Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangrila

10 days tour

Oct 24th

Kunming Arrival

Hotel: Overnight in Kunming

Welcome to Kunming, which known as the 'Spring City' for its temperate climate, is the capital of Yunnan Province in southwestern China. This vibrant city serves as a gateway to the region's stunning landscapes and diverse cultures. your private driver will meet you at airport on the early morning then drive you to Kunming Guandu old town and Yunnan ethnic village in this day.

Guandu Ancient Town located at south-east suburb of Kunming, is one of the famous historical and cultural town. It is one of the birthplaces of Yunnan Culture, and also one of the main historical and cultural landscape of Kunming tourism.

Endowed with lofty hills, beautiful pools, exquisite traditional houses and rare plants, Yunnan Nationalities Village, aka Yunnan Ethnic Village, showcases the architectural styles, religious beliefs, and folk customs of 26 ethnic groups in exquisite detail. Backing on the Western Hill Forest Park and adjacent to Dianchi Lake, a pearl on Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the village is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) far from downtown Kunming. It covers an area of 84 hectares (208 acres), including 31 hectares (76 acres) of water area.

Oct 25th

World natural heritage-Stone Forest Tour

Hotel: Overnight in Kunming

Tour duration: 8 hours roughly

Begin your Kunming adventure with a visit to the Stone Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about 90 kilometers from the city. This natural wonder features towering limestone formations that resemble a forest made of stone. Spend the morning wandering through this unique landscape, taking in the awe-inspiring views and learning about the legends associated with the area.

Oct 26th

Western Hill & Dianchi Lake Tour

Hotel: Overnight in Kunming

Tour duration: 6 hours roughly

Western Hill is a forest park, a beautiful place with fabulous views. You can overlook the Dian Lake on the Western Hill, and there are also wonderful temples. The most amazing part is the Dragon Gate on the top of Western Hill.

Dianchi Lake or Dian Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province and the sixth largest one in China. With picturesque scenery and its location on the Yungui Plateau, the lake has a reputation as 'A Pearl on the Plateau'.

Oct, 27th

Kunming-Dali, Dali old town

Hotel: Overnight in Dali

Duration: 7 hours roughly

We will leave to Dali on the moring by van and takes around 3.5 hours driving. Dali, the Kingdom of Bai ethnic group. After check-in, you will explore this old city or enjoy your afternoon tea in your hotel.

Enjoy the authentic food in a local restaurant. After lunch and a short rest, we will wander around in Dali Ancient City, which is one of the 'Three Ancients' (Ancient Cities, Ancient Pagodas and Ancient Steles) of the Dali Scenic Spot. The city layout was uniform, with five main streets from south to north and eight main streets from east to west, while marketplaces were neatly arranged within the city, which has remained unchanged to this date. The traditional Bai ethnic minority folk houses give the city distinctive feel, unlike any other Chinese city. The delicacy, freshness and elegance of their construction may be called first-class among folk residences in Southwest China.

When people walk along the cobble-paved streets in the ancient city, a sense of primitive simplicity and elegance will be invoked. After enjoying the feeling of walking through the tranquil town, the driver will take you back to your hotel.

Oct, 28th

Dali

Attractions: Thousands Years Three Pogodas, Xizhou Ancient Town, Yan's old mansion

Hotel: Overnight in Dali

Duration: 7 hours roughly

Today we will visit Three Pagodas first. The three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are the oldest standing structures in Yunna, and it has become the emblem of Dali. With Cangshan Mountain in the background, the magnificent towers stand on a hill and people can see them from almost any vantage point within Dali.

After visit the Three Pagodas, we will proceed to visit the Bai Minority Traditional Houses in Xizhou.

The ancient town of Xizhou, a community consisting mainly of the ethnic Bai people, is noted as one of the cradles of Dali’s culture, and has nourished a lot of Dali merchants. Xizhou was an important trading town along the Tea Horse Trail. Businessmen in Xizhou started doing trading in horse caravans and accumulated their initial wealth on a road marked with hardships and struggles.

The owner of the Yan Mansion is Yan Zizhen, a leading figure of the Xizhou business group who was influential in the 1940s. He was the founder of the Yongchangxiang Firm and the tuocha tea. As a result of the extent of Yan’s business and social status, there was no one who could compete with him as a business leader locally.

The layout of these houses is distinctive with the features of wood and stone carvings and paintings on lime powdered walls. Xizhou is the place where the best and most of Bai Minority Traditional Houses are preserved. Over there, you will also get a chance to learn cooking a special local delicacy, call Baba, a scone-like baked bread mainly made of wheat flour.

The Yan Mansion has four courtyards stretching out from north to south. It is a typical Bai folk architecture, but also incorporates some elements of the Western architectural style. The courtyards are well preserved. The bricks, beds, chairs, plaques, and windows are all over a century old. The most precious items here are the exquisite coral glazed porcelain, an exaggeratedly sculpted stone carving caretaker, and a bronze Buddha with a peaceful face and exquisite workmanship. They are the three treasures of the mansion as well as of the country.

