A Taste of Yunnan | 5-Day Lijiang and Shangri-La Tour

Welcome to Lijiang. Our guide will greet you at the arrival hall of the airport or railway station and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. After a short rest, head out to visit 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 Ancient Tea Horse Road. First, you will visit the Mu Mansion, 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 viewpoint to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the old town with the snow mountain as a backdrop. Afterward, 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 Old Town, enjoying the picturesque scenery and the spectacular reflection of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on the water. How to Get There 1. By Air: Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG) has many direct flights, such as from Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Changsha, and Wuhan. 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 from Guilin (11.26 hours). 3. Lijiang Old Town: Lijiang Airport is about 28 kilometers from Lijiang Old Town, approximately 45 minutes by car; Lijiang Railway Station is about 10 kilometers from the old town, approximately 26 minutes by car. Evening Activity Suggestions 1. Best places to photograph the night view of Lijiang Old 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 (Naxi bonfire party after 7 PM), Wuyi Street, Xinhua Street, Zhongyi Market, etc.

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, accompanied by magnificent scenery along the way, up to Yunshanping at an altitude of 3,240 meters. 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 a sightseeing bus to Blue Moon Valley. Blue Moon Valley consists of 4 lakes and 1 river, among which Yuye Lake and Baishui River are the most worth seeing. On sunny days, Yuye Lake's water is clear and blue, like a precious mirror, while Baishui River appears white overall because the water flows over white stones, hence its name. 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 outdoor performance "Impression Lijiang." The performance is mainly song and dance, lasting about 1 hour, vividly showcasing the traditional lifestyle 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 Baisha Murals were created during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Their most distinctive feature is that in a single mural, you can see images from Han Buddhism, Taoism, and Lamaism, which is very rare. Finally, return to Lijiang. If you still have energy, you can stop by Shuhe Ancient Town on 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 come to 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 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 walkway/elevator (additional charge required) 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 to 2.5 hours by car). Upon arrival, go to the hotel to check in, and you can enjoy free time afterwards.

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, gathering the essence of Tibetan plastic arts, and is 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 boardwalk 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 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 Old Town], which has a history of more than 1,300 years. Dukezong Old Town is the best-preserved and largest Tibetan residential complex in China and was also an important town on the Tea Horse Road. Here you can see various Tibetan-style dwellings, temples, pagodas, etc., 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 position to overlook the entire old town. Optional evening activities: Around 7 PM, you can go to Sifang Square to watch local people perform traditional Tibetan dances; around 9 PM, the entire old town lights up, a good time to enjoy the night view of the old town.

After breakfast, the tour comes to an end. Our guide or driver will transfer you to the airport or railway station for your next destination. If you wish to extend this trip and explore more attractions, such as Kunming, Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Jianshui, Dongchuan Red Land, Dali, Xishuangbanna, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you. Travel Tips: 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 the high-speed train (approximately 5.5 hours) or a flight (approximately 1 hour) to Kunming International Airport, where more flights are available.