Nujiang is the only autonomous prefecture for Lisu ethnic minority. Nu and Dulong are minority groups unique to this region. Nujiang Grand Canyon is located throughout southwest China’s Yunnan Province and flows into Myanmar, where it joins the Salween River and ends its journey at the India Ocean. The Nujiang Gorge running from northwest Yunnan to Tibet lies in a narrow strip of land bordering Myanmar, sandwiched to the west by Gaoligong Mountain range and the Biluo Mountain range on the east.

Highlights:

Sightsee the Nujiang Grand Canyon and feel the true charm of nature.
Hike in Bingzhongluo and explore ethnic villages there.
Experience the ethnic culture of Lisu, Nu and Dulong minorities.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Liuku Arrival
Day 2: Liuku-Gongshan
Day 3: Gongshan-Bingzhongluo
Day 4: Bingzhongluo
Day 5: Bingzhongluo-Liuku
Day 6: Liuku Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Liuku Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities: Nujiang River, Nujiang River Bridge
Accommodation: Liuku
Meals: Lunch

Arrive at Liuku Town, visit Nujiang River and Nujiang River Bridge.

The Nujiang River is China’s important river flowing from north to south. It has its source on the southern slope of the Tanggula Mountain Range in Tibet Autonomous Region, flowing across the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province, with a total length of 2,816 kilometers and a drainage area of 324,000 square kilometers.

The name of the river is changed into the Salween River after flowing into Burma from China, and it finally empties into the Andaman Sea of Indian Ocean at the Moulmein. The upper reaches of the river are known as the Naqu River in Tibetan. The river is called Anurimei by the Nu ethic minority, Anu is the name of the Nu people called by themselves, the Rimei means the river, so Anurimei means the river dwelled by the Nu people.

Day 2 Liuku-Gongshan

Sightseeing and Activities: the Nujiang Grand Canyon
Accommodation: Gongshan
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Drive from Liuku to Gongshan. On the way you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Nujiang Grand Canyon with Tiger Leaping Gorge, the Flying Stones and the Stone Moon.

The 247-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.

The Dulong (also known as Drung) ethnic group is one of the smallest ethnic groups in China. With a total population of about 5,816 (data from the census in 2000), the Dulong people mainly live in the Dulong River Valley in the Gongshan Dulong and Nu Autonomous County in north-western Yunnan Province.

Day 3 Gongshan-Bingzhongluo

Sightseeing and Activities: the First Bend of Nujiang River, the Stone House of the Nu Minority, Peach Island, the Tibetan Puhua Temple
Accommodation: Bingzhongluo
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.

Day 4 Binzhongluo

Sightseeing and Activities: Nujiang Gorge, Zhongding Catholic Church
Accommodation: Bingzhongluo
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

There are easy and beautiful walks to nearby villages along the Nujiang. A few kilometers outside of town, the river widens and cuts through very deep and dramatic gorges. The road hugs the Nujiang and landslides occur from time to time along the way. It is said that the scenery is especially spectacular after rain, however this also increases potential delays and exacerbates the danger from landslides.

The most beautiful part of Nujiang Gorge starts from Binzhongluo, the northernmost town of the Gorge, where the essential attractions of the Nujiang Gorge are located. Hiking is the best way to enjoy the landscape and an average of 2.5 hours is needed for most tourists to reach the famous “Tea Horse Caravan Route.” Renting a mini bus at Bingzhongluo town is an alternative for the less adventurous sightseers.

On the way to the “Tea-Horse Caravan Route”, you can see the 100-year-old Zhongding Catholic Church built and founded by a French missionary. Shimen Pass is another fantastic section of the gorge along with Wengli (also called Wuli), another stunning landscape lying on a beautiful slope along the river bank. Very near to the Wengli, a carved path is seen on the other bank cliff, so-called “Tea-Horse Caravan Route”, a path used by traders ferrying their goods between Yunnan and Tibet. At the end of the trekking road, an old hanging bridge and a new bridge swing side-by-side.

Day 5 Bingzhongluo-Liuku

Sightseeing and Activities: Laomudeng Village
Accommodation: Liuku
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Leave Gongshan and drive 110km through the fascinating mountain areas to Fugong. Sightseeing includes a visit to a suspension bridge and a glide cable. Special Lisu food will be served during dinner. In the evening you will take part in a party with the local people.

Return to Liuku. Enjoy your last day at Nujiang Grand canyon and visit Laomudeng Village and the bathhouse of Lisu minority. It is a tradition to welcome new year that all people take a bath together in the open hot springs by the banks of the river.

Day 6 Departure from Liuku

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

End the wonderful adventure tour of Nujiang Grand Canyon. Transfer back to Kunming. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Liuku	/	/	Shengshi Hongbang Hotel	/
Bingzhongluo	/	/	Nu Xia Hotel	Fusheng Manor Inn
Gongshan	/	/	Nu Xia Hotel	Fusheng Manor Inn

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.

Yunnan classic tour is always related to Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangrila. 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. You will also explore the Yi, Naxi, Bai, Lisu, Mosuo and Tibetan minorities. The Tiger Leaping Gorge and the First Bend of the Yangtze River will be the most impressive part of your trip in Yunnan Province.

Highlights:

Have a Great tour in the “spring city” – Kunming and immerse yourselves in the stone wonderland.
Step into the fantastic Lijiang Old Town and feel the mysterious Naxi culture.
Walk and explore Dali Old Town between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake.
Explore the earthly paradise with Tibetan Lama monastery, primitive forest, crystal lakes, hospital people.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Chengdu-Lijiang
Day 2: Lijiang
Day 3: Lijiang-Shangri-la
Day 4: Shangri-la
Day 5: Shangri-la-Dali
Day 6: Dali-Kunming
Day 7: Kunming
Day 8: Kunming
Day 9: Kunming-Chengdu

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Chengdu-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Lunch

When you arrive in Lijiang, you will stroll around Lijiang Old Town, a well-preserved old town with brilliant ethnic culture, which is a central town of 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 2 Lijiang-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Yulong Snow Mountain, Yak Meadow, Baishui River, Baisha Village and Murals
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

In the morning, drive about 30 km to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100 meters), you will take the sightseeing bus for a short visit through the Baishuihe River, then take the chairlift up to visit Yak Meadow(3700 meters) of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cable-way will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around 1 hour in the original forest of Yak Meadow(3200 meters).

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

Stroll through Baisha Old Town, which is an enchanting traditional Yunnan village. Visit the Baisha Mural about 600 years old, which is a 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, the Iron Chain Bridge, the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Old Town
Accommodation: Shangri-la
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

From Lijiang, drive about 60 km to the First Bend of 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 magnificent 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 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 well-known as the paradise destination for every tourist.

Upon arrival in Shangri-La, you will have entered 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 and Dukezong Ancient Town.

Day 4 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Songzanlin Monastery, the Bita Lake & Shudu Lake, Dabao Monastery, Tibetan family visit
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 ‘, because the whole monastery is in the traditional 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. Although 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 around Napahai Lake and visit some Tibetan villages and families.

Day 5 Shangri-la-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Dali Old Town, the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Temple, Erhai Lake Cruise, Xizhou Town, Zhoucheng Village
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Take the morning flight to Dali which is a historically and culturally famous city of China. Dali is renowned for her historical interest and Bai ethnic culture. After landing, visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years. It is 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.

After lunch, 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.

You will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste their fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. Visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop where you can take some special souvenirs with the Bai ethnic style.

In the late afternoon, you will visit the Dali Old Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the time with local people. After climbing up to the City Wall of Dali, you will have panoramic view of the Erhai Lake.

Day 6 Dali-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: the Green Lake
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

The Green Lake Park(Cuihu Park) in Kunming

This morning, take the airplane to Kunming. Welcome to Kunming, the Spring City of China, the local tour guide and driver will meet you in the arrival hall and escort you to your hotel.

After a short rest, stroll in the most picturesque park in Kunming urban area – the Green Lake Park, a charming area of tea houses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings. Here you can share the happiness of local people’s doing tai chi, performing local opera, and other vibrant activities. If you visit the park in November or December, you will see huge flocks of red-beaked seagulls that migrate there from Siberia.

Day 7 Kunming-Stone Forest-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Jiuxiang Cave, Stone Forest
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Today start your trip from visiting Jiuxiang Cave , which is located 90 km from Kunming. It is Known as the “museum of karst caves”. Jiuxiang boasts more than 100 karst caves and is the largest cave group system in China. The cave formations are varied and the rivers, waterfalls, and natural rock bridges are very enchanting.

After tour, you will continue to visit 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. Then transfer back to your hotel in Kunming city.

Day 8 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: West Hills and Dragon Gate, Yunnan Ethnic Villages
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Western Hills and Dragon Gate in Kunming.

In the morning, drive to West Hills. You will take the chairlift to visit Dragon Gate. It is a group of grottoes, sculptures, corridors and pavilions that were hacked from the cliff between 1781 and 1835 by a poor Taoist monk Wu Laiqing and his friends with simple tools. A stone archway was built at the entrance with the inscription Long Men (Dragon Gate) at the top. Standing here you will have a chance to view the thrilling sight of the Dianchi Lake below.

Later visit Yunnan Ethnic Villages. It is a theme park that displays the various folklore, culture, and architecture of 26 ethnic groups in Yunnan Province.

After dinner, you will have an option to enjoy the large-scale dance drama “Dynamic Yunnan” which has been an outstanding innovation on the Chinese stage in recent years directed by Yang Liping. Primitive, unsophisticated folk dances and a fresh artistic concept converge in the program, giving audiences a unique “Yunnan Impression.” Sixty-two drums and 120 masks of strong ethnic characteristics are incorporated in the performance.

Day 9 Kunming-Chengdu

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

Take departure flight from Kunming to Chengdu. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Kunming	Sofitel Hotel	Jinjiang Hotel	Longteng Hotel	/
Lijiang	InterContinental Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Liwang Hotel	/
Shangri-la	Shangri-La Resort	E-outfitting Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Inn	/
Dali	Hilton Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Taiheju hotel	/

Service Included:

Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals as listed in the itinerary;
Accommodation with breakfast;
Private English-speaking tour guide and vehicle for transfers & sightseeing;
All land transfer and transportation;
Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
Free-bottled mineral water;
Travel Agency’s Responsibility Insurance.
Domestic air tickets.

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;
Domestic air tickets fares with airport tax and fuel extra fee based on economy class mentioned in the program.

For this 11 days Yunnan classic tour, you will visit not only the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La, but also the highlights of Shanghai city. 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:

Begin your 11 days Yunnan classic tour from Shanghai by high speed train.
Visit and explore famous ancient towns in Yunnan, including Dali Old Town and Lijiang Old Town.
Be amazed at the stone wonderland, Stone Forest.
Experience the ethnic culture of Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan minorities.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Shanghai Arrival
Day 2: Shanghai
Day 3: Shanghai-Kunming
Day 4: Kunming-Dali
Day 5: Dali
Day 6: Dali-Shaxi
Day 7: Shaxi-Shangri-La
Day 8: Shangri-La-Lijiang
Day 9: Lijiang-Kunming
Day 10: Kunming
Day 11: Kunming Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Shanghai

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

Arrive in Shanghai. Meet your guide at airport, then drive to hotel for check-in.

