Best of Yunnan – 10 Days China Tour

Day 1

Welcome to Kunming

• Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, is the province's political, economic, and cultural hub, known for its mild climate and year-round blooming flowers.
• Upon arrival in Kunming, your tour guide will help with a hassle-free transfer to the hotel.
• With the assistance of the guide, check into the hotel and enjoy at leisure for the rest of the day.
• Check in at the hotel (standard time approx 1400 hrs)
• The rest of the day is at leisure.

Meals: No meal

Day 2

Kunming - Green Lake, Flowers and Birds Market, Stone Forest

- [09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you at the hotel lobby for a tour of Spring City
- [09:30-11:30] Enjoy a morning leisure tour to Green Lake and a public park for local people.
- You will see musicians singing and playing, and you can also take a paddle boat out and relax on the lake.
- Proceed onwards to the Flower and Bird Market, an exciting market in Kunming where antiques, jewelry, and other handmade crafts can be found.
- [11:30-14:00] Lunch will be arranged with local food, Yunnan Rice Noodles.
- Go on a drive to Stone Forest for about 2 hours
- [14:00-16:00] Visit to the Stone Forest comes next, known as the First Wonder of the World and a typical karst landform.
- The magnificent, strange, and steep landscape of the Stone Forest creates countless labyrinthine vistas, all of which feature stones in various formations.
- Animals, plants, and even human figures can be found here.
- [16:00-18:00] Drive back to Kunming city.
- For evening activity, we highly recommend the Yunnan Impression Show - Dynamic Yunnan as an option.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 3

Kunming - Dali

West Hill & Dragon Gate, Take the bullet train to Dali

• After breakfast in the hotel, enjoy a half-day tour to West Hill & Dragon Gate.
• Located at the west bank of the Dianchi Lake of Kunming, amid mountains and well covered by evergreen woods.
• We arrange cable car services for sightseeing.
• Enjoy breathtaking views of the panoramic Dianchi Lake from atop the mountain.
• Also, explore the Dragon Gate.
• After lunch, transfer to Kunming South Train Station to take a D-train to Dali (duration: 2.5 hours).
• Enjoy the train ride with unique views of the landscape.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4

Dali

Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake, Dali Ancient Town

• [09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you at the hotel lobby for today’s exploration of Dali city.
• [09:30-12:30]Enjoy a leisure tour to the Three Pagodas. This elegantly balanced and stately style is unique in China's ancient Buddhist architecture.
• Hiking to the top is highly recommended for a full view of the Dali Old Town and Erhai Lake.
• The Reflection Park is also a highlight for the three Pagodas’ reflection.
• Take a relaxing bike ride along Erhai Lake.
• It is known as the pearl on the plateau for its beautiful scenery.
• [12:30-13:30] Lunch time at Duan Shi Restaurant serving local dishes, from the Bai Minority food to the Boiled Fish with Pickled Cabbage and Chili.
• [13:30-15:30] After lunch, we drive back to the hotel and enjoy free time at Dali Ancient Town.
• Unlike any other Chinese town, the traditional Bai ethnic folk houses are distinct.
• [15:30-16:30] Transfer to the hotel and relax in the room.
• We suggest the Bad Monkey Bar in the old town for the music.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5

Dali

Xizhou Bai's House, Zhoucheng Village, Cangshan Mountain

• [09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you at the hotel lobby for today’s exploration of Dali city.
• [09:30-12:30] After breakfast, you will be transferred to Xizhou Bai's Houses. The old houses and streets are well preserved.
• Visit Zhoucheng to explore the typical Bai architecture and have a chance to learn tie-dyeing.
• [12:30-13:30] Enjoy lunch at Duan Shi restaurant serving local dishes, such as the Bai Minority food - boiled fish with pickled cabbage and chilli.
• [13:30-16:30] Spend the afternoon on Cangshan Mountain. The cable car service is arranged up to Jade Belt Gallery Road.
• You can hike on Cangshan Mountain and visit the Taoist Temple.
• On a sunny day, the crystal water of Erhai Lake and the snow-covered Mt. Cangshan are breathtaking.
• Free at leisure for the rest of the day.
• [16:30-17:30] Transfer to the hotel to relax.
• You can also choose to ride a bicycle around Erhai Lake, enjoy the beautiful sights.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6

Dali - Lijiang

Drive (2.5hrs) to Lijiang, Baisha Old Town, Baisha Mural, Black Dragon Pond Park, Dongba Culture Museum, Lijiang Ancient Town

