8-Day Yunnan Comprehensive Tour

4.98

Tour Code: ET-8-Day Yunnan Comprehensive Tour

Destination: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La

Duration
8 Days

Tour Type
ET-8-Day Yunnan Comprehensive Tour

Tour Style
Classic

About This Trip

Take an 8-day high-speed train trip across Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La to explore Yunnan’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. This adventure offers an in-depth experience of the region’s ethnic minorities, including the Yi, Bai, Naxi, and Tibetan communities, each contributing their unique traditions to your journey. The highlight is the breathtaking Tiger Leaping Gorge, where its sheer cliffs and surrounding mountains showcase nature’s power and leave a lasting impression.

Itinerary Summary

Days Itinerary DEST Meal
1 Kunming Arrival: Pick up → Send to Hotel Kunming /
2 Stone Forest→the Green Lake→Flowers and Birds Market Kunming B/L
3 High Speed Train to Dali →Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery → Erhai Lake Cruise→Dali Old Town→ Foreigner’s Street→ Ancient City Wall Dali B/L
4 Xizhou Town (Three Course Tea Experience+Distinctive Bai Culture) → Zhoucheng Village(Tie-dying Cloth Workshop) → Lunch→  Drive to Lijiang → Lijiang Old Town Lijiang B/L
5 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Ganhaizi Meadow- take the sightseeig bus for a short visiting through the Baishuihe River- cable car to Spruce Meadow – hike around 30 minutes in the forest -take a battery cart to Blue Moon Valley) → Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show →  Baisha Old Town → Baisha Murals Lijiang B/L
6 Lijiang → First Bend of the Yangtze River → Iron Chain Bridge → the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in the Shigu Old Town → Tiger Leaping Gorge → Dukezong Ancient Town → Guishan Hill Shangri-La B/L
7 Songzanlin Monastery → Tibetan Family (Yak Butter lunch) → Pudacuo National Park →Shudu Lake Shangri-La B/L
8 Shangri-La airport and denature. / B

Quick Question

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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, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel.

Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, is a charming city. It is renowned as the “City of Eternal Spring” with a mild climate. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes, it has a rich history and splendid culture. The Stone Forest is a famous natural wonder nearby. With unique ethnic customs and delicious food, Kunming is a wonderful place to explore and enjoy.

You will drive 86 km to the Stone Forest The Stone Forest in Kunming, Yunnan is a remarkable natural masterpiece. Composed of numerous limestone formations, it presents a breathtaking sight. The jagged rocks rise up like a forest of giants. The karst landscape is a wonder of nature, with its various shapes and forms.  Visitors can explore the labyrinthine paths between the rocks, marvel at the natural sculptures, and learn about the geological history.An old local saying says that ‘If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.’ Truly, the Stone Forest is one of the most important attractions of Yunnan.

After lunch, drive back to Kunming to visit the Green Lake is a captivating place. Surrounded by lush trees and colorful flowers, it offers a serene and picturesque environment. The clear water reflects the surrounding scenery, creating a beautiful panorama. The park around the lake is filled with historical buildings and cultural sites.

Then enjoy a 20-minute walk to visit the Flowers and Birds Market in downtown area. is a vibrant and captivating destination that holds a special place in the heart of the city. With a rich history that dates back many years, it has long been a gathering place for locals and visitors alike.This market is a haven for those who appreciate the beauty of nature. It offers an extensive array of colorful flowers, from delicate roses to exotic orchids. The fragrance of various blossoms fills the air, creating a pleasant and inviting atmosphere. In addition to flowers, there are also a wide variety of lovely birds. Their chirping and fluttering add to the lively ambiance.

Get back to the Hotel, relax & refresh.

Get up in the early morning. Transfer to train station. Take a high speed train from Kunming to Dali.  

Arrive at Dali train station. Meet your local guide in Dali. Then visit Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain facing to the Erhai Lake. Three Pagodas are made of three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle.

Then you’ll cruise in Erhai Lake by the small boat to the Jinsuo Islet in the east Erhai Lake. There are 200 Bai ethnic families around 1000 people in Jinsuo Island.In Erhai Lake cruise, you will enjoy the green Cangshan Mountain and the Three Pagodas from a far as well as lots of birds and seagulls flying over the lake.