Day 2 Shanghai

Sightseeing and Activities: the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden, Nanjing Road, the Bund
Accommodation: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, which is located in Pudong Park in Lujiazui, Shanghai. Surrounded by the Yangpu Bridge in the northeast and the Nanpu Bridge in the southwest, it creates a picture of ‘twin dragons playing with pearls’. The entire scene is a photographic jewel that excites the imagination and attracts thousands of visitors year-round.

Then move to visit Yuyuan Garden. The elaborately crafted halls and pavilions are with great wisdom arranged to join the lotus lake, greenery to make various pretty images before your eyes. Walk around Yuyuan Market nearby where you can feast your eyes with numerous Chinese arts and crafts in a lively atmosphere.

Next stop is the famous Nanjing Road and The Bund. Take Metro Line 2 to the People’s Square Station and the 1,599-meter-long Nanjing Rd. (East) is right there, You may get dazzled by the world of Garment, shoes, jewelry, accessory, snack and souvenirs. Walk about 15 minutes from Nanjing Rd. (East) and you have the amazing view of the Bund, the beautiful silhouette of Baroque buildings and the landmark Oriental Pearl Tower.

Day 3 Shanghai-Kunming

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

In the morning, you will transfer to railway station for the high speed train to Kunming. Upon arrival, the guide in Kunming will pick you up and transfer to the downtown to check in your hotel.

Day 4 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Stone Forest, Guandu Old Town, Nanping Road
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, make the tour of 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.

Then transfer back to Kunming city, pay a visit to Guandu Old Town, one of the cradles of the ancient Dian civilization and culture in Yunnan, which is located in the southeast suburb of Kunming, about 10 km from downtown. Being a famous historic and cultural town, dated back to the Nanzhao Kingdom (738-937), as early as the Tang Dynasty, Guandu Old Town had been a big market town and communication center.

Finally, drop off at shopping area – Nanping Street nearby, you will stroll in this area and then transfer to the hotel for rest.

Day 5 Kunming-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas, Zhoucheng, Dali Old Town
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. After meeting your guide, you will head to take cruise in Erhai Lake by the small boat 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. Then go to visit Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery , which has a history of over 1,800 years. It is 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.

Later Visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop where you can take some special souvenirs with the Bai ethnic style. At last, you will visit the Dali Old Town.

Day 6 Dali-Shaxi

Sightseeing and Activities: Shibaoshan Mountain, Shaxi Old Town
Accommodation: Shaxi
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

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

Then drive from Dali to Shibaoshan mountain. The most prominent sight at ShibaoShan is the Stone Bell Temple with its 139 well preserved stone carvings. These magnificent stone carvings dated back as far as 1300 years to the once powerful Nanzhao Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The carvings are testimony for a time when Mahayana Buddhism from Tibet started to spread in the Yunnan area. Another interesting sight is the ‘Suspending Temple’, also called the Baoxiang Temple. The Baoxiang temple was built on a ledge of a nearly vertical cliff and can only be reached by a long flight of stairs. On a clear day, the views from the Baoxiang Temple over the Shaxi valley are simply magnificent.

After lunch, drive to Shaxi , have a tour of Shaxi Old Town.

Day 7 Shaxi-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Tiger Leaping Gorger, Dukezong Old Town
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

This morning, drive about 2 hours to Qiaotou Town. Take the tour of Tiger Leaping Gorge(Shangri-La section), 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.

After the tour, continue driving to Zhongdian which is well known as the paradise destination for every tourist. Check in your hotel after arrival.

Then stroll 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 and Dukezong Ancient Town.

Day 8 Shangri-La-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Pudacuo National Park, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, you’ll visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park. It is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. Even though 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 mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species.

Continue to visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias – ‘the little Potala Palace’, because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere.

Around 15:00, you will transfer to Lijiang. Check in your hotel in Lijiang.

Day 9 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Ganhaizi Meadow, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baishuihe River, Yak Meadow, Black Dragon Pond, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, drive about 30 km to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100 meters), you will take the bus for a short visit through the Baishuihe River, then take the chairlift up to visit Yak Meadow(3700 meters) of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.The cable-way will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around 1 hours in the original forest in Yak Meadow.

Then have stroll in Black Dragon Pool, which is located at the foot of the Xiangshan Mountain (Elephant Hill) north of Lijiang City. As the water here is a lucid green color, it gained another name Jade Spring Park (Yuquan Park). There are many distinctive and ravishing sites in the park. Hiding in the lush trees or standing along the liquid pool is the antique and exquisite architectural pieces, which are in the style of Naxi. Then explore Lijiang Old Town. Lijiang Ancient 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 people.

In the evening, take the overnight train to Kunming.

Day 10 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Western Hills and Dragon Gate, Yuantong Temple, Green Lake Park
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Arrive in Kunming in the morning, meet your local guide, then drive to West Hills. You will take the chairlift to visit Dragon Gate. It is a group of grottoes, sculptures, corridors and pavilions that were hacked from the cliff between 1781 and 1835 by a poor Taoist monk Wu Laiqing and his friends with simple tools. It consists of three stone chambers chiseled out of the cliffs and connected by a spiraling passageway that allows only one person to pass at a time. The passage ends at the Pavilion Leading to Heaven (Datiange). A stone archway was built at the entrance with the inscription Long Men (Dragon Gate) at the top. Standing here you will have a chance to view the thrilling sight of the Dianchi Lake below.

Afterward, head to Yuantong Temple. Located in the north of Kunming, close to Green Lake Park, this large Buddhist temple was built over 1,000 years ago when Yunnan was a part of the Nanzhao kingdom and independent from next door Tang dynasty China.

Later have a nice walk in Green Lake (Cuihu Gongyuan), one of the most picturesque parks in downtown Kunming. In November and December every winter, huge flocks of red-beaked gulls migrate here from Siberia.

Day 11 Kunming Departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Kunming Departure
Accommodation:None
Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy your leisure time before going to airport for your departure flight. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Kunming	Sofitel Hotel	Jinjiang Hotel	Longteng Hotel	Tu Tu Inn
Lijiang	InterContinental Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Liwang Hotel	Flowers Hall Inn
Shangri-La	Shangri-La Resort	E-outfitting Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Inn	Guzang Xiangbala Wu Fu Diannan Boutique Inn
Dali	Hilton Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Taiheju hotel	Fengxuegucheng
Shaxi	Landscape Hotel	Shaxi Aoding Courtyard	Xiaolazhe Yododo Inn	Another Encounter

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(2nd class seat).

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.

A pair of bullet trains numbered as G312/314 are operated daily to serve passengers travelling from Hong Kong to Kunming and from Kunming to Hong Kong. The travel time is around 7.5 hours and the ticket price for a second class seat is CNY 750. For this 10 days Yunnan classic tour, you will visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La. This is also a minority discovery tour, because you will find colorful and mysterious ethnic cultures during your trip, the minorities such as Yis, Bais, Naxis and Tibetan. Also, you will step into the famous ancient towns to find the profound history and culture of Yunnan. Moreover, you will see many natural wonderlands in the tour, including the Tiger Leaping Gorge and the Stone Forest. It will be a most impressive tour in your life.

Highlights:

Begin your Yunnan classic tour Kunming-Dali-Shangri-La-Lijiang by high speed train.
Visit and explore famous ancient towns in Yunnan, including Dali Old Town and Lijiang Old Town.
Be marveled at the stone wonderland, Stone Forest.
Experience the ethnic culture of Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan minorities.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Shenzhen-Kunming
Day 2: Kunming-Dali
Day 3: Dali
Day 4: Dali-Shaxi
Day 5: Shaxi-Shangri-La
Day 6: Shangri-La-Lijiang
Day 7: Lijiang
Day 8: Lijiang-Kunming
Day 9: Kunming
Day 10: Kunming Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Hong Kong-Kunming

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

On September 23th, 2018, along with the opening of the much-anticipated Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway, the bullet train between Hong Kong and Kunming also began operating. This daily train runs from Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Station and Kunming South Railway Station, and vice versa, passes popular tourist cities of Guilin and Guiyang.
Travel to Kunming from Hong Kong by high speed train. Arrive in Kunming, transfer to your hotel for check-in and relax.

Day 2 Kunming-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Stone Forest, Guangdu Old Town, Nanping Street
Accommodation:None
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, have the tour of 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.

Finally, drop off at shopping area – Nanping Street nearby, you will stroll in this area before you take the High Speed Train to Dali (2 hours) from Kunming. Upon your arrival in Dali, meet your local guide and driver, transfer to the hotel in Dali.

Day 3 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas, Zhoucheng Village, Dali Old Town
Accommodation:Dali
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, drive to cruise in Erhai Lake by the small boat. 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.

Day 4 Dali-Shaxi

Sightseeing and Activities:Xizhou, Shibaoshan Mountain, Shaxi Old Town
Accommodation:Shaxi
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

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

After lunch, drive to Shaxi , have a tour of Shaxi Old Town.

Day 5 Shaxi-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Old Town
Accommodation:Shangri-La
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

After the tour, continue driving to Zhongdian which is well known as the paradise destination for every tourist. Check in your hotel after arrival.

Then stroll 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 and Dukezong Ancient Town.

Day 6 Shangri-La-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Pudacuo National Park, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, you’ll visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park. It is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. Even though 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 mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species.

Around 15:00, you will transfer to Lijiang. Check in your hotel in Lijiang.

Day 7 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Ganhaizi Meadow, Baishuihe River, Yak Meadow, Impress Lijiang Show, Baisha Old Town, Baisha Murals
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, drive about 30 km to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100 meters), you will take the sightseeing bus for a short visit through the Baishuihe River, then take the chairlift up to visit Yak Meadow(3700 meters) of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cable-way will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around 1 hour in the original forest in Yak Meadow.

After lunch, you will enjoy the Impression Lijang Ethnic Show (regular seat) directed in Ganhaizi Meadow(3100 meters). A cultural show demonstrates the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area. The show takes place in an outdoor theater of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park at 3500 meters. 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 village. Visit the Baisha Mural about 600 years old, which is a part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.

Day 8 Lijiang-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Yuhu Village, Former Residence of Joseph Rock, Black Dragon Pool, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation:None
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

This morning, you’ll visit Yuhu Village and the Former Residence of Joseph Rock who was an Austria-American botanist and explorer, lived in Yuhu village and other places in that region from 1922 to 1949. He was also a naturalist and Photographer, and the first foreign scholar to introduce Lijiang ethnic culture to the western world.

Then stroll in Black Dragon Pool, which is located at the foot of the Xiangshan Mountain (Elephant Hill) north of Lijiang City. As the water here is a lucid green color, it gained another name Jade Spring Park (Yuquan Park). There are many distinctive and ravishing sites in the park. Hiding in the lush trees or standing along the liquid pool is the antique and exquisite architectural pieces, which are in the style of Naxi.

Then explore Lijiang Old Town. Lijiang Ancient 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 people.

In the evening, take the overnight train to Kunming.

Day 9 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:West Hills and Dragon Gate, Huangting Temple, Green Lake
Accommodation:Kunming
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

Later, have a tour of Huating Temple. The temple was first built in 1063, during Song Dynasty, covering an area of 12,000 square meters in rectangle. Huating Temple is the largest temple in Yunnan province. It was released as one of the Kunming municipal cultural relics protection units.

You will take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of tea houses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings.

