Northwest Yunnan Highlights | Classic 7-Day Tour of Dali + Shangri-La + Lijiang

Welcome to Dali, the gathering place of China's Bai ethnic minority. Our driver will meet you at the airport or train station reception area and transfer you to the hotel for check-in and rest. If there is still time and you would like to explore the surrounding area, you can also ask your guide for professional travel advice. Ways to arrive 1. By plane: Dali 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 high-speed trains to Dali from various cities in China, such as Kunming (2 hours), Lijiang (1.5 hours), Chengdu (8 hours), Chongqing (7 to 7.5 hours), Guilin (10 hours), Guiyang (5 hours), and Guangzhou (11 hours).

This morning you can arrange your time freely. In the afternoon, you will visit Dali's landmark attraction, [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, more than 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 a royal temple during the Nanzhao and Dali periods and enjoys the reputation of a 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. Then, head to [Erhai Lake], known as the pearl of the plateau. Erhai Lake is located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain, with deep blue water, and is famous worldwide for the beauty of its mountains and waters. You can cycle along the ecological corridor on the west shore of Erhai Lake, immersively enjoying the beauty of the lake and mountains along the way and the simple Bai ethnic dwellings. Finally, you can freely explore [Dali Ancient Town], either strolling along the ancient town's bluestone-paved roads to experience the [Ancient City Gate Tower], [Wuhua Tower], and [Foreigner Street], which remain prosperous after a thousand years of vicissitudes, or heading to Renmin Road in the ancient town to experience the lively and bustling market life of the local Bai people, fully enjoying this comfortable and relaxing time.

This morning, you will visit 【Xizhou Ancient Town】, explore the lively local morning market, and deeply experience the lifestyle of the locals. Afterwards, you can stroll along the ancient town's paths to visit various traditional residences, learn about Bai architecture 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 hometown of tie-dye, for a visit. Zhoucheng Village is a Bai village famous for its excellent tie-dye techniques. Here you can admire various exquisite handicrafts and, under the guidance of craftsmen, learn to make tie-dye works. In the afternoon, drive to Shangri-La, located northwest of Dali City (about 300 kilometers, approximately 4 hours' drive). Upon arrival in Shangri-La, go to the hotel to check in and rest.

This morning, you will take a car (about 40 minutes) to visit China's first national park - [Potatso National Park]. Potatso National Park features a variety of natural landscapes including forests, grasslands, lakes, and relics. After entering the scenic area, you will transfer to an eco-friendly bus and first head 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 waters, with many tall trees around the lake whose reflections in the water create stunning pictures. Afterwards, 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 architecture and represents the pinnacle of Tibetan plastic arts, earning it the name "Tibetan Art Museum". Here you can experience Tibetan Buddhist culture and also climb to the top of the mountain to enjoy a panoramic view of Songzanlin Monastery and Lhamo Yatso Lake. After the visit, head to [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 also an important town on the Tea Horse Road. Here you can see 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 to pray for yourself or your loved ones, or find a good spot to overlook the entire ancient town. In the evening, visit a local [Tibetan family] to learn about the daily life of the local Tibetan people, chat with them, and taste butter tea and local snacks. Afterwards, return to the hotel, ending a day of culture and beautiful scenery.

This morning, you will travel by car from Shangri-La to Lijiang, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way. First, you will arrive at [Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge]. Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in the world. Here you can admire the breathtaking sight of the roaring Jinsha River surging downward, and you can also descend along the plank road/elevator (additional charge required) to experience the surging river up close and feel the immense power of nature. Afterward, you will come to [First Bend of the Yangtze River], admire the rare V-shaped turn formed by the majestic Yangtze River being blocked by the mountain terrain, and climb up to the viewing platform to overlook the spectacular panoramic view of the more than 100-degree great bend. After the visit, continue on to Lijiang. Upon arrival in Lijiang, explore [Lijiang Old Town]. Lijiang Old Town is a World Cultural Heritage site with a long history of more than 800 years and was once an important town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. You can stroll along the bluestone-paved roads in the old town to admire the traditional buildings with flying eaves and bracket sets, feel the lively and leisurely atmosphere of life in the old town, or climb up to a high viewing platform to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the old town with snow mountains as the backdrop. You can also walk to Sifang Street to explore Naxi-style handicrafts and local specialties. Finally, go to [Black Dragon Pool Park] north of Lijiang Old Town to enjoy the beautiful surrounding scenery of mountains and clear waters and the magnificent view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflected on the water. Overnight stay in Lijiang Old Town

This morning, you will visit the famous 【Jade Dragon Snow Mountain】. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the sacred mountain of the Naxi people, named for its resemblance to a jade dragon in winter. You can take a cable car up to Yunshanping at an altitude of 3,240 meters, accompanied by magnificent scenery along the way. This vast meadow hidden in the primitive spruce forest is the best spot to view Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After sightseeing, take the cable car down and transfer to a sightseeing bus to 【Blue Moon Valley】. Blue Moon Valley has 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 appears white overall because the water flows over white stones, hence its name. Enjoy a hearty local specialty hot pot for lunch, then 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 Baisha Murals were created during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Their most distinctive feature is that on a single mural, you can see Buddhist figures from Han Buddhism, Taoism, and Lamaism, which is very rare. Finally, return to Lijiang. If you still have energy, you can stop for a while at 【Shuhe Ancient Town】 (at your own expense) along the way, stroll through the peaceful and tranquil ancient town, and taste local specialty snacks.

After breakfast, we will conclude this classic 7-day Yunnan tour. Our guide or driver will take you to the airport or train station for your next destination. If you wish to extend this trip and explore more popular Yunnan destinations or other popular China travel destinations, you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.