Luxury Yunnan | 7-Day Tour of Lijiang, Lugu Lake and Shangri-La

Welcome to Lijiang. Our guide will meet you at the reception desk of the airport/railway station and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. After a short rest, head to Lijiang Ancient Town. [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. First, you will visit the [Mu Mansion] in the ancient town, known as the Forbidden City of the South, to learn about the 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-style handicrafts and local specialties. Finally, if time permits, you can go to [Black Dragon Pool Park] north of Lijiang Ancient Town to enjoy the surrounding scenery of clear waters and green mountains and the magnificent view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflected on the water. How to Arrive 1. By Air: Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG) has many direct routes, such as Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Changsha, Wuhan, etc. 2. By Train: You can take a high-speed train directly to Lijiang Station from cities in Yunnan such as Kunming (3.5~4 hours), Dali (2~2.5 hours), and Shangri-La (1~1.5 hours), or take a high-speed train directly to Lijiang from Guilin (11.26 hours). 3. Lijiang Ancient Town: Lijiang Airport is about 28 kilometers from Lijiang Ancient Town, about 45 minutes' drive; Lijiang Railway Station is about 10 kilometers from the ancient town, about 26 minutes' drive. Suggestions for Nighttime Activities 1. Best places to photograph the night view of Lijiang Ancient Town: Xianwen Lane, Zhenxing Lane, Nanmen Bridge, Fengling Street, and Sakura Restaurant, etc. 2. Best places to experience nightlife, bars, and night markets: Sifang Street (there is a Naxi bonfire party after 7 p.m.), Wuyi Street, Xinhua Street, Zhongyi Market, etc.

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. 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 old town, and taste local specialty snacks.

This morning we will drive 206 km, about 4 hours, to visit [Lugu Lake], the location of the Women's Kingdom in Journey to the West. Here you can learn about Mosuo culture and the local unique walking marriage custom. On the way to Lugu Lake, you can also enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Jinsha River and the uniquely characteristic Yi villages. Then arrive at the Lugu Lake Scenic Area and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic scenery of Lugu Lake. Afterwards, go to the hotel to check in and take a short rest. In the afternoon, you will first visit the [Mosuo Folk Custom Museum] to gain an in-depth understanding of Mosuo culture and unique customs, and then leisurely ride a dugout canoe on the calm Lugu Lake, immersing yourself in the beauty of the surrounding lake and mountain scenery. If interested, you can also take a boat to one of the most magical islands in Lugu Lake - Wubi Island, and explore the historic Gelugpa lama temple on the island. In the evening, you can also stroll along the shore of Lugu Lake, enjoy the refreshing breeze on your face, and go to Luoshui Village to enjoy the magnificent sunset scenery of Lugu Lake. In the evening, you can participate in the local characteristic [Mosuo Bonfire Party], immerse yourself in and experience local ethnic dances and songs, and spend a lively and unforgettable wonderful night.

If the weather is good today, you can get up early and head to Lige Village to enjoy the magnificent sunrise over Lugu Lake. After breakfast, you will visit Zhamei Temple at the foot of Gu'er Mountain in the northwest of Yongning Township. [Zhamei Temple] was first built in the 35th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, with a history of about 400 years. It is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the entire Mosuo and Pumi region of Yunnan, and is also an excellent place to learn about local Buddhist culture and admire various exquisite buildings and murals. If the timing is right, you may also have the chance to visit the local Mosuo market. Afterwards, climb up to [Luyuan Cliff] to overlook the beautiful scenery of Lugu Lake and enjoy the view of prayer flags and the lake complementing each other. Then you can tour the east shore of Lugu Lake, taking a wooden boat for a leisurely tour of the beautiful [Grass Sea] scenery. After that, head to the best sunset viewing spot of Lugu Lake, [Goddess Bay], to enjoy the beautiful sunset scenery of Lugu Lake. After the tour, return to Lijiang, arriving at Lijiang Ancient Town in the evening.

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 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 sight of the roaring Jinsha River rushing down, and you can also go down along the plank road/elevator (additional charge) to feel the surging river and the powerful force of nature up close. After the visit, continue to Shangri-La (about 108 kilometers, about 2~2.5 hours' drive). Upon arrival, go to the hotel for check-in, and you can enjoy free time afterwards.

This morning, you will visit Songzanlin Monastery, known as the "Little Potala Palace." It is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. Built against the mountain, the monastery features a unique five-story Tibetan carved architectural style and represents the culmination of Tibetan plastic arts, earning it the name "Tibetan Art Museum." Here you can experience 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, Pudacuo National Park. Pudacuo 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 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 boardwalk and enjoy the surrounding views, then take the eco-friendly bus to Bita Lake. Bita Lake is known for its pagoda-shaped hills and clear, tranquil water. Around the lake are many tall trees, whose reflections in the water form stunning pictures. After the tour, 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 was also an important town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Here you can see various Tibetan-style dwellings, temples, pagodas, and more, learn about Tibetan culture, and you can also climb Guishan to turn the world's largest prayer wheel together with local people 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 p.m., you can go to Sifang Square to watch local people perform traditional Tibetan dances; around 9 p.m., the entire ancient town lights up, a good time to enjoy the night view of the old town.

After breakfast, this journey ends. Our guide or driver will take you to the airport or train station for your next destination. If you want to extend this trip and explore more attractions, such as Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Jianshui, Dongchuan Red Land, Kunming, 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, Shanghai, and other places. 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 plane (about 1 hour) to Kunming International Airport, where more flights are available.