Oct,29th

Dali - Lijiang

Hotel: Overnight in Lijiang

Attractions:

Zhoucheng Village, Shaxi old town, then arrive at Lijiang.

Today a 3-hour drive will take you to Lijiang. On the way, you will pay a visit to Zhoucheng Village and Shaxi old town. Xizhou village you will visit the traditional hand-made Tie Dyeing, in the local people's home.

Shaxi old town Locates roughly halfway between Dali and Lijiang, Shaxi Ancient Town is a famous attraction once played an important role as a bustling trade point on the Tea Horse Caravan Road.

Walking down the streets of Shaxi is indeed like stepping back into history. The 700-year-old theatre, wonderfully scenic Yujin bridge, 600-year-old Xingjiao Temple, spectacular Ouyang Courtyard and vibrant Friday market make it a perfect fit to meet old China.

Oct, 30th

Lijiang

Hotel: overnight in Lijiang

Attractions:

Lijiang old town, Baisha Village, Romance Show Song City

Duraiton: 8 hours roughly

Lijiang Old Town is a well-preserved Naxi ancient town, listed as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. It is one of the four best-preserved ancient cities in China. Visiting Lijiang Old Town, you can not only fully enjoy the leisure and romantic atmosphere here but experience Naxi culture in every corner of the town.

The most charming part of the street is at night. When red lanterns along the street are all lit up, all people here including tourists will enjoy relaxing but exciting nightlife.

Also known as Baisha Old Town, Baisha Village in Lijiang, Yunnan is the birthplace of Naxi culture and one of China’s historic and culturally significant towns. As the origin place of the Mu family, the ruling Tusi clan of Lijiang, this town is the most pristine Naxi village, featuring not only ancient architectural styles but also unique Naxi customs and splendid murals.

On the evening, it is stronly suggest you watch a nice show"Romance Show Song City" to learn about the local culture.

Oct, 31th

Lijiang

Hotel: overnight in Lijiang

Attractions:

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Glacier Park, Mimpression Lijiang show, Blue Moon Valley

Duraiton: 8 hours roughly

Your private driver will meet you in your hotel lobby and then visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. You will take cable car up and down the mountain.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain now is a famous scenic spot for sightseeing,mountaineering, skiing, exploration, scientific research and taking holiday. Besides, widespread legends and myths of the Naxi ethnic minority and the unclimbed Shanzidou are all important attractive spots for those who come here.

We will take a cable way to the altitude of 4506 meters to enjoy the views of light green glaciers.

Lijiang Impression Show is a one hour show that is performed in an open air theatre. It was designed by acclaimed film director Zhang Yimou. The show is performed against the backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, at an altitude of over 3100 meters (10,170 ft). Unlike other Impression Shows in China, which are performed at night, Lijiang Impression Show is presented during the day, which provides a different experience, still on a grand scale that relies on a precision performance and presentation rather than using lights for effect.

Impression Lijiang Show

Nov, 1st

Lijiang - Shangrila

Hotel: Overnight in Shangrila

Attractions:

First Bend of the Yangtze River, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Old Town, Tibet Dancing and Songs dinner in Tibetan House

Duration： 8 hours roughly

You will be picked up from your hotel in the early morning, and be transferred to the First Bend of the Yangtze River, where you can see fatanstic landscapes as well as important historical stories.

Then you will continue the journey further north to the Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world, 16 km long with a sheer 3900 meters between the wild waters and the top of the snow-capped Haba Snow Mountains next to it.

After lunch, you will continue to Shangri-La, and on the way, you will notice that the landscapes and architecture gradually changes as you go further into the Tibetan cultural areas, with barley fields and yaks scattered across the valleys. On the way to Shangri-La,you will visit a local Yi Minority Village. Then you will arrive at your final destination，hotel in Shangrila.

Dinner will be suggested as local food with Tibetan dancing and songs accompanied.

Nov 2nd, Shangri-la one day tour

Attractions:

Songzanlin Monastery, Tibetan Family Visit, Yila Prairie, Dukezong old town

Hotel: Overnight in Shangrila

Duration: 7 hours roughly

After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your hotel, then take you to Songzanlin Monastery, the largest and most beautiful Tibetan monastery in Yunnan, with a rich history and Tibetan culture.

Afterwards, you will visit a local Tibetan family to experience the real Tibetan life.

Then you will go to Yila Prairie, a beautiful highland meadow full of yaks, horses and birds, which looks different in every season, after this you will visit the Dukezong old town.

Simply walking around Dukezong’s winding, maze-like lanes is a great way to enjoy the enchanting historical charm of the town. This will allow you to observe the traditional dwellings and other interesting architecture up close. You will also find a number of shops and outdoor markets selling jewelry, thangka paintings, incense, and more, where you can find some beautiful souvenirs.

Nov,3rd Take High speedy train back to Kunming.