to share a tour with others.

Highlights:

• The best destinations of Yunnan: Kungming – Dali – Lijiang -Shangri-La.
• Discover the natural beauty of Yunnan: Stone Forest, Erhai Lake, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Napahai Lake,
• Explore the ethnic groups in Yunnan: Yi, Bai, Naxi, Tibetan, etc.
• Enjoy the real life of local people in the ancient towns and villages: Dali Old Town, Xizhou Old Town, Zhoucheng Village, Lijiang Old Town, Yuhu Village, Baisha Old Town, Shuhe Old Town, Dukezong Old Town, and Tibetan village.
• Visit a monastery and a temple in Yunnan: Songzanlin Monastery and Chongsheng Temple.
• Experience bullet train from Kunming to Dali.

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1 Kunming-Dali
• Day 2 Dali
• Day 3 Dali-Lijiang
• Day 4 Lijiang
• Day 5 Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-la
• Day 6 Shangri-la

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Meals: None

At 09:00 am, meet your tour guide & driver at Jinma Biji Archway（in Chinese: 金马碧鸡坊）and then drive about 85km to the Stone Forest. In the afternoon, drive back to Kunming and visit Birds and Flowers Market. Then stroll around the Green Lake. In the evening, take a bullet train to Dali. Meet your local guide and driver, then transfer to hotel for overnight.

Day 2 Dali

Meals: breakfast

In the morning, explore Dali Old Town including the Foreigner Street, the Ancient City Wall of Dali and The Gate Tower. Then drive to visit Three Pagodas in Chongsheng Monastery. In the afternoon, transfer to Xizhou Old Town. Walk around this old town to see Bai ethnic traditional archetecture. Taste local three-course tea in Xizhou. Afterwards, drive to Haishe Park to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Erhai Lake. After that, drive to Zhoucheng Village. Pay a visit to local Tie-Dyeing workshop. Transfer back to hotel.

Day 3 Dali-Lijiang

Meals: breakfast

In the morning, drive 3 hours to Lijiang. Upon arrival, visit Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Culture Musuem. Then enjoy your free time in Lijiang Old Town. At 5:00 pm, meet your guide again at Big Waterwheel spot(大水车) in Lijiang Old Town and transfer to hotel in Baisha Old Town.

Day 4 Lijiang

Meals: breakfast

In the morning at 09:00 am, visit Baisha Old Town and Baisha Murals. Afterwards, drive to visit Yuhu Village and Former Residence of Joseph Rock. In the afternoon, transfer to visit Shuhe Old Town.

Day 5 Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-la

Meals: breakfast

In the morning, drive to Qiaotou Town. On the way, have a view of the First Bend of Yangtze River from afar and drive to Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge and stop for 5 minutes for photograph. Then go on driving to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge for hiking (about 3 hours). Hike from a place named “14km” to Tina’s Guesthouse. In the afternoon at 3:30 pm, drive to Shangri-la. Upon arrival, stroll around Dukezong Ancient Town and walk up to the top of Guishan Hill to see the Grand Prayer Wheel and have a panoramic view of Shangri-La city. Transfer to the hotel.

Day 6 Shangri-la

Meals: breakfast

Pick you up at the hotel. Then drive to visit Songzanlin Monastery and then pay a visit to a local Tibetan village and family around the monastery. In the afternoon, transfer to visit Napahai Lake. In the late afternoon, drive back to Shangri-La downtown and drop you off to Moonshine Square(in Chinese: 月光广场). Tour ends.

Please note: Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.

Recommended Hotels

Price Details for Shoulder Season

Price Details for Tourism Season

Cancellation Policy

Service Included:

1. Five nights accommodation with breakfast in economy hotels;
2. Sharing-vehicle with air conditioners;
3. Excellent English-speaking guide;
4. Entrance tickets mentioned in the itinerary;
5. Bullet train ticket from Kunming to Dali (2nd-class ticket);
6. Two bottles of water each day each person.

Service Excluded:

1. Lunches and dinners;
2. International train tickets/flight tickets;
3. Personal travel accident insurance;
4. Any optional programs/activities;
5. Chinese visa fees;
6. Personal consumption;
7. Any picking-up and dropping of service between hotel and airport;
8. Single room supplement;
9. Tips (USD 5-10/day/person to guide; USD 5-10/day/person to driver).

For the price will be different in different seasons. Please contact us for more details.

The key highlight of this itinerary is to climb Haba Snow Mountain. Standing at 5396m, Haba is just above the snow-line and is covered with snow all the year round. This trip 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 high altitude sickness. If you often go to high altitude areas and if you want to have a try to reach the summit of a mountain at 5396m, please don’t hesitate to join our snow mountain climbing tour. Before reaching Haba Snow Mountain, have a stop to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge.

The 4-Day Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Tour is an exhilarating journey that combines adventure and natural beauty. This tour takes you from the cultural heart of Lijiang through the dramatic landscapes of Tiger Leaping Gorge to the majestic Haba Snow Mountain. Whether you’re an experienced climber or an adventurous traveler looking for a challenge, this tour offers an unforgettable experience of Yunnan’s breathtaking mountain scenery and rich cultural heritage.

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Haba Snow Mountain
• Day 2: Haba Village-the Base Camp of Haba Snow Mountain
• Day 3: Base Camp-the Summit of Haba Snow Mountain-Base Camp
• Day 4: Base Camp  of Haba Snow Mountain -Haba Village-Lijiang

Detailed Itinerary

Tiger Leaping Gorge is recognized as one of the most famous scenic attractions for hiking in the world and one of the must-visit hiking itineraries in Yunnan recommended by ‘Lonely Planet’.  It can not be missed if you like hiking. Besides this hiking as the highlight of this tour, we will also visit famous attractions in Lijiang and Shangri-La, such as the holy mountain-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang Old Town, and Ganden Sumtseling Monastery. It’s a special experience to visit local family and have yak-buttered lunch in their house.

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Lijiang Arrival
• Day 2: Lijiang
• Day 3: Lijiang Old Town
• Day 4: Lijiang – Qiaotou – Bendiwan Village
• Day 5: Bendiwan Village-Middle Gorge-Shangri-La
• Day 6: Shangri-La
• Day 7: Shangri-La Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Lijiang Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities:Lijiang Arrival
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: None

Arrive at Lijiang airport , then drive to Lijiang hotel for check in. 

Day 2 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Ganhaizi Meadow, Baishui River, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Spruce Meadow, Impression Lijang Ethnic Show, Baisha Old Town and Baisha Murals
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, drive about 30KM to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M), you will take the sightseeing bus for a short visiting through the Baishuihe River, take the chairlift up to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Take a cablecar to Spruce Meadow. You will hike around 1 hour in the original forest in Spruce Meadow (3200M).