In the late afternoon, take a walk in Dali Old Town. Visit Foreigner’s Street .Lined with an array of cafes, bars, and unique shops, it exudes a vibrant and cosmopolitan charm. The traditional Bai ethnic architecture provides a beautiful backdrop, while modern elements add a touch of contemporary flair. Tourists and expats alike are drawn to this lively street. It’s a place to unwind, listen to live music, and experience the laid-back lifestyle that Dali is famous for. Whether it’s sipping a coffee or chatting with friends, the Foreigner Street offers a memorable experience.

Then visit the Ancient city wall.  it is a remarkable symbol of the city’s glorious past. Surrounded by breathtaking natural landscapes, it offers a captivating panorama. Built with sturdy materials and featuring unique designs, it attracts countless visitors. Standing on top, one can enjoy sweeping views of the city and its surroundings, truly experiencing the charm and history of this beautiful place.

Get back to the Hotel, relax & refresh.

In the morning, head for Xizhou Town is an enchanting haven in China.  Lush fields and time-honored buildings converge to form a captivating panorama.  to fully appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste their fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. 

Transfer to visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop where you can take some special souvenir with the Bai ethnic style.

After lunch, drive to Lijiang. You will be relaxed around Lijiang Old Town, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture, is a central town of the Lijiang Autonomous County of the Naxi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Province. Located on the plateau which is 2,400 meters above the sea level and embraced by the tree-covered Lion Mountain in the west, Elephant and Golden Row Mountains in the north, vast fertile fields in the southeast and crystal clear water running through, the old town looks like a big jade ink slab, therefore got the alias the Town of Big Ink Slab (Dayanzhen).

Get back to the Hotel, relax & refresh.

Drive about 30KM to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a majestic wonder. Its snow-capped peaks soar into the sky, creating a breathtaking panorama. The mountain is known for its stunning landscapes and diverse ecosystems.

You will firstly reach Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M). is a beautiful place. Surrounded by mountains, it features lush grass and colorful wildflowers. It’s a great spot for enjoying nature and taking in the magnificent views. A perfect destination for nature lovers.

Then you will take the sightseeig bus for a short visiting through the Baishuihe River.which is a charming sight. With clear water flowing over white stones, it creates a beautiful landscape. Surrounded by mountains, it’s a great place to relax and enjoy nature.

Take cable car to Spruce Meadow and hike around 30 minutes in the forest. located at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, is a captivating sight. It is a vast expanse of lush meadow hidden within the primeval spruce forest. With an elevation of around 3,240 meters, it offers a serene and picturesque landscape. The meadow is surrounded by dense forests that act as a natural barrier, and in the midst of it, one can enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons. In spring and summer, it is a sea of green with blooming flowers; in autumn, it turns golden; and in winter, it becomes a silver world.

Then take a battery cart to Blue Moon Valley is a breathtaking destination. Its turquoise lakes, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and lush vegetation, create a magical scene. The crystal-clear waters reflect the sky, offering stunning views.

After lunch, you will enjoy the Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show directed by Zhang Yimou. It is held in Ganhaizi Meadow about 3100M above the sea level.Impression Lijiang is a spectacular ethnic performance. Set against the backdrop of majestic mountains, it showcases the unique cultures and traditions of local ethnic groups. With passionate dancing, powerful music and vivid storytelling,

And then, you can stroll through Baisha Old Town, which is an enchanting traditional Naxi style old town.  

Visit the Baisha Murals about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.

Get back to the Hotel, relax & refresh.

From Lijiang, you’ll drive about 60KM to the First Bend of the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery,

visit the Iron Chain Bridge ,the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in the Shigu Old 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.

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.

Then you will enter the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields and yaks scattered in the valleys. Walk around Dukezong Ancient Town, an important town of the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet and India. Walk up to the top of Guishan Hill or Tortoise Hill, you will see the largest Prayer Wheel of the world and have a panoramic view of shangrila county and Dukezong Ancient Town.

Get back to the Hotel, relax & refresh.

Today, visit the Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias – ‘the little Potala Palace ‘, so named because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere.

After that, pay a visit to a Tibetan Family and have Yak Butter lunch in the family.

And afterwards you’ll visit the tranquil Shudu Lakein Pudacuo National Park. Pudacuo National Park is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. While the region comprises only 0.7 percent of China’s land area, it contains more than 20 percent of the country’s plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species.

Get back to the Hotel, relax & refresh.

Today it’s time to say goodbye.our well-trained tour guide and driver will take you to Shangri-La airport and then depature.

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