Incorporating stays at different Songtsam lodges; this circuit trip takes guests to varies hikes each day to the heart of Three Parallel Rivers Area; follow village paths, fields or secret mountain tracks to explore this magic land and its rich culture on foot.

Highlights:

Have varies hikes to the heart of Three Parallel Rivers Area.
Enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way.
Experience the super stay at Songtsam Hotels.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Shangrila Arrival
Day 2: Shangrila
Day 3: Shangrila – Tacheng
Day 4: Tacheng – Benzilan
Day 5: Benzilan
Day 6: Benzilan – Songtsam Meili
Day 7: Songtsam Meili
Day 8: Songtsam Meili – Shangrila
Day 9: Shangrila Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Shangri-la (3,300m)

Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation: Songtsam Hotel
Meals:

Arrive in Shangri-la. You guide will pick you up at the airport.

Day 2 Shangri-la (3,300m)

Sightseeing and Activities:trekking
Accommodation: Songtsam Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day hike to Abujee, which is A beautiful mountain known to very few people. The trek follows a crystal stream to this huge stone mountain. We pass by 2 Tibetan pastures on the way and hike up to the hill next to the mountain and lake on top of it.

Day 3 Shangri-la – Tacheng (1,900m)

Sightseeing and Activities:Tibetan and Naxi villages
Accommodation: Songtsam Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive about 3 hours to Tacheng after breakfast. Leisure walk in the afternoon. Follow the paths link different Tibetan and Naxi villages through beautiful rice fields and vine yards. Climb up to a small hill for a bird view of the villages with charming black roof tops and surrounding area.

Day 4 Tacheng-Benzilan

Sightseeing and Activities:Yunnan Golden Monkey Nationsl park, Bazhu village
Accommodation: Songtsam Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park, take an easy hike of 1-2 hours to the south end of Baima Snow Mountains and part of the ancient Tea and Horse Road. Trek to Bazhu village if time allows, which will take about 4 hours.

Then drive to Benzilan.

Day 5 Benzilan (1,900m)

Sightseeing and Activities:trekking
Accommodation: Songtsam Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will hike about 3 hours uphill (wide mountain road) to visit several pristine Tibetan villages and have a stunning view of Yangtze River valley. Then follow the mountain path to different villages and back after a picnic lunch. Visit local families.

Day 6 Benzilan – Songtsam Meili(3,600m)

Sightseeing and Activities:Dongzhulin Monastery
Accommodation: Meili Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to Songtsam Meili after breakfast, visit Dongzhulin Monastery on the way (balanced on a steep cliff, it’s a breath taking view). Arrive at Meili Lodge, relax or take an easy mountain walk for about 1-2 hours.

Day 7 Songtsam Meili (3,600m)

Sightseeing and Activities:hike
Accommodation: Meili Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day hike for about 8 hours with a 3 hours up hill. It could be difficult given the high altitude.

Day 8 Songtsam Meili – Shangri-la

Sightseeing and Activities:Songzanlin Monastery, monastery Kora
Accommodation: Songtsam Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning free to enjoy the view of Meili. Drive back to Shangri-la and visit Songzanlin Monastery if time allows, walk the monastery Kora. Dinner party at a Traditional Tibetan family.

Day 9 Departure from Shangrila

Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Shangrila
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

Departure from Shangrila.

Recommended Hotels

City	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Shangrila	Songtsam Hotel	/	/	/
Benzilan	Songtsam Hotel	/	/	/
Meili	Songtsam Hotel	/	/	/
Tacheng	Songtsam 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.

Yunnan, literally means South to the Clouds, is the province in the very southwest China. The humidity from Indian Ocean can reach the plateau along the great valleys and offers enough precipitation for the plants to grow up. Further more, the plants are in diversity because of the huge altitude difference of the valley as low as about 1,000 meters to the high mountains as high as over 4,000 meters. Yunnan is home of 14,590 higher plants, which is about 48% of China’s. Therefore, Yunnan also gets another name as “Kingdom of Plants”.

Highlights:

Visit the highlights of Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
Have a wonderful botany tour along the way.
Experience different ethnic culture in Yunnan.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Dali Arrival
Day 2: Dali
Day 3: Dali
Day 4: Dali- Laojun Mountain
Day 5: Laojun Mountain – Lijiang
Day 6: Lijiang
Day 7: Lijiang
Day 8: Lijiang – Shangrila
Day 9: Shangrila
Day 10: Shangrila Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Arrive in Dali
Accommodation: Dali
Meals:

Upon arrival at Dali, be greeted by our local guide in Dali airport and transfer to the hotel. Dali is an old town with beautiful landscape and long history. And it is also a beautiful place to see flowers.

Day 2 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Cangshan Mountain, Chongsheng Temple, Erhai Lake, Dali Old Town
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast we are going to do a gentle walk about 2 hours on Cangshan Mountain and take cable car down Cangshan. On walking, it is great time to see azaleas with blooms, as well as some wild flowers. En route, we also have an over-view of Dali Old Town, Chongsheng Temple and Erhai Lake.

In the afternoon, we are keeping our tour with Chongsheng Temple, which is by far the most well-known and magnificent Buddhist shrines in this part of Southeast Asia.

Then we drive to Erhai and take a short cruise on Erhai Lake to admire the beauty of the lake.

In the evening, explore Dali Ancient Town, which is small but lovely.

Day 3 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Dali Grand Garden
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, drive about 3 hours to western slope of Cangshan Mountain to start our flower trip with the Grand Garden. The Grand Garden lies at the west slope of Cangshan Mountain of Yangbi County. As an important part of the Cangshan Scenic Resort, it covers about 30 sq km, with the altitude ranging from 2,600 to 3,900 meters above sea level. The garden boasts of a high biodiversity, and exhibits a land eco system of latifoliate forests highlighted by at least 20 kinds of rhododendrons. With the vegetation coverage of over 60%, the garden abounds in rhododendron and camellia bushes, of which rhododendrons account for at least 40%. From March to June, it is a frantically blooming scene of multi-coloured flowers. We will have a wonderful time at here. Indulge yourself in the world of expansive alpine meadows, a sea of rhododendrons and wild flowers. Then drive back to Dali.

Day 4 Dali-Laojun Mountain

Sightseeing and Activities:Laojun Mountain
Accommodation: Laojun Mountain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, leave Dali and drive about 3 hours to the Laojun Mountain. Laojun Mountain area has been part of the Three Parallel Rivers Region, which was designated as World’s Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO. May, June and July are the best seasons to see wild flowers like rhododendrons . In the eastern side of the north of main ridge of Laojun Mountain and the lap of the mountain in elevation above 3,800m, there are tens of lakes and swamps, distributing in cluster along the stream, which are called 99 Dragon Pool. During these months, the beautiful rhododendrons will be blooming all over the mountain and dons the whole place with its magnificent colors. This afternoon explore this area with about 4 hours hiking and stay one night in a rustic guest house.

Day 5 Laojun Mountain-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Naxi villages, Lijiang old town, Lion Hill
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, drive to Lijiang. Lijiang, literal meaning a beautiful river, was named by Kublai Khan in 1254 and the old town has been listed as world cultural heritage by UNESCO. The canals in the town is really an uniqueness and the local people block water to wash the ground in the town everyday and this had been started once the town was established.

On the way to Lijiang, we are going to pass areas of different ethnic village as Naxi people. Visit the villages to see how the daily life of local people is alike.

After Lijiang arrival, check-in hotel. Explore the Lijiang old town and climb up to Lion Hill to enjoy the panoramic of the ancient city of Lijiang.

Day 6 Liijang

Sightseeing and Activities:Ganheba botany tour
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, drive about 30 km out of Lijiang old town to Ganheba. It takes us about 1 to 2 hours to hike to the place with quite many alpine flowers including Azaleas(rhododendron), Gentianaceae, Primulaceaes, Camellias, Liliaceaes, Orchidaceous and Meconopsis. It is like a fest to botany lovers there.

Have box lunch with us. Drive back Lijiang in the late afternoon and enjoy your free time to explore around Lijiang old town.

Day 7 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Yuhu Village, Lijiang Alpine Botanical Garden, Wenhai
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we start our Wenhai botany tour. On the way, we will visit Yuhu Village firstly. Yuhu Village is on the outskirts of Lijiang Basin at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Joseph Rock , a biologist, chose this lovely village to live when he came Lijiang in 1922.

After visiting Yuhe village, we are keeping on the way to Lijiang Alpine Botanical Garden. The Lijiang Alpine Botanical Garden, believed the highest botanical garden in the world, was built jointly by China and Britain under a contract signed between the Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden and the Kunming Plant Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in May 2000. Lijiang was selected as the site for the garden as it is one of the world’s top 10 regions for biodiversity research and one of the three seed plant centers in China.

After that we head to Wenhai. Upon arriving at Wenhai, a beautiful landscape including a lake and peaceful village meet up together; everything here feels so fresh. There is a beautiful lake, and there is grassland with blooming colorful wildflowers and horses, goats and sheep.