After lunch, you will have an option to enjoy the Impression Lijang Ethnic Show (Tickets:190 Yuan not included) directed in Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M). A cultural show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area. The show takes place inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park at 3500m in an outdoor theater specifically designed to showcase the mountain which is used as a backdrop. The production itself was designed by Zhang Yimou, Fan Yue and Wang Chaoge, a cast of over 500 people, and a number of horses. In the afternoon, you’ll stroll through Baisha Old Town, which is an enchanting traditional Yunnan town.  Visit the Baisha Mural about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.

Day 5 Bendiwan Village-Middle Gorge-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Tina’s Guest House, Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse, Walnut Grove Garden, Baishuitai Terraces
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Get up in the early morning, hiking down to Tina’s Guest House, passing a small but high waterfall on the way. Then we will trek further down to the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge and get back, which will take you about three hours. You will firstly trek from Tina’s Guesthouse down to Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse, where you can have a nice view of the middle gorge looks like a big gate. It is quite steep trail from Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse down to the Middle Rapids.

From the Middle Rapids, there are two small trails back to the road. The first one is to climb the Tianti or “Sky Ladder”, which is a challenge, vertical and dangerous climbing. Usually we choose the lower trail and trek to the Walnut Grove Garden. This is a nice trekking along the Yangtze River. Transfer along the Haba Snow Mountain to Shangri-La, visit Baishuitai Terraces on the way.

Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, as the most perilous section, features a huge drop in water level. Six km away from the upper gorge is a waterfall where the river crashes down over 100 meters hitting the rocks in the river bed and creating violent currents. In 100-meter section are numerous reefs, and the current is torrential. The gorge is rarely traversed by humans, but on the slope between the Middle and Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge there is a small village — Hetaoyuan Village, which has little contact with the outside, where villagers lead a simple and natural life, dwelling in stone-plate houses.

Day 6 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park, visit a Tibetan’s family
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Recommended Hotels

Service Included:

• Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
• Meals as listed in the itinerary;
• Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
• Private English-speaking tour guide;
• Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
• Service charge & government taxes;
• Luggage transfers between airports and hotels.

Service Excluded:

• Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
• Chinese visa fees;
• Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
• Single room supplement;
• Tips to guides and drivers;
• Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
• Personal travel accident insurance;
• All optional programs.

For this 8 Days Kunming Dali Lijiang Shangri-La High Speed Train Tour, you will visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La. This is also a minority discovery tour, because you will find minority diversity during your trip, the minorities such as Yis, Bais, Naxis and Tibetan. Moreover, the Tiger Leaping Gorge will be the most impressive part of your trip, you could be shocked by the ruggedness and magnificence of Tiger Leaping Gorge and the mountains around when you are there. This part can not be missed.

Highlights:

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Kunming Arrival
• Day 2: Kunming
• Day 3: Kunming-Dali
• Day 4: Dali-Lijiang
• Day 5: Lijiang
• Day 6: Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La
• Day 7: Shangri-La
• Day 8: Shangri-La Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Arrive in Kunming
Accommodation:Kunming
Meals:None

You’ll begin your journey to the diverse and captivating province of Yunnan from the capital city, Kunming. Upon arrival at the Kunming International Airport, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:the Stone Forest, the Green Lake, Flowers and Birds Market
Accommodation:Kunming
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

You will drive 86 km to the Stone Forest. An old local saying says that ‘If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.’ Truly, the Stone Forest is one of the most important attractions of Yunnan.

After lunch, drive back to Kunming to visit the Green Lake and then enjoy a 20-minute walk to visit the Flowers and Birds Market in downtown area.

Day 3 Kunming-Dali High Speed Train

Sightseeing and Activities:Three Pagodas, cruise in Erhai Lake, Dali Old Town, Foreigner’s Street, Ancient City Wall
Accommodation:Dali
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

Get up in the early morning. Transfer to train station. Take a high speed train from Kunming to Dali.

Arrive at Dali train station. Meet your local guide in Dali. Then visit Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain facing to the Erhai Lake. Three Pagodas are made of three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle.

Then you’ll cruise in Erhai Lake by the small boat to the Jinsuo Islet in the east Erhai Lake. There are 200 Bai ethnic families around 1000 people in Jinsuo Island.In Erhai Lake cruise, you will enjoy the green Cangshan Mountain and the Three Pagodas from a far as well as lots of birds and seagulls flying over the lake.

In the late afternoon, take a walk in Dali Old Town. Visit Foreigner’s Street and ancient city wall.

Day 4 Dali-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Xizhou Town, Zhoucheng Village, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste their fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture.

Transfer to visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop where you can take some special souvenir with the Bai ethnic style.

After lunch, drive to Lijiang. You will be relaxed around Lijiang Old Town, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture, is a central town of the Lijiang Autonomous County of the Naxi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Province. Located on the plateau which is 2,400 meters above the sea level and embraced by the tree-covered Lion Mountain in the west, Elephant and Golden Row Mountains in the north, vast fertile fields in the southeast and crystal clear water running through, the old town looks like a big jade ink slab, therefore got the alias the Town of Big Ink Slab (Dayanzhen).

Day 5 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Ganhaizi Meadow, Baishuihe River,Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Spruce Meadow, Blue Moon Valley, Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show, Baisha Old Town, Baisha Murals
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

Drive about 30KM to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area. You will firstly reach Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M). Then you will take the sightseeig bus for a short visiting through the Baishuihe River. Take cable car to Spruce Meadow and hike around 30 minutes in the forest. Then take a battery cart to Blue Moon Valley.

After lunch, you will enjoy the Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show directed by Zhang Yimou. It is held in Ganhaizi Meadow about 3100M above the sea level.

And then, you can stroll through Baisha Old Town, which is an enchanting traditional Naxi style old town.  Visit the Baisha Murals about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.

Recommended Hotels

Service Included:

• Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
• Meals as listed in the itinerary;
• Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
• Private English-speaking tour guide;
• Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
• Service charge & government taxes;
• Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
• High speed train tickets from Kunming to Dali (2nd class seats).

Service Excluded:

• Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
• Chinese visa fees;
• Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
• Single room supplement;
• Tips to guides and drivers;
• Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
• Personal travel accident insurance;
• All optional programs.

Yuanyang County is renowned for its Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces, a part of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, sculpted by bare hands by the Hani people one thousand years ago, transforming a barren valley into a humid Eden; perfect for rice crops. The 1000 m of mountain slopes of terraces is still in use today, claiming to be the world’s most spectacular and extensive terraces. It is a self sustaining ecosystem and a perfect example of a symbiosis with nature. Discoverd by French tourists last century, Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces are the most popular destination in south Yunnan Province. Different from the Longji Rice Terraces, the Yuanyang Rice Terraces do not have so many layers, but they are outstanding for their grandiose area with shallower slopes. If you do not have enough time, you can choose 3 Days Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Photography Tour from Kunming as a short visit of Jianshui and Yuanyang.

