12 Days Amazing Culture Tour to Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la, Jianshui & Yuanyang

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Trip Overview

If you have enough time for your Yunnan tour, you will have the chance to experience the different colorful cultures and splendid sceneries of Yunnan. Maybe you marvel at the magnificent rice terrace in Yuanyang, or enjoy yourself in the wonderful land of Lijiang and appreciate its colorful culture, or have the unforgettable experience of the beautiful scenery in Kunming and feel the life style in Tibetan in Shangri-La.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Kunming (-/-/-)

Transfer via: flight arrange by you

Meet you at the Kunming Wujiaba International Airport (KMG) and transfer you to your downtown hotel for check-in. the left time is at your leisure.

Day 2 Kunming to Jianshui

This morning, transfer to Jianshui County. It takes about 4hours. Then pay a visit to Zhu Familiy’s Garden, Confucian Temple and Jianshui Ancient Town.

Jianshui is a small town in Honghe prefecture, 220 kilometers south of Kunming. It is on the road Kunimg to the famous Yuanyang rice terraces, most of the travellers stay one night here to enjoy the atmophere of an ancient Chinese town.

Confucian Temple located in the northwestern corner of the county seat, and built in the 22nd year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1285). Its scale is followed by that the one of the Qufu Confucius temple in Shandong Province and is now one of the provincial historical relics. At present there are a great hall, a pavilion, a two-storeyed pavilion, two wing rooms, two central halls, three memorial halls and eight decorative archways.

Day 3 Jianshui to Yuanyang (B/L/-)

After breakfast, we will go to visit the Double Dragon Bridge which is hailed as a masterpiece of traditional Chinese bridge-making and incorporates all the classic components of an ancient Chinese bridge construction. And then drive to Yuanyang Rice Terraces for a sunset sightseeing at Tiger Mouth.

Yuanyang Rice Terrace is reagrd as the world's largest and most spectacular one, crafted out by bare hands by the Hani people one thousand years ago and is still in use today. Located all around Yuanyang Old Town, those rice fields have been carved on the Mountain by the Hani people for centuries. Tiger Mouth is the most popular place in Yuanyang to shoot sunsets and Duoyishu is the best place to shoot sunrise.

Day 4 Yuanyang to Kunming (B/L/-)

This morning, we will get up early to enjoy the wonderful rice terraces and catch the sunrise at Duoyishu. Before come back to Kunming, we will go to visit Qingkou village and an ethnic fair at Xinjie Town.

Day 5 Kunming to Dali (B/L/-)

This morning, we will take an early morning plane to Dali and needs about 40 minutes. After arrive Dali, transfer to Dali hotel for check-in, and then have an Erhai Lake cruise and visit the Three Pagodas and explore Dali Ancient Town.

Erhai Lake , Chinese meaning is ‘ear-shaped sea’, is situated at 1,972 m above sea level. In size, the North-South length of the lake is 40 km and the East-West width is roughly 7-8 km. Its area is 250 km², making it the second largest highland lake of China, after Dianchi Lake. When you arrive at there, you can have an Erhai Lake cruise to explore the beautiful scenery.

Three Pagodas are one kilometer away from north of Dali. The styles of the three pagodas are similar. The main pagoda is "Qianxun Pagoda". It is a square pagoda and it is 69.13 meters high. Its molding and style were imitated the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian and the Song Yue Monastery Pagoda in Henan Province.

Dali Ancient Town is a magical fascinating place with an international flair. It attracts lots of tourists from all over the world annual. Far-reaching Dali history, it’s known as "literature of the state" good reputation. Due to its long history, there are lots of cultural relics.

Day 6 Dali to Lijiang (B/L/-)

This morning, we will drive to Xizhou Village to visit the Bai people’s dwellings. Then we go ahead to Lijiang. After arrive Lijiang, we will go to visit Black Dragon Pool Pack and Lijiang Ancient Town.

Black Dragon Pool Park located at the foot of Elephant hill north of Lijiang city. Black Dragon Pool is the main headwater of the Yushui River which goes through the Old Town of Lijiang. It is just like the bright eyes of the town, shining with the wisdom. For many locals, it’s a place to relax, to enjoy the view and the sun, to play games, to practice the famous Naxi orchestra.

Lijiang Ancient Town was built in the Southern Song Dynasty, dated back to more than eight hundred years ago. It covers an area of 3.8 aquare kilometers. It’s a place of combination of Chinese culture and Western culture, ancient culture and modern culture. When in Lijiang ancient town, you will not only experience the ancient Naxi Culture, but also can enjoy in the modern bar at you leisure.

