Overview
One week tour for the essence of north Yunnan include Dali, Lijiang, Shaxi and Shangri-La
Kunming – Dali – Shaxi - Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Zhongdian
As plan a trip to Yunnan, the province’s northern part seems always come into the mind at the first, while Dali, Lijiang and Zhongdian almost become the synonym of experience Yunnan province. This beautiful tour covers the most scenic places plus lesser-visited old town of Shaxi, takes us to the Yunnan's jewel regions. Despite experiencing a few towns, nowhere in Yunnan as here concentrates so impressive physical and cultural variety in such short durations. Dali, is the ancient capital of thrived Nanzhao kingdom and is the Bai inhabitation favored as essential of touring Yunnan. Shaxi, once the crucial outpost on one of the old Tea-Horse trading routes, reserves many cultural treasures intact and untouched but gorgeous; Lijiang, is a age-old town home to Naxi, with maze of cobbled lanes winding along the streams; Zhongdian, known as Shangri-La, once a yak-town dotting the wide windswept meadows filled with wildflowers, is where you begin to breathe in the close Tibetan world. Moving from lower altitude Dali to higher Zhongdian, across multiple ethnic hamlets, through lush woods to barley fields, past a fabulous, deep and wooded gorge, the scenes change dramatically from the humble rolling plain to sublime wildness of highland, offering the delight of crossing in between. This is a truly ideal and paced tour for glimpse the celebrated parts of Yunnan, for its landscapes, ethnics, culture, ecology, and contemporary lifestyles, just within one week!
Outline Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival Kunming & City Sightseeing (D)
Day 02 Flight to Dali (B)
Day 03 Explore hidden old town Shaxi (B)
Day 04 Drive to Lijiang & Leisure in Old Town (B)
Day 05 Lijiang & Around (B)
Day 06 Zhongdian via Tiger Leaping Gorge (B)
Day 07 Zhongdian Sightseeing (B)
Day 08 Zhongdian Departure (B)
Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Kunming & City Sightseeing (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.
Day 02: Flight to Dali (B)
Take the morning flight to Dali. Later explore Dali from attending the fabulous morning market in the nearby Xizhou, witness old lifestyles long-standing among the local people. Complex of age-old Bai private houses is still well-preserved include Yan’s compound. Try local snacks of Xizhou Baba and the fragrant Three-course Tea, a tea drinking ceremony of the Bai minority. Visit Zhoucheng, a village famed for Bai’s Tie-dyeing art. Boating on Erhai Lake, gaze at the cormorant fishing in old ways. Then 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 leisurely walk 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: 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 04: 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 05: 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 06: Zhongdian via Tiger Leaping Gorge (B)
Today drive to Zhongdian, known as Shangrila for its natural beauty. On the way, stop at Shigu township for the U-shaped vista of the First Bend of Yangtze River. At town of Qiaotou, visit Tiger Leaping Gorge. Take short hike down to the bottom of the gorge, up-close view the raging Jinshajiang River plunges through sharp, large rocks and crashes down into the river forming swirling whirlpools. As the countryside changes to Tibetan barley fields and villages, Zhongdian is arrived. 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 07: 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. In the afternoon, drive northwest for about 20km for visiting a fascinated village of Nixi, is renowned for its black pottery made at home by village people, dating back some 1,000 years.
Day 08: 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 flagstone streets of ancient Dali old town
- Discover Shaxi & Jianchuan, the crucial nodes on the old Tea-Horse route
- Get lost amongst the ancient and intriguing cobblestone town of Lijiang
- Explore Shangri-la by the hints from Lost Horizon at your own eyesight
- Lose breath for the fabulous, deep, and awe-inspiring Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Experience the unique Bai, Naxi & Tibetan cultures, religions, and lifestyles