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Kunming Arrival
• Day 2: Kunming – Fuxianhu-Jianshui
• Day 3: Jianshui – Yuanyang
• Day 4: Yuanyang-Mengzi
• Day 5: Mengzi – The Stone Forest – Kunming
• Day 6: Kunming Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Kunming Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities:Kunming Arrival
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Lunch

You’ll begin your journey to the diverse and captivating province of Yunnan from the capital city, Kunming. Upon arrival at the Kunming International Airport, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel. You will take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of teahouses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings. If time permits, you will have a Kunming city tour.

Day 2 Kunming -Jianshui

Sightseeing and Activities:Tuanshan Village, Garden of Family Zhang, Jianshui Old Town, Chaoyang Gateway Tower
Accommodation: Jianshui
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Drive to Jianshui (4-5hrs ). You will visit Shuanglong Birdge and Tuanshan Village as well as the Garden of Family Zhang in Tuanshan Village. Tuanshan Village is a rare surviving example of an intact-albeit neglected-traditional walled Yunnan village compound in southwestern China, and has been added to the 2005 list of internationally significant sites by the World Memorial Fund for Architecture (WMF), an international fund for the protection of world heritage sites. Later , you’ll visit the Jianshui Old Town and the Chaoyang Gateway Tower, which was built in Ming Dynasty (1389). It is also known as ‘Miniature Tian’an men’ because the out shape of it is similar to Tian’anmen Square in Beijing.

Day 3 Jianshui-Yuanyang

Sightseeing and Activities:Jianshui Confucius Temple, Zhu Family Garden, the sunset of Laohuzui Terrace Field
Accommodation: Yuanyang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, visit Jianshui Confucius Temple, which has a history of 700 years. It is the second largest Confucius Temple in China. Then visit Zhu Family Garden.

In the afternoon, you will transfer to Yuanyang and enjoy the sight of terraced fields of Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) at sunset.

–Yuanyang is about 300km south of Kunming, renowned for its rice terraces, which claimed as the world’s largest and most spectacular one, crafted out by bare hands by the Hani people one thousand years ago and is still in use today. The rice farmers have had to practice ecology and land preservation centuries before those concepts were widely accepted around the world. Without hard work maintaining the terrace walls and irrigation system, the precious top soil would wash down the hillsides into the rivers.

Yuanyang Rice Terrace is a self sustaining ecosystem. During winter to early spring, the entire field is irrigated with spring water from the forest above to rejuvenate and getting prepared for the next season. The Hani people have repeated this for more than a thousand years. There is only one harvest in a year for the Yuanyang Rice Terrace; planting is from March to Oct./Nov. every year.

Recommended Hotels

Service Included:

• Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
• Meals as listed in the itinerary;
• Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
• Private English-speaking tour guide;
• Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
• Service charge & government taxes;
• Luggage transfers between airports and hotels.

Service Excluded:

• Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
• Chinese visa fees;
• Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
• Single room supplement;
• Tips to guides and drivers;
• Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
• Personal travel accident insurance;
• All optional programs.

Travel Tips:

• Visitors are advised to always carry changes of clothing due to the large variations in temperature between day and night.
• The climate is relatively dry, so drink more water every day.
• Protecting oneself from strong UV radiation at high altitude.
• Protecting oneself from altitude sickness. Lessen the effects of altitude sickness, avoid strenuous exercise and have plenty of rest.
• Respect local customs , habits, and religious beliefs.
• Do not forget to take an umbrella or a raincoat when go out.
• When take photos, please pay attention to your safety, do not shoot in dangerous areas.

Travel and Tours Packages of Honghe and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

1 Day Yuanyang Bada Hani Rice Terraces Hiking Tour
1 Day Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Cycling Tour
1 Day Yuanyang Duoyishu Hani Rice Terraces Hiking Tour with Hani,Yi Ethnic Villages and Mushroom Houses
1 Day Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Hiking Tour from Duoyishu to Laohuzui
1 Day Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Tour
2 Days Kunming-Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Tour at a glance
3 Days Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Tour from Kunming
3 Days Kunming, Jianshui and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Group Tour
4 Days Long Street Banquet Festival and Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photography Tour
6 Days Kunming Jianshui Yuanyang Photography Tour
6 Days Kunming Shadian Muslim Tour with Yuanyang Rice Terraces and Jianshui Old Town
7 Days Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photo Tour with Tea Culture Experience
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
8 Days Yunnan Photography Tour to Kunming-Dongchuan-Shilin-Jianshui and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
10 Days South Yunnan Ethnic Minority and Tropical Rain-forest Photography Tour with China Border Culture
10 Days Southeast Yunnan Family Tour with Ethnic Culture, Rice Terraces, Mushroom House & Butterfly Valley
11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Jianshui Old Town and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
11 Days Yunnan Photograph Tour with Luoping Rapeseed Flowers Festival and Honghe Hani Rice Terraces Field
11 Days China-Vietnam Overland Tour from Kunming to Hanoi
26 Days Grand Yunnan Ethnic Minority Discovery

The land in Dongchuan and the terraced rice paddies in Yuanyang are the masterpieces cultivated by the industrious ethic groups in the long river of time. The beauties are breathtaking, gorgeous and magnificent! During this superlative visual feast photography tour, you’ll lose yourselves in the peerless scenery and special folk customs. 

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Kunming Arrival
• Day 2: Kunming-Dongchuan
• Day 3: Dongchuan-Shilin
• Day 4: Shilin-Yuanyang
• Day 5: Yuanyang
• Day 6: Yuanyang-Jianshui
• Day 7: Jianshui-Kunming
• Day 8: Kunming Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1  Kunming Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities:Flowers and Birds Market, the Green Lake
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: None

You’ll begin your journey to the diverse and captivating province of Yunnan from the capital city, Kunming. Upon arrival at the Kunming International Airport, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel.

If time permits, you will have a Kunming city tour to visit the Flowers and Birds Market in the downtown of Kunming. You will take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of teahouses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings.

Day 5 Yuanyang

Sightseeing and Activities:the sunrise view of Duoyishu Rice Terraces, Shengcun Market, Bada Rice Terraces, Qingkou ethnic village, Qingkou Rice Terraces, the sunset of Longshuba Rice Terraces
Accommodation: Yuanyang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today you have a full day to visit the terraces belonging to the Hani and Yi people. These rice terraces – carved out of the mountainsides by generations of Hani people – are said to be among the most magnificent in the world. Get up very early to see the sunrise over the terraces at Duoyi village and then visit the local Hani and Yi people. During the day you will visit different areas of the huge valley to see the amazing engineering and beautiful formations of the terraces. There are lots of rice terraces in Yuanyang, you will choose the most beautiful parts of them to visit.

