Discovering Northwest Yunnan | 7-Day Tour of Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La

Welcome to Dali, the gathering place of the Bai ethnic minority in China. Our guide will meet you at the reception desk of the airport/train station and take you to the hotel to check in and rest. If it is still early and you want to look around, you can also ask the guide for professional travel advice. How to get here 1. By plane: Dali's Fengyi Airport (DLU) has many direct flight routes. You can fly to Dali from cities such as Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Changsha, and Wuhan. 2. By train: You can take a high-speed train to Dali from various cities in China, such as Kunming (2 hours), Lijiang (1.5 hours), Chengdu (8 hours), Chongqing (7-7.5 hours), Guilin (10 hours), Guiyang (5 hours), and Guangzhou (11 hours).

This morning, you will visit the landmark attraction of Dali, the [Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple]. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple consist of one large pagoda, two small pagodas, and the grand Chongsheng Temple behind them. The three pagodas were first built during the Nanzhao Kingdom period, about a thousand years ago, and are typical of Tang Dynasty architectural style, serving both to ward off evil and for viewing. Chongsheng Temple was once the royal temple of the Nanzhao and Dali periods and enjoys the reputation of the Buddhist Capital, where you can learn about and experience Buddhist culture. In addition, don't forget to take beautiful travel photos at the Reflection Pool in front of the Three Pagodas. After the visit, you will head to Dali Ancient Town. [Dali Ancient Town] was first built during the Ming Dynasty, more than 600 years ago, and was once the capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom and Dali Kingdom. Here, you can stroll along the stone-paved streets of the ancient town, learn about its history and appearance, browse the lively shops, admire various unique local handicrafts, and taste some local snacks, such as cold chicken rice noodles, Bai-style sour and spicy fish, Xizhou baba, and roasted tea. Afterwards, you can visit [Erhai Lake], known as the Pearl of the Plateau. Erhai Lake is located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain, with deep blue waters, and is famous worldwide for the beauty of its mountains and waters. You can cycle along the west shore of Erhai Lake, immersing yourself in the beauty of the lake and mountain scenery along the way, as well as the simple Bai-style residential architecture and pastoral scenery. In the evening, you can visit a [Flower Cake Making Workshop] to learn about the production process of Yunnan's famous delicacy, flower cakes. If interested, you can even make flower cakes yourself. In addition, from April to October each year, when roses are in full bloom, the entire workshop is surrounded by vibrant roses, making the scenery very pleasant.

This morning you will visit [Xizhou Ancient Town], browse the lively local market, and deeply experience the local way of life. Afterwards, you can stroll along the paths of the ancient town to visit various dwellings, learn about Bai architectural aesthetics, and experience the Bai Three-Course Tea ceremony to feel the local folk culture. Afterwards, you will head to [Zhoucheng Village], known as the Home of Tie-Dye. Zhoucheng Village is a Bai village famous for its excellent tie-dye techniques. Here you can admire various exquisite handicrafts and also learn to make tie-dye works under the guidance of craftsmen. Then drive to Lijiang (about 140 kilometers, about 2 hours' drive) and arrive at [Lijiang Ancient Town]. Nestled beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang Ancient Town is a World Cultural Heritage Site with a history of more than 800 years and was once an important town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. For the rest of the day, you can explore the ancient town on your own and enjoy the relaxed local atmosphere. Recommended Free-Time Activities Black Dragon Pool Park: Located north of Lijiang Ancient Town, you can enjoy the surrounding scenery of clear waters and green mountains and the magnificent view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflected on the water.