Day 10 Kunming Departure

Sightseeing and Activities:Kunming Departure
Accommodation:None
Meals:Breakfast

Transfer to Kunming railway station for the high speed train back to Shenzhen. After arrival, meet the guide and drop off at Luohu border to entry in Hong Kong.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Kunming	Sofitel Hotel	Jinjiang Hotel	Longteng Hotel	Tu Tu Inn
Lijiang	InterContinental Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Liwang Hotel	Flowers Hall Inn
Shangri-La	Shangri-La Resort	E-outfitting Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Inn	Guzang Xiangbala Wu Fu Diannan Boutique Inn
Dali	Hilton Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Taiheju hotel	Fengxuegucheng
Shaxi	Landscape Hotel	Shaxi Aoding Courtyard	Xiaolazhe Yododo Inn	Another Encounter

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(2nd class seat).

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.

It’s a colorful trip that brings you into a fairyland. Cycling in Sichuan & Yunnan, you can enjoy the blue sky with fresh air almost all the way. The beautiful flowers always blossom in the summer. The yellow leaves fall like butterflies in autumn. It will be an unforgettable experience that cycling from Yunnan to Sichuan.

Detailed Itinerary

Recommended Hotels

City	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star

This cycling tour from Shangri-La to Lijiang will bring you to visit the main highlghts of Shangri-La and Lijiang. It is not only about natural landscapes, but also culture exploration, you will step into ancient towns and ethnic villages to discover ancient history and diverse ethnic cultures. Moreover, you will trek along the grand Tiger Leaping Gorge to fully appreciate the charm of the gorge.

Highlights:

Explore the earthly paradise with Tibetan Lama monastery, primitive forest, crystal lakes and hospital people.
Cycle from Shangri-la to Lijaing, feel the true charm of nature.
Lose yourself in Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world.
Step into the fantastic Lijiang Old Town and know the mysterious Dongba culture.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Shangri-La Arrival
Day 2: Shangri-La
Day 3: Shangri-La-Baishuitai
Day 4: Baishuitai-Tiger Leaping Gorge
Day 5: Tina’s Hotel
Day 6: Tina’s hostel-Daju
Day 7: Daju-Lijiang
Day 8: Lijiang
Day 9: Lijiang Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Arrive in Shangri-La
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: None

Arrive in Shangri-La, meet your tour guide and driver at the airport and transfer to hotel.

Day 2 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Songzanlin Monastery, Naphai Lake, Dukezong Ancient Town, Guishan Hill, Tibetan Family
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Cycling to visit Songzanlin Monastery in the morning, after lunch, ride around Naphai Lake and the grassland. Visit Dukezong Ancient Town and the largest Prayer Wheel on the top of Guishan Hill. Join the Tibetan Family with Tibetan dance and music at night.

Day 3 Shangri-La-Baishuitai

Sightseeing and Activities: Baishuitai, Cycling, Pudacuo National Park
Accommodation: Baishuitai
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

We begin with a short transfer out of town, passing through arid plateau towards Pudacuo National Park where to start the day’s cycling. We set off on the bikes with a downhill stretch on good road and continue cycling through a series of valleys and mountains, as well as a changing rural scenery gradually descending to the village of Baishuitai. Our final stretch of the route brings us through conifer forest. Located below the Haba Snow Mountain (the other side of Tiger Leaping Gorge), Baishuitai is famed for its natural white water terrace created by calcium carbonate depositing from the melting mountain spring water.

Day 4 Baishuitai-Haba Village-Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge

Sightseeing and Activities: Haba village, Yangtze River Valley, Cycling
Accommodation: Tina’s Hostel
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

We set off today with a few gentle hills before challenging a more serious climb. Once we reach the top of the pass we will have views of the magnificent Haba Mountain peaks. The highest point is at a dizzying 5,396 meters. With alpine moraine lake, endless clusters of azalea and waterfalls cascading down snow-covered cliffs, the glacier on the Haba Snow Mountain is the southmost glacier in China. We make a short descent into Haba Village, whose resident minorities include Naxi, Hui (Muslim) and Yi peoples, as well as a few Tibetans.

This afternoon, we climb to our next pass then cycle down into the Yangtze River Valley. At the village of Yonke we will turn into the legendary Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world’s deepest ravines.

Day 5 Tina’s Hostel-Bendiwan Village-Tina’s Hostel

Sightseeing and Activities: Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, Bendiwan Village, Guanyin Waterfalls
Accommodation: Tina’s Hostel
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today you will visit Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge. You will spend your half day trekking and half day free in the gorge. After breakfast, trek from Tina’s Guesthouse up to Bendiwan Village, you will visit Guanyin Waterfalls, Bamboo Forest, Guanyin Temple, Wuzhishan (Five Fingers) Mountain, Dashengou Waterfalls, Sheshen Cliffs, Qianyan Stone House.

You will have lunch in Halfway Guesthouse in Bendiwan Village. Halfway Guesthouse is the best position to enjoy the Tiger Leaping Gorge and the thirteen peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After lunch, trek about one hour down to the road and your driver will pick you up and transfer back to Tina’s Guesthouse. You will be free in the afternoon and explore the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge by yourself.

Day 6 Tina’s Hostel-Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge-Daju

Sightseeing and Activities: the Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge, Middle Rapids, Walnut Grove Garden Village, Xincun Village, Daju Town
Accommodation: Daju
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

The Lower Section of Tiger Leaping Gorge

In the morning, you will trek down to the Middle Rapids of Jinsha River, you will witness the narrowest part of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Trek through the Yixiantian(Tiny Sky), which is considered as a very dangerous section of a few dozen meters long. You will trek to the Walnut Grove Garden(Hetaoyuan in Chinese) and drive back to Tina’s Hostel for your lunch. After lunch, ride to the Lower Part of Tiger Leaping Gorge. You will arrive at HaLong Meng Guesthouse and have a panoramic view of Daju before cross the Daju Ferry. Take the bike down to Jinsha River and take the boat to Daju Town.

Day 7 Daju-Jade Dragon Snow Moutain-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Jade Dragon Snow Moutain, Yake Meadow, Ganhaizi Meadow, Baisha Old Town and Murals, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, the driver will pick you to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and then take the chairlift up to Yak Meadow(3700 meters), which is the best location to enjoy the nice view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. You will pay a visit to the Lama monastery and walk around the Yak Meadow.

Take the chairlift back to the Bus Station and continue the cycling to Ganhaizi Meadow for your lunch in Dongbala Restaurant. In the afternoon, ride down to Baisha Old Town and visit Baisha Murals. Ride 10 km more to Lijiang Old Town, finish your cycling and visit the night view of Lijiang Old Town.

Day 8 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Lijiang Old Town, Lashihai Lake, Shuhe Old Town, Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Museum
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Around 9 o’clock in the morning, drive 30 minutes to the entrance of the Lashihai Lake. Then start biking around the lake for 2-3 hours and visit some Naxi villages, Zhiyun Monastery, and the different crops in the farmland. Lashi Lake is a Nature Reserve and is a haven for migratory birds. More than 70 species of birds come to nest in this area during the winter. At noon, you will ride to have some delicious local food for your lunch at a friendly Naxi family.

After lunch, you will ride down to Shuhe Old Town , which is the important town of the Tea Horse Trade Caravan from the upper Mekong River to Tibet and India. You will visit the Tea Horse Trade Caravan Museum in Shuhe Old Town.

After Shuhe, you will ride about 4 Km to Black Dragon Pool , which is the main headwater of the Yushui River that goes through the Old Town. It is just like the bright eyes of the town, shining with the wisdom. Pay a visit to the Dongba Ethnic Museum and learn the Naxi Dongba culture. Ride back to Lijiang Old Town and stroll around by your own.

Day 9 Departure from Lijiang

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

Enjoy your leisure time before going to Lijiang airport for the departure flight. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Shangri-La	Shangri-La Resort	E-outfitting Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Inn	Guzang Xiangbala Wu Fu Diannan Bountique Inn
Lijiang	InterContinental Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Liwang Hotel	Flowers Hall Inn
Daju	/	/	/	Local Guesthouse
Baishuitai	/	/	Hejia Hotel	/

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;
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.

The Most Popular Tours Packages of Tiger Leaping Gorge

If you’re angling for astonishing scenic beauty, wild mountainous adventures, riveting displays of ethnic culture and the irresistible allure of the immense outdoors, this tour is right for you. Start from Lijiang, a fairyland blessed with fresh air, clear streams, breathtaking snow mountains and an undisturbed landscape inhabited by a friendly ethnic group of Naxi, this bike tour ends in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet and a holy city you could never miss.

Highlights:

Cycle from Lijiang to Lhasa, passing by various beautiful scenery, mountains, rivers, and lakes.
Lose yourself in Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world.
Step on the earthly paradise, Lhasa.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge
Day 2: Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La
Day 3: Shangari-La-Benzilan
Day 4: Benzilan-Feilai Temple
Day 5: Felai Temple-yanjing
Day 6: Yanjing-Markham
Day 7: Markham-Dengba
Day 8: Dengba-Zuogong
Day 9: Zuogong-Bangda
Day 10: Bangda-Basu
Day 11: Basu-Ranwu
Day 12: Ranwu-Bomi
Day 13: Bomi-Tongmai
Day 14: Tongmai-Lulang
Day 15: Lulang-Bayi
Day 16: Bayi-Gongbo’gyamda
Day 17: Gongbo’gyamda-Songduo
Day 18: Songduo-Lhasa
Day 19: Lhasa
Day 20: Lhasa Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge

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

Set off from the Lijiang ancient Town today and cycle to the Tiger Leaping Gorge, passing by the First Bend of the Yangtze River. In the remaining time, you could explore the 18-kilometer gorge on foot.

Day 2 Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangari-La

Sightseeing and Activities: White Water Terrace(Baishuitai), Napa Lake
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Cycle out of the gorge, visit the White Water Terrace and then continue the journey to Shangri-La over several mountains. On route, pay a visit to the Napa Lake. Fed by small streams from the snow mountains encircled, the lake shapes just like a trumpet shell. In the color of azure with snowy mountains and trees reflecting in it, the gorgeous lake is a wonderland to appreciate the beauty of nature.

Day 3 Shangari-La-Benzilan

Sightseeing and Activities: Cycling, Benzilan
Accommodation: Bengzilan
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Take a 82-kilometer journey to a spot called Benzilan. Travel along the river but not cross the bridge, otherwise you will ride to Derong of Sichuan Province.

Day 4 Benzilan-Felai Temple

Sightseeing and Activities: Feilaisi Temple
Accommodation: Feilaisi
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Start from Benzilan to Deqin and then stop at the Feilai Temple by the Yunnan-Tibet Road, which is also known as the No.214 National Highway. The snowy scenic on the way is amazing.

Day 5 Felai Temple-Yanjing

Sightseeing and Activities: Lancang River, Catholic Church
Accommodation: Yangjing
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Set off early today, get to Yanjing of Tibet, which is located on the bank of the Lancang River. In the remaining time in Yanjing, you could visit the only Catholic Church in Tibet.

Day 6 Yanjing-Markham

Sightseeing and Activities: Cycling, Markham
Accommodation: Markham
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Head to Markham which is an important transportation hub to other parts of Tibet. The journey is about 110 kilometers, and this road always suffers collapse in rainy season, so you should be cautious.

Markham is at the junction of roads to Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet provinces. It is the first county where you can have a lodge in the hostel and appreciate a warm meal after you enter in Tibet. It is located 1 kilometer away from the National Highway 318, you can overnight in the local Weather Bureau rest house to take a bath and prepare for the Tibet part bicycle tour.

Day 7 Markham-Dengba

Sightseeing and Activities: Along the Langcang River
Accommodation: Dengba
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today’s journey is cycling along the Langcang River.