In the late afternoon,  drive back to Xinjie Town, enjoy the sunset view of Longshuba Rice Terraces and villages.

Day 6 Yuanyang-Jianshui

Sightseeing and Activities:Jianshui Swallow Cave, Jianshui Ancient Town, Zhu Family Garden, Confucius Temple
Accommodation: Jianshui

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast in the hotel, drive about 3 hours to Jianshui County. On the way back, visit Jianshui Swallow Cave which is the largest karst formation cave in Asia. There are usually thousands of swallows flying around in this aptly named cave.You will follow a guide in the cave to see the striking caverns and also to see the bare hand rock climbing performance in the cave. Walk into the cave and visit the colorful Karst landform and take the small boat cruise out of the cave.

Arrive in Jianshui Ancient Town in the afternoon, pay a visit to Jianshui Ancient Town, Zhu Family Garden and Jianshui Confucius Temple. Visit the famous Confucius Temple with its interesting history. Confucious was born in Shandong province 2,500 years ago and taught more than 3,000 students in his lifetime, among them 72 were outstanding. He is the greatest teacher in China’s history and has worldwide influence.

Day 7 Jianshui-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Zhang Family Garden in Tuanshan Village, Double Dragon Bridge, Xingmeng Mongolian Village
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Drive to Tuanshan Village about 15KM away from Jianshui Ancient Town, visit the Zhang Family Garden, the ancient houses and the Double Dragon Bridge. Visit Tunshan village with hundred-year-old houses built by the family of Zhang. In the village, you will see the different standards of houses built by rich and poor families, and also the family temple which plays an important role for education, family history, and Chinese culture, which says that people should always remember their ancestors and maintain community traditions.

After lunch, drive back to Kunming. On the way, visit Xingmeng Mongolia Village in Tonghai County of Yuxi City. 

Recommended Hotels

Service Included:

1. Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
2. Meals as listed in the itinerary;
3. Accommodation with breakfast as listed in the itinerary;
4. Private English-speaking tour guide and vehicle for transfers & sightseeing;
5. Service charge & government taxes;
6. Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
7. Two bottles of mineral water each day;
8. Travel Agency’s Responsibility Insurance.

Service Excluded:

1. Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
2. Chinese visa fees;
3. Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
4. Single room supplement;
5. Tips to guides and drivers;
6. Personal expenses and gratuities to service staffs;
7. Personal travel accident insurance;
8. All optional programs;

Travel and Tours Packages of Honghe and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

1 Day Yuanyang Bada Hani Rice Terraces Hiking Tour
1 Day Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Cycling Tour
1 Day Yuanyang Duoyishu Hani Rice Terraces Hiking Tour with Hani,Yi Ethnic Villages and Mushroom Houses
1 Day Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Hiking Tour from Duoyishu to Laohuzui
1 Day Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Tour
2 Days Kunming-Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Tour at a glance
3 Days Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Tour from Kunming
3 Days Kunming, Jianshui and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Group Tour
4 Days Long Street Banquet Festival and Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photography Tour
6 Days Kunming Jianshui Yuanyang Photography Tour
6 Days Kunming Shadian Muslim Tour with Yuanyang Rice Terraces and Jianshui Old Town
7 Days Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photo Tour with Tea Culture Experience
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
8 Days Yunnan Photography Tour to Kunming-Dongchuan-Shilin-Jianshui and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
10 Days South Yunnan Ethnic Minority and Tropical Rain-forest Photography Tour with China Border Culture
10 Days Southeast Yunnan Family Tour with Ethnic Culture, Rice Terraces, Mushroom House & Butterfly Valley
11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Jianshui Old Town and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
11 Days Yunnan Photograph Tour with Luoping Rapeseed Flowers Festival and Honghe Hani Rice Terraces Field
11 Days China-Vietnam Overland Tour from Kunming to Hanoi
26 Days Grand Yunnan Ethnic Minority Discovery

Yunnan is a microcosm of China in terms of minority affairs and nationality relations, home to 25 of China’s 56 ethnic groups. This cultural diversity gives rise to unique questions regarding minority classification, which are based on five main criteria: race, language, culture, religion, and history. This tour offers a blend of cultural immersion and natural exploration, with winter visits to the Yuanyang Rice Terraces and summer experiences in the tropical forests of Xishuangbanna. The tour highlights southern Yunnan’s cities, ethnic diversity, and stunning landscapes, including the chance to encounter the Yi, Hani, Lahu, Wa, and Dai ethnic groups.

Tour Highlights

Fun Experiences

• Hiking in the Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
  Explore the breathtaking Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its stunning panoramic views and intricate irrigation systems. During the winter months, the terraced fields are beautifully filled with water, reflecting the sky and creating a photographer’s paradise.
• Elephant Show in Wild Elephant Valley
  Witness the majestic Asian elephants in their natural habitat at Wild Elephant Valley in Xishuangbanna. Enjoy a unique cultural performance and learn about the conservation efforts for the local elephant population.

Beautiful Sceneries

• The Stone Forest
  Visit the iconic Stone Forest in Shilin, a natural wonder with limestone formations that resemble petrified trees, creating a surreal “forest” made of stone.
• Jianshui Old Town
  Stroll through Jianshui Old Town, an ancient settlement with a history dating back over 1,000 years. Its well-preserved streets, traditional architecture, and historical landmarks offer a glimpse into Yunnan’s past.
• Jianshui Confucius Temple
  Explore one of China’s largest Confucius Temples, located in Jianshui. The temple’s magnificent architecture and peaceful surroundings make it an important cultural and historical site.
• Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
  Beyond their agricultural significance, these terraces are a testament to the Hani people’s traditional land-use practices. The terraces are particularly stunning during sunrise, when the golden light illuminates the layers of rice paddies.
• Puer Tea Garden
  Discover the world-famous Puer tea culture in the heart of Yunnan’s tea-producing region. Take a walk through lush tea plantations, and learn about the unique fermentation process that makes Puer tea renowned worldwide.
• Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden
  Visit Menglun, home to one of the largest tropical botanical gardens in China. The garden features a vast collection of tropical plants and is located in the heart of the Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve.

Ethnic Culture

• Taste Yunnan Cuisine with Ethnic Flavors
  Yunnan’s cuisine is as diverse as its people, with dishes influenced by its ethnic minorities. From the spicy flavors of Dai cuisine to the earthy richness of Hani dishes, this tour offers a gastronomic journey through the province’s unique culinary traditions.
• Experience the Yi, Hani, Jino, and Dai Ethnic Cultures
  Visit local villages and interact with members of these ethnic groups to learn about their languages, customs, and traditional ways of life. You’ll gain insight into their music, dance, and festivals, which are deeply rooted in their rich cultural heritage.

