Overview
Explorations penetrate into Yunnan’s celebrated towns & also hidden villages
Dali, Lijiang and Zhongdian are no doubt the Yunnan’s most celebrated travel destinations and have always been a dream ‘hunting ground’ for westerners since a century. Loafing here for a couple of days is a typical Yunnan experience as the most. Indeed, ones come to here because of the region’s fame, nevertheless, not only the fame definitely. You may also claim to discover some more intact and beautiful sites to add on the essential trip and revive origins of the past local living ways. We always respect and quite understand your unique demands, therefore this distinctive tour is specially crafted. The itinerary covers the regular tourists' sites, as well as some little-known places. It gives sufficient time but gentle pace to overall getting the full flavour of this remarkable region, meet multiple ethnic people and their cultures, wander in ancient cobblestone towns, witness the mind-blowing vistas. It offers you personal explorations or leisure free to just hang-out in tea houses and café, but also provides the active opportunities for joyous lake shore cycling and strenuous hikes through breathtaking gorges. In between, some fascinated villages and extant outposts along ancient Tea-Horse trading route will be added up, which are all lesser visited and real deal. Inhabited by many minority groups, the region is also colorful for the dazzling festivals, often happened from spring to autumn. Please check out the exactly festival dates with us in order to incorporate your own travel schedule and attend those gorgeous feasts, if you are interested in.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival Kunming & Overnight Train to Dali (D)
Day 02 Dali Arrival & Sightseeing (B)
Day 03 & 04 Cycling around Erhai Lake (B)
Day 05 Explore hidden old town Shaxi (B)
Day 06 Drive to Lijiang & Leisure in Old Town (B)
Day 07 Lijiang & Around (B)
Day 08 -09 Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking (B)
Day 10 Zhongdian via White Water Terrace (B)
Day 11 Zhongdian Sightseeing (B)
Day 12 Tibetan village’s visit & Free leisure (B)
Day 13 Zhongdian Departure (B)
Get Inspired
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Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Kunming & Overnight Train to Dali (D)
Upon arrival in Kunming and transferred to hotel. After some rest visit Bamboo Temple, a Buddhist temple established during the Tang Dynasty, displayed exquisite 500 arhats sculptures. Then take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of teahouses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and paintings. Later free wander the interesting flower market. Dinner will be served as the local flavor mushroom hot pot, one of Yunnan’s characters with infinite varieties. In the night, transfer to the Kunming train station and take the overnight train to Dali (or optional overnight in Kunming and take the next day early morning flight to Dali).
Day 02: Dali Arrival & Sightseeing (B)
The train arrives at Dali in the early morning. Explore Dali from nearby Dong Lianhua Village, a charming village populated by Hui Muslim with complex of old architectures constructed early of 20th century. Later take the cable car to one of the Dali’s landmark of Cangshan Mountain, walk along the side path for the spectacular views over the Dali valley and Erhai Lake below. Rest time take leisurely walks in Dali old town, step on flagstone streets, look around delicate courtyards, fall in beautiful handcrafts, hang out yourself in bars or tea houses in Foreigner’s Street, take an overlook for Three-pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, visit an interesting Catholic church built in 1927 and framed in typical Bai’s architecture features.
Day 03 & 04: Cycling around Erhai Lake (B)
Spend two days to ride loop of the stunning Erhai Lake, the seventh-biggest freshwater lake in China. This delightful cycling crosses either rolling hills or flat terrain dominated by many fascinated ethnic villages for your exploring. Start the bike to Three Pagodas which is great for photos, and continue to cycle along the western bank of the lake, through some Bai villages with schools, temples and farms. About 2.5 hours later, arrives at Xizhou, attending the fabulous morning market, a great chance to see colors and traditions of local lifestyles; visit the exquisite Bai private house, some are constructed since Qing Dynasty. Next, cycling straight up to Zhoucheng, a village famed for Bai’s Tie-dyeing art. The trail then turns off the main road to the eastern shore of the lake, slices through the fields to Shuanglang, a lakeside fishing village attracted many artists to set homes here, where we also spend a calm night. The next morning, continue biking to Wase and other small fishing villages, then return to Dali by catching a ferry after the Sky Mirror Pavilion.
Day 05: Explore hidden old town Shaxi (B)
Take the way northward to Shaxi via Jianchuan, where has the China’s heaviest Bai minority population. In Jianchuan, wander the flagstone alleyways for extant Ming and Qing architectures, visit a nearby village to get insight of the extraordinary woodcarvings that widely decorated on those old houses. Later visit Shibao Mountain, a notable site with the exquisite Buddhist grottos and the best Bai stone carvings. Shaxi, a serene and pristine small town, while the crucial outpost on one of the old Tea-Horse trading routes. Explore the extremely pretty old town, cross the ancient stone bridge, walking the same trail as the horse caravans.