Then we drive back to Lijiang.

Day 8 Lijiang-Shangrila

Sightseeing and Activities:Tiger Leaping Gorge,Shangri-la ancient town, Songtsam Monastery
Accommodation: Shangrila
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, drive about 1.5 hours to the Tiger Leaping Gorge to admire the Tiger Leaping Gorge. The upper stream of Yangtze River flows between the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain for 16 km hereby come to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. It is one of the longest, deepest, and narrowest gorges in the world.

In the afternoon, we get to Shangri-la and visit the Shangri-la ancient town after a short break in the hotel.

And visit Songtsam Monastery. Songtsam Monastery has been the most important monastery in north Yunnan or south Kham after it was built in late 1600’s.

Day 9 Shangri-la

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

Today, we will have a one-day tour in Pudacuo National Park, the first national park on Chinese mainland. It is mainly comprised of Shudu Lake, Militang Pasture and Bita Lake. We can trek along the planked path by Shudu Lake and Bita Lake to admire the wild flowers and enjoy the picturesque scenery. Along the sightseeing planked passage ashore, growing are multitudes of centuries-old oak trees, spruces, firs with unease on.

In May, we can see quite many different species of azaleas.

Day 10 Departure from Shangrila

Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Shangrila
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

Departure from Shangrila.

Recommended Hotels

City	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Dali	Hilton Dali Resort And Spa	Landscape Hotel	Fairyland Hotel	Dali Fengxue Gucheng
Lijiang	InterContinental Lijiang Old Town	Wangfu Hotel	Louwailou Hotel	Baisha Holiday Resort
Shangrila	Shangrila Hotel	Zhaxidele Hotel	Shenqu Hotel	Wu Fu South Yunnan Boutique Inn
Laojun Mountain	/	/	/	Local Guesthouse

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.

Travel Tips:

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

River rafting could be a very exciting experience in a foreign country. A rafting on Yangtze River makes the tour more interesting and special. The Great Bend of the Yangtze River makes a hairpin turn through a remarkable 10,000-foot-deep gorge (almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon!) before continuing its march to the sea. We run some 120 miles of the Great Bend spectacular whitewater experience, with about a dozen Class IV rapids. After a rafting tour, we transfer to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Highlights:

Have a nice rafting experience from Tacheng to Qiaotou Town.
Visit the upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Lijiang-Tacheng-Judian Town
Day 2: Judian Town-Zhongxin
Day 3: Zhonggezi-Shigu-Tiger Leaping Gorge

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Lijiang-Tacheng-Judian Town

Sightseeing and Activities:Naxi ethnic villages, Jinsha (Gold Sand) River rafting
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

It is 140 km from Lijiang to Tacheng. 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 and best food) with local flavour 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 drive 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 into 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 2 Judian-Zhongxing

Sightseeing and Activities:Jinsha River-the upper Yangtze River rafting
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, 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 Zhongxing. 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 3 Zhonggezi-Shigu-Tiger Leaping Gorge

Sightseeing and Activities:Stone Gate Pass, the First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu Ancient Town, Longpan Naxi ethnic village,Jihong Bridge,Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast, 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 millitary importance 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 flavour.

After a short rest in Shigu Ancient Town, continue the rafting to Qiaotou Town(Tiger Leaping Gorge Town). During the rafting, you will see some Naxi ethnic village on the river side in Longpan Town, raft to Kaifaqu in Shangri-la, see the ancient Jihong Bridge, the Suspension Bridge, arrive at Qiaotou Town and finish the rafting tour in the upper Yangtze River.

After lunch in Qiaotou Town, drive to visit the upper Tiger Leaping Gorge(3900M in depth) which is the deepest gorge in the world located between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain(5596M) in Lijiang and Haba Snow Mountain(5396M) in Shangri-la. Drive back to Lijiang in the late afternoon. Service ends.

Service Included:

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

Service Excluded:

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

Kunming, with its perpetual spring-like weather which provides the ideal climate for plants and flowers, is known as the “Spring City” and owns many attractions. For this 1 Day Kunming City Tour with the Stone Forest, you will visit the main attractions of Kunming – the Stone Forest wich is knowned as the “the first wonder of the world”; and the Ethnic Villages where you can see 26 ethnic groups of Yunnan province to fully appreciate the diverse ethnic cultures in Yunnan.

Highlights:

Be amazed at the most charming Paleozoic karst landform in Stone Forest.
Discover the ethnic culture at Yunnan Ethnic Villages.

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Kunming-Shilin-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:the Stone Forest, Yunnan Ethnic Villages
Accommodation: None
Meals: Lunch

At 8:00 in the morning, our guide will pick you up in the hotel. Drive 86 KM to the Stone Forest. There is an old saying: it is a pity that not to visit the Stone Forest while you’re in Kunming. After lunch, drive back to Kunming and visit Yunnan Ethnic Villages. It is a theme park that displays the various folklore, culture, and architecture of 26 ethnic groups in Yunnan Province.

In the evening, you will have an option to enjoy the large-scale dance drama “Dynamic Yunnan Show” 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 programme, giving audiences a unique “Yunnan Impression.” Sixty-two drums and 120 masks of strong ethnic characteristics are incorporated in the performance.

Service Included:

Entrance fees as listed in the program;
Meals as listed in the itinerary;
Skilled driver & Experienced English-speaking guide;
Travel Agency’s Responsibility Insurance.

Service Excluded:

Train Tickets/International Flight Tickets;
Meals not listed in the itinerary;
Accommodations with breakfast;
Personal Travel Accident Insurance;
Any optional programs/activities;
Chinese visa fees;
Personal Consumption.

Yuanyang Rice Terraces occupy over a hundred thousand square kilometers of land, and it is the masterpiece crafted by the Hani people over a period of 1300 years! For this tour, the main highlights will be the Stone Forest and the Yuanyang Rice Terraces. It could be a winter experience for the most beautiful scenery in Yuanyang Rice Terraces from November to March of next year. And this tour will be a good choice to photographers for its huge area of idyllic scenery made by local people.

Highlights:

Enjoy the winter experience for the most beautiful scenery in Yuanyang Rice Terraces.
Have a photography tour to the huge area of idyllic scenery.
Be amazed at the “wonder of the world” – Stone Forest.

Brief Itinerary

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

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:the Green Lake, Kunming City Tour
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: None

The Green Lake Park(Cuihu Park) in Kunming

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

Day 2 Kunming-Shilin-Yuanyang

Sightseeing and Activities: Stone Forest, Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
Accommodation: Yuanyang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

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

In the afternoon, you will transfer to Yuanyang and enjoy the sunset view of Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces.

Day 3 Yuanyang

Sightseeing and Activities:Doyishu Village, Qingkou Hani Ethnic Village, Bada Rice Terrace, Shengcun Market, the sunset of Longshuba Rice Terraces
Accommodation: Yuanyang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

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

And then, you will visit Qingkou Village and rice terraces where Hani people for generations inhabit. Visit Bada Hani Rice Terrace, Shengcun Market as well. You will enjoy the sunset of Longshuba Rice Terraces in the late afternoon about 5KM away from Xinjie Town.

Day 4 Yuanyang-Jianshui

Sightseeing and Activities:Yuanyang Rice Terrace, Jianshui Old Town, The Garden of Family Zhu, Jianshui Confucius Temple
Accommodation: Jianshui
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy the sunrise of Yuanyang Rice Terrace, take photos as you like. After that, we will drive to Jianshui County. You’ll visit Jianshui Old Town and the Chaoyang Gateway Tower, which was built in Ming Dynasty (1389). It is also known as ‘Miniature Tian’an men’ because the out shape of it is similar to Tian’anmen Square in Beijing.

Then visit a typical southern private garden-the Garden of Family Zhu. And you’ll visit the Jianshui Confucius Temple at last, which has a history of more than 700 years and ranks among the largest Confucian temples in China.

Day 5 Jianshui-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Double Dragons Brigde, Tuanshan Dwellings, Xingmeng Mongolian Village
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the moring, you’ll drive to Double Dragons Bridge. It is a large stone arch bridge with three pavilions and 17 holes, which is one of the famous historical sites in Yunnan Province and has been listed in the history of Chinese bridge building. Then visit the historical residence of Yi people – Tuanshan Dwellings.

After the tour of Jianshui, you’ll drive back to Kunming. On the way, visit Xingmeng Mongolian Village, which is the only Mongolian settlement township in Yunnan Province. And arrive in Kunming in the late afternoon.

Day 6 Departure from Kunming

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

Departure from Kunming. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Kunming	Crown Plaza Kunming City Centre	Wenhui Hotel	Baiyun Hotel	T&T Story Hotel
Yuanyang	Duoyishu Landscape Hotel	Yunti Hotel(Shengcun Village)	Yunti Hotel(Xinjie Town)	Guanjing Tiantang Hostel

Service Included:

Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals as listed in the itinerary;
Accommodations 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.