Historical Discovery

• Jianshui Old Town
  Jianshui is not only a place of natural beauty but also a site rich in historical importance. Wander through ancient streets and discover well-preserved buildings that reflect the town’s cultural heritage, including traditional courtyards and merchant houses.
• Tuanshan Village and Zhang Family Garden
  A visit to Tuanshan Village offers a glimpse into the traditional lifestyle of rural Yunnan. The Zhang Family Garden, a classical Chinese garden, is one of the best-preserved examples of the region’s architectural history.

Special Activities

• Jianshui Pottery Making
  Jianshui is famous for its centuries-old pottery tradition. Participate in a pottery-making workshop where you can create your own clay masterpiece, guided by skilled artisans.
• Puer Tea Cake Making
  Experience the hands-on process of making Puer tea cakes, an integral part of Yunnan’s tea culture. Learn how the leaves are processed, shaped, and pressed into cakes, and understand the significance of Puer tea in local culture.
• Dai Ethnic Paper Making
  Explore the traditional art of paper-making in Dai villages. The paper is made from local plants and is used in various cultural rituals and for crafting intricate items.
• Narrow-Gauge Railway in Jianshui
  Ride the narrow-gauge railway that links Jianshui to nearby villages. This historic railway offers a unique way to experience the scenic landscapes of southern Yunnan.

Puerh Tea Culture

• Puerh Tea Picking and Tea Cake Making Experience
  In the Puerh tea region, join local tea pickers as they harvest fresh leaves from ancient tea trees. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in the process of making tea cakes, learning about the history and significance of this unique tea.
• Hiking along the Ancient Tea Horse Road in Nannuo Mountain
  Trek through the picturesque Nannuo Mountain, home to ancient tea trees over 1,000 years old. This hike will take you along the Ancient Tea Horse Road, a historic trade route that once connected China to Tibet and beyond.

Wildlife Discovery

• Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve
  Xishuangbanna is home to a diverse range of wildlife, making it one of China’s most biodiverse regions. The nature reserve is home to 102 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 63 species of reptiles, 38 species of amphibians, and 100 species of fish.
• Wild Elephants of Xishuangbanna
  Xishuangbanna is home to more than 90% of China’s wild elephant population. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about the conservation efforts aimed at protecting these magnificent creatures while exploring their natural habitat.

Inquiry

Breif Itinerary

• Day 1 Kunming Arrival
• Day 2 Kunming-Shilin-Jianshui
• Day 3 Jianshui-Yuanyang
• Day 4 Yuanyang
• Day 5 Yuanyang-Puer-Jinghong
• Day 6 Jinghong
• Day 7 Jinghong-Nanuo Mountain-Jinghong
• Day 8 Departure from Jinghong

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Kunming Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities:Kunming Arrival
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Lunch

You’ll begin your tour to the diverse and captivating province of Yunnan from the capital city, Kunming. Upon arrival at the Kunming International Airport, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel.

You may choose stay at hotel for rest and prepare for the coming tour, and you also may get the useful suggestions from your local guide about how to spend your lesuire time in the city.

Day 2 Kunming-Shilin-Jianshui

Sightseeing and Activities:the Stone Forest, Jianshui Old Town, the Garden of Family Zhu
Accommodation: Jianshui
Meals: Breakfast

You will drive 86 km to the Stone Forest. There is a local saying: ‘It is a waste of time not to visit the Stone Forest while visiting Kunming’, which vividly expresses the deep love of the local people toward this world wonder. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder. And then, you’ll drive around 4 hours to Jiangshui.

After arriving at Jianshui, visit the Jianshui Old Town and the Chaoyang Gateway, which was built in Ming Dynasty (1389). It is also known as ‘Miniature Tian’an men’ because the out shape of it is similar to Tian’anmen Square in Beijing. Visit a typical southern private garden-the Garden of Family Zhu.

–Jianshui is a small town in Honghe prefecture,  in the southern part of Yunnan.  It is on the road from Kunimg to the famous Yuanyang rice terraces, most of the travellers stay one night here to enjoy the atmophere of an ancient Chinese town. There are numerous buildings of historic value and places of interest in this area, including over 100 temples, academies of classical learning and large residences. Those are still kept in good condition, including the Chaoyang Gateway Arch, the Jianshui Confucius Temple, the Zhilin Temple, Shuanglong Bridge, the Private Garden of the Zhu Family and the Ancient Nalou Office Building.

Day 3 Jianshui-Yuanyang

Sightseeing and Activities:Jianshui Confucius Temple, Jianshui Touring Train, Yunnan meter-gauge railway, Shuanglong Bridge, Tuanshan Village, Zhang Family Garden, Laohuzui Rice Terraces
Accommodation: Yuanyang
Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, visit the Confucius Temple, which has a history of 700 years. It is the second largest Confucius Temple in China. Then you’ll take the Jianshui Touring Train to visit Tuanshan Village, Shuanglong Bridge and the Garden of Family Zhang. Tuanshan Village is a rare surviving example of an intact-albeit neglected-traditional walled Yunnan village compound in southwestern China, and has been added to the 2005 list of internationally significant sites by the World Memorial Fund for Architecture (WMF), an international fund for the protection of world heritage sites.

The Yunnan meter-gauge railway evolved from the historical Yunnan-Vietnam Railway and Gebi Linping inch-gauge railways. It has passed through 3 centuries and has been in operation for more than 100 years. It carries the special historical memories of China, France, and Vietnam. It is an important historical and cultural site. The Jianshui Sightseeing Train is now a special tourist train: it departs from Lin’an Station, which is close to Jianshui Ancient Town, passes through “Double Dragon Bridges” and “Xianghui Bridge Station”, ends at “Tuanshan Village” Station, and then returns on the same route.

The Meter-gauge railway also draws attention points. This 1177 meters long Meter-gauge railway is a legendary road that connects the cities, villages of Yunnan, such as Gejiu, Mengzi, Jianshui and Shipin. One of the earliest private railways in China was built in 1915 in Yunnan. It was an Narrow-Gauge railway originally. In 1970, it was reconstructed and changed from an Narrow-gauge railway to a mete-gauge railway. It’s an important industrial heritage of China and a “living fossil” of the world’s narrow-gauge railway.

In the afternoon, you will transfer to Yuanyang and enjoy the sight of terraced fields of Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) at sunset. Overnight at Mengnong Chieftain Palace.