This morning, you will visit the famous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is the sacred mountain of the Naxi people and gets its name because it resembles a jade dragon in winter. You can take a cable car, accompanied by magnificent scenery along the way, up to Spruce Meadow at an altitude of 3,240 meters. This vast meadow hidden in a primeval spruce forest is the best spot to view Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After enjoying the view, take the cable car down and transfer to a shuttle bus to Blue Moon Valley. Blue Moon Valley has 4 lakes and 1 river in total, among which Jade Liquid Lake and White Water River are the most worth seeing. On sunny days, the water of Jade Liquid Lake is clear and blue, like a precious mirror, while White Water River gets its name because the water flows over white stones, giving the whole river a white appearance. Optional activity at your own expense: If you are interested in Lijiang's culture, you can go to Ganhaizi in the afternoon to watch the large open-air performance Impression Lijiang. The performance is mainly singing and dancing, lasts about 1 hour, and vividly presents the traditional way of life of the local Naxi people. Afterward, leave Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and head to Baisha Ancient Town, once the ancient capital of the Naxi people, to admire the time-honored Baisha Murals. Most of the Baisha Murals were created during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Their most distinctive feature is that on a single mural you can see images from different schools, including Han Buddhism, Taoism, and Lamaism, which is very rare. Finally, return to Lijiang, where you will have the chance to explore the beautiful Lijiang Old Town again. It is recommended to walk to Sifang Street, where there are many shops selling Naxi handicrafts and local specialties, as well as lively bars. If the weather is good, in the evening there will also be lively activities with local residents dancing around a bonfire.

After breakfast, depart from Lijiang and drive to Shangri-La, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way. First, you will come to the [First Bend of the Yangtze River], admire the rare V-shaped bend formed by the majestic Yangtze River blocked by the mountain terrain, and climb onto the viewing platform to overlook the spectacular panorama of the more than 100-degree great bend. Afterwards, continue onward to [Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge]. Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in the world. Here you can enjoy the breathtaking scene of the roaring Jinsha River surging down, and you can also go down along the plank road/elevator (additional charge required) to feel the turbulent river and the powerful force of nature up close. After the visit, continue to Shangri-La (about 108 km, about 2-2.5 hours by car). Upon arrival, go to the hotel to check in, and after that you can enjoy free time.

This morning, you will visit [Songzanlin Monastery], known as the Little Potala Palace. Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. Built against the mountain, the monastery features a unique five-story Tibetan carved architectural style, embodying the essence of Tibetan plastic arts, and is also known as the 'Tibetan Art Museum.' Here you can experience Tibetan Buddhist culture and climb to the top of the mountain to enjoy a panoramic view of Songzanlin Monastery and Lamuyangcuo Lake. In the afternoon, you will take a car to visit China's first national park, [Potatso National Park]. Potatso National Park features diverse natural landscapes including forests, grasslands, lakes, and relics. After entering the scenic area, you will transfer to an eco-friendly bus to first visit Shudu Lake. Shudu Lake is the largest lake in the park, famous for its beautiful lake and mountain scenery. You can stroll along the lakeside boardwalk and enjoy the surrounding scenery, then take the eco-friendly bus to Bita Lake. Bita Lake is famous for its pagoda-shaped hills and clear, tranquil waters. Surrounding the lake are many tall trees, whose reflections in the water create stunningly beautiful scenes. After the visit, on the way back to Shangri-La, you can also visit a local [Tibetan family], taste butter tea, and chat with the Tibetan people. Upon arriving in Shangri-La, you can visit [Dukezong Ancient Town], which has a history of over 1,300 years. Dukezong Ancient Town is the best-preserved and largest Tibetan residential complex in China, and was also an important town on the Tea Horse Road. Here you can admire various Tibetan-style dwellings, temples, and pagodas, learn about Tibetan culture, climb Guishan Hill to spin the world's largest prayer wheel together with locals and pray for yourself or your loved ones, or find a vantage point to overlook the entire ancient town. Optional evening activities: Around 7 PM, you can go to Square Square to watch locals perform traditional Tibetan dances; around 9 PM, the entire ancient town lights up, a great time to enjoy the night views of the ancient town.

After breakfast, the tour ends. Our guide or driver will transfer you to the airport or railway station for your next destination. If you would like to extend this trip and explore more attractions, such as the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Kunming, Xishuangbanna, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you. Travel Advice: Diqing Shangri-La Airport (DIG) is a relatively small airport with domestic flights to Chengdu, Chongqing, Lhasa, Guangzhou, Shanghai, etc. If you want to take an international flight back home, it is recommended to take the high-speed train (about 5.5 hours) or a flight (about 1 hour) to Kunming International Airport, where more flights are available.