Service Excluded:

Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
Chinese visa fees;
Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
Accommodations not listed in the itinerary;
Tips to guides and drivers;
Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
Personal travel accident insurance;
All optional programs.

Travel and Tours Packages of Honghe and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

In this Yunnan Highlights and Tibet Everest Adventure Tour, you will first explore the top attractions range from natural wonders to ethnic villages in Yunnan. Start you tour from Kunming, then Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La. Finished your tour in Shangri-La, then fly directly from Deqin Airport to Lhasa. Then, you will visit the city highlights of Lhasa and enjoy an amazing adventure to the Everest Base Camp.

Note: The flight from Shangri-La to Tibet is only available from March to October.

Highlights:

Visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
Have a wonderful tour in Tibet and Mount Everest.
Experience different climate and ethnic culture in Yunnan and Tibet.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Kunming Arrival
Day 2: Kunming-Dali
Day 3: Dali
Day 4: Dali – Lijiang
Day 5: Lijiang
Day 6: Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangrila
Day 7: Shangrila
Day 8: Shangrila – Lhasa
Day 9: Lhasa
Day 10: Lhasa
Day 11: Lhasa-Gyangtse-Shigatse
Day 12: Shigatse-Rongphu Monastery
Day 13: Rongphu Monastery-Shigatse
Day 14: Shigatse-Lhasa
Day 15: Lhasa Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

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

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

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

Day 2 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Stone Forest, Guandu Ancient Town, Jingang Pagoda
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, 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, which 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 programme, 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

Sightseeing and Activities:the Three-pagoda in Chongshen Temple, Erhai Lake Cruise, Xizhou Town, Zhoucheng Village, City Wall of Dali
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Take the morning high speed train to Dali. Arrive at Dali Railway Station, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel. Dali which is a historically and culturally famous city of China, is renowned for her historical interest and Bai ethnic culture. You will visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain facing to the Erhai Lake. Three Pagodas are made of three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle.

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. During Erhai Lake cruise, you will enjoy the green Cangshan Mountain and the Three Pagodas from a far as well as lots of birds and seagulls flying over the lake in the winter.

Then, 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 souvenir with the Bai ethnic style. At last, you will visit the Ancient Dali 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 a panoramic view of the Erhai Lake.

Day 4 Dali-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Shaping Bazaar, Black Dragon Pool, Dongba Museum, Lijiang Ancient Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Explore Dali Ancient Town in the early morning, visit the Shaping Bazaar happened every Monday in Shangguan Town. Drive about 180KM 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. After dinner, you will attend the Naxi Orchestral Music in Naxi Concert in Lijiang Ancient Town.

Day 5 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Jade Dragon Snow Mountain,Spruce Meadow, Baisha Old Town and Murals, Baishui River and Terraces
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

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

After lunch, you will enjoy the Impression Lijang Ethnic Show directed in Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M). A cultural show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area. The show takes place inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park at 3500m in an outdoor theater specifically designed to showcase the mountain which is used as a backdrop. The production itself was designed by Zhang Yimou, Fan Yue and Wang Chaoge, a cast of over 500 people, and a number of horses. In the afternoon, you’ll stroll through Baisha Old Town, which is an enchanting traditional Yunnan town. Visit the Baisha Mural about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.

Day 6 Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri La

Sightseeing and Activities:Shigu Ancient Town, the Iron Chain Bridge, Stone Drum,Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation: Shangri La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

From Lijiang, you’ll drive about 60KM 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. You will have an experience of the floating from the First Bend of the Yangtze River to Longpan Town, after one hour floating, meet the driver and transfer to Tiger Leaping Gorge.

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.

Day 7 Shangri La

Sightseeing and Activities:Songzanlin Monastery, the Bita Lake & Shudu Lake, Dukezong Ancient Town, the largest Prayer Wheel
Accommodation: Shangri La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias – ‘the little Potala Palace ‘, so named because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere. And afterwards you’ll visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park. Pudacuo National Park is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. While the region comprises only 0.7 percent of China’s land area, it contains more than 20 percent of the country’s plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species.

Visit 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 shangrila county 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 8 Shangri La-Lhasa

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

Take the flight to Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet Region. You are warmly welcomed to Tibet by saying Tashi Delek at the airport by your tour guide and an experienced driver and send you back to your well reserved hotel. Then have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude in the afternoon.

–Lhasa, is capital of China”s Tibet Autonomous Region. It has a history of more than 1,300 years a political, economic, cultural and transport center of the region. Lhasa has an area of 30,000 square km with a population of 400,000. Lhasa is home to the Tibetan, Han as well as other ethnic groups, but the Tibetan ethnic group makes up about 80 percent of the total population.

Day 9 Lhasa

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

Morning section to visit the famous Potala palace and explore the grandest of this myriad chapels, its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens(stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, figures of the Buddha. Made of precious metal.

Afternoon section visiting to the holist temple in Tibet, the Johkang Temple, built during songtsen gonpo’s reign by princess wencheng of tang dynasty, 647 A.D. The inner circuit is also situated inside the temple and is lined with prayer-wheel and murals outlined in gold on red background, which depict the thousand buddhas, interspersed with stupas and relief-images. Johkang is circuit.

The circular pilgrim route around Jokhang temple is called barkhor and later flourished, forming the embryo of the city. The Barkhor Market itself is the most active in all Tibet, and it is possible to purchase traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, books, Tibetan music instrument, Thangkas, and tradition Tibetan clothes etc.

Day 10 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery
Accommodation: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drepung monastery is situated at the foothill of a mountain and was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. It was once home of 10000 monks and Ganden podrang in Drepung is famous. It was the government center during fifth Dalai lama and later moved to the famous Potala Palace during fifth Dalai Lama. By the time you can also visit the Nechung monastery located 1 km southeast of Drepung and is the abode of the protector deity pehar and the seat of the state Oracle of Tibet.

In the afternoon explore the Sera monastery which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa’s disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most attractive is that Monks debiting is held there in the courtyard at around 6-7:30 in the afternoon section. Overnight at Lhasa. (Notice, the sequence of sightseeing of first two days may be adjusted according to the reservation of visiting Potala Palace)

Day 11 Lhasa-Gyangtse-Shigatse

Sightseeing and Activities:Nyangchu Valley, Yamdro-tso lakes, karo-la glacier,Kubum monastery
Accommodation: Shigatse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Passing by the green farmland of Nyangchu Valley, Yamdro-tso lakes, karo-la glacier roadside at 4960m, We move westwards to the second biggest city Shigatse, the Area spiritually hosted by Pamchan Lama.

The most important attraction for today is Yamdro-tso Lake and Kubum monastery in Gyantse. From the top of the pass kangpa-la at 4700m high in clear weather, you can see the fabulous shade of deep turquoise, Yamdro-tso Lake is shaped like coiling scorpion with deep blue in colour.

Kubum monastery, means 100,000 images in Tibetan, is the town’s foremost attraction, The 35m-high chorten (stupa) with its white layers trimmed with decorative stripes and its crown-like golden dome, is awe-inspiring. You can visit every chambers in the monastery.

Day 12 Shigatse-Lhatse-Tingri (Shegar)-Rongphu Monastery

Sightseeing and Activities:Mt. Lhotse(8516m),Mt. Everest(8848m), Mt. Qowowuyag(8201m),Mt Mayalu(8463m), Rongphu Monastery
Accommodation: Rongphu Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive westwards the Friendship way to Tingri. On the way you will pass the checking point with your TTB permit, travel permit and passport, and purchase the entrance of Everest Base Camp.

There is about 90km bumpy road from Tingri to Rongpuk, road is under construction. From Tingri to E.B.C with the very rough road, pass the wild grassland, cross the rapids river and high mountains. If it is in clear whether, you can have a glimpse of 4 mountains which is 8000m high or more, such as: Mt. Lhotse(8516m), Mt. Everest(8848m), Mt. Qowowuyag(8201m), Mt Mayalu(8463m).

Day 13 Rongphu Monastery-Tingri-Shigatse

Sightseeing and Activities:Rongphu Monastery, the sunrise of Mt. Everest, Mt.Everest Base Camp
Accommodation: Shigatse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Early in the morning to see the sunrise of Mt. Everest from Rongphu Monastery. It is fabulous and splendid. After walking arrive the place get on the animal carriage then use half of an hour arrive at Everest Base camp ( Or you also can trekking to Base Camp around 1.5-2 hours one way. It’s interesting and much more warm, but hard to breath).

Hiking up to the top of the photo point to take pictures of the splendid- Mt. Everest. Then in the afternoon at around 13:00, go down from E.B.C back to Tingri by friend-ship highway back to Shigaste.

Day 14 Shigatse-Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities: Tashilunpo monastery, Lhasa City
Accommodation: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We spend about 4 hours to drive back to Lhasa from Shigatse, on the way, we will visit the largest Monastery in west Tibet, the Tashilunpo monastery, as the last but famous historic sites for your Tibet tour. Tashilunpo monastery is one of the the six great Gelukpa institutions and was founded in 1447 by a disciple of Tsongkapa, Genden drup who was the first Dalai Lama. Jamkhang Chenmo, contains the world’s largest gilded copper image(26m high) of future god Jampa. Drive along the Friend-ship Highway back to Lhasa.