For the first 12 kilometers, you will get over the Lawu Mountain Pass, and the following 33 kilometers are the downhill path, the elevation will decline by 1700 meters. Then get over Jueba mountain for about 24.5 kilometers and follow the downhill path for 13 kilometers to Dengba. As the trail along the Lancang River is extremely steep, you need to proceed with particular caution and prudence, control your brake tightly. It is really a test for your strength and will, but the visit of the pass-by Lancang Valley will be worthwhile.

Markham (3875 m) –Lawu Pass (4338 m) – Chuka Bridge (2640 m) – Jueba Pass (3930 m) – Dengba Village (3440 m).

Day 8 Dengba-Zuogong

Sightseeing and Activities: Zuogong, Rongxu, cycling
Accommodation: Zuogong
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today, continue the uphill path road for 13 kilometers to Rongxu. The elevation will rise by 1900 meters totally. Keep cycling to get over mountains and proceed for 56.5 kilometers to reach Zuogong.

Most of this path is still dirty and dusty road. Upgrade for 24.5 kilometers to cross Dongda Mountain, and downgrade for 32 kilometers to Zuogong. Dongda Mountain is the highest pass in the whole route, where the altitude has reached 5100 meters, and the uphill path will be quite strenuous. The downhill road is gentle and you can have complete relax.

Dengba Village (3440 m) – Rongxu Military Depot (4046 m) – Dongda Pass (5008 m) – Zuogong County(3877 m)

Day 9 Zuogong-Bangda

Sightseeing and Activities: Bangda, Cycling
Accommodation: Bangda
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Proceed for 105 kilometers to Bangda.

As the initial 63 kilometers are bituminous macadam, arrival at 3654 meters on the National Highway 318. And the following 42 kilometers are dusty road in poor condition with lots of uphill path. The exciting thing is that there is fiber in Bangda and you can make a call there. And cycling along with Yuqu River is enjoyable, too.

Zuogong County (3877 m) – Tiantuo Town – Tiantuo Village – Asi Village – Bangda Town (4120 m)

Day 10 Bangda-Basu

Sightseeing and Activities: Basu, Cycling
Accommodation: Basu
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Firstly, cycle 75 kilometers from Bangda to Wadayue. Most of this part is still the dirty road. The former 13.5 kilometers is the up slope to get over Yela Mountain, also named as Nujiang Mountain, the trail is relatively in good condition. However the following 43 kilometers down slope path to Nujiang Bridge is indeed tough, with more than 50 sharp turnings of 180 degrees. This trail is often called “Nujiang 72 turnings” for its dangerous and zigzag path.

Then cover another 20 kilometers to Basu. This part of road seems good in the sunny day, but it will turn extremely terrible after rain.

Day 11 Basu-Ranwu

Sightseeing and Activities: Ranwu, Cycling
Accommodation: Ranwu
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Bike 60 kilometers to Zhongsha at first. It is still the dusty and dirty road and mainly composed of uphill path. Then cycle 30 kilometers dusty road extending to Ranwu town, a paradise place with mirror-like lake, jade-green pines and snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Basu County (3280 m) – Anjiula Pass (4475 m) – Ranwu Town (3960 m)

Day 12 Ranwu-Bomi

Sightseeing and Activities: Bomi, Cycling
Accommodation: Bomi
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today, leave Ranwu and continue to ride for Zhongba, which is 53 kilometers away. Proceed along the tempered declivous path, and have a brief visit of Anmucuo and Palong Tsangpu River. As most of this path, you will go through the forestry area and linger in the mist and clouds between mountains. Continue to the relevantly big town Bomi for 76 kilometers. The dirt road stretches for 36 kilometers until Songzong and the following 40 kilometers is the bituminous macadam as gentle down slope. Plenty of Glaciers will catch your eyes on the way.

Ranwu Town (3960 m) – Midui Glacier – Zhongba Village (3330 m) – Bomi County (2725 m)

Day 13 Bomi-Tongmai

Sightseeing and Activities: Tongmai, Cycling
Accommodation: Tongmai
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today is an arduous cycling day to Tongmai, covering about 90 kilometers. 40 kilometers declivous path guides you to Guxiang bituminous macadam and the following 50 kilometers path will not cost you lots of strength and energy. However, it comes to be atrocious when you close to Tongmai.

Bomi County (2725 m) – Guxiang – 102 landslide area – Tongmai Town (2070 m)

Day 14 Tongmai-Lulang

Sightseeing and Activities: Lulang, Cycling
Accommodation: Lulang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Go cross Dongjiu for the first 37 kilometers and continue to Lulang Town for 37 kilometers more.

When you reach Pailong, 17 kilometers from Tongmai, you will see the wreckage of Yigonghe River flood collapse, and the present path is new- repaired. The slope is still barrier and bold and you can see the trace after flood. The trail from Tongmai to Pailong is in well condition. Then continue for 37 kilometers after the forest ecological system orientation and the pass-by sight just looks like tropical rain forest. Try the delicious food of Lulang Chicken Soup cooked by stone pot.

Tongmai Town (2070 m) – Laohu Zui – Pailong – Layue Village (2372 m) – Dongjiu country (2560 m) – Lulang Town (3370 m)

Day 15 Lulang-Bayi

Sightseeing and Activities: Bayi, Cycling
Accommodation: Bayi
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

It will be a fatigued but rewarding day for 72.5 kilometers and arrive in Bayi.

You will get over Sejila Mountain for 23.5 kilometers. Sightseeing Terrace for the sea of Lulang forests is 19 km away from Lulang Town. The National Highway 110 gently upgrades and you need to push you bicycle to surmount Sejila Mountain. The latter 30 kilometers path to Nyingtri is steep and in poor condition. There are approximately 19 kilometers from Nyingtri to Bayi, and as it is the even bituminous macadam. The Niyangqu and poplars dotted in emerald green constitute picturesque scenery. The Huge Cypress Park is situated near Bayi roadside. You can find a hostel to have a rest and take a shower easily in Bayi Town.

Lulang Town (3370 m) – Sejila Pass (4559 m) – Nyingchi Town (3010m) – Bayi Town (2930 m)

Day 16 Bayi-Gongbo’gyamda

Sightseeing and Activities: Gongbo’gyamda, Cycling
Accommodation: Gongbo’gyamda
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

You will enjoy the ease to ride on the bituminous macadam. The verdant mountains and green waters will feast your eyes all along the way and you will cover 127 kilometers arrival in Gongbo’gyamda.

Bayi Town (2930 m) – Gengzhang Town – Baiba Town – Gongbo’gyamda County (3440 m)

Day 17 Gongbo’gyamda-Songduo

Sightseeing and Activities: Songduo, Cycling
Accommodation: Songduo
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Continue to ride on the bituminous macadam for 96 kilometers to Songduo and mainly composed of uphill path. Songduo is the only small town with room and board between Gongbu pass and Mila Pass.

Gongbo’gyamda County (3440 m) – Jinda Town – Jiaxing country – Songduo (4288 m)

Day 18 Songduo-Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities: Lhasa, Cycling
Accommodation: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Ride from Songduo to Mozhugongka for 110 kilometers. The first 20 kilometers is the tempered uphill bituminous macadam, but you need to push your bicycle to the second highest pass, Mila Pass (5030 m) along Sichuan – Tibet Highway. Then continue for 27 kilometers to Riduo on the bituminous macadam and head for Mozhugongka for another 56 kilometers. The head to your final destination – Lhasa.

The last period is approximately 68 kilometers bituminous macadam. You will see the lofty Potala Palace in distance, as you enter in the Lhasa Forestry checkpoint. The challenging tour ends here and you might feel as comfortable as home at that moment.

Songduo (4288 m) – Mila Pass (5013 m) – Riduo country (4370 m) –Mozhugongka County (3830 m) – Datse County (3440 m) – Lhasa (3650 m)

Day 19 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple
Accommodation: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, we go to the Potala Palace, a golden feather upon the roof of the world, which Tibetans proudly claim to be the prime miracle since the creation of this world. With the golden roof shinning in the sun, it is visible from any distance. You can spend one hour wondering around the inside of this magnificent building and exploring the rooms previously used by the Dalai Lama and many Buddhist icons within.

In the afternoon, we go inside of the Jokhang Temple. Then stroll around the back alleys of the Barkhor area of Old Lhasa.

Day 20 Departure from Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities: Departure from Lhasa
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Free time at your disposal this morning, explore the bustling markets of the Barkhor to buy some souvenirs for your families and friends. After lunch, drive to Lhasa airport for departure flight.

Alternatively, if you want to stay on rather than return home right away, you could contact us and choose our other City Packages as an extension to your memorable adventure!

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Tiger Leaping Gorge	/	/	/	Tina’s Guesthouse
Shangri-La	Shangri-La Hotel	E-outfitting Boutique Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Hotel	Guzang Xiangbala Wu Fu Diannan Boutique Inn
Feilaisi	Guan Jing Tian Tang Hotel	/	Feilaisi Pearl Hotel	/

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;
Sharing 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.

Taking the high speed train to travel in China is a new popular way to tour in China now. In this tour, you will discover the most highlights of Beijing, Yunnan and Shanghai by experiencing the high speed train. For Yunnan part, 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:

Experience the high speed train in China and know something about the modernization of China.
Meet the friendly ethnic groups like Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan.
Visit the historical ancient towns, historical relics, various mountains and temples, like Dali Old Town, Lijiang Old Town and Dukezong Ancient Town, etc.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery like Stone Forest on route, and feel the true charm of China.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Beijing Arrival
Day 2: Beijing
Day 3: Beijing
Day 4: Beijing-Kunming
Day 5: Kunming-Dali
Day 6: Dali
Day 7: Dali-Shaxi
Day 8: Shaxi-Shangri-La
Day 9: Shangri-La-Lijiang
Day 10: Lijiang-Kunming
Day 11: Kunming-Shanghai
Day 12: Shanghai
Day 13: Shanghai
Day 14: Shanghai Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing

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

Arrive in Beijing, your guide will pick you up at the airport, then drive to your hotel for check-in. Have a good rest at hotel after a long flight.

Day 2 Beijing

Sightseeing and Activities: Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
Accommodation: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today’s tour begins from visiting the Tian’anmen Square, the world’s largest plaza. Walk through Tian’anmen Gate, you’ll enter the splendid Forbidden City, China’s No.1 palace adorned with imperial treasures.

In the afternoon, you’ll marvel at the Temple of Heaven where the emperors worshiped heaven and prayed for peace and harvest. After the tour, back to your hotel.

Day 3 Beijing

Sightseeing and Activities: Great Wall (Badaling section), Ding Tomb
Accommodation: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

This morning, you will tour the world-famous Great Wall(Badaling section), the key symbol of China. Flexible visiting time allows you to enjoy a trekking trip (1-2 hours’ hiking), or witness the breathtaking views of this man-made wonder by taking a cable car. After the Great Wall visit, you’ll take a leisurely stroll along the tranquil Sacred Road to explore the Ding Tomb of Ming Imperial Tombs.

In the evening, try the flavorful dish of Peking Roast Duck Dinner. (Optional)

Day 4 Beijing-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Arrive in Kunming by high speed train
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, drive to Beijing railway station for the high speed train to Kunming. Meet your tour guide at railway station and transfer to the hotel in Kunming.