Day 06: Drive to Lijiang & Leisure in Old Town (B)
Enjoy the calm morning of Shaxi, then takes around 2 hours drive to Lijiang. Rest time sink yourself in old town of Lijiang, famed for its brilliant ancient architectures, unique Dongpa pictographic script, excellent traditional music, and fabulous lifestyles of Naxi people. Explore the town through deep alleys spreading out in all directions, visit the Mu’s Palace, the former residence of the chieftain Mu Clan that ruled Naxi people for over 400 years. As the way up the hill behind it, get a finest bird’s view of panoramic Lijiang old town. Later visit Black Dragon Pond, where offers the best view of the majestic backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Get insight about Naxi Dongba cultures and traditions in Dongba Culture Museum. In evening time, many joyous Naxi square folk dances could watch in central Sifang Street, join them or just take a look.
Day 07: Lijiang & Around (B)
Today out of Lijiang to visit a pristine village of Yuhu (Jade Lake Village), where gains the name due to a nearby turquoise lake. Additionally, it is the ancient home of famed botanist Joseph Rock who lived here decades of earlier 20th century. Horse trek or moderate hike around for pretty countryside views. Next, visit Baisha village and see the ancient murals preserved there, fusion of Chinese Taoist, Tibetan and Naxi Buddhists and Dongba shamans. Another ancient town of Shuhe will also be visited in the late afternoon. Situated at the foot of Jade Snow Dragon Mountain, Shuhe is one of the earliest settlements for Naxi people and is a former staging post on the Tea-Horse trading route.
Day 08 -09: Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking (B)
Drive to Qiaotou, from where starts the 2 days strenuous trekking amidst Tiger Leaping Gorge, the earliest hike route in Yunnan since 1980s. As one of the deepest canyon in the world, the trek crosses the Tiger Leaping Gorge, offering the most naturally beautiful and magnificent landscapes along the way. Starts the trekking from the upper gorge at Qiaotou, the trail turns up many zigzagging ascents or descents, flat path or cliffy roads, gives you rich experiences through quiet ethnic villages, shady forest, splashing waterfall, raging river, blustery precipice and verdant terraced farmland. The highlight vistas of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain could be seen at many stops or turns, make the trip truly amazing and unforgettable!
Day 10: Zhongdian via White Water Terrace (B)
Wake up early morning, if weather permits, we could be able to see the first sunlight sprinkling on the white-capped Haba Snow Mountain. After breakfast, we drive to Zhongdian via Baishuitai (White Water Terrace), which is famed for the limestone terraces and believed to be the birthplace of Naxi Dongba culture. In Zhongdian, free stroll in Gyalthang old town. In the evening around 7pm, there are often street dances at the central square, you can join them and have fun.
Day 11: Zhongdian Sightseeing (B)
Morning visit Gedan Sumtseling Monastery, built by the fifth Dalai Lama during 16th century, it is the most important site in Shangri-la. Later visit Shangri-La Institute sponsored by an international funds for universal education and ecology. Visit school facilities and interesting artworks made by local students. After lunch, take a beautiful trail to a tranquil Tibetan village of Chuni, the colorful wildflowers carpeted verdant meadows extending as far as distant serenity. Hike up to nearby Hampi Gompa, set on atop of hill and built as the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Zhongdian though it is small in size.
Day 12: Tibetan village’s visit & Free leisure (B)
Today morning take the Yunnan-Tibet highway and drive northwest for about 20km for visiting a fascinated village of Nixi, where is renowned for its black pottery made at home by village people, dating back some 1,000 years. On return you may like to relax in any of personal favorite tea house or café in the Gyalthang old town, have a coffee to enjoy the tinkling bells of the nearby temple. Or you may explore the town by your own, wandering or looking around.
Day 13: Zhongdian Departure (B)
Transfer to the airport flying out for Lhasa, Kunming or Chengdu, or extend the trip to overland western Sichuan.
Experiences & Activities
- Step back in time in Dali old town & Biking around stunning Erhai Lake
- Discover Shaxi & Jianchuan, the crucial nodes on the old Tea-Horse route
- Laze in the intriguing cobblestone town of Lijiang & its vicinity
- Trek the awesome Tiger Leaping Gorge amid soaring cliffs and waterfalls
- Visit the White Water Terrace, the birth place for Naxi’s Dongba culture
- Explore Shangri-la by the hints from Lost Horizon at your own eyesight
- Experience the Bai, Hui, Naxi, Tibetan & Yi cultures, religions, and lifestyles
