9 Days Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri La Golf Tour

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

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

Upon arrival at the Kunming International Airport, your local guide will meet you, drive to Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort for overnight.

Day 2 Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort

Sightseeing and Activities: Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort, Stone Forest
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, play golf at the Mountain Course of Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort.a premier integrated golf resort in Kunming, comprises luxury villas and two championship golf courses – the Mountain Course designed by Jack Nicklaus and the Lake Course by Robert Trent Jones Jr.  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. It is Located in Kunming city in south China, this golfing. Jack Nicklaus designed this golf resort. In June 1999, the US Golf Digest evaluated it as No.1 Golf resort in China and Hong Kong.

Then drive to visit Stone Forest in the afternoon. 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.  After the tour transfer back to your hotel.

Day 3 Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort- Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:the Lake Course of Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort, Yuantong Temple, Flower and Birds Market
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning you will play golf at the Lake Course of Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort. 

After lunch drive back to Kunming and visit Yuantong Temple which is the biggest Buddhist shrine in Kunming. It was originally built over 1000 years ago during the Tang Dynasty. After two restorations and expansions in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the temple took on its present appearance, with covered corridors, bridges and grand halls.

Visit the Flower and Birds Market in the late afternoon.
Take the speed train to Dali.

Day 4 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Dali Stone Mountain Golf Club, Three Pagodas, Dali Old Town
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, drive to play golf at Dali Stone Mountain Golf Club. After the golf, you will visit the Three Pagoda in Chongshen Temple, which is a typical historical symbol of Yunnan. It is also one of the oldest sublime architecture in South China.

At last, you will visit Dali Old City, a historically and culturally famous city of China, is renowned for her historical interest. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, it was the capital of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms, the political, economic and cultural centre of Yunnan, an important gateway of cultural exchange and trading with southeastern Asian countries, and an important pass of the ancient “Silk Route of the South”. It has long enjoyed the reputation of “a land of letters”.

Day 5 Dali -Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:the Erhai Lake Cruise, Xizhou Town, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you’ll travel in the Erhai Lake by boat and visit Jinsuo Island. Erhai Lake is the largest highland lake next to Dianchi and one of the seven biggest fresh water lakes in China. It means, ‘sea shaped like an ear’, in Chinese. Implying that the lake is ear shaped and as large as a sea, hence it was so named. The lake covers an area of 250 square kilometers and is located about two kilometers east of Dali.

After landing, you will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style architecture, taste their fragrant three-course tea and explore their distinctive culture.

Then drive about 4 hours to Lijiang. You will be free in Lijiang Old Town. Lijiang Old Town has a history more than 800 years; it was listed as the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997. Here you will see the wonderful wooden architecture of Naxi ethnic people.

Day 6 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, the Spruce Meadow,Baishuihe River
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning you’ll visitGanhaizi Meadow, Baishui(White Water) River; take the chairlift to visit the Spruce Meadow of the Yulong Snow Mountain, which stretches a length of 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a width of 20 kilometers (13 miles). Looking from Lijiang Old Town in the south which is 15 kilometers (nine miles) away, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

After the Spruce Meadow, you will play the golf at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, which is well-known as the highest golf course in Asia. Situated in Ganhaizi at the eastern foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, this golf course was open to the public in October 2001.

You will attend the Naxi Orchestral Show in Dongba Palace at night.

Day 7 Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri La

Sightseeing and Activities: First Bend on the Yangtze River, Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

From Lijiang, you’ll drive about 60KM to the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, and the Iron Chain Bridge in the Stone Drum town. The town of Stone Drum got its name from a large, cylindrical, marble tablet shaped like a drum. The scenery is magnificent as the road running through the Lijiang valley which is filled with wheat fields and drying haystacks.

Continue the driving 40KM more to 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.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is the one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyon in the world – Tiger Leaping Gorge. It is also a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site called Three Parallel of Yunnan Protected Areas. This steep gorge is situated between the 5596 meters Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the south and 5396 meters Haba Snow Mountain to the north. Measuring 17 kilometers in length, the whole gorge is divided into three parts: upper, middle and lower gorge and you’ll pay a visit to the maturest section – Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge. Walk about 1,000 stairs along the plank road from the entrance to the Tiger Leaping Rock. Take a moment to enjoy the magnificent gorge view and rolling waves. (Travel tip: This gorge is suitable for most travelers with easy walk. Comfortable shoes are recommended.)

After the hiking tour, you’ll be driven to Shangri-La. With 2 hours’ driving, enjoy the enchanting natural scenery along the way. Welcome to Shangri-La (Zhongdian, altitude: 3459meters), the Garden of Eden! Upon arrival, check in your hotel and explore this earthly paradise on your own.

Day 8 Shangri La

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

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. First, you’ll be transferred with 7 kilometers’ driving to Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Gompa), reputed as the “Little Potala Palace” for it was built according to the complex of Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Established by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1679, the monastery belongs to Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and it is also the largest Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province with around 700 monks and lamas. Walk 147 steps to get atop of the monastery and pay clockwise visit to the three main lamasery buildings where you can not only see the Buddhism treasures, but also enjoy large number of monks of all ages going about their daily routines, praying, chanting, cooking and resting. It should a nice trip to get in-depth understanding about Tibetan Buddhism. If time permits, take some quiet time to walk around the peaceful Lamuyangcuo Lake and shoot panorama view of Songzanlin Monastery with reflection in the clear water.

Then, drive about 27 kilometers to Pudacuo National Park. This 1,300-square-kilometer national park is notable as the first national park in China to meet International Union for Conservation of Nature standards. It is renowned for well-preserved primitive landscape, which is endowed with lakes, wetlands, forests, meadows, streams, brooks, rare plants and animals. Throw yourself into the lush green forest with diverse species of flora and fauna, walk along the plank road to catch the gorgeous scenery. There are also many hiking opportunities. (Notes: 1) the altitude of Pudacuo is at 3500m-4150m so you should avoid strong activities to avoid high altitude sickness; 2) part of the national park is currently closed for environment protection and recovery.)

After the merry time in the park, pay a visit to a local Tibetan family to experience the highly-praised hospitality of Tibetan people and taste some special Tibetan snacks and butter tea. (Optional Experience: If you are interested in the Tibetan people’s daily drinks, you can follow the locals to involve in the process of making butter tea.)

Day 9 Departure from Lijiang

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

In the morning you will be free until you take the flight for returning. Transfer to airport, drop off and see off. Service ends.