Day 5 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Jiuxiang Cave, Stone Forest, the Flowers and Birds Market, Nanping Street
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Firstly, drive to Jiuxiang Cave , which is located 90 km far from Kunming. Known as the “museum of karst caves”, Jiuxiang boasts more than 100 karst caves and is the largest cave group system in China. The cave formations are varied and the rivers, waterfalls, and natural rock bridges are very enchanting.

After lunch, drive 40 km to make the tour of 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 the tour, transfer back to Kunming downtown and stroll in the Flower and Bird Market and shopping area –Nanping Street nearby.

Day 6 Kunming-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake, Xizhou Town, Zhoucheng Village, Dali Old Town
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 Railway station and meet your local guide there. Then you will visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery , which has a history of over 1,800 years. It is 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.

After landing, you will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste their fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. Visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop where you can take some special souvenirs with the Bai ethnic style.

At last, you will visit the Dali Old Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the time with local people. After climbing up to the City Wall of Dali, you will have panoramic view of the Erhai Lake.

Day 7 Dali-Shaxi

Sightseeing and Activities: Shibaoshan, Shaxi Old Town
Accommodation: Shaxi
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, drive to Shibaoshan mountain. The most prominent sight at ShibaoShan is the Stone Bell Temple with its 139 well preserved stone carvings. These magnificent stone carvings dated back as far as 1300 years to the once powerful Nanzhao Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The carvings are testimony for a time when Mahayana Buddhism from Tibet started to spread in the Yunnan area. Another interesting sight is the ‘Suspending Temple’, also called the Baoxiang Temple. The Baoxiang temple was built on a ledge of a nearly vertical cliff and can only be reached by a long flight of stairs. On a clear day, the views from the Baoxiang Temple over the Shaxi valley are simply magnificent.

After lunch, drive to Shaxi, have a tour of Shaxi Old Town.

Day 8 Shaxi-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Old town
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

This morning, drive to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge(Shangri-La section) (the normally tour of Tiger Leaping Gorge, no trekking for this part), 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 well known as the paradise destination for every tourist.

After arrival, check in your hotel. Stroll 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 and Dukezong Ancient Town.

Day 9 Shangri-La-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Pudacuo National Park, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, you’ll visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park. It is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. Although 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.

Continue to visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias – ‘the little Potala Palace ‘, because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere.

After the tour, you will transfer to Lijiang to check in your hotel.

Day 10 Lijiang-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Black Dragon Pool, Shuhe Old Town
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

This morning, you will drive to Jade Dragon Mountain to make your day tour of the mountain.

After arrival, you will take the cable car up to the Glacier Park, which is 4506 meters above sea level. As the cable car arising, you can see the different types of glaciers, the valley glaciers, the cirque glaciers, the hanging glaciers etc. This is the best place for viewing snow as everywhere are covered with snow during the autumn and spring season.

Later, you will watch the outdoor performance “Impression Lijiang” (Regular seat), directed by the renowned China director, Zhang Yimou. Finally have a stop at Ganhaizi Meadow(3100 meters).

Then go to Black Dragon Pool Park, a famous pond in the scenic Jade Spring Park located at the foot of Elephant Hill, a short walk north of the Lijiang Old Town. It was built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty and offers a spectacular view on the region’s tallest mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Stroll around Shuhe Old Town before the evening transfer to Lijiang railway station for the overnight train back to Kunming.

Day 11 Kunming-Shanghai

Sightseeing and Activities: Kunming to Shanghai by high speed train.
Accommodation: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Early in the morning, arrive at Kunming railway station. After meeting your guide, transfer directly to the high speed train to Shanghai. Upon arrival, meet your guide in Shanghai and move to hotel.

Day 12 Shanghai

Sightseeing and Activities: the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden, Yuyang Market, Nanjing Road, the Bund
Accommodation: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today your sightseeing starts from the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, which is located in Pudong Park in Lujiazui, Shanghai. Surrounded by the Yangpu Bridge in the northeast and the Nanpu Bridge in the southwest, it creates a picture of ‘twin dragons playing with pearls’. The entire scene is a photographic jewel that excites the imagination and attracts thousands of visitors year-round.

Then move to visit Yuyuan Garden. The elaborately crafted halls and pavilions are with great wisdom arranged to join the lotus lake, greenery to make various pretty images before your eyes. Walking around Yuyuan Market nearby where you can feast your eyes with numerous Chinese arts and crafts in a lively atmosphere.

Afterward, you will stroll on the famous Nanjing Road and the Bund. Take Metro Line 2 to the People’s Square Station and the 1,599-meter-long Nanjing Rd is right there, You may get dazzled by the world of Garment, shoes, jewelry, accessory, snack and souvenirs. Walk about 15 minutes from Nanjing Rd. (East) and you have the amazing view of the Bund, the beautiful silhouette of Baroque buildings and the landmark Oriental Pearl Tower.

Day 13 Shanghai

Sightseeing and Activities: Zhujiajiao, Xintiandi
Accommodation: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

This morning, you will transfer to visit the Zhujiajiao Water Town and take a boat tour. Located in the outskirts of Shanghai, Zhujiajiao is a charming water town with rivers crossing the village and hundreds of ancient buildings stand at the banks. It was founded almost 1700 years ago, and became prosperous on the backs of its cloth and rice industry. There are still remains of historical sites such as rice and oil stores, which offer a glimpse of life in the old days. Zhujiajiao Water Town is noted for its archaic water country scenery, idyllic, tranquil, and peaceful.

After lunch, you will transfer back to Shanghai, enjoy the relax stroll in Xintiandi. It is a car-free shopping, dining and entertainment area of Shanghai.

Day 14 Shanghai departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Shanghai Departure
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast

Free time before driving to Pudong International Airport for your departure flight. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Kunming	Sofitel Hotel	Jinjiang Hotel	Longteng Hotel	Tu Tu Inn
Lijiang	InterContinental Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Liwang Hotel	Flowers Hall Inn
Shangri-La	Shangri-La Resort	E-outfitting Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Inn	Guzang Xiangbala Wu Fu Diannan Boutique Inn
Dali	Hilton Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Taiheju hotel	Fengxuegucheng
Shaxi	Landscape Hotel	Shaxi Aoding Courtyard	Xiaolazhe Yododo Inn	Another Encounter

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(2nd class tickets).

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.

Taking the high speed train to travel in China is a new popular way to tour in China now. In this High Speed Train Tour, you will have a experience to take speed train to travel around the main attractions of Beijing, Pingyao, Xi’an, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guiyang, Yunnan and Guilin.

Highlights:

Experience the high speed train in China and know something about the modernization of China.
Meet the friendly ethnic groups like Miao, Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan.
Visit the historical ancient towns, historical relics, various mountains and temples, like Pingyao Old Town, Terracotta Warriors.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery on route, and feel the true charm of China.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Beijing Arrival
Day 2: Beijing
Day 3: Beijing
Day 4: Beijing-Pingyao
Day 5: Pingyao
Day 6: Pingyao-Xi’an
Day 7: Xi’an
Day 8: Xi’an-Shanghai
Day 9: Shanghai
Day 10: Shanghai-Hangzhou
Day 11: Hangzhou-Zhangjiajie
Day 12: Zhangjiajie
Day 13: Zhangjiajie
Day 14: Zhangjiajie-Changsha
Day 15: Changsha-Kaili
Day 16: Kaili-Guiyang
Day 17: Guiyang-Kunming
Day 18: Kunming-Dali
Day 19: Dali
Day 20: Dali-Shaxi
Day 21: Shaxi-Shangri-La
Day 22: Shangri-La-Lijiang
Day 23: Lijiang
Day 24: Lijiang-Kunming
Day 25: Kunming-Guilin
Day 26: Guilin
Day 27: Guilin Departure.

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing

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

Arrive at Beijing airport, meet your guide and driver there, then transfer to check in your hotel.

Day 2 Beijing

Sightseeing and Activities: Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Hutong Tour by rickshaw
Accommodation: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Depart from your hotel in the morning to visit Tian’anmen Square (40 min) – the World’s largest urban square, and the Forbidden City (2.5-3 hours) – the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Then visit the Temple of Heaven (1 hour) in the afternoon. Drive to Drum Tower area for taking a relaxing Hutong Tour by rickshaw (Short route, 40 min) – the way to know the Beijing local lifestyle.

After that, drive back to your hotel.

Day 3 Beijing

Sightseeing and Activities: Mutianyu Great Wall, the exterior view of Bird Nest and Water Cube
Accommodation: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, start to drive to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall (2 hours ). Here you can choose: cable up and down on your own account on spot – the section of the Great Wall which is more popular among foreign visitors. Have the lunch near the Mutianyu Great Wall, and then drive back to the downtown and have a short stop and take the exterior view of Bird Nest and Water Cube (about 1 hour) – the amazing architectures that built for Beijing Olympic Games. After that, drive back to your hotel.

Day 4 Beijing-Pingyao

Sightseeing and Activities: Summer Palace, Pingyao Old Town
Accommodation: Pingyao
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, pay a visit to the Summer Palace (about 2 hour) – the existing largest, best-preserved imperial garden in China. After your lunch in Beijing, then transfer to the railway station for the high speed train to Pingyao Old Town. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel in Pingyao Old Town.

Day 5 Pingyao

Sightseeing and Activities: Ancient Government Office, Mingqing Street, Rishengchang, Tongxinggong Security Guard Company, Ancient City Wall
Accommodation: Pingyao
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Visit Ancient Government Office and street of capitalistic banking companies within its grant ancient city wall. You’ll have your eyes wide open when entering Mingqing Street, Wall Street of China. The 750-meter-long street holds nearly one hundred traditionally furnished shops and local houses built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911) along both sides. One of the well-known exchange shops on this street, Rishengchang, is your next stop. Though you can barely come up with what the shop looked like in its heydays, you can still find some secrets of its prudent managing system from the engraved tong twister near the counter.

The flourishing business of exchange shops at Mingqing Street helped with foundation of armed guard of property security. You’ll go visit Tongxinggong Security Guard Company, which was built in 1885 and is currently transformed into Security Guard Museum of China. Look into the harsh commandment of the staff and their varied weapons and tools, you can draw a picture of magnificent parade of property escort team on your mind.

End your day tour of the old town with the Ancient City Wall. The wall at dusk brings your thoughts back to centuries ago. You may even mistake yourself for an ancient hero who faced a totally foreign city wall and started to ponder over ways to conquer the city.

Day 6 Pingyao-Xi’an

Sightseeing and Activities: Qiao Family Compound, Shuanglin Temple
Accommodation: Xi’an
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Traditional Chinese art of architecture and sculpture can’t wait to boast itself even it’s situated on the outskirt of Pingyao. Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple at the outskirt are what Pingyao locals feel proud of. Distinguished architectural fashion of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) gets so fully displayed in the gigantic Qiao Family Compound. Inside Shuanglin Temple there are more than 2,000 painted Buddha sculptures waiting for your exploration. Each will be proved worthy of your 1-hour-long stay. After that, move to Pingyao Old Town Railway Station in the afternoon for the train to Xi’an.

Arrive in Xi’an, your guide and driver will pick you up there to check in your hotel.

Day 7 Xi’an

Sightseeing and Activities: Terracotta Warriors, Xi’an City Wall
Accommodation: Xi’an
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, transfer 1.5 hours for the visit to Terracotta Warriors (2.5-3 hours) – one of the world’s most important archaeological finds, with troops, horses and carriages in battle formation. Have lunch near the Terracotta Warriors area, drive back to the downtown. Continue to visit the Xian City Wall (1 hour) – represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls.