Day 15 Departure from Lhasa

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

Departure from Lhasa. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

City	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Kunming	Softel Hotel	Wenhui Hotel	Jinhua Hotel	T&T Story Hotel
Dali	Hilton Dali Resort & Spa	Shouyi Boutique Hotel	Dali Taihe Boutique Inn	Dali Fengxue Gucheng
Lijiang	Pullman Hotel	Wangfu Hotel	Liwang Hotel	Baisha Holiday Resort
Shangri-la	Shangrila Hotel	Shangrila Old Town Hotel	Moon City Hotel	Wu Fu South Yunnan Boutique 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;
High speed train tickets from Kunming to Dali(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.

For its biodiversity in Yunnan Province, Yunnan got a name “The Animal and Plant Kingdom”, so it is a paradise for bird watching tour. With terrain ranging from tropical rainforest to snow-capped peaks and peoples from Thai to Tibetan, Yunan boasts half of China’s plant and animal species. There are numerous excellent areas for bird watching in this Yunnan classic tour.

Highlights:

Enjoy your bird watching tour in some famous bird watching sites of northwest of Yunnan.
Visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
Discover the mysterious Muosuo minority and stunning scenery of Lugu Lake.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Kunming Arrival
Day 2: Kunming-Dali
Day 3: Dali
Day 4: Dali – Eryuan
Day 5: Eryuan – Lijiang
Day 6: Lijiang
Day 7: Lijiang – Lugu Lake
Day 8: Lugu Lake – Lijiang
Day 9: Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-La
Day 10: Shangri-La
Day 11: Shangri-La Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:airport-hotel transfer
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals:None

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

Day 2 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Green Lake and Dianchi Lake Bird Watching
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, drive to the Green Lake for bird watching. The Green Lake is one of the famous parks which situated in the center of Kunming City. During the winter months, red-beaked gulls from Siberia migrate to Green Lake and entertain the crowds of visitors as they circle around and snap up bread, usefully provided by a herd of local vendors, thrown up into the air by tourists.

After lunch, transfer to Dianchi Lake Dam for bird(seagull) watching. Dianchi Lake Dam, on the eastern shore of the Dianchi Lake, the dam is one of the popular sites in Kunming’s Dianchi Lake Holiday Resort 8 km from downtown. During the Chinese New Year Festival, herds of locals and tourists will gather here to feed seagulls and admire scenery of the West Hill.

Day 3 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake Bird Watching
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Take the morning high speed train to Dali, after arrive at Dali Train Station, meet your local tour guide and druiver. Then, drive to start your tour. You will take a boat ride across Erhai Lake to local Bai ethnic minority villages. If you are lucky, you will see some birds on the lake. Go on a cable car up Cangshan Mountain and enjoy bird watching at Cangshan Mountain. Cangshan Mountain is a high mountain rising above the city of Dali in the southern province of Yunnan. The local government has designated it as a scenic area. The mountain is a highlight of the Dali area, with numerous birds, springs, ponds and waterfalls, beautiful scenery, hiking trails, a range of ecological zones with thousands of plant species, and scenic views of lakes and the city of Dali.

Day 4 Dali-Eryuan

Sightseeing and Activities:Xizhou Old Town Bird Watching in West Lake of Eryuan County
Accommodation: Eryuan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, 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. If you are lucky enough, you could see many birds on an old banyan in Xizhou Town.

After lunch, drive about 40 minites to the West Lake in Eryuan County to enjoy your bird watching there. Eryuan West Lake is a plateau lake in western Yunnan province, China. It lies at the northern foot of the snow-covered Cang Mountain. It is a paradise for tens of thousands of birds. The West Lake is the only habitat of the rare Purple Swamp-hen, also China most important habitat of this bird with the largest number. Moreover, it is a major place for migrant birds to rest and foraging.

You will have overnight in Eryuan County.

Day 5 Eryuan – Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Zibi Lake and Heqing Caohai Marsh Bird Watching
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, drive to visit Zibi Lake and enjoy your bird watching. Zibi Lake is 2 km to the east of Er’yuan county seat, covering 8 square km with the average depth of 11 meters. On the north shore of the lake is a pear orchard, and lying to its west is Bagushan Mountain, at the foot of which are Chengbi Pavilion and Longwang Temple (Dragon King Temple) where locals hold a grand temple fair on lunar 23 July each year. The lake abounds in Cibi flower (a plant of the Nymphaeaceae family, similar to water lily)-a miracle eulogised by Mr Yang Sheng’an (1488-1559)-a famous traveler and geologist in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). And the lake has been included into the Cangshan Mountain and Er’hai Lake Resort.

After lunch, drive to Heqing Caohai Marsh in Heqing County. Caohai Lake is a high-elevation freshwater lake and wetland area located in western Guizhou Province, China. The lake is a key regional wintering and stopover area for waterbirds, including the iconic, vulnerable black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis). Caohai Marsh is an excellent place for Bird-watching. Bring your binoculars here.

In the late afternoon, drive to Lijiang. You will be relaxed around Lijiang Old Town, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture, which is a central town of the Lijiang Autonomous County of the Naxi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Province.

Day 6 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Lashihai Lake, Lion Hill Bird Watching
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the early morning, you will start your bird watching from Lashihai Lake. Lashihai Lake was approved as a plateau wetland nature reserve in Yunnan Province in June, 1998. Since then, the nature reserve has been rehabilitated, protected and improved, which turns to be a paradise of thousands of birds including 57 species, a place where biodiversity has been effectively conserved.

After lunch, you will head for Lion Hill for bird watching. As an integral part of Lijiang ancient town and the major nation-level scenic spot, the Lion Hill Park is located in the center of Lijiang city. The hill massif is like a lion, thus getting the name Lion Hill. With ancient buildings lying around at the foot of Lion Hill, it is the best place for you to enjoy the panoramic view of the Lijiang Ancient Town. The park covers a total area of about 15 hectare with green trees covered on the hill and birds singing in the wood.

Day 7 Lijiang – Luguhu Lake

Sightseeing and Activities:Luguhu Lake Bird Watching, Mosuo Bonfire Party
Accommodation: Luguhu Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, drive about 5 hours from Lijiang to Luguhu Lake. Luguhu Lake is located between Yunnan’s Ninglang County and Sichuan’s Yanyuan County, with a total area of 77,700-odd mu, the space within the precincts of Yunnan being 41,400 mu. Most of the birds in Lugu Lake come from Siberia, such as red-beaked gulls, wild ducks, geese and aix galericulata. The birds’ coming bring much joy to people in cold season. You can see anywhere that the seagulls play with people who are seating on the boats.

After lunch, enjoy your bird watching. You will take the canoes to visit Liwubi Island and She Island in Lugu Lake where there are so many birds inhabiting. In the evening, take part in Mosuo Bonfire Party with ethnic dance and singing performance.You will dance and sing with Mosuo boys and girls around a big bonfire in the outdoors theatre.

Day 8 Luguhu Lake – Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Bird Watching in Luguhu Lake, Mosuo Culture Museum, Pumi and Yi Ethnic Villages
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This early morning, enjoy the sunrise of Luguhu Lake and walk around the Lake to go on your bird watching. After that, you will pay a visit to Mosuo Culture Museum and learn the Mosuo ethnic custom in the museum. Drive back to Lijiang. On the way to Ninglang Town, you will stop to visit a Pumi Ethnic Village and Pumi Family. The ancestors of Pumi were a nomadic tribe living in the southern part of Gansu Province and the eastern part of Qinghai Province. Later, their descendants moved south to warmer areas along the Hengduan Mountain Range. After the 13th century, the Pumi ethnic group gradually settled down in Ninglang, Lijiang, Weixi and Lanping counties.

In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Lijiang and be relaxed in Lijiang Ancient Town.

Day 9 Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:the First Bend of the Yangtze River, the Iron Chain Bridge, Stone Drum, Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, 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.

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 city and Dukezong Ancient Town.

Day 10 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Napahai Lake Bird Watching, Visit Tibetan Family
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This early morning, drive to Napahai Lake for bird watching. Lake Napa Wetlands, or Lake Napa Nature Reserve (aka Lake Napa), it is lying in the valley of a high mountain plateau situated about 3270 m above sea level and covering 660 sq km. Most of the area is marshy wetland that becomes dry from late fall through winter, but from spring through summer, the area again becomes an expansive wetland that attracts countless flocks of birds, such as the bar-headed goose – as well as a number of other species of geese – the common mallard, the Himalayan griffon, the egret and the white-tailed eagle, black necked crane (Grus nigricollis).

In the late afternoon, you will visit a Tibetan’s family to experience the local life. Then drive back to hotel.

