8 Days Yunnan Leisure Tour of Kunming Dali Lijiang Shangri-La

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Kunming

   Welcome to the provincial capital city of Yunnan for an 8-day journey! After arriving in Kunming, your private driver will pick you up with a sign that reads 'China Xian Tour'. Then he/she will take you to the hotel in the city center for check-in.

   Please arrange the remaining time on your own. If you arrive early, you can visit Cuihu Park, aka Green Lake Park (no tour guide, by yourself). The park has a long history and is known for its year-round green bamboo, earning it the nickname of 'Kunming's Emerald'. There are many attractions worth visiting in the scenic area, such as the Fish Watching Tower architectural complex; Southwest Island, which features subtropical scenery; Shuiyue Pavilion (the main place for tourists to relax and exercise); and the Red billed Gulls.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Kunming

   

2. Day 2: Kunming to Dali Tour, Lijiang Arrival
   Explore Beautiful Lakes, Islands, and Artistic Heritage

   After breakfast, your Yunnan trip will take you to Dali. The car ride takes about 4 hours. Upon arrival, the local guide leads you to enjoy lunch. Your tour in Dali begins at Shuanglang, located on the east bank of Erhai Lake. Looking around, there are beautiful Yuji Island and Small Jinsuo Island, like a pair of mandarin ducks floating in the green Erhai Lake. You can rent a bicycle to ride along the lake (at your own expense) and feel the gentle breeze.

   Next is the Taiyang Palace, built on the rocks. It was originally a private residence of the famous Chinese dance artist Yang Liping, founded in 2000. The scenic area implements environmentalism by salvaging old fishing boats and transforming them into boards, beds, etc. Many of the furnishings and ornaments you see are performance props or everyday items modified from Yang Liping.

   After the visit, continue driving to Lijiang for the night.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lijiang

   

3. Day 3: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Adventure
   Appreciate Snow-capped Peaks, Blue Valleys, Cultural Spectacle

   Good morning. Today is a highlight of this 8-day Yunnan tour! Yulong (Jade Dragon) Snow Mountain, with an altitude of over 4,000 meters, boasts landscapes such as glaciers, alpine meadows, primitive forests, and snow capped mountains. Yulong Snow Mountain means silver-colored mountain rocks in Naxi. Thirteen snow peaks stretch endlessly, resembling a "giant dragon" soaring and dancing, hence it is called the "Jade Dragon".

   Entering the scenic area, we first arrive at the Ganhaizi Tourist Center. Ganhaizi is a plateau meadow surrounded by mountains on three sides, where tourists can enjoy a panoramic view of Yulong Snow Mountain. Take the cable car to Glacier Park (4680 meters), the largest glacier in Yulong Snow Mountain, with a total length of 2.9 kilometers. At the end of the glacier are various ice forests, which appear blue-green due to sunlight refraction.

   

   After descending the mountain, transfer to the bus towards Blue Moon Valley. The riverbed here consists of white limestone, which gives the entire river a whitish color. Thus it is called "Baishui (White Water) River". Because on sunny days the water appears blue, and the valley is crescent shaped, it is called "Blue Moon Valley". Seen from a distance, it resembles a blue moon set at the base of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

   In the afternoon, enjoy Impression Lijiang, which sits at 3,100 meters above sea level and has the incredible Yulong Snow Mountain as the natural backdrop. When you complete the show, you'll exit the Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Area and visit Black Dragon Pool, also known as Yuquan Park. Located at the base of Elephant Mountain, Deyue Tower is the symbol of the park, with the beautiful snow covered mountains behind it often seen in promotional videos.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lijiang

4. Day 4: Drive from Lijiang to Shangri-La
   Turn Prayer Wheel and Embrace Tibetan Spiritual Wonders

   After breakfast, we will drive to Shangri-La. Stop at the First Bend of Yangtze River along the way. The Yangtze River rushes down from the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, the roof of the world, and suddenly makes a sharp turn of over 100 degrees in Shasongbi Village, Shangri-La City, forming a rare "V" - shaped bend. People call this wonder the 'First Bend of the Yangtze River'.

