5 Days Kunming & Lijing Tour

Upon arrival at Kunming Airport or Railway Station, met local guide and transferred to your hotel in Kunming City. At the rest time, you are free leisure after visit Green Lake Park if you have enogh time today.

Kunming is the capital and largest city of Yunnan province in southwest China. Kunming has long been regarded as one of Chinas most liveable cities. Known as the Spring City for its equable climate, it remains a very pleasant place to kic few days. 

After breakfast, drive about 1.5 hours to the Stone Forest in Shilin County. Weather and time have sculpted a massive karst labyrinth that feels like you are walking through a forest, with ancient stone trees looking down on you. Every rock formation you pass has its own touching story or thrilling legend, passed on by the natives who have lived in this area for ages. The natives belong to the Sani minority, a branch of the Yi ethnic minority, which you can still find inside the park, jamming together singing folk songs or making embroidery.

After lunch we'll transfer to visit the Jiuxiang Caves, part of the largest cave group system in China, with rivers, gorges, waterfalls, forests, natural stone bridges, and anything you image you would find in a fairyland. Entered the caves through narrow green canyon, you will see the entrance of the caves hidden inside the forests from above as you fly over it in the cable car. Thereafter, drive back to your hotel in Kunming.

After breakfast, take bullet train from Kunming to Lijiang ( around 3 hours). Upon arriavl at Lijiang Railway Station, your local guide will pick you up at the exit of the station and take you to your hotel.

In the afternoon, you will visit Lijiang Old Town, 800 years old, prides itself on being one of Lijiang's three World Heritages. Unlike other ancient towns, Lijiang Old Town has never built a city wall to defend itself as it occupies an advantaged geographical location. We will pass under weeping willows and along the canal in front of traditional buildings first to reach the 500-year-old Mu's Residence. It was once the official mansion of a local ruler, and is known as the Forbidden City of Lijiang because its layout is very similar to the imperial palace in Beijing. Now it is a must-visit for anyone who want to learn more about the Naxi culture. Out of the mansion, we will head to the center of the town, the Square Street, for you to have a relaxing stroll on your own. There are a dazzling array of street markets, bars, and handcraft workshops, rich in ethnic and cultural elements that you will feast your eyes on.

After breakfast, we will first enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Baishui River flowing at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.  The riverbed is made of white marble and lime stones and the river looks white, hence the name of the White River (Baishui). Then we will proceed to Ganhaizi which is a highland glacial lake before the 1940s, but the water gradually dried up and turned into a vast meadow. Standing on the meadow, you can get a panorama of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.  From the Ganhaizi, you will take a cable car to the Spruce Plateau and overlook the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which will give you a quite different visual enjoyment from the one you get at the Ganhaizi. 

Afterwards, we will visit the  Black Dragon Pool Park (Jade Spring Park). It is a beautiful and quiet park, where you can have an excellent view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the reflection of the pool. If arriving early, you can have a chance to watch the local people practising Tai Chi and performing their traditional dances. Then wil will transfer you to the Baisha Village where you will visit a local Naxi family to get a close touch to their daily life. You will also pay a visit to the Baisha Murals to see the colorful murals with over 600 years' history. 

After breakfast, we will turn to the nearby folklore Dongba Culture Museum, which will give you a very good introduction to the fascinating Dongba culture in terms of history, pictographic language, music, religion, etc.   After lunch, we will see you off at the airport or the railway station for your onward destination. We sincerely hope our service has ensured you a pleasant Lijiang Tour!