–Yuanyang is about 300km south of Kunming, renowned for its rice terraces, which was claimed as the world’s largest and most spectacular one, crafted out by bare hands by the Hani people one thousand years ago and is still in use today. The rice farmers have had to practice ecology and land preservation centuries before those concepts were widely accepted around the world. Without hard work maintaining the terrace walls and irrigation system, the precious top soil would wash down the hillsides into the rivers.
Yuanyang Rice Terrace is a self sustaining ecosystem. During winter to early spring, the entire field is irrigated with spring water from the forest above to rejuvenate and getting prepared for the next season. The Hani people have repeated this for more than a thousand years. There is only one harvest in a year for the Yuanyang Rice Terrace; planting is from March to Oct./Nov. every year.

Day 4 Yuanyang

Sightseeing and Activities:the rise view of Duoyishu Rice Terraces, Qingkou Village, Shengcun Market, Laohuzui Rice Terraces
Accommodation: Yuanyang
Meals: Breakfast

Get up very early in the morning, you’ll drive 30KM to visit Duoyishu Village and enjoy the sunrise of Duoyishu Rice Terrace Fields when the sun appears above the eastern horizon. The terraced fields are ring upon ring and cascade one by one. They go along the hillside up to the sky. You will see the scenery of the terraced fields from the top of the mountains to the bottom. There are all farms under the sunshine and cloud and mist. The landscape is spectacular.

And then, you will visit Bada Hani Rice Terrace, Shengcun Market where Hani people for generations inhabit. Visit  Qingkou Village and rice terraces as well. You will enjoy the sunset of Laohuzui Rice Terraces in the late afternoon at Panzhihua Town.

Transfer back to Xinjie Town.

Day 5 Yuanyang-Yuanjiang-Puer-Jinghong By Car and Speed Train

Sightseeing and Activities:the Great Bend of Red River, Honghe Bridge
Accommodation: Jinghong
Meal: Breakfast

Drive along the Red River Valley to Yuanjiang, visit the Great Bend of Red River on the way. Arrive in Yuanjiang, pay a visit to the Honghe Bridge, which is famous for being the highest bridge in the world.

After lunch in Yuanjiang, we will take the speed train from Yuanjiang to Jinghong.
Meet your local guide in Jinghong, transfer to the hotel.

Visit Gaozhuang Night Market at night.Gaozhuang Night Market, also known as Xingguang Night Market (星光夜市), is located in the Gaozhuang Xishuang Scenic Area (告庄西双景区) in Jinghong City (景洪市), XishuangBanna, Yunnan Province. As one of the emerging night markets in the area, it has become a must-visit attraction for both tourists and locals alike.

The Gaozhuang Night Market is one of the key attractions in the tourist resort area of Gaozhuang Xishuang. It mainly consists of food stalls offering a variety of snacks and unique handmade crafts. Unlike the busier Riverside Night Market, the environment here is cleaner, making it a popular choice for tourists. The stalls are run by both local residents and people from across the country, selling crafts, ethnic clothing, jewelry, and other items.

Day 6 Jinghong-Menglun-Jinghong

Sightseeing and Activities:Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden, Dai Ethnic Garden, Manting Park
Accommodation: Jinghong
Meals: Breakfast

In the morning drive from Puer to Menglun Town.  Take a tour of the Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden. As the home to many rare flora and endangered fauna, Xishuangbanna is an excellent place to take in the unique beauty of sub-tropical nature and biodiversity in China. Take a visit to the Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden and observe beautiful flowers, shrubbery, and trees in the spacious garden. If you go early enough in the morning, you can see the sunrise cast a dreamy golden glow over the garden.

Drive to visit Dai Ethnic Garden, located in the Ganlan Basin in Menghan County, proudly holds a national 4A rating as one of China’s top scenic spots. Within the Dai Ethnic Garden, five Dai villages – Manjiang, Manchunman, Manting, ManZha, and Manga – cover an area of 3.36 square kilometers and consist of 309 families, or 1487 individual villagers.

Transfer to Jinghong in the late afternoon and pay a visit Manting Park which is a modern park that measures about 30 acres in Jinghong, Xishuangbanna. It has a large new Buddhist temple called Zongfo Si. There is a display of ethnic architecture, and people entertain themselves by water fights during the Dai Water Splashing Festival each year. Entertainment is presented in the evening.

Day 7 Jinghong-Nannuo Mountain-Jinghong

Sightseeing and Activities:Nanuo tea mountain hiking, Puerh tea picking and Puerh tea cake making; Manting Park,  General Buddhist Temple
Accommodation: Jinghong
Meals: Breakfast

Nannuo Mountain is famous in China and abroad as the home of the “King of Tea Tree,” a human cultivated 800+ year old tree. Fine tea tree varieties and superior natural conditions produce outstanding Nannuo Mountain tea products. Puer Tea is mainly made of tea of Nannuo Mountain. Nannuo Tea Mountain become famous with the selling of Puer Tea at home and abroad.

Well-known for its long history of tea cultivation, Nannuo Mountain (南糯山) has gone through a series of transformations but remains a place for pilgrimage. Its trees, many aged between 200 and 500 years, produce some of the best pu’er tea in the province.

In the morning, we will be accompanied by our tour guide in Jinghong, we will head out to meet some local tea farmers at a nearby town. Shitou Village (石头村) is a traditional Aini (爱昵) settlement, which rests peacefully on the side of Nannuo mountain amid groves of bamboo and tea.

We will hike through these Ethnic Villages in Nannuo Mountain. Villages in Nannuo Mountain consist of Banpo Laozhai Village(半坡老寨), Duoyizhai Village(南糯山多依寨村), Guniang Village(姑娘寨), Yakou Xinzhai Village(丫口新寨), Laozhai Village(老寨), Shitouzhai Village(石头寨),Zhulincun Village(竹林村寨) ,Xiangyang Village(向阳寨) and Shuihe Village(水河寨).

The half-day tour includes:
a. Round-trip transportation from the hotel to Nannuo Mountain (up to 4 passengers)
b. A visit to the Hani Tourism and Cultural Village to experience the local culture
c. A hike up to the Banpo Laozhai tea-making village on Nannuo Mountain
d. Crossing through the centuries-old tea forest along the way and visiting the 800-year-old tea tree
e. A visit to the small market in Nannuo Shanzhai

Transfer back to Jinghong in the afternoon. After that, we will head to the Manting Park, which is a natural village park and the oldest one in Xishuangbanna. There are 8 areas in the park, including the national culture square, the vine plant area, the tropical orchid garden, the peacock garden, the Buddhist culture area and etc.

From here, you can walk less than 10 minutes to the General Buddhist Temple, which is the highest Buddhist temple in Xishuangbanna. It is also the center for the Buddhist worships there. The biggest characteristic of the temple is the use of a large number of relieve silver plates, which stands in sharp contrast to the gold painted architectural decoration and the vermilion walls. In addition, the performance of the “Lancang River • Mekong Night” and the campfire party are the biggest highlights of the park, which are well worth a visit.