• Enjoy the morning at the ancient town and proceed to check out.
• You will be transferred to Lijiang by our driver in about 2.5 hours to meet with the guide.
• Go on to visit Baisha Old Town and Baisha Murals.
• Stroll through Baisha Old Town with an enchanting traditional Naxi style.
• The Baisha Mural is about 600 years old, a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1997.
• Transfer to Lijiang Ancient Town, and en route visit to Black Dragon Pond Park, a perfect photo spot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with reflection in the Pond.
• Take a 30-minute visit to the Dongba Culture Museum to explore the rich Naxi minority culture.
• Check in at the hotel in Lijiang old town after lunch.
• In the afternoon, enjoy your free time at Lijiang Ancient Town, a key commercial and strategic site.
• We will give you a map of Lijiang old town and suggest a visit to Sifang Street for the vivid nights and Lion Mountain for the panoramic view of Lijiang old town.

Day 7

Lijiang

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Impression Lijiang Show, Yufeng Temple

• [09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and start today’s tour.
• [09:30-12:30] Drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and take a cable car up to the mountain.
• We arrange a visit to Glacier Park at 4506 meters above sea level and get really close to the Snow Mountain.
• You can choose to hike on the mountain and get to the top at 4680 meters, or just stroll around Glacier Park and appreciate the Holy Mountain peacefully. (Since Glacier Park is the most popular part of JDSM, tickets might be in short supply. If it is not available, we have to switch to Spruce Meadow.)
• [12:30-13:30] Relish lunch time at a local restaurant in Baisha Village near the Snow Mountain.
• [13:30-17:30] In the afternoon, enjoy the Impression Lijiang Show directed by Zhang Yimou. It is held in Ganhaizi Meadow about 3100M above sea level.
• Visit the Yufeng Temple for its distinctive architectural style of Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism, and the local Naxi Dongba religion.
• The temple also has three courtyards and the famous Camellia Tree, 500 years old.
• [17:30-18:30] Transfer back to the hotel and enjoy your free time in Lijiang old town, or go to Suhe old town on your own for the evening bonfire party.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8

Lijiang - Shangri-La

Drive to Shangri-La, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Ancient Town, Tang-ga Painting

• [09:30-10:00]Our guide will meet you at the hotel lobby for a transfer to Shangri-La, the lost horizon.
• [10:00-13:00] Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge en route, a canyon on the Yangtze River divided into upper, middle, and lower sections, winding 25 km.
• It is one of the deepest valleys in the world, and the narrowest part of the gorge is just 30 m.
• We will drop you at Tiger Leaping Gorge, and you will hike down to the viewing deck for about half an hour.
• [13:00-14:30] After lunch, continue to Shangri-La
• [14:30-16:30] Upon arrival, check in at your hotel and explore the Dukezong Ancient Town, which is the largest and best-preserved Tibetan city among China's 147 Tibetan counties.
• It is also the site of the largest ancient Tibetan community, also known as the 'footstep of Shangri-La'.
• We will have a great cultural experience today in the old town.
• A local artist teaches Tang-ga painting, a unique form of painting and art in Tibetan culture, touching every aspect of its history, politics, social life, etc.
• After the tour, transfer to the hotel and check in.
• [16:30-17:30] In the evening, you can go back to Dukezong Ancient Town and enjoy the bonfire night at Moonlight Square.
• You can join in the dancing party with residents or go to the night bar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9

Shangri-La

Sumtsaling Monastery, Potatso National Park

• [09:30-10:00] Our guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and proceed to the Lost Horizon, Shangri-La
• [10:00-12:00] You will reach the Sumtsaling Monastery, which is the largest Tibetan Buddhism monastery in Yunnan Province.
• Covering an area of 30 hectares, it looks like a mini Kumbum Monastery.
• It is located on a mountain slope 5km from the county town of Shangri-La.
• Songzanlin houses more than 700 monks and lamas.
• Visit a local resident's home and, with the help of our guide, learn about a local family’s history and way of life.
• [12:00-13:00] Share lunch with the local resident in their home or go to the restaurant nearby for Tibetan food.
• [13:30-16:30] Visit Potatso National Park, which is the first national park in mainland China.
• You will see lakes, forests, marshes, valleys, alpine meadows, and more. All major spots are connected by a picturesque footpath.
• [16:30-17:30] Transfer to the hotel and relax in the room. We suggest the folk-custom dancing show, Dream Shangri-La, for you in the evening, which is absolutely awesome.

Day 10

Shangri-La

Transfer service to the airport is arranged. Fly to Kunming for departure.

• Free day and be transferred directly to the airport for a flight to Kunming and departure to your next destination.

Note: The itinerary is tentative and subject to change without prior notice.