Day 01 Arrival Kunming
Flight Information:Arrive in Kunming which has a nick name if “spring city” and meet with experienced English-speaking guide in the airport. and transfer by private bus to hotel. Then active freely. You can walk to Green Lake Park in the centre of Kunming by yourself.
-- Kunming is the capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, a primarily agricultural province of 45 million. Kunming has a population of five million and is located in one of the world's most geographically, ethnically, biologically and linguistically diverse regions. Situated at 1,900 meters (6,233ft) above sea level and 25° north of the Equator it has a rather unique and pleasant climate for a Chinese city.
Day 02 Kunming-Stone Forest-Jianshui
Sightseeing: the Stone Forest, the Old Jianshui City, Chaoyang Gateway Tour, the Jianshui Confucius Temple, the Garden of Family Zhu.
You will drive 86 km to the Stone Forest. There is a local saying: 'It is a waste of time not to visit the Stone Forest while visiting Kunming', which vividly expresses the deep love of the local people toward this world wonder. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder. And then, you'll drive around 4 hours to Jiangshui.
After arriving Jianshui, you'll visit the Old Jianshui City and the Chaoyang Gateway Tour, which was built in Ming Dynasty (1389). It is also known as 'Miniature Tian'an men' because the out shape of it is similar to Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. After that, you will visit the Confucius Temple, which has a history of 700 years. It is the second largest Confucius Temple in China. At last, you will visit a typical southern private garden-the Garden of Family Zhu.
Day 03 Jianshui-Yuanyang
Sightseeing: Tuanshan Village , the Garden of Family Zhang, the Swallow Cave, Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) Terrace Field of Yuanyang.
In the morning, you'll also visit Tuanshan Village and the Garden of Family Zhang; Tuanshan Village is a rare surviving example of an intact-albeit neglected-traditional walled Yunnan village compound in southyoustern China, and has been added to the 2005 list of internationally significant sites by the World Memorial Fund for Architecture (WMF), an international fund for the protection of world heritage sites.
And then, you'll visit the Swallow Cave. It is named that because there are more than ten thousands of swallows living in the cave; once they fly up, the scene just looks like a swallow river. You will degust the food made of swallow nest. You might also have a chance to see how people climb up to get the nest. After this, you will transfer to Yuanyang and enjoy the sight of terraced fields of Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) at sunset.
Day 04 Yuanyang
Sightseeing: Yuanyang Terrace Field, Doyishu Village ,Qingkou Hani Village.
You'll visit Doyishu Village to enjoy the sight of terraced fields when the sun appears above the eastern horizon. The terraced fields are ring upon ring and cascade one by one. They go along the hillside up to the sky. You will see the scenery of the terraced fields from the top of the mountains to the bottom. They are all farms under the sunshine and cloud and mist. The landscape is spectacular. And then, you will visit Qingkou Village where Hani people for generations inhabit.
Day 05 Yuanyang – Kunming (B+L+D)
Sightseeing:Xingmeng Mongolian Village.
Enjoy the morning sunrise rice terrace in Yuanyang, you'll drive back to Kunming. On the way, you'll visit a Mongolian village called Xingmeng.
Late afternoon, you will take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of teahouses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings.
Day 06 Kunming-Dali (B+L+D)
Sightseeing: the Erhai Lake Cruise, Xizhou Town , the Three-pagoda in Chongshen Temple. Special Experience: Taste the Bai Three Course Tea with ethnic dance and music.
Take a Morning flight to Dali. Dali, a historically and culturally famous city of China, is renowned for her historical interest. You'll travel in the Erhai Lake by boat and visit Jinsuo Island. After landing, you will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style architecture, taste their fragrant three-course tea and explore their distinctive culture.
And then, you will visit the Three-pagoda in Chongshen Temple, which is a typical historical symbol of Yunnan. It is also one of the oldest sublime architecture in South China. At last, you will visit the Old Dali Town, which is located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain.
Day 07 Dali – Lijiang (B+L+D)
Sightseeing: Zhoucheng Village and Bai Dyed Cloth Work Shop,,Black Dragon Pool, the Dongba Museum, Special Experience: Naxi Orchestral and Show in Dongba Palace. the Lijiang Old Town.
In the morning, before leaving for Lijiang, you will visit Zhoucheng Town and Bai people's Died Cloth Work Shop.Then drive to Lijiang ('Beautiful River', a name given by Kublai Khan in 1254.). You'll head for the scenic Black Dragon Pool and the Dongba Museum to explore the rich Naxi minority culture.
After dinner, you will attend the Naxi Orchestral and Show in Dongba Palace.the Lijiang Old Town.
Day 08 Lijiang-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain-Lijiang (B+L+D)
Sightseeing: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yak Meadow, Baisha Ancient Frescos and Village
Excursion to the whole year snow-covered Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with White Water River, taking chair lift ride to discover Yak Meadow, enjoy one of the view of the much famed 13 peaks on the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
In the afternoon, Descend and continue to visit Baisha Ancient Frescos in Baisha Naxi village, the frescos show a rich fusion of Han Buddhism, Daoism, Tibetan, Bai and Naxi Lamaism which was a tremendously powerful art of The murals done in early Ming Dynasty. Sightseeing of Yufeng Lama Temple, where there is the famous "King Camellia Tree" with thousands of blossom when blooming.
Day 09 Lijiang (B)
Optional Sightseeing: Shuhe Old Town, Lion Hil and Wangu Pagoda, Mu Chieftain’s Palace.
The whole day free in Lijiang Old Town, and explore the Naxi ethnic life by yourself. (Optional Tour) Shuhe Old Town is a charming town to visit for every client, because there is a traditional Naxi village where you can enjoy the drinking and food at the bank of the river in the farmland. You can rent a bike in Lijiang Old Town and ride to Shu about 5KM away from the Lijiang Old Town.
In the afternoon, you can visit the Wangu Pagoda on the top of the Lion Hill behind Lijiang Old Town; here you will have a wonderful panoramic view of Lijiang Old Town. You will walk down from the Lion Hill to Mu Chieftain’s Palace which is the local chieftain’s former residence.
Day 10 Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri La (B+L+D)
Sightseeing: the First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge
From Lijiang, you'll drive about 60KM to the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, and the Iron Chain Bridge in the Stone Drum town. The town of Stone Drum got its name from a large, cylindrical, marble tablet shaped like a drum. The scenery is magnificent as the road running through the Lijiang valley which is filled with wheat fields and drying haystacks. Continue the driving 40KM more to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river. Afternoon, you'll head for Shangri La, the former Zhongdian. Upon arrival in Shangri La, you will have entered the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields and yaks scattered in the valleys.
Day 11 Shangri La (B+L+D)
Sightseeing: the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the Bita Lake & Shudu Lake, the Old Town of Shangri La and the Guishan Park. Special Experience: Tibetan family Home-Made and the Butter Oil Tea.
In the morning, you'll visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. And afterwards you'll go and visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake. After having finished touring the Bita Lake & Shudu Lake, you'll visit the Old Town of Shangri La and the Guishan Park.
Towards evening you'll take yak butter tea and participate in Tibetan dances in the home of a local Tibetan family.
Day 12 Shangri La-Kunming-Departure (B)
Take the flight to Kunming and change the flight for your next destination.
Service ends.