Day 11 Departure from Shangri-La

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

Pick up from hotel and transfer to airport for departure. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Kunming	Softel Hotel	Wenhui Hotel	Jinhua Hotel	T&T Story Hotel
Dali	Hilton Dali Resort And Spa	Landscape Hotel	Fairyland Hotel	Dali Fengxue Gucheng
Eryuan	/	Eryuan Hotel	Eryuan Xinda Hot Spring Hotel	Riyueju Guesthouse
Lijiang	Pullman Hotel	Wangfu Hotel	Liwang Hotel	Baisha Holiday Resort
Shangri-La	Shangri-La Hotel	Shangri-La Old Town Hotel	Moon City Hotel	Wu Fu South Yunnan Boutique 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;
High speed train tickets from Kunming to Dali.

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.

Journey with us into deep lush forests, an area so remote that it still remains largely undiscovered by the discerning birder, as we journey into these rich sub-tropical forests and marvel at the spectacle of swathes of orchids clinging on to their host climber. We watch as sunbirds dart from orchid to orchid sipping the sweet nectar and then on to rhodedendrums with flocks of at least a dozen species of other birds in a accopanying symphony of sound and dazzling color. With billowing clouds shrouding the verdant forest and waking up in a tent to a cacophony of birdsong in this area, is a memorable bird watching experience in Yunnan.

Highlights:

Have a memorable bird watching experience in Yunnan.
Enjoy the stunning scenery along the way.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Kunming Arrival
Day 2: Kunming-Zhixishan
Day 3: Zhixishan
Day 4: Zhixishan – Dali
Day 5: Dali
Day 6: Dali – Bawan
Day 7: Bawan-Gaoligongshan
Day 8: Gaoligongshan
Day 9: Gaoligongshan
Day 10: Gaoligongshan – Bawan
Day 11: Bawan – Tengchong
Day 12: Tengchong
Day 13: Tengchong Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Kunming arrival

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

Upon your arrival at the airport, meet your local tour guide and driver and then transfer to your hotel for rest. If time permits, explore the city on your own.

Day 2 Kunming-Zixishan

Sightseeing and Activities:Qiong Zhu temple, Zixi Shan reserve
Accommodation: Zixishan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning birding in Kunming around Qiong Zhu temple. After lunch, drive to Zixi Shan reserve.

Day 3 Zixi Shan Reserve

Sightseeing and Activities:Zixi Shan reserve
Accommodation: Zixishan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A whole day birding in Zixi Shan reserve, a good place for Giant Nuthatch,Tree crepper, Ms Hume`s Pheasants.

Day 4 ZixiShan-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: ZixiShan
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After morning birding in ZixiShan, drive to Dali in the afternoon. Overnight at Dali ancient town.

Day 5 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Mt. Cangshan, Lady Amhersts, Dali Ancient City
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Bird watching in Mt. Cangshan in the morning, a good opportunity to see Lady Amhersts, fire-tailored sunbirds and blood pheasant at 3100M elevation. Birdwatching in the farmland in the afternoon. Overnight at Dali Ancient City.

Day 6 Dali-Bawan

Sightseeing and Activities: Cangshan, birding
Accommodation: Baoshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bird watching in Cangshan, drive to Bawan in Baoshan city. Evening bird watching for tropic birds along the Nujiang river in the valley and farmland. Overnight in Bawan.

Day 7 Bawan-Gaoligongshan

Sightseeing and Activities: birding
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After morning bird watching, drive to Baihualin in Gaoligongshan. Birding on the way, and overnight in Baihualing.

Day 8 Gaoligongshan

Sightseeing and Activities: birding
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Birdwatching in Gaoligongshan.

Day 9 Gaoligongshan

Sightseeing and Activities: birding
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Birdwatching in Gaoligongshan.

Day 10 Gaoligongshan-Bawan

Sightseeing and Activities:Bawan
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After morning birding in Baihualing, drive back to Bawan. Birding on the way.

Day 11 Bawan-Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities: birding
Accommodation: Tengchong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to Tengchong. On the way, make several stops for some easy roadside birding.

Day 12 Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities: Laifengshan Forest Park, Yunfengshan
Accommodation: Tengchong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the early morning, birding at Laifengshan Forest Park. After breakfast, drive about 50 km to Yunfengshan, a Taoist Mountain and important habitats for some mid-altitude birds. Climb to a Taoist Monastery on the top of the mountain.

Day 13 Depature from Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities:Depature from Tengchong
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

Departure from Tengchong. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

City	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Kunming	Crowne Plaza Hotel	Wenhui Hotel	Camellia Hotel	T&T Story Hotel
Zixishan	/	/	/	Local Guesthouse
Dali	Hilton Dali Resort And Spa	Landscape Hotel	Taiheju Hotel	Dali Fengxue Gucheng
Gaoligongshan	/	/	Local Guesthouse
Bawan	/	/	Local Guesthouse
Tengchong	Guanfang Hotel Tengchong	Empark Grand Hotel Tengchong	Dongfang Xuanyi Holiday 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.

Travel Tips:

The economy-class airfare of China flights as specified in the itinerary.
The hotel/cruise accommodation is based on two persons sharing one standard twin room/cabin with private facilities in all relevant locations. If a single client requests a twin room/cabin alone, the single room/cabin supplement will be charged.
For the land tour in each city, daily American breakfast is served in the hotel, and Chinese lunch and/or dinner will be served with two cups of soft drink outside the hotel. All meal arrangements are served as the itinerary specifies.
On the cruise daily American breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. The beverage arrangements are subject to policies.

Take the trip to the beautiful, amazing Kunming! You will definitely not be disappointed with what Yunnan Province has to offer, during this tour you can learn more about the Muslim heritage of the different cities. The highlights of the tour has to be the Great Shadian Mosque. This Shadian Muslim Tour is combined with Yuanyang Rice Terraces and Jianshui Old Town.

Highlights:

Visit the Great Shadian Mosque, the largest mosque in the southwest.
Explore the profound culture of Jianshui.
Enjoy the spectacular view of Yuanyang Rice Terraces.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Kunming Arrival
Day 2: Kunming – Shilin – Shadian
Day 3: Shadian – Yuanyang
Day 4: Yuanyang – Jianshui
Day 5: Jianshui-Kunming
Day 6: Kunming Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

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

As you arrive at Kunming Changshui International Airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Day 2 Kunming-Shilin-Shadian

Sightseeing and Activities:Stone Forest
Accommodation:Shadian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast you will be transferred 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.

You will then be transferred to Shadian ( 3 hours drive). Stay overnight at Sailiaomu Hotel in Shadian.

Day 3 Shadian-Yuanyang

Sightseeing and Activities:Great Mosque of Shadian, Laohuzui Rice Terraces
Accommodation: Yuanyang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you will visit the Great Mosque of Shadian and pray there. After you will communicate with Zhenxin Group. There is a Muslim Accessories shop beside the mosque, where you can have or do a little shopping there. Shadian Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the southwest and is one of the 100 famous mosques of China. Shadian mosque exhibits an elegant architectural style.

You will then be driven to Yuanyang (About 1 hour). Enjoy the sunset view of Laohuzui Rice Terraces.

Day 4 Yuanyang-Jianshui

Sightseeing and Activities:Duoyishu Rice Terrace Fields, Qingkou Village, Bada Hani Rice Terrace, Shengcun Market, Jianshui Old Town
Accommodation: Jianshui
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

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

And then, you will visit Qingkou Village and rice terraces where Hani people for generations inhabit. Visit Bada Hani Rice Terrace, Shengcun Market as well.

Afterward, you will transfer to Jianshui (3hrs) and check in the hotel after arrival. Stroll around Jianshui Old Town, to see Chaoyang Gateway Tower, Old Well of Jianshui.

Day 5 Jianshui-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Zhu Family Garden, Jianshui Confucius Temple
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning, make the visit to Zhu Family Garden, the so-called ‘Grand View Garden’ of South Yunnan Province, which is a representative of Chinese residential houses of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). When walking through the garden, it really seems as if you are strolling through the Grand View Garden depicted in ‘A Dream of the Red Mansions’ (a famous Chinese Classical novel by Cao Xueqin (1724-1764) in the Qing Dynasty). This garden was the residence and ancestral temple of the rich man Zhu Weiqing and his brother in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Later go to visit Jianshui Confucius Temple. This over 700-year-old temple was initially built in the 22nd year of Zhi Yuan reign in the Yuan Dynasty (1285AD). It has been repaired and extended for about 50 times and now covers an area of 7.6 hectares. Based on its scale, construction standard and excellence in preservation, Jianshui Confucius Temple stands second only to the one in Qufu of Shandong Province, hometown of Confucius and the one in Beijing. It is the best large-scale Confucius Temples in south China.

After the lunch, you will drive back to Kunming (4.5hrs ). Check in your hotel in Kunming.