Optional tour: ride bike on the wall by your own.

After that, drive back to hotel.

Day 8 Xi’an-Shanghai

Sightseeing and Activities: Shanxi History Museum, Hangyang Mausoleum
Accommodation: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Finish the breakfast, and you will firstly to visit the Shanxi History Museum (2 hours) – one of the largest state museums with modern facilities in China. After lunch, continue to the Hanyang Mausoleum (1 hour) – the multi-burial cemetery of Emperor Jing of Han and his queen.

Your Xi’an tour will be finished by taking the 2 hours flight to Shanghai. Your Shanghai tour guide will wait for you at the airport and help you to check in the hotel.

Day 9 Shanghai

Sightseeing and Activities: Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyan Garden, Chenghuangmiao, The Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Nanjing Road, the bund
Accommodation: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

A full day sightseeing starts with Jade Buddha Temple (1 hour) – famous for the seated Buddha, encrusted with jewels, which is said to weigh 1,000 kg. And then, go to Yuyuan Garden (1 hour) – a Chinese classic garden in city downtown. Then visit the nearby Chenghuangmiao (Old Street) (1 hour). After lunch, you will have a visit of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower – the most charming landmark of Shanghai. And then, go for shopping in Nanjing Road (1 hours generally) – the earliest commercial street in Shanghai, and have a leisure walk along the Bund (30 min) – famous for a group of building known as “a Gallery of world architecture”.

After that, drive back to your hotel.

Day 10 Shanghai-Hangzhou

Sightseeing and Activities: West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Six Harmonies Pagoda, Longjing Tea Village
Accommodation: Hangzhou
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

This morning, you will take the speed train to Hangzhou (1 hours). Upon arrival, take the public boat tour of West Lake. After that, go to Lingyin Temple, continue to pay a visit to Six Harmonies Pagoda, have a tour of Longjing Tea Village to see the famous green Tea plantation here.

Day 11 Hangzhou-Zhangjiajie

Sightseeing and Activities: Wuzhen Town
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Departure from hotel to visit Wuzhen Town. Wuzhen is one of the six famous ancient water towns in south of the Yangtze River. It’s within the triangle formed by three top tourist cities: Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou. It has charmingly restored architecture and canals. Though some people complain about its commercial atmosphere, restored buildings, and the crowds, the charm and the elegance of this ancient water town is undeniable. In the evening, transfer to Hangzhou railway station for the overnight train to Zhangjiajie.

Day 12 Zhangjiajie

Sightseeing and Activities: Tianmen Moutain
Accommodation: Zhangjiajie
Meals: Lunch

Arrive in Zhangjiajie at noon, your guide will pick you up there to have lunch.

In the afternoon, you will take the world’s longest cable car to to the summit of Tianmen Mountain. On the top of Tianmen Mountain, you will have a panoramic view of Zhangjiajie. After tour, check in your hotel.

Day 13 Zhangjiajie

Sightseeing and Activities: Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie, Ten-mile Gallery
Accommodation: Zhangjiajie
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Firstly visit the Tianzi Mountain by cable car named after Xiang Dakun who led the local farmers’ revolt and called himself Tianzi – the Son of Heaven. Tianzi Mountain provides stunning views of peaks, which rise one after another. It is known as ‘the Monarch of the Peak Forest’. At the top of the mountain, visitors can see the full extent of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Beautiful scenes of the mountain greet visitors in different seasons. There are four wonders: the Sea of Clouds, the Radiance of the Moonlight, Rays of Sunshine and the Snow in winter.

Visit Yuanjiajie (by Bailong elevator up). Yuanjiajie is a natural platform that faces giant rocks rising from deep valleys and surrounded by higher mountains. Unique in their shapes and covered with pine trees, these rocks resemble a vivid Chinese painting. Main attraction spots include: Back Garden, breath taking Mihun Stage, the First Bridge under the Sun and Avatar Hallelujah Mountain (previously called Southern Sky Column).

After that, visit the “Ten-mile Gallery” of Suoxi Valley Scenic Spot. It looks like outdoor sculpture showroom. Along two sides of the river ,there display many great hills and cliffs. The Gallery offers an amazing experience of beauty. It is like an exhibition based in the gorge. Along the road are 200 peaks like old man collecting medicine, parents holding a son, and three Sisters and so on. It has a fleet and clean river on-flowing with the width of 6 meters and length of 5 km.

Day 14 Zhangjiajie-Changsha

Sightseeing and Activities: Baofeng Lake
Accommodation: Changsha
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, start your morning tour by boating on Baofeng Lake. The lake is located high up in the mountains with its water coming from the mountain peaks. Boating on the lake, you can immerse yourself in the pure nature. You will transfer to Changsha (4 hours ) for overnight today.

Day 15 Changsha-Kaili

Sightseeing and Activities: Wengxiang Miao Village
Accommodation: Kaili
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, move to Changsha railway station for the high speed train to Kaili. Upon arrival, meet your guide at exit of railway station, have a lunch before you make the tour of Wengxiang Miao village, which is known for the special textile technique called “folded embroidery”. The particular embroidery is applied on the sleeve. It needs at least one month to finish one sleeve’s decoration.

After the tour, check in your hotel in Kaili.

Day 16 Kaili-Guiyang

Sightseeing and Activities: Shiqiao Village, Langde Village
Accommodation: Guiyang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Your day tour will start from Shiqiao village where you can to see traditional paper making. Shiqiao Village is one of the villages where villagers continue to earn their living by producing and selling hand-made papers and products. Miao people make special paper by tree bark for thousands of year and offer the paper for Miao people in this region. You can see almost every village make different type of paper for decoration house, lantern.

However, with modern technology, changing demand and behavior of consumers, the number of villagers who can survive by keeping this tradition has declined from year to year, to left around lesser than 100 people. So you should cherish this opportunities when you see this on your trip to Guizhou.

Then move to visit Langde village. Located 17 km north of Leishan County, at the foot of a hill and beside a stream, Langde Village is one of the noted Miao villages in the prefecture that opened to the outside world. The village has three village gates. Houses supported by wooden pillars with a suspension roof and twisted corridors are built on the mountain slope. Most wooden buildings were built from 1616-1911. Five streets lead to the village. Two public recreation centers—Flute Center with the ground paved with cobbler, a small cultural museum of the Miao and the former residence of an insurrectionary general of the Qing Dynasty were built in the village.

After the tour, transfer to Guiyang to check in your hotel.

Day 17 Guiyang-Anshun-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Huanguoshu Waterfall
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

This morning, you will transfer to Anshun(1.5 hours) to visit Huangguoshu Waterfall, which is the largest waterfall in Asia. Seventy-four meters high and eighty-one meters wide, it is a scenic marvel. Do not miss it if you are in Guizhou Province. Known as the Huangguoshu Waterfall National Park, it is 45 kilometers southwest of Anshun in Guizhou Province.

After the tour, you will take the high speed train to Kunming. Check in your hotel in Kunming after arrival.

Day 18 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Stone Forest, Guandu Old Town, Nanping Street
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Then transfer back to Kunming city and pay a visit to Guandu Old Town, one of the cradles of the ancient Dian civilization and culture in Yunnan, which is located in the southeast suburb of Kunming, about 10 km from downtown. Being a famous historic and cultural town, dated back to the Nanzhao Kingdom (738-937), as early as the Tang Dynasty, Guandu Old Town had been a big market town and communication center.

Finally, drop off at shopping area – Nanping Street nearby, you will stroll this area before transfer to the hotel for rest.

Day 19 Kunming-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas, Zhoucheng, Xizhou, Dali Old Town
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Upon arrival at Dali in the morning, the local guide pick you up at the exit, then you’ll cruise in Erhai Lake by the small boat 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.

Then go to visit Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery , which has a history of over 1,800 years. It is 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. Later visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop where you can take some special souvenisr with the Bai ethnic style.

Afterward, you will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste their fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. At last, you will visit the Dali Old Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the time with local people.

Day 20 Dali-Shaxi

Sightseeing and Activities: Shibaoshan Mountain, Stone Bell Temple, Baoxiang Temple, Shaxi Old Town
Accommodation: Shaxi
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Drive from Dali to Shibaoshan mountain. The most prominent sight at ShibaoShan is the Stone Bell Temple with its 139 well preserved stone carvings. These magnificent stone carvings dated back as far as 1300 years to the once powerful Nanzhao Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The carvings are testimony for a time when Mahayana Buddhism from Tibet started to spread in the Yunnan area. Another interesting sight is the ‘Suspending Temple’, also called the Baoxiang Temple. The Baoxiang temple was built on a ledge of a nearly vertical cliff and can only be reached by a long flight of stairs. On a clear day, the views from the Baoxiang Temple over the Shaxi valley are simply magnificent.

After lunch, drive to Shaxi and have a tour of Shaxi Old Town.

Day 21 Shaxi-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Ancient Town
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Departure from Shaxi to Qiaotou. Continue to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge(Shangri-La section), 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.

After the tour, continue your driving to Shangri-La. After arrival, stroll 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 and Dukezong Ancient Town.

Day 22 Shangri-La-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Pudacuo National Park, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, you’ll visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park. It is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. Although 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. Continue to visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery. Then you will transfer to Lijiang and check in you hotel in Lijiang.

Day 23 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Jade Dragon Snow Moutain, Yuhu Village, Former Residence of Joseph Rock, Shuhe Old Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, drive about 30 km to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100 meters). Take the sightseeing bus for a short visit through the Baishuihe River, then take the chairlift up to visit Yak Meadow (3700 meters) of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cable-way will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around 1 hours in the original forest in Yak Meadow.

After lunch, you’ll visit Yuhu Village and the Former Residence of Joseph Rock who was an Austria-American botanist and explorer, lived in Yuhu village and other places in that region from 1922 to 1949. He was also a naturalist and Photographer, and the first foreign scholar to introduce Lijiang ethnic culture to the western world. Then go to Shuhe Old Town to enjoy you leisure time.

Day 24 Lijiang-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Black Dragon Pool, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, stroll around Black Dragon Pool, which is located at the foot of the Xiangshan Mountain (Elephant Hill) north of the city of Lijiang. As the water here is a lucid green color, it gained another name Jade Spring Park (Yuquan Park). There are many distinctive and ravishing sites in the park. Hiding in the lush trees or standing along the liquid pool is the antique and exquisite architectural pieces, which are in the style of Naxi. Then explore Lijiang Old Town. Lijiang Ancient 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.

In the evening, move to railway station for the overnight train back to Kunming.

Day 25 Kunming-Guilin

Sightseeing and Activities: Green Lake, Yuantong Temple
Accommodation: Guilin
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Arrive in Kunming in the morning. Have a visit of Green Lake and Yuantong Temple, then you will drive to high speed railway station for the train to Guilin. Upon arrival, check in your hotel.

Day 26 Guilin-Yangshuo-Guilin

Sightseeing and Activities: Li River Cruise, West street
Accommodation: Guilin
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, drive to the Zhujiang Pier for the Li River Cruise (about 4 hours, simple set menu lunch is including in the boat ticket). Savor the fairy-tale scenery while cruising down the meandering river to Yangshuo.

After disembarkation and check-in hotel with help of your tour guide, you can have a walk along the famous West Street and enjoy the free leisure time there. Then drive back to Guilin.

