Charming Yunnan | 7-Day Tour of Kunming, Lijiang and Shangri-La

Welcome to Kunming, the "Spring City." Our guide will meet you at the reception desk at the airport or train station and escort you to the hotel for check-in and rest. If there is still time, and you would like 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, and more, as well as many direct domestic routes, such as Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xi'an, Hong Kong, and more. 2. By train: Kunming has two railway stations, namely Kunming Railway Station and Kunming South Railway Station. You can travel to Kunming by train or high-speed rail from various cities in China, such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Guilin, Guiyang, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and more.

This morning, we will drive 78 km (about 1.5 hours) to visit the [Stone Forest Scenic Area], known as the "Bonsai of God." 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 landscapes. You can take the sightseeing bus to visit the Greater Stone Forest and the Lesser Stone Forest in turn, admire and learn about various unique karst landscape features up close, and also listen to the touching legends about the Stone Forest. After the visit, return to downtown Kunming and visit [Yuantong Temple]. Yuantong Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Kunming, with a long history of more than 1,200 years. It is also the only temple in China that accommodates Han Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism at the same time. It is quite famous in southwestern China and Southeast Asia, with flourishing incense offerings. Finally, you can also walk to [Green Lake Park], about 700 meters from Yuantong Temple. Green Lake Park is named for its emerald waters on all sides, emerald bamboo in all seasons, and emerald willows in summer and autumn. It has the reputation of being the jade in the city and is the leisure center of Kunming locals. Every day many citizens walk, enjoy the scenery, dance, and exercise here, making it the best place to experience the atmosphere of Kunming life.

This morning, we will take you to Kunming Railway Station to board a high-speed train to Lijiang (journey time approximately 3.5-4 hours). Upon arriving at Lijiang Railway Station, our local guide and driver will greet you at the exit and take you to your hotel in Lijiang Ancient Town for check-in. After a short rest, begin your Lijiang tour. First, you will visit [Lijiang Ancient Town]. Lijiang Ancient Town is a World Cultural Heritage site with a history of over 800 years and was once an important town on the Tea Horse Road. First, you will visit the [Mu Mansion] inside the ancient town, known as the Forbidden City of the South, to learn about local Naxi culture and the rise and fall of the Mu family, and walk to the best viewing point to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the ancient town with the snow mountain as a backdrop. Afterwards, you can walk to [Sifang Street] to explore Naxi handicrafts and local specialties. Finally, if time permits, you can visit [Black Dragon Pool Park] to the north of Lijiang Ancient Town, to enjoy the beautiful surrounding scenery and the magnificent reflection of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on the water.

This morning you will visit the famous [Jade Dragon Snow Mountain]. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the sacred mountain of the Naxi people and is named for its resemblance to a jade dragon in winter. You can take the cable car up to Spruce Meadow at an altitude of 3,240 meters, accompanied by magnificent scenery along the way. This vast meadow hidden in the primeval spruce forest is the best spot to view Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After sightseeing, take the cable car down and transfer to the shuttle bus to [Blue Moon Valley]. Blue Moon Valley has four lakes and one 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 is named for appearing white overall because 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, lasts about 1 hour, and vividly presents the traditional way of life 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 time-honored [Baisha Murals]. Most of the Baisha Murals were created during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Their most distinctive feature is that in a single mural you can see figures from Han Buddhism, Taoism, and Lamaism and other different sects, which is very rare. Finally, return to Lijiang. If you still have energy to explore, you can stop for a while at [Shuhe Ancient Town] along the way, stroll through the peaceful and tranquil ancient town, and taste local specialty snacks.

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, to admire the rare V-shaped bend formed as the majestic Yangtze River is blocked by the mountain terrain, and go up to the viewing platform to overlook the spectacular panorama of the bend of more than 100 degrees. Afterward, continue onward to the Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge. Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in the world. Here you can enjoy the breathtaking sight of the roaring Jinsha River surging downward, and you can also go down along the plank road or by elevator (additional charge required) to experience the turbulent river and the powerful force of nature up close. After the visit, continue to Shangri-La (about 108 kilometers, about 2 to 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 temple adopts a unique five-story Tibetan carved architectural style and embodies the essence of Tibetan plastic arts, 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 drive to China's first national park - [Potatso National Park]. Potatso National Park has various natural landscapes such as forests, grasslands, lakes, and relics. After entering the scenic area, you will transfer to an eco-friendly bus and first go to see Shudu Lake. Shudu Lake is the largest lake in the park and is famous for its beautiful lake and mountain scenery. You can stroll along the lakeside plank road 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 lake water. Around the lake are many tall trees, and their reflections in the water form beautiful pictures. After the visit, on the way back to Shangri-La, you can also visit a local [Tibetan family], taste butter tea, and chat with Tibetan people. After arriving in Shangri-La, you can visit [Dukezong Ancient Town], which has a history of more than 1,300 years. Dukezong Ancient Town is the best-preserved and largest Tibetan residential complex in China and an important town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Here you can see various Tibetan-style dwellings, temples, and pagodas, learn about Tibetan culture, and you can also climb Guishan and turn the world's largest prayer wheel together with locals to pray for yourself or your relatives and friends, or find a favorable spot to overlook the entire ancient town. Optional evening activities: Around 7 pm, you can go to Sifang Square to watch locals perform traditional Tibetan dances; around 9 pm, the entire ancient town lights up, a good time to enjoy the night view of the ancient town.

After breakfast, the journey ends. Our guide or driver will take you to the airport or railway station for your next destination. If you wish to extend this trip and explore more attractions, such as Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Dali, 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, and Shanghai. If you want to take an international flight back home, it is recommended to take a high-speed train (about 5.5 hours) or a flight (about 1 hour) to Kunming International Airport, where more flights are available.