Kunming Changshui International Airport (Google Map)
Kunming Changshui International Airport (Google Map)
Day 1 Kunming (-/-/-)
Transfer via: flight arrive Kunming arrange by you.
Meet you at Kunming Changshui airport and transfer you to hotel for your check-in. After check-in, you will have free time to explore around Kunming city, such as the Golden Horse&Phoenix Archway and Green Lake.
Day 2 Kunming to Jinghong (B/L/-)
Transfer via: flight arrange by us
After breakfast, drive you to Stone Forest. It will take about two hours from Kunming to Stone Forest. After finishing this trip, drive you to Kunming airport for catching your flight to Jinghong in the late afternoon.
Stone Forest Located in the southeast of Kunming, is 86km away from the city center. With the process of erosion, it was created and shaped an art gallery of stone sculpture. Stone Forest is known as the “First Wonder of the World”. There is a local saying “It”s a waste of time without being in the stone Forest when you travel in Kunming.
Jinghong means “the City of Dawn” in the Dai language, and is the capital city of Xishuangbanna Da Autonomus Prefecture.
Day 3 Jinghong (B/L/-)
After breakfast, drive you to Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, where you can get close to the unique tropical flora in Yunnan, and take a stop at the Olive Plain(Ganlanba).
Ganlanba is located in the lower reaches of Lancang River, 40kms from Jung Hong city and it is the fourth biggest dam of the 23 dams in Xishuangbanna. There is a saying that one’s visit to Xishuangbanna is not complete without visiting Olive Plain. Though it has a little exaggeration to say that, there are some reasons for it. It’s full with tropical plants and fruits.
Menglun Tropical Botany Garden: Located on Hulu Island of Menglun Township, The Tropical Botany Garden of Menglun is 96 kilometers from Jinghong City. It was founded in 1958 and is currently playing an important role in research in the areas of medicinal plants, taxonomy, economic plants and biochemistry.
Day 4 Jinghong (B/L/-)
Full day trip to Wild Elephant Valley, which is 40 minutes driving away from Jinghong city.
Wild Elephant Valley is to the North of Jinghong City, about 50 kilometers far. It actually is a nature reserve for tropical rainforest and wild lives. Here in jungle live about 70 wild Asian elephants. Wild elephants usually come out at night, so people built a small hotel on tops of trees in forest for tourists who want to observe wild elephants closely.
Day 5 Jinghong / Dali (B/L/-)
Transfer via: flight arrange by us
In this morning, fly to Dali. and then drive you to Erhai Lake, where you can take a cruise and visit Jinsuo Island. Erhai Lake has formed one of the most beautiful and best known scenery in China. After landing, lead you to Three Pagoda and Dali Ancient Town. The main attractions of Dali are the ancient town, the Chongsheng pagoda and the surrounding countryside. Dali was once the ancient capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom for hundreds of year since Tang dynasty to Yuan dynasty till Mongols took over it. However, its important role in trading on the ancient Tea-Horse-Caravan has never changes.
Erhai Lake , Chinese meaning is “ear-shaped sea”, is situated at 1,972 m above sea level. In size, the North-South length of the lake is 40 km and the East-West width is roughly 7-8 km. Its area is 250 km², making it the second largest highland lake of China, after Dianchi Lake. When you arrive at there, you can have an Erhai Lake cruise to explore the beautiful scenery.
Three Pagodas are one kilometer away from north of Dali. The styles of the three pagodas are similar. The main pagoda is “Qianxun Pagoda”. It is a square pagoda and it is 69.13 meters high. Its molding and style were imitated the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian and the Song Yue Monastery Pagoda in Henan Province.
Dali Ancient Town is a magical fascinating place with an international flair. It attracts lots of tourists from all over the world annual. Far-reaching Dali history, it’s known as “literature of the state” good reputation. Due to its long history, there are lots of cultural relics.
Day 6 Dali to Lijiang (B/L/-)
Today’s highlights are Mt. Cangshan, Xizhou Village, Black Dragon Pool and Wangu Pavilion.
