Two Extremes | 5-Day Tour of Spring City Kunming and Rainforest Xishuangbanna

Welcome to Kunming, the "Spring City." Our guide will meet you at the reception desk of the airport/railway station and transfer you to the hotel for check-in and rest. If it is still early and you want to look around nearby, you can also ask the guide for professional travel advice. How to arrive 1. By plane: Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) has many direct international routes, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the United States, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal, etc., as well as many direct domestic routes, such as Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xi'an, Hong Kong, etc. 2. By train: Kunming has two railway stations, namely Kunming Railway Station and Kunming South Railway Station. You can take a train or high-speed train to Kunming from various cities in China, such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Guilin, Guiyang, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, etc.

This morning, you will travel 78 kilometers (approximately 1.5 hours by car) to visit the Stone Forest Scenic Area, known as the "Bonsai of God." Also called Yunnan Stone Forest, it is famous for its stunning karst landscape and has been highly praised as the essence of the world's karst formations. You can take a sightseeing bus to visit the Major Stone Forest and Minor Stone Forest in turn, admire and learn about various unique karst landscapes up close, and listen to the moving legends about the Stone Forest. After the tour, return to downtown Kunming and take the high-speed train to Xishuangbanna (approximately 3.5 hours). Upon arrival at Xishuangbanna Railway Station, our guide and driver will greet you at the exit and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. Recommended Free-Time Activities 1. Starlight Night Market: Located in Gaozhuang Xishuangjing Scenic Area in Jinghong City (near the Grand Golden Pagoda), it is considered the largest night market in Southeast Asia, offering a variety of local Yunnan snacks and distinctive handicrafts. It is one of the most popular night markets among visitors. Opening hours: 18:00–23:30 2. Riverside Night Market: Located on the opposite bank of the Starlight Night Market, it is one of the night markets favored by locals. The market starts from one end of the Xishuangbanna Bridge and extends about two kilometers, with food stalls and handicrafts lining both sides of the road. Opening hours: 19:00–23:30 3. Mekong · Six Countries Floating Market: Located to the southeast of the Grand Golden Pagoda, here you can buy specialty goods from six countries—China, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam—and taste cuisines from various countries, such as a full range of tropical fruits. The market also has many bars where you can experience the lively nightlife.

After breakfast, you will drive 62 kilometers (about 1 hour) to visit the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is China's largest botanical garden with the richest collection of species and the most specialized gardens. The entire botanical garden consists of three areas. Today you will mainly visit the most beautiful West Area. You can take a sightseeing bus to tour the Shade Plant Garden, Aquatic Plant Garden, Palm Garden, Banyan Garden, etc., enjoying a visual feast of tropical plants and a natural classroom of nature. After lunch, head to the city center to visit Manting Park. Manting Park is the oldest park in Xishuangbanna and was once the royal garden of the Dai kings, with a history of over 1,300 years. It is also a natural village-style park. Here you can enjoy the serene natural environment and admire Dai Buddhist architecture, such as the Octagonal Pavilion and the Manfeilong White Pagoda. After the tour, go to the back gate of Manting Park to visit the Zongfo Temple, known as the holy place for worship in Xishuangbanna. The Zongfo Temple is the center for Buddhist worship for the Dai people in Xishuangbanna and a sacred site for Buddhists. The temple's architecture is grand and majestic, with each corner and detail unique, and the exquisitely carved beams and columns are a delight to behold. Recommended evening activities: In the evening, Manting Park hosts a wonderful cultural performance called "Night of the Lancang-Mekong" and a bonfire party, featuring cultural characteristics of six countries along the Lancang-Mekong River: China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, as well as folk performances of six ethnic minorities living in Xishuangbanna: Dai, Jino, Blang, Lahu, Yao, and Hani. It is the best place to experience the diverse cultures of Xishuangbanna.

After breakfast, you will drive 31 kilometers (about 40 minutes) to visit Xishuangbanna Wild Elephant Valley. [Wild Elephant Valley] is the only place in China where you can observe wild Asian elephants up close. You will enter from the South Gate, and the first thing you will see is the Rainforest Theater, where elephant shows are held at 10:20 and 11:30. In addition, there are various themed parks such as the Butterfly Garden and Bird Garden to explore. If you want to see wild elephants quickly, you can also take the cable car directly to the High-Altitude Elephant Observation Walkway. This walkway is located near the ponds where elephants like to play and forage, making it the best place to observe wild elephants. When wild elephants appear, you can see them strolling and foraging in the forest. After exploring the 2,280-meter-long High-Altitude Elephant Observation Walkway, you will visit China's first elephant museum, the Asian Elephant Museum, to learn about the history, evolution, and conservation of wild Asian elephants, and then leave from the North Gate. Afterwards, continue to visit [Manzhang Village], which has a history of more than 500 years. Manzhang Village still retains the quaint style of a Dai village. Here, you can immersively explore Dai culture and their traditional way of life, stroll through the village to admire the distinctive stilted bamboo houses and beautiful pastoral countryside scenery, and also experience rare intangible cultural heritage crafts such as handmade paper, slow-wheel pottery, and traditional weaving. Tips for visiting Wild Elephant Valley 1. February to March is the elephant mating season, when elephants are more active and the chance of encountering them is higher. 2. The best times to see wild elephants are early morning, dusk, and at night. It is recommended to arrive at the scenic area as early as possible. 3. Observing wild Asian elephants requires great patience and luck, as their movements are unpredictable. 3. Even if you do not see wild elephants this time, there is no need to be too disappointed. The primeval forest, fresh and pleasant scenery, and lively animals such as gibbons and orangutans will also be a feast for your eyes.

After breakfast, this wonderful 5-day Kunming and Xishuangbanna tour will come to an end. Our guide or driver will take you to the airport or railway station for your next destination. If you would like to extend this trip and explore more tourist areas in Yunnan, such as Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.