Yunnan Highlights Tour
Overview
This 12 days Yunnan tour package includes nearly all the famous travel destinations in Yunnan Province, such as Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Yuanyang, Jianshui, Tiger Leaping Gorge and the legendary Shangrila. Your exploration of colorful Yunnan starts from the karst Stone Forest of "Spring City" Kunming, to incredibly beautiful Yuanyang terraced rice fields, from Dali old town with a long history to the beautiful Lijiang and dreamland Shangri-la. Experience Yourself the history, monority culture and amazing landscapes of wild Yunnan.
Duration: 12 days & 11 nights
Destinations: Kunming - Jianshui - Yuanyang - Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-La - Kunming
Travel type: Private tour
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Itinerary Expand All
Journey to the south of Yunnan Province. Visit Stone Forest, it is about 90 km from Kunming City and requires only a 1.5-hour drive. It covers an area of 400 square kilometers and includes both large and small forest as well as many other scenic spots. Then head for Jianshui (3.5 hours), visit Confucius Temple, ranking the second position of all the Confucian temples around China according to its grand scale. At last, pay a visit to Family Zhu's Courtyard Houses to appreciate its special architecture style.
Meal: B, L
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Double-Dragon Bridge--3km west of Jianshui, the 17-Arch Bridge arches across the confluence of the Lujiang River and the Tachong River. It is one of the best ancient bridges in China. You may take awesome photos here. Then go to Family Zhang's Courtyard Houses, blending the traditional Chinese garden architecture. And take a look at its arts and values. Later, drive to Yuanyang (3.5 hours) and go to see the rice terraces at Tiger Mouth by sunset if weather permits.
Meal: B, L
In the early morning, view Sunrise and then visit Shengcun Village, where Yi and Hani minorities are the main local people. Pay a visit to the Rice Terraces at Duoyishu, enjoy time over picture taking and sightseeing at one of the largest and most beautiful rice terraces. At last, go to Jingkou Hani Village, where you'll appreciate the best preserved folk culture of Yuanyang and visit the "mushroom dwellings". Transfer back to Kunming by private car (around 5hrs).
Meal: B, L
Late in the afternoon, back to Dali Ancient Town for a guided tour to learn the traditional Bai ethnic folk houses and historical buildings like the Christian Church and Wuhua Tower. You can also take a coffee break at "Foreigner Street".
Meal: B
Check out after breakfast in hotel, drive to Xizhou to visit the local morning market and visit the Bai people's Residential Houses at Xizhou, the typical town with Bai's characters, the houses here are decorated with woodcarvings, colored patterns, marbles and wash drawings, which represents the masterpieces of Bai's architecture. Xizhou is also famous for tie-dyeing and you may have chance to visit a workshop to see this ancient craft.
After lunch in local restaurant, drive 2hrs to Lijiang. Visit Black Dragon Pool Park, which has a famous pond offering a spectacular view on the region's tallest Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the north of Lijiang. Later, wander around Lijiang Old Town, originally called Dayan, is a very well preserved old town built by Naxi people with unique cultural background. It was listed as the World Cultural Heritage Sites in 1997.
Meal: B, L
Today's sightseeing includes Joseph Rock's Former Residence at Yuhu Village, where you can know more about Joseph Rock and his life there. Then go to Baisha Mural at Baisha Old Village, It was painted in Baisha Town in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), an interesting co-existence of Buddhism, Taoism and Lamaism in the artworks. Shuhe Old Town is the last spot. Shuhe is the earliest settlement of Naxi people in Lijiang when their ancestors first moved to this region. Compared with Lijiang, the town is less touristy and polished with more original characters.
Meal: B, L
Transfer from Lijiang to Zhongdian by private car. On the way, visit Shigu Village & the First Bend of Yangtze River. Shigu Village is 50 kilometers from Lijiang. It was named after a stone tablet in the shape of a drum. The Jinsha River does a U-turn at Shigu Town and flows northward, which is known as the First Bend of Yangtze River. Then go to Tiger Leaping Gorge, a canyon on the upper reach of the Yangtze River, where offers a pleasant walk through spectacular scenery. Arrive Shangri-La, a mysterious and pure Buddhist land in China.
Meal: B, L
After breakfast, drive to explore Pudacuo National Park, notable as the first national park in China to meet International Union for Conservation of Nature standards. It incorporates the Bita Lake Nature Reserve and the Duhu Scenic Area in the Hongshan region. Then pay a visit to Nixi Pottery Village, a small Tibetan village nestling along the popular adventure route from Shangri-la to Deqin in Northwest Yunnan. Here the locals make a living by making black potteries with traditional techniques. End the day with the visit to a Tibetan family where you can get close to Tibetan people and their life.
Meal: B, L
After breakfast, visit the Songzanlin Monastery built against the hillside, covers an area of 33 hectares (82 acres), it is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan province. Later, visit Shangri-La Old Town, also named Dukezong. It brims over with Tibetan cultural facts such as Buddhist paintings and Tibetan residences side by side. Have a leisure walk through the Tibetan houses. Afternoon is free at leisure for your own exploration.
Meal: B
Drive to the airport for the flight to Kunming. Upon arrival, be picked up to visit the Western Hill & Dragon Gate (with one-way cableway), a beautiful forest park located by Dian Lake, it features cliff-side grottos cut out of the sheer stonewalls. Later, go to the Qiongzhu Temple, the first temple where Buddhism was preached to the believers in Kunming and the most spectacular attraction in this temple is the 500 life-size Buddha statues.
Meal: B
Transfer to the airport for the flight to your next destination. Your 12 days Yunnan tour ends. Hopefully you have had a wonderful culture and nature adventure.
End of service.
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