8 Days Wonderful Yunnan 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.

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 train to Dali (about 2 hours by train D8672, 09:24 – 11:32) in the morning. Upon arrival at Dali Railway Station in Xiaguan City, your local guide will be waiting and take you to Dali Ancient Town and Chongsheng Temple after lunch. 

Dali is known for her relaxed atmosphere, and is a great town to stroll around. Have a drink in one of the many cosy little bars or warmly decorated coffee shops, or walk around its lively main streets where local artists sell all kinds of beautiful handicrafts. This is the heartland of the prosperous Bai people, with their colourful costumes and traditional lifestyle. When we picture ancient China, Dali is the image that appears in our imagination, wooden houses with ornate eaves and stone streets, well-worn over centuries of use. Dali has long been a melting pot for different cultures, and you will see the Bai people as well as the Yi and the Hui going about their daily business in their traditional garb.

After breakfast, we will drive to Xizhou Acnient Village, just 19 km north of Dali Ancient City. Here we will visit the morning market, where locals dressed in traditional minority clothing sell and buy local fruits, freshly cut meat, piles of fragrant spices, livestock and anything else you can think of. You can visit a traditional Three Course Tea ceremony and an exquisite example of traditional Bai-style courtyard homes.

Enjoy a short boat trip on Lake Erhai to Tianjingge Island and enjoy the majestic views of the green and clouded Cangshan Mountain Range looming over Dali's lands from far while swarms of birds fly peacefully around you over the tranquil lake.

After lunch we will drive up to Lijiang (2.5 hours) and we will take you directly to your hotel, so that you can enjoy Lijiang Old Town by night, a location that well deserves its reputation as being the most romantic spot in all of China. Her pretty streams that wind through a maze of enchanting back alleys is part of an ancient complex water-supply system of that still functions effectively today. Lijiang was a key stopping point of the Tea Horse Road and has long been a magnet for traders, merchants, bandits and slavers. The town is set in a truly exceptional mountain landscape which will remain with you for the rest of your life.

Today, you will start your day with an early rise, embarking on an exhilarating journey to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. First, indulge in the breathtaking Impression show at Ganhaizi, nestled at the mountain's base. Subsequently, venture into the enchanting Blue Moon Valley and ascend to Glacier Park via a scenic cable car ride.

Following this majestic adventure, head to the quaint Baisha Village, where you'll be captivated by the intricate Baisha murals, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Naxi minority.

Rounding off your day, make a pitstop at the picturesque Shuhe Old Town before returning to your hotel, allowing you to soak in the charm and tranquility of this ancient settlement.

After breakfast,we will to the First Bend of the Yangtze River at Shigu Town (1.5 hour) to see the impressive scenery, where the third longest river in the world make a sudden V-turn. This area is part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas.

Then we'll ontinue north to the Tiger Leaping Gorge, trapped deep below the snow-capped peaks of Haba Snow Mountain to the north, and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the south. This is one of the deepest gorges in the world, 16 km long with a sheer 3900 meters between the wild waters of Jinsha river and the top of the Haba Snow Mountains next to it. The inhabitants of the gorge are primarily the indigenous Naxi people, who live in a handful of small hamlets. Your new tour guide will meet you here.

In the afternoon, we will visit the fabled Tibetan city of Shangri-La at an altitude of well over 3,000 meters. On the way you will get tingling feelings in your stomach as you continue your way to the far corner of the world up to the Tibetan plateau, populated by robed monks a wild plateau nomads. Notice the landscape and architecture gradually change, with barley fields and yaks scattered across the valleys and the year-round snow-capped mountains always towering above you. 

Arrive at your final destination: Dukezong Ancient town, the ancient town center in Zhongdian city, where the locals still preserve the old Tibetan way of life, crafting traditional jewelry made of silver or horn, instruments, earth ware and daggers. Let this lovely mountain town welcome you, and spend your free time wandering through the narrow alleys and cobbled winding lanes or relaxing from the day's adventures.  

After breakfast,, we'll visit the restored Songzanlin Monastery, also called ‘Little Potala Palace' as this 17th century monastery is modelled after the Potala Palace in Lhasa. It is the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan with over 700 monks actively practicing Tibetan Buddhism. The huge golden roof is a bright shining beacon that attracts Buddhists from all over Asia. There will also be a chance to visit a local family and experience the real life of a herdsman in the high steppe.

Following lunch, we will embark on an exhilarating exploration of Potatso National Park, where you'll be immersed in the stunning natural beauty and ecological diversity of this remarkable conservation area.

After breakfast, you are free before you are transferred to Shangri-La airport for flight to your next city. We hope you had a great time during your Yunnan trip and hope to welcome you again!