Day 1: Arrival in Kunming
When you go through the customs, the Kunming guide will greet you and take charge of matters from airport to your hotel later. We will leave you with a short break for you to refresh yourself.
The guided tour starts at the Golden Temple, a Taoist temple constructed with pure brass. From its beginning in the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), the temple has weathered well to this day. Then we will take a leisurely stroll at Green Lake Park chattering from birds. It is a beautiful place with many historical and cultural relics.
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In the morning, we will go to Zhuanxin Farmer’s Market, the largest traditional market in Kunming where you can watch local people going about their daily chores and taste a variety of snacks. We will then pay a visit to the Stone Forest, a masterpiece of karst landscape and you can find almost all kinds of karst formations at there. Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Visit the Stone Forest A Local Market in Yunnan
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After breakfast, you will pack up your belongings and be escorted to the railway station for the 2-hour high speed train to Dali. On arrival, your Dali guide will meet you at the railway station exit and bring you to check in at your hotel. As the first item on our agenda, we will go to visit Dali Old Town. It had been the political, economic and cultural hub of Yunnan area for over 500 years, and keeps true to the original layout. You will enjoy the sensation of walking back in time along its flagstone streets, and see many classical Chinese architectures like palaces and temples. After it, we will move to Three Pagoda Temple. And follow it up by a horse-drawn carriage ride about the beautiful Erhai Lake. We will wind things up at an ancient village nearby. Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
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We will drive to Lijiang after breakfast, and stopover at Xizhou Town for Bai Traditional House, a group of well-preserved old dwellings that fully display the culture and beliefs of Bai ethnic minority. Also, you will have an opportunity to learn to cook and taste a famous local snack called Xizhou Baba. Then we will drive to Zhou Cheng Village to see the tie dyeing art. When we arrive at Lijiang, you will first check in at your hotel and then follow your guide to visit around Lijiang Old Town, another highlight of the Yunnan tour package. Between the mountains and rivers, the town was established in the late 13th century with old streets and lanes, featured buildings like temples, towers, folk residences, and over 350 stone bridges. Certainly, the folk culture and special food of Naxi ethnic minority will impress you a lot. Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Bai Traditional House Lijiang Old Town
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We will visit Baisha Village, the birthplace of Naxi culture in the morning. You will be a guest of a local Naxi family, where you can learn about their daily life and customs. Then we will appreciate the famous Baisha Murals. We continue on to Yuhu Village to a further exploration of the traditional houses and lifestyles. Then we will enjoy the picturesque scenery at Black Dragon Pool Park, and explore the history, religion and art of Naxi people at nearby Dongba Cultural Museum. Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
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Day 6: Lijang - Shangri-La
In the morning, we will go by car to Shangri-La, a journey of 4 - 5 hours. We will pause at the First Bend of Yangtze River - a well-known geological wonder in the world, and the nearby Stone Drum Town which is famous for an ancient drum-shaped marble plaque, and Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is one of the deepest and most beautiful gorges in the world with the altitude difference of over 3,800 meters (4155 yards). The narrowest part of the gorge is only about 30 meters (33 yards) wide. Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
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After breakfast, we will continue to visit Songzanlin Temple, a large Tibetan Buddhist temple complex built in 1679 and reputed as the museum of Tibetan art. Then we will appreciate the beautiful Bitahai Lake, the highest lake in Yunnan province which often cited as the pearl of the plateau and tranquil Shudu Lake surrounded by mountains and primeval forests. In the end, we will be guests of a Tibetan family. You can learn much about their lifestyles and values through this visit. Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
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Day 8: Departure from Shangri-La
Our Yunnan travel package ends today. Before you board the airplane flying home, our local guide will see you off at the airport. It is our honor to have your trust, and we wish you a smooth journey home! Meals: Western buffet breakfast
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