Yunnan Panorama | Kunming Yuanyang Jianshui Dali Lijiang Shangri-La 12-Day Tour

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

This morning, you will go to the Western Hills for sightseeing. [Western Hills] is located by the shore of Dianchi Lake. From the summit, you can overlook the beautiful panorama of Dianchi Lake, making it an excellent travel destination for leisurely hiking and enjoying natural beauty. On the Western Hills, there is also Yunnan's largest and most exquisite Taoist grotto, the [Longmen Grottoes], available for visiting. These grottoes are embedded in sheer cliffs, like a magnificent work jointly created by nature and humans, and each grotto has its own unique history and story. Tip: A half-day tour of the Western Hills generally includes round-trip sightseeing bus, one one-way cable car, and one one-way electric cart within the scenic area. After touring the Western Hills, you will drive 78 km (about 1.5 hours) to visit the [Stone Forest Scenic Area], known as the "God's bonsai." The Stone Forest Scenic Area, also known as Yunnan Stone Forest, is famous for its stunning karst landscape and is highly praised as the essence of the world's karst landforms. You can take the sightseeing bus to visit the Greater Stone Forest and Lesser Stone Forest in sequence, enjoy and learn about various unique karst landscape features up close, and also listen to moving legends about the Stone Forest.

This morning we will drive about 300 kilometers (about 4 hours) to visit the Honghe Yuanyang Rice Terraces. [Yuanyang Rice Terraces] is the core part of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces and one of the World Cultural Heritage sites, boasting the most magnificent and unique terraced landscapes, such as Bada Terraces, Duoyishu Terraces, and Laohuzui Terraces. Today's highlight is enjoying the sunset scenery at Bada Terraces. Bada Terraces, with its gentle-slope terraces and excellent light and shadow effects, is hailed as a photographer's paradise, especially at sunset when the light and shadow effects are at their best and the colors are most vibrant. You can stand on the viewing platform and overlook the magnificent panoramic view of the terraces. Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photography Tips 1. Water reflections (December to April): In winter and early spring, the terraces are filled with water in preparation for transplanting rice seedlings, making this the best time to photograph the terraces reflecting the sky and mountains. 2. Golden terraces (September to November): Autumn is the harvest season, when the rice in the terraces is ripening, presenting a beautiful golden scene from top to bottom. 3. Lush green rice waves (June to August): In summer, the rice seedlings in Yuanyang Rice Terraces are lush and verdant, presenting a vibrant green and lively scene. 4. Photography equipment assistance: Using a wide-angle lens and tripod can help you capture higher-quality works.

Today you will have an immersive visit to the Yuanyang Rice Terraces Scenic Area, hiking through the terraces and, with the guide's explanation, learning about the special construction structure of the terraces and exploring various interesting farming landscapes, such as plowing oxen, spring sowing, mechanized planting, and fish farming in rice paddies, while further understanding the traditional lifestyle of the Hani people. In addition, while enjoying the beautiful terrace scenery, you can also taste local Hani specialties such as terrace fish, red rice noodles, Hani dipping sauce chicken, and Hani glutinous rice cakes. Suggested route for today: Duoyishu Rice Terraces (enjoy sunrise and sea of clouds) - Aichun Blue Terraces (a unique blue terrace area of the Duoyishu scenic area) - Qingkou Folk Village (learn about Hani culture and lifestyle) - Laohuzui Rice Terraces (the steepest and most spectacular terraces)

This morning, you will visit the local Hani Market in Yuanyang. Here, you can see various local specialty foods and handicrafts, making it the best place to pick travel souvenirs. In addition, you will have the opportunity to see locals wearing different ethnic costumes and experience the rich local atmosphere of life. Then, you will drive 116 kilometers (about 3.5 hours) to visit the ancient Jianshui Old Town, which has a history of over 1,200 years. First, you will visit Chaoyang Tower, known as the "Little Tiananmen," which is also one of the landmark buildings of Jianshui. From the third floor, you can overlook the entire Jianshui Old Town. Next, you will visit the beautifully constructed and historic Zhu Family Garden, admire the old exquisite carvings and well-laid-out garden landscapes, and learn about the rise and fall of the Zhu family. Afterwards, you will visit the Jianshui Confucian Temple, pay respects to Confucius, and learn about Confucian culture.

This morning, you will visit the [Double Dragon Bridge], one of the landmark buildings of Jianshui. The Double Dragon Bridge, also known as the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, was first built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It adopts a traditional Han architectural style and is carved with intricate patterns of dragons, phoenixes, lions, elephants, flowers, fish, and more. It is one of China's top ten famous bridges and has extremely high ornamental value. After visiting the Double Dragon Bridge, you will visit [Tuanshan Village], known as a treasure of Chinese residential architecture and the most beautiful village in Yunnan, to learn about China's 19th-century architectural style and the local traditional way of life and cultural customs. PS: You can take the Jianshui sightseeing mini train (at your own expense) to visit the above two attractions and enjoy a leisurely train sightseeing trip. The Jianshui mini train is about 13 km in total, with 4 stations, and takes about 4 hours round trip. Along the way, you can enjoy Chinese-style architecture, French-style architecture, and pastoral scenery such as rapeseed flowers in spring and lush green seedlings in summer. After the tour, return to Kunming and have a good rest.