Day 6 Kunming Departure

Sightseeing and Activities:Kunming Departure
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

Pick up from hotel and transfer to Kunming airport for your departure flight. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

City	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Kunming	Crowne Plaza Hotel	Wenhui Hotel	Camellia Hotel	T&T Story Hotel
Shadian	/	/	Sailiaomu Hotel	Honghe Pingan Inn
Yuanyang	Oness Resort	Yunti Hotel(Shengcun Village)	Yunti Hotel(Xinjie Town)	Flowers Residence Inn
Jianshui	Lin’an Hotel	Zhu Family Garden	Jianshui Hotel	Huiyuanlou Guesthouse

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.

Travel Tips:

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

Travel and Tours Packages of Honghe and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

In this Yunnan – Guizhou – Guangxi High Speed Rail Tour, you will first explore the highlights of Lijiang, Shangri-La, Dali and Kunming of Yunnan. Mostly, it will about top natural attractions such as Tiger Leaping Gorge and the Stone Forest, also main ancient towns and villages such as Dukezong and Lijiang Ancient Town. Then, you will head for Guizhou to experience the authentic ethnic cultures in local ethnic vilages. Lastly, transfer to visit the best highlights of Guilin and Yangshuo, including West Street and Li River Cruise.

Highlights:

Visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
Explore the nature and ethnic groups in Yunnan and Guizhou.
Enjoy the landscape of Guilin and Yangshuo.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Lijiang Arrival
Day 2: Lijiang
Day 3: Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La
Day 4: Shangri-La
Day 5: Shangri-La – Shaxi
Day 6: Shaxi – Dali
Day 7: Dali – Kunming
Day 8: Kunming
Day 9: Kunming – Guiyang
Day 10: Guiyang – Kaili
Day 11: Kaili – Rongjiang
Day 12: Rongjiang – Zhaoxing
Day 13: Zhaoxing – Yangshuo
Day 14: Yangshuo
Day 15: Yangshuo – Guilin
Day 16: Guiling Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Lijiang

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

Upon your arrival, meet your local tour guide and driver, then transfer to the hotel for rest.

Day 2 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Jade Dragon Snow Mountain,Yak Meadow,Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show, Baisha Old Town and Baisha Murals
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Pick-up at 7:30am, drive about 30KM to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, where you will take the sightseeing bus for a short visiting through the Baishuihe River, take the chairlift up to visit Yak Meadow(3700m) of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cableway will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around 1 hour in the original forest in Yak Meadow (3700M).

After lunch, you will enjoy the Impression Lijang Ethnic Show(Regular seat ) directed in Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M). A cultural show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area. The show takes place inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park at 3500m in an outdoor theater specifically designed to showcase the mountain which is used as a backdrop. The production itself was designed by Zhang Yimou, Fan Yue and Wang Chaoge, a cast of over 500 people, and a number of horses.

Later, move to Baisha Old Town for the tour of the Baisha Mural about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.

Day 3 Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La

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

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. 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 4 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Songzanlin Monastery, Podacuo National Park
Accommodation:Shangri-La
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Today, begin your exciting tour with a visit to Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, then visit Podacuo National Park (green vans available in scenic area) after lunch.

–Not far from Shangri-La, Songzanlin Lamasery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist lamasery in Yunnan, and one of the 13 large lamaseries in the joint area of Tibet, Yunnan and Sichuan. Constructed in 1679, it took about three years to complete. Built against the mountain with a magnificent appearance, Songzanlin is a faithful imitation of the Potala Palace in Lhasa Tibet. The most famous treasures in the lamasery are the eight gold-covered sculptures of Sakyamuni, bronze sculptures, the Ganzur scriptures hand-written in liquid gold, gold lamps, and many exquisite gilded silver incense burners.

–Located 22km east of Shangri-La, Potatso National Park is the first national park in mainland China. In Tibetan language, Patatso means reaching the opposite side of the lake by boat under the help of deity. Bitahai Lake and Shuduhu Lake are two major parts of the park. Besides these two lakes, forest, marsh, valley, alpine meadow and so on can be seen in the park. All major spots are connected by walkable plank which offers a closer distance for travelers to experience the natural environment.

Day 5 Shangri-La-Shaxi

Sightseeing and Activities:Dukezong Old town,Guishan Hill, Prayer Wheel
Accommodation:Shaxi
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, 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 Shangrila city and Dukezong Ancient Town.

Afternoon, head for Shaxi and stay overnight.

Day 6 Shaxi-Dali

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

In the morning, visit Shaxi Old Town. Then drive to Shibaoshan mountain. The most prominent sight at ShibaoShan is the Stone Bell Temple with its 139, well preserved stone carvings. Another interesting sight is the ‘Suspending Temple’, also called the Baoxiang Temple.

After the visit, drive to Dali for overnight.

Day 7 Dali-Kunming

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

In the morning, visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. After lunch, cruise on Erhai Lake by the small boat to the Jinsuo Islet in the east Erhai Lake.

In the afternoon, head for Xizhou Town to appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste the Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. Then visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop. At last, visit the Ancient Dali Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the relax time with local people.

Then transfer to the railway station to take the high speed train to Kunming.

Day 8 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Jiuxiang Cave, Stone Forest, Flower and bird Market, Nanping Street
Accommodation:Kunming
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Firstly drive about 1.5hr to Jiuxiang Cave which is located 90km 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.

After lunch, further diving 40m to Stone Forest, one of the most important attractions of Yunnan. An old local saying says that “If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.”

After the tour, drive back to Kunming downtown and stroll in the Flower and Bird Market and Nanping Street nearby.

Day 9 Kunming-Guiyang

Sightseeing and Activities:Jiaxiu Tower and Qingyan Old Town
Accommodation:Guiyang
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, take the morning high speed train to Guiyang. Your local guide and driver will meet you at the train station and then transfer to hotel. Visit Jiaxiu Tower and Qingyan Old Town in the afternoon.

Day 10 Guiyang-Kaili

Sightseeing and Activities:Shiqiao Miao village, Matang village
Accommodation:Kaili
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

This morning make 3hrs driving to Kaili. Kaili is the capital city of the Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture of Southeast Guizhou, and also the base of southeast Guizhou’s ethnic culture tour. Today’s first stop is Shiqiao Miao village. Shiqiao Miao village is famous for its old technology of papermaking. The ancient traditional methods of production method can be traced back to the Tang dynasty. You can learn how to make paper in local family.

After lunch continue drive to Matang village, where you can see Gejia group, who are not listed into 55 minority groups in China. The Gejia people of Matang adore bow and arrow. As a legend goes, the ancestors of the Gejia people was hero who could shoot the sun with the arrow. You will appreciate the traditional Gejia batik in the village, and learn the art of batik. In the evening drive to hotel in Kaili.

Day 11 Kaili-Rongjiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Langde Miao Village,Datang Miao Village,Qiaotu Shui village
Accommodation:Rongjiang
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning pay leisure visit to explore Miao’s history and culture in Langde Miao Village and Datang Miao Village. Langde is a village of Long Skirt Miao. This village is considered to be the live museum of Miao Culture. Most wooden buildings were built from 1616-1911. Datang Miao Village is a Short Skirt Miao village, it is another branch of Miao live for hundreds years. Women in Datang are well known for their beautiful short skirts and hairstyle, they have worn a kind of traditional short skirt for 500 years. Another highlight in this village is the granary built over a pond with the multi-function of fire-proofing, rat-proofing and ant-proofing.

After lunch further driving to Rongjiang, on the way stop at Qiaotu Shui village, which villagers usually dress in black and blue. Men have long gowns and black turbans, and women wear collarless blue blouses, black trousers and aprons, all of which are embroidered.

Day 12 Rongjiang-Congjiang-Zhaoxing

Sightseeing and Activities:Basha village, Zhaoxing village
Accommodation:Zhaoxing
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast drive to explore Basha village, a hidden kingdom occupied by the legendary Basha Miao people. Enter the Last Gunmen’s Tribe in China. All the men wear their hair in a bun. when the boys grow to 16 years of age, an “adult ceremony” will be held for them. The man adult of Basha Miao Village carries a hunting gun on his shoulder and a gunpowder bag , a bullet bag and a knife around his waist, making himself up like an ancient warrior.

This afternoon continue drive to Zhaoxing village. Zhaoxing is the biggest Dong village with over 1,000 Dong households in China. It has a history of nearly 2000 years. The village is divided into five natural sections. Each section has a clan and each clan has a drum-tower, a Wind-Rain-Bridge and a stage.
Overnight in Zhaoxing village.

Day 13 Zhaoxing-Guilin-Yangshuo

Sightseeing and Activities:Tang’an village
Accommodation: Yangsuo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you have chance to visit Tang’an village. Tang’an village is situated at a mountain slope and encircled by rice fields， green trees and hills. It has been accepted jointly by China and Norway as an ecological museum of the Dong ethnic group. It is the only eco-museum of Dong Minority on the earth. Hike 2.5hrs from Tang’an Village to Zhaoxing village, you will passing the rice fields on the way. This afternoon you will take high-speed train to Yangshuo.

