Explore Yunnan | 5-Day Kunming and Shangri-La Tour

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

This morning, we will drive 78 kilometers (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 landforms. You can take a sightseeing bus to visit the Major Stone Forest and Minor Stone Forest in turn, admire and learn about various unique karst landscapes up close, and listen to the moving legends about the Stone Forest. After the tour, return to downtown Kunming to visit [Yuantong Temple]. Yuantong Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Kunming, with a history of over 1,200 years, and is the only temple in China that accommodates Chinese Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism at the same time. It is well known in southwestern China and Southeast Asia, with flourishing incense offerings. Finally, you can also walk about 700 meters from Yuantong Temple to visit [Green Lake Park]. 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 is known as the "Jade of the City" and is a leisure center for local Kunming residents. 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 catch the high-speed train to Shangri-La (journey time approximately 4.5 hours). Upon arrival at Shangri-La Railway Station, our local driver will greet you at the exit and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to arrange as you wish—explore Shangri-La at your leisure or simply relax at the hotel.

This morning, you will visit the Songzanlin Monastery, known as the "Little Potala Palace." Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. Built against the mountain, it features a unique five-story Tibetan carved architecture, embodying the essence of Tibetan plastic arts and earning the name "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 drive to China's first national park - Pudacuo National Park. Pudacuo National Park boasts 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 views. Then take the eco-friendly bus to Bita Lake. Bita Lake is known for its pagoda-shaped hills and clear, tranquil waters. Surrounding the lake are numerous tall trees, whose reflections in the water create stunning pictures. After the tour, on the way back to Shangri-La, you can visit a local Tibetan family, taste butter tea, and chat with the Tibetan people. Upon arriving in Shangri-La, you can visit the Dukezong Ancient Town, with over 1,300 years of history. Dukezong Ancient Town is the best-preserved and largest Tibetan residential complex in China and 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 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 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 view of the old 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 Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Jianshui, the Dongchuan Red Land, Dali, Lijiang, Xishuangbanna, and more, you can also contact our customer service to arrange them 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 plane (about 1 hour) to Kunming International Airport, where more flights are available.