This morning, we will take you to the railway station to board the high-speed train from Kunming to Dali (journey time about 2 hours). Upon arrival at Dali Railway Station, our local guide and driver will greet you at the exit and begin your Dali tour. First, you will visit Dali's landmark attraction, 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, over a thousand years ago, and are typical of Tang Dynasty architectural style, serving both to ward off evil and for viewing pleasure, while Chongsheng Temple was once the royal temple of the Nanzhao and Dali periods, enjoying the reputation of the Capital of Buddhism, 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 lunch, head to [Erhai Lake], known as the Pearl of the Plateau, located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain, with deep blue waters famous worldwide for its beauty of mountains and water. You can cycle along the west shore of Erhai Lake, immersing yourself in the beauty of the lake and mountain scenery along the way and the quaint Bai ethnic dwellings. In the evening, you are free to explore [Dali Ancient Town], or stroll along the bluestone-paved streets of the ancient town, experiencing the [Ancient City Gate Tower], [Wuhua Tower], and [Foreigner's Street], which remain bustling after a thousand years of history, or head to Renmin Road in the ancient town to experience the lively and bustling market life of the local Bai people, enjoying this comfortable and relaxing time to the fullest.

This morning you will visit [Xizhou Ancient Town], browse the lively local market, and deeply experience the local way of life. Afterward, you can stroll along the ancient town's paths to visit various residences, learn about Bai architectural aesthetics, and experience the Bai Three-Course Tea ceremony to feel the local folk culture. Afterward, you will go to [Zhoucheng Village], known as the hometown of tie-dyeing. Zhoucheng Village is a Bai village famous for its excellent tie-dyeing techniques. Here you can admire various exquisite handicrafts and, under the guidance of artisans, learn to make tie-dye works. Then drive to Lijiang (about 140 km, about 2 hours) and arrive at [Lijiang Ancient Town]. Lijiang Ancient Town nestles beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is a World Cultural Heritage site with a history of more than 800 years and was once an important town on the Tea Horse Road. For the rest of today, you can explore the ancient town on your own and experience the relaxed local atmosphere. Recommendations for free time Black Dragon Pool Park: Located north of Lijiang Ancient Town, you can enjoy the beautiful surrounding scenery 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 is named for its resemblance to a jade dragon in winter. You can take a cable car, accompanied by magnificent scenery along the way, up to Yunshanping at an altitude of 3,240 meters. This vast meadow hidden in the primitive spruce forest is the best spot to view Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After the sightseeing, take the cable car down and transfer to a sightseeing bus to visit Blue Moon Valley. Blue Moon Valley consists of 4 lakes and 1 river, among which Yuye Lake and Baishui River are the most worth seeing. On sunny days, the water of Yuye Lake is clear and blue, like a precious mirror, while Baishui River is named for its overall white appearance as the water flows over white stones. Optional activity: 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, lasting about 1 hour, vividly showcasing the traditional lifestyle of the local Naxi people. Afterwards, leave Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and head to Baisha Ancient Town, once the ancient capital of the Naxi people, to admire the historic Baisha Murals. The Baisha Murals were mostly created during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Their greatest feature is that on a single mural, you can see Buddhist figures from Han Buddhism, Taoism, and Lamaism, among other different sects, which is very rare. Finally, return to Lijiang, where you will have the opportunity to explore the beautiful Lijiang Old Town again. It is recommended to walk to Sifang Street, which has many shops selling Naxi handicrafts and local specialties, as well as lively bars. If the weather is good, in the evening, local residents will gather around a bonfire for lively dancing activities.

After breakfast, depart from Lijiang and drive to Shangri-La while touring 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 due to the obstruction of the mountain terrain, and climb onto the viewing platform to overlook the spectacular panorama of the more than 100-degree great bend. After that, 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 scenery of the roaring Jinsha River rushing down, and you can also go down along the plank road/elevator (additional charge required) to feel up close the surging river and the powerful force of nature. 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, featuring a unique five-story Tibetan carved architecture that represents the pinnacle of Tibetan plastic arts, and is also known as the "Tibetan Art Museum." Here you can appreciate Tibetan Buddhist culture, and you can also 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, enjoying 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, with many tall trees distributed around the lake, their reflections in the water forming stunning picturesque scenes. After the tour, 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 arrival 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 dwelling 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, and you can also climb Guishan Hill to spin the world's largest prayer wheel together with the locals, praying for yourself or your family and friends, or find a vantage point to overlook the entire ancient town. Optional evening activities: Around 7 PM, you can head to Sifang 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, this journey comes to an end. Our guide or driver will take you to the airport or train station for your next destination. If you would like to extend this trip and explore more attractions, such as the Dongchuan Red Land, Dali, Xishuangbanna, and more, 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, and other places. If you want to take an international flight 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.