After breakfast, drvie to Mt.Cangshan for a visit.
Mt.Cangshan‘s 19 peaks extend 50km north to south in their column formation like a screen. The peaks, straight and magnificent, are overgrown with primeval forests, and 18 springs and streams filled with crystal-clear waters serpentine among them. Waterfalls and surging rivers emit thunderous roars.
And then drive to Lijiang. On the way to Lijiang, pay a visit to Xizhou village, where you can appreciate the Bai-style architecture, taste their fragrant three-course tea and explore their distinctive culture.
After arrive Lijiang, go to visit Black Dragon Pool and Wangu Pavilion.
Wangu Pavilion is at the top of Lion Hill within the Old Town district. It has the appearance of an older building, but it was constructed in 1997, the year that Lijiang was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Evening, you can optional to enjoy the Ancient Naxi Music in the center of the city.
Day 7 Lijiang (B/L/-)
Today, you are going to visit Baisha Mural Paintings, Yufeng Temple,and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
After breakfast, drive you to visit Baisha River where is near Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. On the way to Baishui River, you can have a short stop at Baisha Village to experience the local Naxi people’s life and Baisha Mural Paintings. And then go to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. It stretches a length of 35 kilometers and a width of 20 kilometers. Looking from Lijiang Ancient Town in the south, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon laying in the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. And then you also can pay a visit to Yak Meadow (Maoniuping), where Part of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, where the Yi and Zang Minority Ethnic Tribes live.
Baisha Mural Paintings Located in Baisha Township, 8km north of Lijiang, Baisha Mural Paintings have 53 groups of mural paintings in different temples with fine and smooth lines, bright colors, vivid patterns and harmonious composition. Baisha Mural Paintings is the combination of Naxi, Tibetan, Bai and Han artistic designs. Most of the murals vividly describe the religious stories of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.
Yufeng Temple:It is known in English as Jade Peak Temple. The temple shows distinctive architectural style of Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism and the local Naxi Dongba Religion as a result of the cultural fusion between different minoritiesin the Qing Dynasty.
Day 8 Lijiang to Shangri-La (B/L/-)
Drive you to Shangri-La in the morning. You will pay a visit at Tiger Leaping Gorge and the First Bend of the Yangtze River on the way to Shangri-la. Then transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is 60km away from Lijiang city, overall length is 16km, which is eastward Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and westward Baha Snow Mountain in a series of rapids under steep 2000 meter cliffs. It’s one of the deepest gorges in the world.
Day 9 Shangri-la (B/L/-)
Today we will have a full day to explore the wonderful place-Shangri-La.
After breakfast, we will visit the famous Pudacuo National Park which well-known as its plants, lakes, unique animals and birds. And then go to visit Songzanlin Monastery which called “little Potala Palace”. In the evening, you will have your free time to explore the ancient town of Shangri-La.
Pudacuo National Park , established in June, 2007 as the first in a planned series of parks designed to meet the meet the exacting standards set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It contains endemic species of fish found nowhere else in the world, rare and beautiful orchids, black-necked cranes, and taxus yunnanensis, a yew whose extracts are indispensable to the creation of many cancer-treating drugs.
Songzanlin Monastery Located 4 km north of Zhongdian County, Songzanlin Monastery is a miniature version of the Tibetan Lhasa Potala Monastery with its own statues and paintings of deities and lamas. The large prayer hall is able to accommodate more than 1000 people. There are monks chanting and offer blessing to visitors, very peaceful and serene. You can experience this beautiful sense during the tour.
Day 10 Shangri-La / Lijiang / Tengchong (B/-/-)
Transfer via: flight arranged by us
This morning, transfer to the Lijiang Airport (5.5 hours driving)for catching your flights to Tengchong. Our guide and driver will pick you up in Tengchong airport, transfer you to the hotel.