Day 27 Guilin-Hong Kong

Sightseeing and Activities: Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, transfer to visit the gorgeous Reed Flute Cave – offering a magic fairyland of stalactites, stalagmites, stone columns scenery. And then, the next stop will be the Elephant Trunk Hill– the landmark of Guilin.

After the tour, transfer to have lunch before driving to the airport for the departure flight to Hong Kong. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Kunming	Sofitel Hotel	Jinjiang Hotel	Longteng Hotel	Tu Tu Inn
Lijiang	InterContinental Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Liwang Hotel	Flowers Hall Inn
Shangri-La	Shangri-La Resort	E-outfitting Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Inn	Guzang Xiangbala Wu Fu Diannan Boutique Inn
Dali	Hilton Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Taiheju hotel	Fengxuegucheng
Shaxi	Landscape Hotel	Shaxi Aoding Courtyard	Xiaolazhe Yododo Inn	Another Encounter

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 trains, Beijing/Pingyao/Xi’an, Shanghai/Hangzhou, Changsha/Kaili, Anshun/Kunming/Guilin;
Overnight trains, Hangzhou/Zhangjiajie, Kunming/Dali, Lijiang/Kunming;
Domestic flight, Xi’an/Shanghai.

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.

This is a classic tour with rafting on the Great Bend of the Yangtze River. This tour is involved in Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La. The Great Bend of the Yangtze River makes a hairpin turn through a remarkable 10,000-foot-deep gorge before continuing its march to the sea. On this trip, we run some 120 miles of the Great Bend spectacular whitewater experience, with about a dozen Class IV rapids, including some fun Grand Canyon Cstyle wave trains! Fascinating cultural encounters with the Naxi people, Bai people and Tibetan people.

Highlights:

Start your rafting tour in upper Yangtze river, and challenge yourself.
Have a great stay in the “spring city” – Kunming and immerse yourselves in the stone wonderland.
Walk and explore in historical and cultural town between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake;
Step into the fantastic Lijiang old Town and feel the mysterious Dongba culture;
Immerse yourself in Shangri-la, the earthly paradise.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Kunming Arrival
Day 2: Kunming
Day 3: Kunming-Dali
Day 4: Dali-Lijiang
Day 5: Lijiang
Day 6: Lijiang-Tacheng
Day 7: Tacheng-Judian
Day 8: Judian-Shangri-la
Day 9: Shangri-la
Day 10: Shangri-la Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: the Green Lake
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Lunch

You’ll begin your journey to the diverse and captivating province 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 tea houses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings. If time permits, you will have a Kunming city tour.

Day 2 Kunming-Stone Forest-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: the Stone Forest, Guandu Ancient Town
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 Kunming to visit the Guandu Ancient Town, which is a famous historical & cultural town in Kunming, it keeps the main architectural style of Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties.

After dinner, you will have an option to enjoy the large-scale dance drama “Dynamic Yunnan” which has been an outstanding innovation on the Chinese stage in recent years directed by Yang Liping. Primitive, unsophisticated folk dances and a fresh artistic concept converge in the program, giving audiences a unique “Yunnan Impression.” Sixty-two drums and 120 masks of strong ethnic characteristics are incorporated in the performance.

Day 3 Kunming-Dali by air

Sightseeing and Activities: the Three pagodas in Chongshen Temple, Erhai Lake Cruise, Dali Ancient Town, City Wall, the Foreigner Street
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Take the morning flight to Dali, a historically and culturally famous city of China, which is renowned for her historical interest and Bai ethnic culture. After landing, you will visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery , which has a history of over 1,800 years. It is 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.

At last, you will visit the Dali Old Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the relax time with local people. After climbing up to the City Wall of Dali, you will have panoramic view of the Erhai Lake.

Day 4 Dali-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Xizhou Town, Zhoucheng Village, Black Dragon Pool, Dongba Museum, Lijiang Ancient Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

You will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste their fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. Visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop where you can take some special souvenirs with the Bai ethnic style.

Drive about 180 km to Lijiang with the beautiful farmlands and ethnic villages on the way. Lunch at NO.8 Restaurant at the bank of Black Dragon Pool, after lunch you’ll head for the scenic Black Dragon Pool and the Dongba Museum to explore the rich Naxi minority culture.

In the late afternoon, explore 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 5 Lijiang-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Yulong Snow Mountain, Impression Lijang Ethnic Show, Baisha Old Town, Baisha Mural
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Enjoy the sunrise of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang Ancient Town in the morning. Drive about 30 km to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100 meters), you will take the sightseeing bus for a short visit through the Baishuihe River, then take the chairlift up to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cable way will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around 1 hour in the original forest in Spruce Meadow.

After lunch, you will enjoy the Impression Lijang Ethnic Show directed in Ganhaizi Meadow(3100 meters). A cultural show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area. The show takes place in an outdoor theater of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park at 3500 meters. 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 a part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.

Day 6 Lijiang-Shigu-Judian-Shangjiang-Tacheng

Sightseeing and Activities: Rafting
Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

From Lijiang to Tacheng, it is 140 km, you will have 4 hours driving along the beautiful Jinsha (Gold Sand) River, which is the upper reach of Yangtze River in Lijiang. Drive through Shigu Town, Zhongxing Town, Judian Town, Shangjiang Town with some Naxi ethnic villages on the way. You will have lunch in Juxian Restaurant(a clean restaurant with best food) with local flavor in Judian Town; If you are lucky, you will find the local bazaar happened every 5th and 10th of the traditional Chinese calendar. After lunch, continue the driving to Tacheng Town.

Unload the floating equipment including tent, sleeping bag, water-proof bag, fridge, paddles, LPG container, gas cooker, life jacket and so on. You will start the rafting after inflating the drifting boat. The most beautiful part of the rafting today is the Jigong(Rooster) Stone Islet located in the middle of Jinsha River in Shangjiang Town. From a far, you will find there is a sharp peak which looks like a flying rooster, hence the name of Rooster Stone Islet. The Jinsha River is divided two parts by the Rooster Stone Islet in the middle. Here is the most exciting rafting part of your trip because of the rapids, whirlpools and waves at the foot of the Rooster Stone Islet. After 4 hours rafting, you will build the camp for overnight in the beach island near the Judian Town.

Day 7 Tacheng-Zhongxing-Judian

Sightseeing and Activities: Rafting
Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Get up in the early morning, enjoy the sunrise of the Jinsha River with green mountain ranges. After breakfast, continue the rafting trip to Zhongxing Town. Today is a special rafting, you will raft through some islands in the middle of Jinsha River with some green willows and cows in the islands as well as you will find some farmers are fishing in the river with small canoes in the river. Especially, you will find some children swimming in the river without underwear. If they find you are coming from a far, they will be very shy and hide in the willows or they will swim very fast as a fish into the grass. This will be very special experience for your trip.

You will have a simple lunch when you land in Judian Town. Lunch includes some watermelon, chocolate, bread, some fruit, and local pancakes as well as some drink. Build the camp in the willows forest island in the late afternoon. Have a bonfire party in the evening.

Day 8 Judian-Shigu-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: the First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu Town,Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation: Shangri-la
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Enjoy the sunrise of the Jinsha River in the morning. After breakfast with a nice coffee and milk, continue the rafting to Shigu Old Town. You will raft through a big “S” turn in Stone Gate Pass, an importance Breakfast and lunch historically. Raft to the First Bend of the Yangtze River and Shigu Town. You will witness the wonder of the First Bend of the Yangtze River with a big turn from the southward to the east. You will finish the rafting in Shigu Port. Have a nice lunch in Jiangnan Restaurant in Shigu Town. Lunch with the natural river fish, wild vegetables, and local flavor.

After the rafting, meet your driver and drive to visit 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 well-known as the paradise destination for every tourist. Upon arrival in Shangri-La, you will have entered the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields and yaks scattered in the valleys.

Day 9 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Songzanlin Monastery, the Bita Lake & Shudu Lake, Dukezong Ancient Town, the largest Prayer Wheel
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 ‘, because the whole monastery is in the traditional 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. Even though 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 Dukezong Tibetan Ancient Town in the late afternoon, climb 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 and Dukezong Ancient Town. Finally, you will have an option to visit a Tibetan’s family to experience the local life in the bonfire party with Tibetan dance and music and you will try Tibetan home-made yak and cheese.

Day 10 Shangri-La-Kunming Departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Shangri-La-Kunming Departure
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast

Take the flight to Kunming and change the flight for your next destination. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Kunming	Sofitel Hotel	Jinjiang Hotel	Longteng Hotel	/
Lijiang	InterContinental Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Liwang Hotel	/
Shangri-la	Shangri-La Resort	E-outfitting Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Inn	/
Dali	Hilton Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Taiheju hotel	/

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;
Sharing English-speaking tour guide;
Sharing vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
Service charge & government taxes;
Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
Domestic air tickets.

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.

In this 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 of Yunnan during your trip, the minorities include Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan. Based on the famous attractions (Stone Forest, Chongsheng Temple, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Songzanlin Monasery, Tiger Leaping Gorge), we add Shaxi, Shibaoshan Mountain, and Yuhu Village as the special parts of this trip. Overall, this trip is suitable for people who come to Yunnan for the first time.

Detailed Itinerary

Highlights:

Have a wonderful stay in Kunming and lose yourself in the stone wonderland.
Explore old town of Dali sandwiched between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake.
Step into the fantastic Lijiang Ancient Town and feel the mysterious Dongba culture
Immerse yourselves in Shangri-La, an earthly paradise with Snow Mountain, Buddhist monastery, forest park, and hospitable Tibetan people.
Experience the ethnic culture of Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan minorities.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Kunming Arrival
Day 2: Kunming
Day 3: Kunming-Dali
Day 4: Dali-Shaxi
Day 5: Shaxi-Shangri-la
Day 6: Shangri-la-Lijiang
Day 7: Lijiang
Day 8: Lijiang Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

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

Our private English-speaking guide and driver will pick you up in time at Kunming airport and transfer to the hotel safely.

Day 2 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Stone Forest, Qiongzhu Temple
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

This morning, drive to visit the Stone Forest, which was a typical example of karst topography formed 200-300 million years ago. The fantastic stone pinnacles rising abruptly from ground resemble a huge, dense forest, hence the name of Stone Forest. Lots of legends are with the Stone Forest, for example, the famous Ashma peak. It is like a slim and beautiful girl carrying a basket on the back. Come to the Stone Forest and discover the legends by yourself!

After lunch, drive back to Kunming, then visit Qiongzhu Temple, a Tang dynasty temple, which is famous for the colorful clay figurines of the 500 Buddhist arhats. Being so realistic, lifelike, though a little surreal, the 500 arhats of the Qiongzhu Temple are reputed as the ‘sculptured pearls in the oriental treasure house’.

Day 3 Kunming-Dali By Airplane

Sightseeing and Activities: Three Pagoda Temple, Erhai Lake, Xizhou, Zhoucheng, Dali Old Town
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Leave for Dali by flight. You will be picked up by our guide and driver at Dali airport. Here in Dali, 25 ethnic minorities have created an unique cultural heritage amidst the area’s picturesque natural scenery.

After landing, you visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery , which has a history of over 1,800 years. It is 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.

In the late afternoon, you will visit the Dali Old Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the time with local people. After climbing up to the City Wall of Dali, you will have panoramic view of the Erhai Lake.

