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: Canshan Mountain, Thousands Years Three Pogodas, Xizhou Ancient Town

Hotel: Overnight in Dali

Duration: 7 hours roughly

This morning you will be taken to visit Cangshan Mountain which is located about 2km to the west of the Dali city. Cangshan Mountains consist of 19 peaks and 18 streams in total, and are covered with green trees and tea bushes. Today you will take Gantong Cable way to half way up the mountain, have a walk along the Yu Dai Yun You Road (Jade Belt Road) and enjoy the spectacular view of Erhai Lake.

Descent the mountain by cable car and continue your tour to Three Pagodas. 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.

Haishe Park is located in Jinhe Village, Xizhou Town, on the west bank of the Erhai Lake. Due to the Wanhua River in Cangshan flowing into the sea here, combined with the slow flow and compression of the Erhai Lake seawater, this long sandbar with three sides facing water has been formed, which is recorded as "Qingsha Island" in local historical records. The sandbar is 3 miles long, ranging from wide to narrow and deep, resembling a tongue, hence the name "Sea Tongue".

On one side, leaning against the Erhai Lake, various elements such as blue sky, white clouds, forests, wetlands, and fishing boats create a stunning landscape that leaves people lingering and unable to leave. on another side are farmland and houses, vast fields of rapeseed flowers, and the famous couple tree, shining brightly in the sunlight, warming our hearts.

"S" bend of Erhai Lake

Erhai Lake is the largest highland lake next to Dianchi and one of the seven biggest fresh water lakes in China.The surrounding islands, temples and villages are worth visiting too. Then explore the Three dazzling pagodas in Chongsheng Monastery, which faces Erhai Lake and has a history of over 1,800 years.

Today, we will visit the Bai Minority Traditional Houses in Xizhou.

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.

Oct,29th

Dali - Lijiang

Hotel: Overnight in Lijiang

Attractions:

Zhoucheng Village, Old Town of Lijiang, Romance Show Song City

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

Upon arrival at Lijiang, you will first check in at your hotel. After a short rest, your tour guide will take you to visit the Square Street of Lijiang Old Town. The street is paved by the local bluestones, with numerous souvenir shops, unique bars, and delicate restaurants scattered around.

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.

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

Oct, 30th

Lijiang

Hotel: overnight in Lijiang

Attractions:

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

Duraiton: 8 hours roughly

Your private guide and personal 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

After Lunch, the guide will take you to Baisha Village. Baisha Village is much quieter because it is not commercialized. If you want to witness the authentic life of the Naxi People and appreciate their culture, but are tired of overcrowded Lijiang, here, at Baisha Village, you can experience the Naxi people’s peaceful daily life. At about 4pm, the driver will take you back to your hotel.

Oct, 31th

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, 1st

Putatso National Park, Dukezong Old Town

Attractions:

Putatso national park and Dukezong old town

Meal: Not included

Hotel: Overnight in Shangrila

As the first national park on the Chinese mainland, Potatso was open to visitors in 2007. In the park, there are three main scenic areas open to visitors: Bita Lake in the south, Shudu Lake which is a part of Three Parallel Rivers Scenic Area in the north and Militang Alpine Pasture in the middle. The sightseeing buses run among these scenic spots and stop at fixed stations. Passengers can get on and off freely with one ticket. As Bita Lake is a sacred place and Tibetan Buddhists walk around it clockwise for good luck, visitors are advised to sightsee clockwise too, in an order of Shudu Lake, Militang, and Bita Lake.

It is renowned for well-preserved primitive landscape, which is endowed with lakes, wetlands, forests, meadows, streams, brooks, rare plants and animals. Meanwhile, Tibetan culture and custom are also component parts of the park.

This 1,300-year-old town features traditional Tibetan homes, ancient temples and pagodas, and narrow, winding alleyways, all adorned with iconic Tibetan prayer flags of various colors. In all, Dukezong Ancient Town provides visitors with an authentic view of Tibetan culture and is a welcome reprieve from the busy goings-on of the big city.

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.

D9, Shangri-la, take train back to Kunming

Attractions:

Songzanlin Monastery, Tibetan Family Visit, Napa Lake

Hotel: Overnight in Shangrila

After breakfast, your driver and tour guide 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 Napa Lake, a beautiful highland meadow full of yaks, horses and birds, which looks different in every season. After this, you can take a afternoon train back to Kunming.