China Multi-colored Yunnan Minority Tour

Day By Day Itinerary

You'll begin your journey to the diverse and captivating province of Yunnan from the capital city, Kunming. Upon arrival at the Kunming International Airport, your local guide will meet you. And then you will be transferred to your hotel.

Kunming is the capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, a primarily agricultural province of 45 million. Kunming has a population of five million and is located in one of the world's most geographically, ethnically, biologically and linguistically diverse regions. Situated at 1,900 meters (6,233ft) above sea level and 25°north of the Equator, it has a rather unique and pleasant climate for a Chinese city.

Meals: No Meal

Sightseeing: the Stone Forest , Kunming City Tour, the Green Lake, the Golden Horse and Phoenix Archway.

You will drive 86 km to the Stone Forest. There is a local saying: "It is a waste of time not to visit the Stone Forest while visiting Kunming", which vividly expresses the deep love of the local people toward this world wonder. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder.

After lunch drive back Kunming to visit the landmark of Kunming - the Golden Horse and Phoenix Archway, which is located at the corner of Sanshi Road and Jinbi Road. And then, you will take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of teahouses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings.

Meals: Hotel Western breakfast and Chinese lunch

Today you take flight for Dali and Sightseeing in Dali: Erhai Lake Park, the Three-pagoda in Chongshen Temple and Dali Old Town.

Arriving at Dali, you are escorted to visit Erhai Lake Park to enjoy the beautiful Erhai Lake scenery. And then, you will visit the Three-pagoda in Chongshen Temple, which is a typical historical symbol of Yunnan. It is also one of the oldest sublime architecture in South China. Then you will visit the Old Dali Town, which is located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain.

Meals: Hotel Western breakfast and Chinese lunch

Take a 245km overland drive (3-4 hours) up to Lijiang Sightseeing: Xizhou Town and Lijiang Old Town

Today you will visit Lijiang, which takes about 3 hours drive. On the way, you will visit Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style architecture, taste their fragrant three-course tea, Bai people's Died Cloth Work Shop and explore their distinctive culture.

Upon arrival in Lijiang, you will visit the Square Street lined with numerous stores in the old Lijiang town. Four main streets radiates from Square Street and extending to the four different directions. Countless lanes extending in all directions form a network and connect every corner of the town. The street is paved with colorful stones, flat and clean. Meals: Hotel Western breakfast and Chinese lunch

Sightseeing: Baisha Naxi Village and Yuhu Village

Today you will explore the Baisha Naxi Village with Baisha Murals. Visit a local Naxi family. Baisha Murals are the production of Naxi nation, protracted from the beginning of Ming Dynasty to the early Ming Dynasty. The Baisha Murals flourished in the early Ming Dynasty, with a history of more than 500 years up to the present.

Then visit the Yuhu Village with the traces of Former Residence of Joseph Rock, the Austro-American botanist and explorer who lived here from 1922 to 1949, introducing innumerable plant species to the West and completing rigorous works on Naxi ethnology.

Meals: Hotel Western breakfast and Chinese lunch

Take a 200km drive to Shangri-la (4.5 hours). Sightseeing: the First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge

From Lijiang, you'll drive about 60KM to the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, and the Iron Chain Bridge in the Stone Drum town. The town of Stone Drum got its name from a large, cylindrical, marble tablet shaped like a drum. The scenery is magnificent as the road running through the Lijiang valley which is filled with wheat fields and drying haystacks.

Continue the driving 40KM more to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river.

Afternoon, you'll head for Shangri La, the former Zhongdian. Upon arrival in Shangri La, you will have entered the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields and yaks scattered in the valleys.

Meals: Hotel Western breakfast and Chinese lunch

Sightseeing: the Geden Songzanglin Monastery, the Old Town of Shangri La and Pudacuo National Park

First visit Geden Songzanglin Monastery with 700 monks and one living Buddha, which was founded in the 17th century during the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama and is nicknamed by local the Lesser Potala Palace.

Continue to have a half day tour of Pudacuo National Park with virgin forests of spruce, pine and meadow dotted with wild flowers and tranquil lakes. After the tour, go back to the town, and visit a Tibetan family.

Meals: Hotel Western breakfast and Chinese lunch

Sightseeing: the Golden Temple, Daguan Park and the Flowers and Birds Market

Take the morning flight back to Kunming. You will be picked up at airport and transfer you to the hotel in Kunming. After lunch, first visit the Golden Temple, situated on Mingfeng Hill and well known for its bronze building which is cast entirely in bronze weighing about 250 tons.

Continue to visit Daguan Park, known for its longest antithetical couplet in China and of the most pavilions in China. Then move on to the city's biggest and most popular bazaar - the Flowers and Birds Market. Hundreds of flowers including tulips, camellias, orchids, lilies, and roses bloom in profusion. Visitors can buy all kinds of flowers and birds, as its name hints, one can also find a wide variety of souvenirs, replica weapons, fish, turtles, rodents, and many other items on sale.

Meals: Hotel Western breakfast and Chinese lunch

Today you are at leisure on your own till transfer to Kunming airport for your next destination and end your pleasant Yunnan trip.

Meals: Hotel Western breakfast.

Hotels in Use for this tour :

Price inclusion: 1.All transfers and city transportation for your own use 2.Entrance fees and meals as mentioned 3.Private car or van with English speaking guide 4.Hotels with breakfast (based two sharing room) 5.Kunming - Dali, Shangri-la - Kunming air-ticket (economic class) 6.The above private escorted tour is customized for you, your family or your friends exclusively. No other travelers will join in your group.

Price exclusion: Tips to your tour guide and driver

Available: Daily

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