Day 8 Departure from Jinghong

Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Jinghong
Accommodation: Jinghong
Meals:None

Free at leisure before be transferred to Jinghong airport for your departure flight. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Kunming	Crown Plaza Kunming City Centre	Wenhui Hotel	Baiyun Hotel	Local Hostel
Dongchuan	/	Shanju Hotel	Spring&Autumn Hotel	Local Hostel
Shilin	Days Hotel Shilin	Shilin Bosheng Holiday Hotel	Shilin Hotel	Local Hostel
Yuanyang	Duoyishu Landscape Hotel	Yunti Hotel(Shengcun Village)	Yunti Hotel(Xinjie Town)	Local Hostel
Puer	/	Jinglan Hotel	Basaicheng	Local Hostel
Jinghong	Empark Grand Hotel Xishuangbanna	Jinglan Hotel	Duchang Hotel	Local Hostel

Service Included:

• Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
• Meals as listed in the itinerary;
• Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
• Private English-speaking tour guide;
• Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
• Service charge & government taxes;
• Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;

Service Excluded:

• Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
• Chinese visa fees;
• Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
• Single room supplement;
• Tips to guides and drivers;
• Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
• Personal travel accident insurance;
• All optional programs.

Inquiry

This is the best overland tour of Three Parallel Rivers in Yunnan. The construction of Deqin-Gongshan Road, from Yunning Town of Deqin County to Pengdang Town of Gongshan County via Biluo Snow Mountain, is just finished and is around 95 kilomiters. If we choose Deqin-Gongshan Road, we do not need to drive along the Lancnag-Mekong River to Baoshan and enter Nujiang Grand Canyon from Laowo Town. 

• Discover the beauty of Jinsha River, Lancang River, Nujiang River, Meili Snow Mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Baima Snow Mountain.
• Witness the surge of the rivers and find idyllic scenery in Bingzhongluo.
• Meet colorful ancient towns, ethnic villages and tribal groups to appreciate the diverse ethnic cultures of Yunnan.
• Step into a famous historic and cultural city in Yunnan Province–Tengchong city–the hometown of jade.

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Lijiang Arrival
• Day 2: Lijiang – Jade Dragon Snow Mountain – lijiang
• Day 3: Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-La
• Day 4: Shangri-La
• Day 5: Shangri-La – Deqin – Feilaisi
• Day 6: Feilaisi – Meili Snow Mountain – Cizhong
• Day 7: Cizhong – Gongshan – Bingzhongluo
• Day 8: Bingzhongluo
• Day 9: Bingzhongluo – Liuku
• Day 10: Liuku – Tengchong
• Day 11: Tengchong
• Day 12: Tengchong Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Lijiang Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities:Arrive in Lijiang
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:None

Arrive at Lijiang airport, meet your guide and transfer to hotel. We can take a leisure time around Lijiang Old Town and Black Dragon Pool, which depends on the time of your arrival.

Day 2 Lijiang-30KM-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Ganhaizi Meadow,Baihusihe River, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Spruce Meadow, Yuhu Village, Former Residence of Joseph Rock, Yufeng Monastery, Baisha Old Town and Murals
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:Breakfast and Luch

Enjoy the sunrise of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang Ancient Town in the morning. Drive about 30KM to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M), you will take the sightseeing bus for a short visit through the Baishuihe River, take the chairlift up to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cableway will be arranged according to the condition of the moutain. You will hike around 1 hour in the original forest in Spuce Meadow (3200M).

After lunch, you you’ll visit Yuhu Village and the Former Residence of Joseph Rock who was an Austrilia American botanist and explorer, lived in Yuhu village and other places in that rergion from 1922 to 1949. He was also a nuturalist and photographer, and the first foreign scholar to introduce Lijiang ethnic culture to the western world. 

Visit Yufeng Monastery, located at the southern foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, stands about 13 kilometers to the north of Lijiang City. Yufeng Temple is one of the Scarlet Sect lamaseries in Lijiang. The beautiful sceneries around Yufeng Temple are special gifts from the deity. The temple backs onto a snow mountain and faces a meadow. It is surrounded by the flourishing forest and a never-dried river. All this makes it a really good place to visit. 

Stroll through Baisha Old Town, which is an enchanting traditional Naxi style old town.Visit the Baisha Murals about  600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.

Day 3 Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu Ancient Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Old Town
Accommodation:Shnagri-La
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

From Lijiang, you’ll drive about 60KM to the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, visit the Iron Chain Bridge, the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in the Shigu Old Town. The Town of Stone Drum got its name from a large, cylindrical, marble tablet shaped like a drum. The scenery is magnificient as the road running through the Lijiang valley which is filled with wheat fields and drying haystacks. 

Visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river. Afternoon, you’ll head for Shangri-La, the former Zhongdian which is well-known as the paradise destination for every tourist. Upon arrival in Shangri-La, you will  enter the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields and yaks scattered in the valleys. Walk around Dukezong Ancient Town, an important town of the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet and India. Walk up to the top of Guishan Hill or Tortoise Hill, you will see the largest Prayer Wheel of the world and have a panoramic view of Shangri-La city and Dukezong Ancient Town. 

Day 4 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Songzanlin Monastery, the Bita Lake & Shudu Lake, Dabao Monastery
Accommodation:Shangri-La 
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias-‘the little Potala Palace’. so named because the whole monastery is in the tradional style with mysterious atmosphere.  

And afterwards you’ll visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park. Pudacuo National Park is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. While the region comprises only 0.7 percent of China’s land area, it contains more than 20 percent of the country’s plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species.  

Visit Dabao Monastery on the way back from Pudacuo National Park. Drive back to hotel. 

Day 5 Shangri-La – Deqin – Feilaisi

Sightseeing and Activities:Bengzilan Town, the Moon Bend of Jinsha River, Dongzhulin monastery and Baima Snow Mountain, the sunset of Meili Snow Mountain and the 13 white pagodas
Accommodation:Feilaisi
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, drive 6 to 7 hours to Deqin County (3400m altitude) which is 187km away from Shangri-La. The view along the way is fantastic with different kinds of trees, streams down the valley, prayer flags and stupas, and Tibetan villages. From Shangri-La, after half-an -hour driving, you will have a panoramic view of Nixi Pottery Village; drive down to the river valley, continue the nice scenery along the Jinsha River to Benzilan Town where you will have lunch.

