10 Days Best Yunnan Classic Tour with Dianhong Black Tea Culture Tour

Dianhong Black Tea and Puer Tea are two famous teas in Yunnan Province and China. Discoving Puer Tea and Dianhong Black Tea culture is an unique and special activity in Yunnan . The mysterious tea culture in Yunnan will make your tour memorable. 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 Puer tea. At the same time, you will also visit must-see attractions in Kunming, Dali and Lijiang. 

Highlights

  • Discoving Puer Tea and Dianhong Black Tea culture.
  • Experience the ethnic life and culture in Pu’er.

Breif Itinerary

  • Day 1 Arrive in Kunming
  • Day 2 Kunming
  • Day 3 Kunming – Dali 
  • Day 4 Dali – Nanjian – Xiaowan – Fengqing
  • Day 5 Fengqing – Xiashan- Yunxian – Weishan
  • Day 6 Weishan – Dali – Lijiang
  • Day 7 Lijiang
  • Day 8 Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-La
  • Day 9 Shangri-La
  • Day 10 Departure from Shangri-La

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Arrive in Kunming
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Lunch

Welcome to Kunming, the Spring City of China! Upon arrival at the Kunming airport/train station, the local tour guide and driver will meet you in the arrival hall and escort you to your hotel. You’ll begin your journey to the diverse and captivating province of Yunnan from the capital city, Kunming.

If time permits, visit some local tea markets and taste a cup of tea.

Day 2 Kunming

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

Large Stone Forest in Shilin County, Kunming

In the morning, drive 1.5hrs to Shilin CountyAfter arrival, you will have a tour of Stone Forest which is one of the largest plantations of rapeseed flowers in Southwest China. Fields covered with golden rape stretch as far as the eye can see and form seas of yellow buds. Combined with a unique terrain dominated by karst features with small basins among mountain ranges, the place boasts very unique landscape features. 

After the lunch, drive back to Kunming downtown. Visit Flowers and Birds Market.

Day 3 Kunming – Dali 

Sightseeing and Activities: Three Pagodas, Xizhou Town, Xiaguan Tuocha Tea Factory
Accommodation: Dali 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Reflection Park of Three Pagodas in Dali City

In the morning, take the high speed train to Dali (2 hours). Meet your local guide. After that,  you will visit the 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 head for Xizhou Town to explore their distinctive culture. Xizhou is our home. This little village has been called ‘a living art museum’ due to its unusual concentration of nationally protected heritage sites, mostly including architecture that spans the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) until the creation of New China in 1949, but also includes centuries old trees, parks, and wildlife preserves.

In the late afternoon, visit Xiaguan Tuocha Tea Factory.

Day 4 Dali – Nanjian – Xiaowan – Fengqing

Sightseeing and Activities:  Nanjian Tulin Tea Factory, Xiaowan Dam and Hydropower Station, Xiangzhuqing Ancient Tea Trees
Accommodation: Fengqing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive to Nanjian.Visit Nanjian Tulin Tea Factory and see their processing procedures of Puer tea.

Then have a stop to visit Xiaowan Dam and Hydropower Station on the way to Fengqing County.

Continue the driving to Xiangzhuqing village in Xiaowan township of Fengqing County. In the late afternoon, pay a visit to Xiangzhuqing Acient Tea Trees(香竹箐古茶树). In Xiangzhuqing village, lies a massive, ancient tree. Colloquially referred to as the Mother tea tree, this magnificent giant is about 35 feet tall (which is extremely tall for a tea tree), and is so wide that it’s said that it takes eight people holding outstretched hands to full surround the tree. Besides her gargantuan size, this tree is also remarkable for its unmatched history. This ancient tree is recorded as being over 3,200 years old, it is called “the Mother of Tea Trees”. Now, it is protected and fenced by the local government.

Stay overnight in Fengqing County.