Day 14 Yangshuo

Sightseeing and Activities:Silver Cave, West Street
Accommodation:Yangsuo
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

You will take a boat trip to the Li River (Xingping section). You will feast your eyes with the reflection of fantastic peaks with various shapes, crystal clear water, green hills, bamboo groves, the river passes an endless procession of distinct peaks and bamboo groves and the stunning landscape. Then you will pay a visit to Silver Cave -The cave is deep and irregular, with a great number of stalactites of thousand charms, which, in lights glint like silver, hence the name of the cave. These majestic, diamond-like stalactites decorate the cave and make it into a dazzling place. Strolling along the West Street where is famous for its antiquated style and courtyard like environment.

Day 15 Yangshuo-Guilin

Sightseeing and Activities:Mulong Lake Park, Li River boat cruise
Accommodation:Guilin
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast. Transfer back to Guilin. Along the way we will visit Shangri-La and get a tour of elegant scenery, ancient bridge brook river, deep pool limestone cave and fallen village. Continues the trip to Mulong Lake Park. It features the integration of historical culture into the nature. To the north of Mulong Lake, visitors can find a group of manmade sights such as Dongzhen Gate and the site of the City Wall in Song Dynasty. A very large building complex is scattered around where visitors can admire forest, grass, falls and streams. Then go to take Li River (city section) boat cruise where you can view the ten famous hills like Elephant Truck Hill, Fubo Hill etc.

Li River: The Li River that flows from Guilin to Yangshuo is the most famous tourist attraction in Guilin. Boasting the No.1 Guilin Landscape among all the waters and mountains in the picturesque Guilin, Li River was listed as one of the top ten watery wonders in the world. When traveling to Guilin, a Li River cruise will take you to enjoy the spectacular scenery of verdant mountains, towering karst peaks, water sights, grotesque rocks and caves along the river.

Day 16 Departure from Guilin

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

Departure from Guilin. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Kunming	Softel Hotel	Wenhui Hotel	Jinhua Hotel	T&T Story Hotel
Dali	Hilton Dali Resort & Spa	Shouyi Boutique Hotel	Dali Taihe Boutique Inn	Dali Fengxue Gucheng
Lijiang	Pullman Hotel	Wangfu Hotel	Liwang Hotel	Baisha Holiday Resort
Shangri-La	Shangri-La Hotel	Shangri-La Old Town Hotel	Moon City Hotel	Wu Fu South Yunnan Boutique 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 and vehicle for transfers & sightseeing;
Service charge & government taxes;
Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
Free-bottled mineral water;
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;
Domestic air tickets fares with airport tax and fuel extra fee based on economy class mentioned in the program.

Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi all boast stunning natural sceneries and rich minority cultures. During this High Speed Train Tour, we will explore the modern Shanghai; visit the top cities of Yunnan tour including Shangri-La, Lijiang, Dali, Kunming; discover the ethnic villages in Guizhou; also enjoy the best highlights of Guilin and Yangshuo.

Highlights:

Explore the modern Shanghai;
Visit the top cities of Yunnan tour including Shangri-La, Lijiang, Dali, Kunming;
Discover the ethnic villages in Guizhou;
Enjoy the best highlights of Guilin and Yangshuo.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Shanghai Arrival
Day 2: Shanghai
Day 3: Shanghai – Hangzhou
Day 4: Hangzhou
Day 5: Hangzhou – Changsha
Day 6: Changsha – Kunming
Day 7: Kunming – Dali
Day 8: Dali
Day 9: Dali – Shaxi – Tiger Leaping Gorge
Day 10: Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-La
Day 11: Shangri-La – Lijiang
Day 12: Lijiang
Day 13: Lijiang – Guiyang
Day 14: Guiyang – Kaili
Day 15: Kaili – Rongjiang
Day 16: Rongjiang – Zhaoxing
Day 17: Zhaoxing – Yangshuo
Day 18: Yangshuo
Day 19: Yangshuo – Guilin
Day 20: Guilin Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Shanghai

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

Upon your arrival, meet you local tour guide and driver, then transfer to the hotel for rest.

Day 2 Shanghai

Sightseeing and Activities:Yuyan Garden, Yuyuan Market, Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Road , the Bund, the cruise tour in Huangpu River
Accommodation:Shanghai
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Star your tour from 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. So fully appreciate the Garden in 1.5 hours or so. Neighboring Yuyuan Garden is Yuyuan Market, where you can feast your eyes with numerous Chinese arts and crafts in a lively atmosphere.

Continue to make a tour of Shanghai Museum (without earphone ) Located in the center of Shanghai in People’s Square, Shanghai Museum is a large museum of ancient Chinese art. Its style and presentation surround visitors with artifacts demonstrating ancient wisdom and philosophy.

Afterward, you will stroll on the famous Nanjing Road. Today it is a must-see metropolitan destination attracting thousands of fashion-seeking shoppers from all over the world. After the Opium War (1839-1842), Shanghai became a treaty port. Nanjing Road was first the British Concession, then the International Settlement. Importing large quantities of foreign goods, it became the earliest shopping street of the city.

Then stroll along the Bund which is located along the Huangpu River, the center of Shanghai. It is the scenery line of Shanghai. It has the Shanghai landmarks Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower in the opposite across the Huangpu River. It is a must-see place while enjoying your Shanghai Tours.
In the evening, enjoy the night view of Shanghai by a cruise tour by public boat in Huangpu River.

Day 3 Shanghai-Hangzhou

Sightseeing and Activities:Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Former French Concession
Accommodation:Hangzhou
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Morning departure from hotel to visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower (the 2nd ball floor ) 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’.

Then continue to visit the Former French Concession. Also known as French Town, it is a famous place for its historical factors. During the period from 1849 to 1946, it was a foreign concession in Shanghai. Due to its location covers the districts of Lukawei and Xujiahui, the main police depot and prison of the French concession is in Lukawei area, while Xujiahui is the centre of Catholic Shanghai.

Move to railway station to take the 1 hour high speed train to Hangzhou. After arrival, you will move to check in hotel in Hangzhou .

Day 4 Hangzhou

Sightseeing and Activities:Cruise tour of West Lake, Linyin Temple, Six Hamonies Pagoda, China Tea Museum
Accommodation:Hangzhou
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Today is a joyful day with firstly take cruise tour of West Lake (50 m by the public boat – reputed for beautiful scenery, a multitude of historical sites, brilliant cultural relics, and a profusion of native products.
After that, go to Lingyin Temple – a site famous for not only as a Buddhism temple but also an attraction to catch beautiful scenery. After lunch, continue to pay a visit to Six Harmonies Pagoda – ensure a view of the Qiantang River and a far view towards the misty horizon. The final site of today is China Tea Museum– you can have close touch with the China tea history and know more about the tea producing process.. After that, drive back to your hotel and have a rest of this day.

Day 5 Hangzhou-Changsha

Sightseeing and Activities:Wuzhen Water Town
Accommodation:Changsha
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Morning departure from hotel to visit Wuzhen Water Town. Wuzhen is one of the six famous ancient water towns 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.

After the tour, drive to Hangzhou railway station for your overnight train to Changsha.

Day 6 Changsha-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Yuelu Academy
Accommodation:Kunming
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we will first have a visit to the Yuelu Academy. It was the most important of all the four academies of the Song as well as China’s earliest government-funded institution of higher learning. The buildings extant on the premises are mostly a Qing legacy. Since the Song many famous scholars had lectured and studied in this academy. Also taste the Changsha snacks for lunch.

In the afternoon, take the high speed train to Kunming. Upon arrival, meet the tour guide at train station and transfer to your hotel.

Day 7 Kunming-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Stone Forest, Green Lake Park, The Flowers and Birds Market
Accommodation:Dali
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

At 8:30am, Our English speaking guide pick you up at the hotel lobby, then departure from hotel, drive 1.5 hours to visit the Stone Forest which vividly expresses the deep love of the local people toward this world wonder. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder.

After the tour, transfer back to Kunming downtown. Stroll in Green Lake Park and Flowers and Birds Market. Before the evening transfer to railway station to take the high speed train to Dali.

Day 8 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Dali Old Town, Dali Ancient City Wall, the Foreigner Street, the Three Pagodas Temple, Xizhou Old Town, Zhoucheng Village, Erhai Lake Cruise by small boat
Accommodation:Dali
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Today visit the Three Pagodas which is made of three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle. Afterward, you’ll cruise on Erhai Lake by the small boat in the east Erhai Lake. 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.

Later, 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 souvenir with the Bai ethnic style.

At last, you will visit the Ancient Dali Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the relax time with local people.

Day 9 Dali-Shaxi-Tiger Leaping Gorge

Sightseeing and Activities:Shaxi old town, Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation:Tiger Leaping Gorge
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, drive to visit Shaxi Old Town and then further drive to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. Stay overnight at local guesthouse.

Day 10 Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park
Accommodation:Shangri-La
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Morning drive to Shangrila, 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.

Visit the Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias – ‘the little Potala Palace ‘, so named because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere. Walk around Songzanlin Monastery.