Day 11 Tengchong (B/L/-)
Today we will visit the famous Rehai Park and Tengchong Volcano Park in Tengchong, you could relax yourself and enjoy the beautiful view over there. Besides that, yoou could choose to have a hot sprint bath or have a therapeutic massage (optional).
Rehai (Hot Sea) : The main attraction there is called Dagunguo (Big Boiling Bowl), a large spring that reaches a temperature of 97 degrees centigrade. Locals offer visitors eggs cooked in the spring’s heat. Hot water is ejected intermittently into the nearby streams with a thunderous roar. The water in the hot spring contains a wide variety of minerals, and the sulphur in it benefits our skin and body very much. Among the numerous smaller springs and geysers, the park also has cooler springs suitable for a swim, including Frog Mouth, Lion Head, Pearl Spring and Drum-beat Spring.
Tengchong Volcano Park is known for its geothermal springs and remains of ancient volcanoes. There are altogether 97 volcanoes including 25 ones with well-preserved conformations (craters, volcanic cones). With diversified volcanic cones, the park also boasts dozens of pedionites with considerable coverage and mild gradients.
Day 12 Tengchong (B/L/-)
Today we will visit Beihai Wetland Nature Reserve and Dieshuihe Waterfall, in the afternoon pay a visit to a beautiful traditional village, as well as the famous country of overseas Chinese town, Heshun town! Enjoy the relaxing evening in Tengchong town.
Beihai Wetland Nature Reserve (North Sea) , located in the northwest to the county, 12.5 kilometers from the city, is the only national wetland protection zones in Yunnan Province. It has highly eco-tourism and scientific exploration value. The broad expanse of paddyfields and lakes, bamboo-made bridges and little boats sliding along the river create a quiet and peaceful scene.
Dieshuihe Waterfall is 1 km away from Tengchong county. As a part Tengyue tourism culture garden, it is one of the twelve scenic spots of Tengchong– “Screen of Dragon Cave”. The waterfalls are 46m high which is the only volcano barrier waterfalls in the city of China.
Heshun Township is the most ancient town of the region, 4 km from Tengchong. This place still holds the tranquility and the simplicity that Lijiang Old Town lost during its development and commercialization in the last decade. Heshun means peace and harmony, is a very beautiful place with many ornamental structures like pavilions, memorial halls or archways, lotus ponds, marble balustrades, etc. From ancient times on, it has been a place where talented people were brought up. Many of the Heshunxiang people who live abroad are successful businessmen or scholars of great attainments doing their bits for the prosperity of the countries they reside.
Day 13 Tengchong to Kunming(B/L/-)
Transfer via: AM flight arranged by us
Take an Early morning flight back to Kunming. Be met at Kunming Airport and then transfer to West Hill for a visit. On the West Hill, there is a special gate called Dragon Gate where can get a commanding view of the famous Dianchi Lake. and then explore Kunming Bird & Flower Market.
West Hill is very beautiful with lush vegetation, blooming flowers, green grass and tranquil surroundings. West Hill has enjoyed great fame for its beautiful and unique natural scenery since ancient time and was renowned as “the most beautiful place in Yunnan”.
Dragon Gate，also called Datiange, which is a temple eyrie on the side of a sheer cliff Arhat Peak. It’s an ideal place to get some idea of how magnificent the sights are. Standing at the Dragon Gate, you can enjoy the beauty of the vast Dianchi Lake. It was said, “Once on the Dragon Gate, your fortune will be made.”
Bird & Flower Market One of the more interesting attractions within the central downtown area of Kunming, and a great place to shop for a lot of different things like clothes, name chops, dice, outdoor equipment, camping and hunting gear, birds, flowers, live baby turtles, pirated movies, music, games or dried lizards on sticks. It’s open roughly from 9am-6pm, but all of the individual shopkeepers keep whatever hours they like.
Day 14 Kunming / Departure (B/-/-)
Transfer via: TBA-flight on your own arrangement
This morning is free for you to explore around Kunming until be transferred you to Kunming airport for catching your flight.