   

   Continue driving north for about 2 hours to reach Shangri La City. Your visit to Shangri-La begins at Songzanlin Monastery. Known as the 'Little Potala Palace', this temple, built on the mountain, is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan. It looks like an ancient castle, with a total of five storeys. The top floor has a Buddhist hall dedicated to the statues of the 5th and 7th Dalai Lamas, as well as thangkas, artifacts, and so on.

   After the visit, walk up to the top of Guishan Hill. There you can see the world's largest prayer wheel, equivalent to 5 floors high. Join the masses and turn it around. It is said that rotating three times can help people dispel disasters and pray for blessings. At the mountaintop, enjoy a panoramic view of Dukezong Ancient Town.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Shangri-La

5. Day 5: Whole Day in Balagezong Scenic Area
   See Ancient Trees, Tibetan Villages, and Sacred Peaks

   Today, you will spend the whole day exploring the snow mountains, canyons, glaciers, rivers, plateau lakes, and pristine forests in the Balagezong Scenic Area. In addition, feel the rich Tibetan ethnic customs.

   After arriving at the scenic area, the tour guide will first take you to visit a Bodhi tree that is over 3,000 years old. Legend has it that Buddha Shakyamuni rested under this Bodhi tree during his preaching. This Bodhi tree has a shape resembling a phoenix; What's even more amazing is that a "hand" has grown from the waist of the tree and reached into the crevice of the rock, with its five fingers clearly defined.

   

   Continue your exploration to Bala Village, located on a mountainside at an altitude of 2,900 meters. The houses here are very unique, featuring Tibetan style earthen walls and watchtowers. The ground floor is usually used for raising livestock, the second floor is used as a kitchen, dormitory, and warehouse, and the third floor is used as a Buddhist hall and guest rooms.

   Your guide will help you to communicate with the villagers and experience the local culture.

   Afterward, visit the Shambhala Pagoda located in the northeast of Balagezong Mountain. This natural pyramid, together with the two large mountains in front of it, looks like a monk sitting and reciting scriptures. After the tour, return to Shangri La Hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Shangri-La

6. Day 6: Shangri-La to Dali Tour
   Enjoy a Slow-paced Stroll in Shaxi Ancient Town

   After breakfast, say goodbye to Shangri-La. We will drive to the slow-paced Shaxi Ancient Town. This used to be an important post station on the Tea Horse Ancient Road. Now this place is quieter, more quaint, and has better preserved the look of Tea Horse Town back then. So it is very suitable for a leisurely walk.

   Explore the local markets, where the vendors sell a variety of goods, from local agricultural products to traditional handicrafts. Afterward, enjoy a cup of coffee on a comfortable observation deck and overlook the distant town scenery.

   

   In the afternoon, drive back to Dali to visit Yangnan Creek and admire the vast sea of flowers. There is also a sand field and many bicycles here, which are very suitable for families with kids and couples.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Dali

7. Day 7: Dali Back to Kunming
   Walk Historic Streets, Admire Bai Culture, Savor Local Flavors Freely

   In the morning, your guide will show you around the Dali Ancient City. During the more than 500 year history of the Tang and Song dynasties, this old town was the political, economic, and cultural center of Yunnan.

   We enter through the South Gate (main entrance) and what caught our eye is the magnificent city tower. Climbing on it, you can overlook the panoramic view of the ancient city and the scenery of Erhai Lake (additional fee, optional). Continue walking along the central axis and you can see the Confucian Temple, the Grand Marshal's Mansion, and the Wuhua Tower in sequence. The guide will explain the history behind them to you.

   The ancient town is full of Bai ethnic customs, from architecture and cuisine to local handicrafts. If you are interested, you can purchase and taste ethnic snacks on your own.

   

   After the visit, we drive back to Kunming. After arrival, be led to visit Yu Garden, the private garden of Yu Enxi (former mayor of Kunming). His grandson is the famous Chinese singer Harlem Yu. In the late afternoon, stroll around the Nanqiang Market. This night market is not only a paradise for food lovers, but also a fantastic scene that can take tourists through time and space - old buildings from the late Qing Dynasty, shops in the style of the 1970s and 1980s...

   At the end of the tour, check into your hotel in Kunming.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Kunming

8. Day 8: Departure from Kunming

   This is the end of your 8-day private Yunnan tour to Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La. Your private driver will pick you up in the morning and send you to the airport for your departure. Thanks for choosing China Xian Tour and look forward to seeing you next time. Safe travels!

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A