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

Day 11 Shangri-La-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Dukezong Ancient Town, Guishan Hill, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, 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 Shangrila city and Dukezong Ancient Town.

Then drive to Lijiang and visit Lijiang Old Town.

Day 12 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Glacier Park, Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show, Ganhaizi Meadow, Black Dragon Pool, Shuhe Old Town
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, drive to Jade Dragon Mountain to make your day tour of the mountain. Upon arrival, visit the Glacier Park(3356m) which is 4500m above sea level. See the No. 1 Whitewater Glaciers that was formed 40.000 years ago.

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

Then go to Black Dragon Pool Park, which was built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty. Afterwards stroll at Shuhe Old Town before the evening.

Day 13 Lijiang-Guiyang by Flight

Sightseeing and Activities:Jiaxiu Tower, Qingyan Old Town
Accommodation:Guiyang
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Take the flight to Guiyang, the Capital of Guizhou Province. Your local guide and driver will meet you at the airport and then transfer to hotel. Visit Jiaxiu Tower and Qingyan Old Town in the afternoon.

Day 14 Guiyang-Kaili

Sightseeing and Activities:Shiqiao Miao village, Matang village
Accommodation:Kaili
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15 Kaili-Rongjiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Langde Miao Village, Datang Miao Village, Qiaotu Shui village
Accommodation:Rongjiang
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning pay leisure visit to explore Miao’s history and culture in Langde Miao Village and Datang Miao Village. Langde is a village of Long Skirt Miao. This village is considered to be the live museum of Miao Culture. Most wooden buildings were built from 1616-1911.Datang Miao Village is a Short Skirt Miao village, it is another branch of Miao live for hundreds years. Women in Datang are well known for their beautiful short skirts and hairstyle, they have worn a kind of traditional short skirt for 500 years. Another highlight in this village is the granary built over a pond with the multi-function of fire-proofing, rat-proofing and ant-proofing.

Day 16 Rongjiang-Zhaoxing

Sightseeing and Activities:Basha village, Zhaoxing village
Accommodation:Zhaoxing
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

This afternoon continue the drive to Zhaoxing village. Zhaoxing is the biggest Dong village with over 1,000 Dong households in China. It has a history of nearly 2000 years. The village is divided into five natural sections. Each section has a clan and each clan has a drum-tower, a Wind-Rain-Bridge and a stage.
Overnight in Zhaoxing village.

Day 17 Zhaoxing-Yangshuo

Sightseeing and Activities:Tang’an village
Accommodation:Yangshuo
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you have chance to visit Tang’an village. Tang’an village is situated at a mountain slope and encircled by rice fields, green trees and hills. It has been accepted jointly by China and Norway as an ecological museum of the Dong ethnic group. It is the only eco-museum of Dong Minority on the earth. Hike 2.5 hrs from Tang’an Village to Zhaoxing village, you will passing the rice fields on the way .

This afternoon you will take high-speed train to Yangshuo.

Day 18 Yangshuo

Sightseeing and Activities:Silver Cave, West Street
Accommodation:Yangshuo
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Day 19 Yangshuo-Guilin

Sightseeing and Activities:Mulong Lake Park, Li River boat cruise
Accommodation:Guilin
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Day 20 Departure from Guilin

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

Departure from Guilin. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Kunming	Softel Hotel	Wenhui Hotel	Jinhua Hotel	T&T Story Hotel
Dali	Hilton Dali Resort & Spa	Shouyi Boutique Hotel	Dali Taihe Boutique Inn	Dali Fengxue Gucheng
Lijiang	Pullman Hotel	Wangfu Hotel	Liwang Hotel	Baisha Holiday Resort
Tiger Leaping Gorge	/	/	/	Local Guesthouse
Shangri-La	Shangri-La Hotel	Shangri-La Old Town Hotel	Moon City Hotel	Wu Fu South Yunnan Boutique 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;
High speed train tickets(2nd class seats).

Service Excluded:

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

For those who are interested in Chinese culture, especially interested in Yunnan culture, this education tour will help you to learn more about Yunnan ethnic culture and daily life of local people. During this Yunnan family trip, you will explore the ethnic culture and have a happy family time at Kunming, Anning, Jianshui, Shilin County.

Highlights:

Learn more about Yunnan ethnic culture and daily life of local people.
Have a happy family time at Kunming, Anning, Jianshui, Shilin County.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Kunming Arrival
Day 2: Kunming
Day 3: Kunming – Jianshui
Day 4: Jianshui
Day 5: Jianshui-Shilin
Day 6: Shilin-Nuohei-Kunming
Day 7: Kunming Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

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

Arrive at Kunming. Check in hotel and prepare for tomorrow’s activities.

Day 2 Kunming-Yunnan Ethnic Villages-Anning-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Yunnan Ethnic Minorities’ Village, Anning Bajie Rose Garden
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, take the ride to Yunnan Ethnic Minorities’ Village, where we will learn the ethnic culture of 25 minorities. There will be “impossible” task waiting for the children and parents.

Task reference:

Learn and write the Naxi characters in Naxi village, complete a work and take home.
Find the corresponding ethnic minority villages according to the instructions given in the picture and take a photo at the gate of the villages.(Due to the large scenic area, parents and children can use the transportation tools of the scenic area to go to the destination. Each group of families will pay 30 Yuan for transportation, and the deposit will be paid by yourself and the returned at the end.)
The parents will learn how to spin a top at the Wa village and see which family can successfully spin a top for the longest time.

In the afternoon, drive to Anning Bajie Rose Garden. The family will pick the fresh rose personally and make rose jam and flower cake. Enjoy the rose banquet foe dinner and back to Kunming.

Day 3 Kunming-Jianshui

Sightseeing and Activities: Jianshui Old Town, Zhu Family Garden, the ancient well, Jianshui Tofu workshop
Accommodation: Jianshui
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, drive to Jianshui Old Town, China’s famous historical and cultural city and China’s key scenic spot. After arrival, visit Zhu Family Garden and the ancient well. Pay attention to the introduction and the teacher will ask questions. Later move on to Jianshui Tofu workshop and learn how to make Tofu as well as taste fresh soybean milk. Take a photo to your family and the Tofu you made.

Day 4 Jianshui

Sightseeing and Activities:Tuanshan village, Double Dragon Bridge, Xianghui Bridge, Wanyao village, Purple Pottery creative Zone
Accommodation: Jianshui
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, head to Linan railway station to take the meter-gage train to Tuanshan village with stops at Double Dragon Bridge and Xianghui Bridge. You can get off the train at the stops for shooting and do your task. Visit the dwellings at Tuanshan village and look for the secret of old house(task).

Back to Jianshui old town and enjoy the lunch. Afternoon drive to Wanyao village to learn the origin and function of Yunnan traditional craft purple pottery, understand the production process of purple pottery and make Yunnan purple pottery personally under the guidance of the master. Today we will choose the most beautiful and creative work and give them the prize. If you have enough time, visit the Purple Pottery creative Zone.

Day 5 Jianshui-Shilin

Sightseeing and Activities:First Writing Ceremony, School Administration Test Shed
Accommodation: Luxi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The Confucius Culture Festival of Jianshui County, Honghe

Today there will be First Writing Ceremony at the Jianshui Confucian temple. The parents and children will wear the traditional Han costumes and teachers will give a red dot on your forehead, which are called opening the wisdom eye. The Children will write the Chinese character “人” with the help of parents, light the heart light, pay homage to master Confucius and get the certificate of First Writing Ceremony.

Have lunch and visit School Administration Test Shed. Here in the Test Shed of Jianshui Ancient School Administration, candidates sat for the exam in rows of spare, isolated booths. The exam may last from one day up to even seventy-two hours, testing the candidates’ knowledge of the Confucian classics, the ability to compose poetry on given subjects, and calligraphy.

Drive to Shilin County for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 Shilin-Nuohei-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Nuohei village, Historical and cultural museum of Luohei village, cook a dinner
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Take the ride to Nuohei village, an authentic stony world where we will experience the rural life and know the living habits and culture of local ethnic minorities. Upon arrival, there will be a welcome ceremony and blessing ceremony. Visit the Historical and cultural museum of Luohei village. Then you will have tasks such as feeding pigs or sheep, sweeping the yards for the locals, etc.

Prepare for the special dinner. You will pick the fresh vegetable from the field. The children will wash the vegetable and parents will cook. Each family will make 1-2 dishes and share with other.

After dinner, back to Kunming.

Day 7 Departure from Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Kunming
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

Take the flight back to your home. Tour ends.

Recommended Hotels

City	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Kunming	Crown Plaza Kunming City Centre	Wenhui Hotel	Baiyun Hotel	T&T Story Hotel
Shilin	Days Hotel & Suites Tongce Shilin	Sloane Place Hotel Stone Forest	Shilin Hotel	Shiliin Yimei Guesthouse
Jianshui	Linan Hotel	Zhu Family Garden Hotel	Jianshui Hotel	Huiyuanlou Guesthouse

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
Wechat/QQ: 270384698
Office Call: 86-18812220370
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