Day 4 Dali-Shaxi

Sightseeing and Activities:Shibaoshan mountain, Stone Bell Temple, Baoxiang temple, Shaxi old town
Accommodation: Shaxi
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

In the morning, drive from Dali to Shibaoshan mountain. The most prominent sight at ShibaoShan is the Stone Bell Temple with its 139 well preserved stone carvings. These magnificent stone carvings back dated as far as 1300 years to the once powerful Nanzhao Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Explore the ancient temple complex including Baoxiang Temple, Haiyun Temple, Shizhong Temple and the Ancient Grottoes. If you are lucky enough, you also can see a lot of wild monkey group around Baoxiang Temple.

After lunch, walk around Shaxi Old Town. Shaxi is the last remaining ancient market town of its kind on the Tea & Horse Caravan Trail. This trail is a trading route that connected Tibet, Sichuan, and Yunnan to countries in southeast Asia, also called the Southern Silk Road. The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has listed Shaxi as one of the 100 most endangered sites in the world in 2001.

You will have overnight at Shaxi Old Town.

Day 5 Shaxi-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-la

Sightseeing and Activities: the First Bend of the Yangtze River, Stone Drum Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Ancient Town, Guishan Hill, Giant Prayer Wheel
Accommodation: Shagri-la
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Today, we will go to the First Bend of 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 magnificent 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 the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river.

In the 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 have entered 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 and Dukezong Ancient Town.

Day 6 Shangri-la-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Songzanlin Temple, Shudu Lake, visit a Tibetan family
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Today, we are going to travel to the Songzanlin Temple, Shudu Lake and pay a visit to a Tibetan family. Songzanlin Temple is the biggest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan province and famed as the Museum of Tibetan Arts for its exquisite architecture style. Shudu Lake is 3705 meters above sea level and has been turned into a highland pasture resort. Appreciate the mirror like surface and enjoy a number of outdoor activities, such as horseback riding, exploring in the wild fauna and flora of the primitive forest or fishing in the lake, etc. Visit a local Tibetan family, take yak butter tea and participate in their Tibetan dances.

In the late afternoon, you will transfer to Lijiang. You can stroll in Lijiang Old Town by yourself at night.

Day 7 Lijiang-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Yulong Snow Mountain, Spruce Meadow, Baisha Village and Murals, Baishui River and Terraces
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

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

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

Day 8 Departure from Lijiang

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

Free time before departure. Then transfer to airport for your flight. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Kunming	Sofitel Hotel	Jinjiang Hotel	Longteng Hotel	/
Lijiang	InterContinental Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Liwang Hotel	/
Shangri-la	Shangri-La Resort	E-outfitting Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Inn	/
Dali	Hilton Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Taiheju hotel	/
Shaxi	Landscape Hotel	Shaxi Aoding Courtyard	Xiaolazhe Yododo Inn	/

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;
Domestic air tickets.

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.

In this tour, you will visit the main import cities in Southwest China. You can experience difference culture and history of ethnic groups in Yunnan, explore the panda base in Chengdu and enjoy the beautiful landscape of Guilin and Yangshuo.

Highlights:

Have a wonderful stay in Kunming and lose yourself in the stone wonderland.
Explore old town of Dali sandwiched between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake.
Step into the fantastic Lijiang Ancient Town and feel the mysterious Dongba culture;
Immerse yourselves in Shangri-La, an earthly paradise with Snow Mountain, Buddhist monastery, forest park, and hospitable Tibetan people.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery in Chengdu, Guilin and Yangshuo, visit the panda, national treasure as well.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Hong Kong – Kunming
Day 2: Kunming-Dali
Day 3: Dali
Day 4: Dali-Lijiang
Day 5: Lijiang
Day 6: Lijiang-Shangri-la
Day 7: Shangri-la
Day 8: Shangri-la-Chengdu
Day 9: Chengdu-Guilin
Day 10: Guilin-Yangshuo
Day 11: Yangshuo
Day 12: Yangshuo-Guilin Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

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

Arrive in Kunming airport from Hong Kong. Meet your local guide and then drive to Kunming downtown to check in your hotel.

Day 2 Kunming-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Stone Forest, Green Lake Park, Flower and Birds Market, Nanping street
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

In the morning, our tour guide pick you up from your hotel lobby, then drive 86 km to the renowned Stone Forest, the ‘First Wonder of the World’. You’ll marvel at its natural stone masterpieces and be bewitched by the intricate formations.

Afterwards, drive back to Kunming downtown and stroll in the most picturesque park in Kunming urban area – the Green Lake Park, a charming area of tea houses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings. Here you can share the happiness of local people’s doing tai chi, performing local opera, and other vibrant activities. If you visit the park in November or December, you will see a huge flock of red-beaked seagulls that migrate there from Siberia.

Then stroll in the Flowers and Birds Market in the downtown and shopping area – Nanping Street nearby before the evening transfer to Kunming railway station for your overnight train to Dali.

Day 3 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Three Pagodas, Cruise in Erhai Lake, Dali Old Town
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Early in the morning, you will meet your guide at Dali railway station. Then drive to hotel to drop off your luggage and have breakfast.

Afterward, you will visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years. It is 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.

After lunch, 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.

After landing, you will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste their fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. Visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop where you can get some special souvenirs with the Bai ethnic style.

In the late afternoon, you will visit the Dali old Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the time with local people.

Day 4 Dali-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Black Dragon Pool, Dongba Museum, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

In the morning, transfer to Lijiang. Upon arrival, have the tour of Black Dragon Pool Park, a famous pond in the scenic Jade Spring Park located at the foot of Elephant Hill. It was built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty and offers a spectacular view on the region’s tallest mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Visit Dongba Museum nearby.

You will stroll around Lijiang Old Town, a well-preserved old town of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture, which is a central town of 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:Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yuhu Village, Former Residence of Joseph Rock, Baisha Old Town, Baisha Mural
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Enjoy the sunrise of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang Ancient Town in the morning, drive about 30 km to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100 meters), you will take the sightseeing bus for a short visit through the Baishuihe River in Blue Moon Valley, then take the chairlift up to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cable-way will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around 1 hour in the original forest in Spruce Meadow(3200 meters).

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

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

Day 6 Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-la

Sightseeing and Activities:First Bend on the Yangtze River, the Iron Chain Bridge, the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument, Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation: Shangri-la
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

From Lijiang, you’ll drive about 60 km to the First Bend of the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, visit the Iron Chain Bridge, the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in the Shigu 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.

Upon arrival in Shangri-La, you will have entered the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields and yaks scattered in the valleys.

Day 7 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Pudacuo National Park, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, Dukezong Tibetan Ancient Town
Accommodation: Shangri-la
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Early morning, you’ll visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park which is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. Although 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.

Make the tour of the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias – ‘the little Potala Palace ‘, because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere.

Afterward, Visit Dukezong Tibetan Ancient Town in the late afternoon, climb 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 and Dukezong Ancient Town.

Day 8 Shangri-La-Chengdu

Sightseeing and Activities: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Wuhou Temple, Jinli Old Street
Accommodation: Chengdu
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

This morning you will take the flight to Chengdu. Upon arrival, have a stirring visit to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which is not only the most important panda scientific research center, but also dwelling home for more than 100 Giant Pandas. Walk at leisure through the bamboo framed paths, and closely observe giant pandas of different ages eating bamboos, playing with each other, tumbling, climbing trees, etc. Don’t miss the chance to watch female pandas nursing their cubs in the nursery rooms. There is also a very informative Panda Museum for you to learn more scientific facts about Giant Pandas.

Then you will move on to Wuhou Temple, a shrine integrated with tombs of Liubei and Zhuge Liang. Surrounded by old cypresses and classical red walls, the temple creates an atmosphere of nostalgia. When stepping into the temple, you get the chance to immerse yourself into a sea of ancient profound culture and history.

In the late afternoon, you will move on to Jinli Old Street with Three Kingdom culture. Time steals away from you quietly while walking on the lively streets which are full of delicious local snacks, delicate artifacts, interesting folk shows, etc. For photographers, visit here in the evening will be the best time to get better photos with all the red lanterns lit up in the dusk.

Day 9 Chengdu-Guilin

Sightseeing and Activities: Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill
Accommodation: Guilin
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Transfer to airport for your morning flight to Guilin. your guide eill pick you up there at the Guilin airport, then transfer to visit the gorgeous Reed Flute Cave (1 hour) – offering a magic fairyland of stalactites, stalagmites, stone columns scenery. And then, the next stop will be the Elephant Trunk Hill– the landmark of Guilin.

After that, transfer to the hotel and have a rest of this day.

Day 10 Guilin-Yangshuo

Sightseeing and Activities: Li River Cruise, West Street
Accommodation: Yangshuo
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

In the morning, drive to the Zhujiang Pier for the Li River Cruise (about 4 hours, simple set menu lunch is including in the boat ticket). Enjoy the fairy-tale scenery while cruising down the meandering river to Yangshuo.

After disembarkation and check-in hotel with the help of your tour guide, you can have a walk along the famous West Street and enjoy the leisure time there.

Day 11 Yangshuo

Sightseeing and Activities: Biking tour of 4 hours, Fuli Old Town
Accommodation: Yangshuo
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

In the morning, after breakfast, you will have a 4-hour biking tour to Moon Hill through the countryside road, on the way we can enjoy the scenery of dragon river and old villages. when we arrive at Moon Hill, walk up to the top of Moon Hill, which takes about 1 hour to go up and down.

In the afternoon, transfer to have a tour of Fuli Old Town. Fuli is famous for making the traditional paper fan in China. It is also a riverside town with paperfan-making workshops, ancient dock , towers, temple. Old houses are well preserved there.

Day 12 Yangshuo-Guilin Departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Yangshuo-Guilin Departure
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy the leisure time before our guide pick you up from hotel. Then drive to Guilin airport for your flight back to Hong Kong. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Kunming	Sofitel Hotel	Jinjiang Hotel	Longteng Hotel	/
Lijiang	InterContinental Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Liwang Hotel	/
Shangri-la	Shangri-La Resort	E-outfitting Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Inn	/
Dali	Hilton Hotel	E-outfitting Hotel	Taiheju hotel	/

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;
Domestic train tickets of soft sleeper.

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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Tips Before Travel

Bring copies of your passport

Don't assume you're restricted to the main hubs of Beijing and Shanghai, our tours can start from any city.

Register with your embassy

For your safety, please register with the Embassy.

Always have local cash

Exchange some local currency for your trip

Our Team

Fenggu Yingshan Tea House and Tea Culture Learning Lijiang

Charlie Lee-General Manager of Yaso Travel and Xilinshan Tea Company

Leon Liu-Network Engineer of Trans Asia Discovery

Vincent Zhao-French Market and the Founder of VoyagesYunnan.com

Gary Elliot-Shareholder of Trans Asia Discovery

Michael Huang-Excellent French and English-speaking Tour Guide in Yunnan

Stephane-Volunteer of Yaso Travel

David Yao-Lijiang Tour Operator of Yunnan Exploration

Cindy Cao-Yunnan Tour Operator

Xilinshan Tea House (Kunming, Yunnan)

Rachel Nan-China Tour Operator

Lydia Li-The Founder of Yunnan Exploration

Anna Chen-Yunnan Tour Operator

Kelly Yu-Yunnan Travel Consultant

Cloudy Fu-Website Editor of Yunnan Exploration

Cuiyuan Yang

Skye Zhang-website editor of Yunnan Exploration

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Contact Info

Address: Building 4, Yifuyuan, Hehong Road, Xishan District, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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