Day 5 Fengqing – Xiashan- Yunxian – Weishan

Sightseeing and Activities:Dianhong Black Tea Factory, Puer Tea Factory, Weishan Old Town
Accommodation: Weishan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Weishan Old Town, Dali

Drive to visit Dianhong Black Tea Factory and tea plantations.

Then drive to Xiashan. Visit an organic Pu’er tea factory.

In the late afternoon, drive to Weishan. Take a walk in Weishan Old Town. Weishan old town was the cradle of Nanzhao kingdom(a kindom established by Yi Minority), the history can be traced back to 7th centuary. Its a very nice old town and not touristic.

Stay overnight in Weishan County.

Day 6 Weishan – Dali – Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Weishan – Dali – Lijiang
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Dali Ancient Town

Drive to Dali City. Visit Dali Ancient Town which is 13 kilometers away from Xiaguan in Dali City. It can be dated back to the year 1382 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and has been among the top listed historical cities of China since 1982. With Erhai Lake to the east, and Cangshan Mountain to the west, its grand city wall, traditional Bai ethnic minority folk houses and marvelous scenery have attracted many visitors. The tour in Dali Ancietn Town will include the Forigners Street,the Gate Towers and the Ancient City Wall.

In the afternoon, drive to Lijiang City. 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.

Day 7 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Lijiang
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

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 sightseeig bus for a short visiting through the Baishuihe River in Blue Moon Valey, take the chairlift up to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cableway will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around 1 hours in the original forest in Spruce Meadow (3200M).

After lunch, enjoy Impression Lijiang Show which is A Spectacular Show with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the Backdrop, directed by the famous director Zhang Yimou.
Impression Lijiang is a magnificent outdoor singing and dancing performance demonstrating the tradition and lifestyle of the local ethnic people. It is another creation of famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou.The show is innovatively staged in the morning and afternoon, at 3,100 meters (10,100 feet) above sea level with Jade Snow Mountain as the breathtaking backdrop.

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. Pay a visit to Baisha Holiday Resort(丽江白沙别院 in Chinese),which is featured with the traditional Naxi style architecture as well as the nice view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from the balcony.If time permits,enjoy a cup of Puer tea in the courtyard. 

Transfer back to hotel in the later afternoon.

Day 8 Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-La
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The-First-Bend-of-Yangtze-River-Lijiang-01

From Lijiang, you’ll drive about 60KM to the First Bend of the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery.

Visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river. Afternoon, you’ll head for Shangri La, the former Zhongdian which is welknown as the paradise destination for every tourist.

Upon arrival in Shangri La, walk around Dukezong Ancient Town, an important town of the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet and India. Pay a visit Guishan Hill Park including the Daguishan Monastery and the Giant Prayer Wheel on the top of Guishan Hill.

Day 9 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Shangri-La
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, 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 traditional style with mysterious atmosphere.

Afterwards you’ll visit the tranquil 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.

Day 10 Departure from Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Shangri-La
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals:Breakfast

Pick up from hotel and transfer to airport for the departure flight to next place .

Recommended Hotels

Destination 5 Star 4 Star 3 Star Hostels
Lijiang Lijiang Hilton Garden Inn  Wangfu Hotel Baisha Holiday Resort Local Hostel
Shangri-La  Shangrila Hotel Zhaxidele Hotel Shenqu Hotel Local Hostel
Kunming Crown Plaza Kunming City Centre Wenhui Hotel Baiyun Hotel Local Hostel
Dali Hilton Dali Resort And Spa Landscape Hotel Gnosis Hotel Local Hostel

Service Included:

  • Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary;
  • Accommodation with breakfast as listed in the itinerary;
  • Private English-speaking tour guide and vehicle for transfers & sightseeing;
  • Service charge & government taxes;
  • Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
  • Two bottles of mineral water each day;
  • 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;
  • Tips to guides and drivers;
  • Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
  • Personal travel accident insurance;
  • All optional programs.