Day 7 Lijiang (B/L/-)

Today is a full day tour to explore round Lijiang. Today you will go to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Joseph Rocks Former Residence, and appreciate the Baisha Murals in Baisha Village,and then transfer back to Lijiang hotel. At the evening, you can choose to watch the Show of Lishui Jinsha or stay at your leisure in some special local bars.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. It stretches a length of 35 kilometers and a width of 20 kilometers. Looking from Lijiang Ancient Town in the south, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon laying in the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. And then you also can pay a visit to Yak Meadow (Maoniuping), where Part of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, where the Yi and Zang Minority Ethnic Tribes live.

Joseph Rock, an Austria-American botanist and explorer, lived in Yuhu village and other places in that region from 1922 to 1949. He was also a naturalist and Photographer, and the first foreign scholar to introduce Lijiang ethnic culture to the western world. His former residence is located in the Yuhu Village at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang area. Nowadays, the residence becomes a famous tourism destination.

Baisha Mural Paintings Located in Baisha Township, 8km north of Lijiang, Baisha Mural Paintings have 53 groups of mural paintings in different temples with fine and smooth lines, bright colors, vivid patterns and harmonious composition. Baisha Mural Paintings is the combination of Naxi, Tibetan, Bai and Han artistic designs. Most of the murals vividly describe the religious stories of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.

Day 8 Lijiang to Shangri-La (B/L/-)

This mornig, we will drive to Shangri-La. On the way, we will gain a chance to have a sightseeing tour of Shigu Ancient Town and Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Tiger Leaping Gorge is 60km away from Lijiang city, overall length is 16km, which is eastward Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and westward Baha Snow Mountain in a series of rapids under steep 2000 meter cliffs. It’s one of the deepest gorges in the world.

Day 9 Shangri-La (B/L/-)

Today we will have a full day to explore the wonderful place-Shangri-La. After breakfast, we will visit the famous Pudacuo National Park which well-known as its plants, lakes, unique animals and birds. And then go to visit Songzanlin Monastery which called ‘little Potala Palace’. At the evening, you will have your free time to explore the ancient town of Shangri-La.

Pudacuo National Park , established in June, 2007 as the first in a planned series of parks designed to meet the meet the exacting standards set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It contains endemic species of fish found nowhere else in the world, rare and beautiful orchids, black-necked cranes, and taxus yunnanensis, a yew whose extracts are indispensable to the creation of many cancer-treating drugs.

Songzanlin Monastery Located 4 km north of Zhongdian County, Songzanlin Monastery is a large, sprawling and well-preserved lamasery built in the 1700s by the Fifth Dalai Lama. Rom its outward appearance, the structure style is faithful the imitation of the Potala Palace in Lhasa.

Day 10 Shangri-La to Kunming (B/L/-)

This morning, we will departure Shangri-La and back to Kunming by air. After arrive at Kunming and check-in, drive to West Hill for a visit. On the West Hill, there is a special gate called Dragon Gate where can get a commanding view of the famous Dianchi Lake.

West Hill is very beautiful with lush vegetation, blooming flowers, green grass and tranquil surroundings. West Hill has enjoyed great fame for its beautiful and unique natural scenery since ancient time and was renowned as “the most beautiful place in Yunnan".

Dragon Gate，also called Datiange, which is a temple eyrie on the side of a sheer cliff Arhat Peak. It’s an ideal place to get some idea of how magnificent the sights are. Standing at the Dragon Gate, you can enjoy the beauty of the vast Dianchi Lake. It was said, "Once on the Dragon Gate, your fortune will be made."

Day 11 Kunming (B/L/-)

After breakfast, we will cost about a half and 2hours for visiting the famous Stone Forest. Then back to Kunming. On the way back to Kunming, we will have a Bamboo Temple tour.

Stone Forest Located in the southeast of Kunming, is 86km away from the city center. With the process of erosion, it was created and shaped an art gallery of stone sculpture. Stone Forest is known as the “First Wonder of the World ". There is a local saying ‘It’s a waste of time without being in the stone Forest when you travel in Kunming.

Bamboo Temple is located in Yu'anshan Mountain which is in 10km northwest of Kunming. It is a much-restored Tang Dynasty temple known for its Arhat statues, is arguably the most famous of Kunming's temples.

Day 12 Kunming departure (B/-/-)

Transfer via: flight left Kunming arrange by you.

This morning, transfer to the Kunming Wujiaba International Airport for catching your flights.