After lunch, drive uphill to the Dongzhulin Monastery which is located in Shusong Village, Benzilan District, Deqin County, and 105km from the seat of Zhongdian County. The Yunnan-Tibet Road passes behind the temple and cars can get straight to the temple. The Dongzhulin Monastery was built in 1667, the sixth year of the Kang Xi Period in Qing Dynasty.  Visit the First Bend of Jinsha River or Moon Bend, which is the boundary between Sichuan and Yunnan. This is different from the First Bend of Yangtze River in Lijiang City. The bend in Shigu Town changes the flow direction of the Yangtze River but in Benzilan, the Moon Bend is just a grand bend between the mountains with an impressive scenery. Visit Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, you will be able to view Baima Snow Mountain if the weather is clear, pass the top part of today at 4292m altitude at 156km. 

Arrive in Feilaisi in the late afternoon, you will have a nice sunset view of Meili Snow Mountain from the Sightseeing Platform, where you can see the 13 white pagodas meaning of the 13 peaks of Meili Snow Mountain over 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) above sea level, known as the “Prince’s 13 peaks”.

Day 6 Feilaisi-Meili-Snow Moutain-Cizhong

Sightseeing and Activities:Mingyong Glacier, Mekong Grand Canyon, Xidang Village, Catholic Church
Accommodation:Cizhong
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

Early in the morning, you will enjoy the magnificent sunrise view of Meili Snow Mountain from Feilaisi, then drive to Mingyong Village. Hike from Mingyong village to Mingyong Glacier(2600m) which is the low altitude glacier of the lowest latitude in the world.

After lunch in Mingyong Village, you will trek down directly to the edge of Meikong River(2,050m/6,724ft) . Walk along the Mekong Grand Canyon and arrive in Xidang Village(2,200m/7,216ft) where you can visit some scattered Tibetan houses in the village.

In the afternoon, drive south along the Mekong Grand Canyon to Cizhong Village in Yanmen Town with some Tibatan villages on the way. Visit the Tibetan Catholic Church built by French missionaries in 1867, the church is used by Tibetan, Naxi and Lisu people. They still have the grapes planted by missionaries and the old traditional way of making wine.

Day 7 Cizhong-Gongshan-Bingzhongluo

Sightseeing and Activities:Nujiang River Gorge
Accommodation:Bingzhongluo
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

Drive  to Gongshan. On the way you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Nujiang Grand Canyon. 
The 316-kilometer-long Nujiang River Gorge is flanked by two 4,000-meter-high mountains. The mountain peaks on the two sides have an average altitude of over 3,000 kilometers. The gorge is located in Yunnan Province in southwestern China, an area rich in ethnic minority culture. It is now a first choice for many domestic and foreign travelers.

Day 8 Bingzhongluo

Sightseeing and Activities:Bingzhongluo, Nujiang River (Salween River)
Accommodation:Bingzhuoluo
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

One full day excursion to Bingzhongluo, sightseeing includes the first bend of Nujiang River(Salween River), the stone house of the Nu Nationality, Peach Island, the Tibetan Puhua Temple. You will then have the chance to visit a minority household and experience the life of the local people. 

Overnight in Bingzhongluo.

Day 9 Bingzhongluo-Liuku

Sightseeing and Activities:Nujiang River (Salween River)
Accommodation:Liuku
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

Leave Bingzhongluo and drive 110 km through the fascinating mountain areas to Fugong. Sightseeing includes a visit to a suspension bridge and a glide cable. Special Lishu food will be served during dinner.  Overnight in Liuku.

Day 10 Liuku-Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities:Lujiang Basin, Heshun Old Town, the Anti-Japanese War Museum
Accommodation:Tengchong
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

Today, we will continue the driving to Tengchong County. Drive south along the Salween and arrive in Lujiangba Basin. As it’s hot and humid in the gorge here, Dai people who live here use big banyan trees to surround the villages, tropical plants are grown here such as papaya, pineapple, banana and coffee. The famous Yunnan Coffee is grown in this area near the Salween. 

Arrive in Tengchong, you will visit Heshun Ancient Town including the Museum of Yunnan-Burmese Anti-Japanese War, Heshun Library, the Archway, Dragon Pool, the Wanlouzi Museum of Native Residence, Wenchang Daoist Palace, Clothes-washing Pavilions, Yuanlong Daoist Pavilion, the Philosopher Ai Siqi’s Former Residence, Guanyin Ancient Spruce Trees an so on.

Day 11 Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities:Liafeng Mountain National Forest Park, Graveyard of the National Heroes, Dieshuihe Waterfall Park, Beihai Wetland Park, Rehai Hot Spring Park
Accommodation:Tengchong
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

Visit Liafeng Mountain National Forest Park in the early morning, climb up to the half  mountain, pay a visit to Laifeng Temple bult in Tang dynasty; Climb to the top of the mountain, visit Wenbi Pagoda and enjoy a panoramic view of Dianyue Town of Tengchong County.

Visit the Graveyard of the National Heroes, and Dieshuihe Waterfall Park in the town, then drive to Beihai Wetland Park, where you will take a small boat to the lake for a nice view. After lunch, drive back to Tengchong, and visit Rehai Hot Spring Park. You will have an option to enjoy the hot spring in the park.

–Tengchong is one of China’s three major geothermal areas, known as “Land Abounding in Geothermal Resources”. There are plenty of springs of hot water and hot vapour, called “Hot Sea”. There are quite a number of hot fields as well. Tengchong is a resort where people can travel, take a bath and have medical treatment. The Hot Sea, with an area of 9 square kilometers, lies 20 kilometers away southwest of the county seat and in the center of the geothermal area.

Day 12 Tengchong Departure 

Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Tengchong
Accommodation:None
Meals:Breakfast

Departure from Tengchong. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Lijiang	InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort	E-outfitting Boutique Hotel	Liwang Hotel	Flowers Hall Inn
Shangrila	Shangri-La Hotel	E-outfitting Boutique Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Hotel	Wu Fu South Yunnan Boutique Inn
Feilaisi	Guanjing Tiantang Hotel	Deqin County Temple Pearl Hotel	Deqin County Temple Pearl Hotel	Deqin Yunling Inn
Cizhong	/	Songtsam Cizhong Lodge	Hiker Home	/
Bingzhongluo	/	/	Nu Xia Hotel	Fusheng Manor Inn
Liuku	/	/	Shengshi Hongbang Hotel	/
Tengchong	Guanfang Hotel Tengchong	Pumi Wenlv Zhang’s Courtyard (Hepan)	Yongle Holiday Resort and Spa	Yonder Way Hostel

Service Included:

• Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
• Meals as listed in the itinerary;
• Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
• Private English-speaking tour guide;
• Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
• Service charge & government taxes.

Service Excluded:

• Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
• Chinese visa fees;
• Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
• Single room supplement;
• Tips to guides and drivers;
• Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
• Personal travel accident insurance;
• All optional programs.

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