Northern Yunnan Scenery | 6-Day Tour of Lijiang, Shangri-La and Kunming

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 Old Town. [Lijiang Old Town] is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a history of over 800 years and was once an important town on the Tea Horse Road. You will first visit the [Mu Mansion] inside the old 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 old 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] north of Lijiang Old Town to enjoy the beautiful surrounding scenery and the magnificent view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflected on the water. How to arrive 1. By plane: 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 Old Town: Lijiang Airport is about 28 kilometers from Lijiang Old Town, about 45 minutes by car; Lijiang Railway Station is about 10 kilometers from the old town, about 26 minutes by car. Evening activity suggestions 1. Best places to photograph the night view of Lijiang Old Town: Xianwen Lane, Zhenxing Lane, South Gate Bridge, Fengling Street, and Cherry Blossom Restaurant, etc. 2. Best places to experience nightlife, bars, and night markets: Sifang Street (Naxi bonfire party after 7 PM), 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 got its name because it resembles a jade dragon in winter. You can take a cable car up to Spruce Meadow at an altitude of 3,240 meters while enjoying the 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 enjoying the view, take the cable car down and transfer to a sightseeing bus to Blue Moon Valley. Blue Moon Valley has four lakes and one river, 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, lasting about 1 hour, vividly showcasing the traditional lifestyle of the local Naxi people. Afterward, leave Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and head to Baisha Old 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, Daoism, and Lamaism—content from different religious schools—which is very rare. Finally, return to Lijiang. If you still have energy, you can stop for a while at Shuhe Old Town along the way, stroll through the peaceful and tranquil old 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 arrive at the First Bend of the Yangtze River, to admire the rare V-shaped turn formed by the majestic Yangtze River being blocked by the mountain terrain, and climb onto the viewing platform to overlook the spectacular panorama of the over 100-degree bend. Afterwards, 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 rushing down, and you can also descend along the boardwalk/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 by car). Upon arrival, check in at the hotel, and then you have 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 monastery features a unique five-story Tibetan carved architectural style, embodying the essence of Tibetan plastic arts, and is also known as a "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 Lamuyangcuo Lake. In the afternoon, you will drive to 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 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 walkway 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 water. Around the lake are many tall trees, whose reflections in the water form stunning 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 was also an important town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Here you can see various Tibetan-style dwellings, temples, and pagodas, learn about Tibetan culture, climb Guishan Hill to turn the world's largest prayer wheel together with locals to pray for yourself or your relatives and friends, 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 ancient town.

This morning, we will take you to Shangri-La Airport to board a direct flight to Kunming (about 1 hour). After arriving at Kunming Airport, our local guide and driver will greet you at the exit and begin today's Kunming tour. Today's main visit is 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.

This morning, you will visit the Western Hills. Located by the shore of Dianchi Lake, the Western Hills offer a panoramic view of the beautiful Dianchi Lake from the summit and are an excellent destination for leisurely hiking and enjoying natural beauty. On the Western Hills, you can also visit the Dragon Gate Grottoes, the largest and most exquisite Daoist grottoes in Yunnan. These grottoes are set into sheer cliffs, like a magnificent work co-created by nature and humans, and each grotto has its own unique history and stories. Tip: The half-day Western Hills tour generally includes round-trip sightseeing bus, one one-way cable car, and one one-way electric cart within the scenic area. After visiting the Western Hills, return to downtown Kunming and visit Yuantong Temple. Yuantong Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Kunming, with a 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 well known in southwestern China and Southeast Asia, with flourishing incense offerings. After the visit, this wonderful 6-day Lijiang, Shangri-La, and Kunming tour will come to an end. Our guide will transfer you to the airport or railway station for your next destination. Extend Your Trip 1. If you want to spend more time in Kunming, you can add a day tour to visit Yunnan Provincial Museum, Guandu Old Town, Dounan Flower Market (the largest fresh-cut flower trading market in Asia), and Nanqiang Street Night Market, etc. 2. If you want to continue exploring other distinctive attractions in Yunnan, such as Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Jianshui, Dongchuan Red Land, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Xishuangbanna, etc., you can contact our customer service to arrange it for you. 3. If you want to continue exploring other cities in China, such as Chengdu, Tibet, Xi'an, Beijing, Shanghai, etc., we can also plan a perfect trip for you.