11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Jianshui Old Town and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
Tour Overview
Yunnan, whose name literally means south of the clouds, has a history of over 2400 years with exotic indigenous cultural heritage, a pleasant climate and picturesque scenery. During this...
Code of Tour: CDT0000000879
Length of Travel: 11 Day
Destinations of Tour: Kunming-Shilin-Jianshui-Yuanyang-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La
Departure City: Kunming
Price of Tour: Request
Type of Tour: Private
Features of Tour: Nature Minority Landscape
Yunnan, whose name literally means south of the clouds, has a history of over 2400 years with exotic indigenous cultural heritage, a pleasant climate and picturesque scenery. During this tour, besides the popular destinations of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangrila, we will also head to experience the culture of Jianshui Old Town and also enjoy the spectacular landscape of Yuanyang Rice Terraces.
Highlights:
- Experience the culture of Jianshui Old Town.
- Enjoy the spectacular landscape of Yuanyang Rice Terraces.
- Discover the natural beauty and ethnic groups in Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangrila.
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Kunming Arrival
- Day 2: Kunming – Stone Forest – Jianshui
- Day 3: Jianshui – Yuanyang
- Day 4: Yuanyang
- Day 5: Yuanyang – Kunming
- Day 6: Kunming – Dali
- Day 7: Dali – Lijiang
- Day 8: Lijiang
- Day 9: Lijiang- Shangri-La
- Day 10: Shangri-La
- Day 11: Shangrila Departure
Google Map
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Kunming Arrival
Sightseeing and Activities: Green Lake Park
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals:
Airport-Hotel transfer. If time allows, wander at the Green Lake Park and enjoy the local dancing and singing.
Day 2 Kunming -Stone Forest – Jianshui
Sightseeing and Activities: the Stone Forest, the Old Jianshui City, Chaoyang Gateway Tour, Family Zhu Family Garden
Accommodation: Jianshui
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, 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. Then drive around 4 hours to Jiangshui.
After Jianshui arrival, visit the Jianshui Old Town and the Chaoyang Gateway, 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. Visit a typical southern private garden – the Garden of Family Zhu.
Day 3 Jianshui – Yuanyang
Sightseeing and Activities: Jianshui Confucius Temple, Tuanshan Village and Zhang Family Garden, the sunset of Laohuzui Terrace Field
Accommodation: Yuanyang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, visit the Confucius Temple, the second largest Confucius Temple in China with a history of 700 years. Then continue the tour to 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 southwestern 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.
After the visit, transfer to Yuanyang and enjoy the sunset of Laohuzui(Tiger Mouth) terraced fields.
Day 4 Yuanyang
Sightseeing and Activities: sunrise, Doyishu Village, Qingkou Hani Ethnic Village, Bada Rice Terrace, Shengcun Market, the sunset of Longshuba Rice Terraces
Accommodation: Yuanyang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Get up early in the morning. Head to visit Doyishu Village and enjoy the sunrise of Duoyishu Rice Terrace Fields. Then go along the hillside up to the sky and enjoy the spectacular landscape. And then, visit Qingkou Village where Hani people for generations inhabit, Bada Hani Rice Terrace, Shengcun Market as well. At last, enjoy the sunset of Longshuba Rice Terraces in the late afternoon about 5 KM away from Xinjie Town.
Day 5 Yuanyang – Kunming
Sightseeing and Activities: Xiushan Mountain Park, the Six Gezi Wooden Caving Doors in Sansheng Palace and Xingmeng Mongolian Village
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, drive back to Kunming. On the way, visit Xiushan Mountain Park, the Six Gezi Wooden Caving Doors in Sansheng Palace and Xingmeng Mongolian Village.
Arrive in Kunming in the late afternoon.
Day 6 Kunming – Dali
Sightseeing and Activities: Three-pagodas, Erhai Lake Cruise, Dali Ancient Town
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Take the morning flight to Dali. Dali is renowned for her historical interest and Bai ethnic culture.
After arrival, visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain facing to the Erhai Lake. After lunch, cruise on Erhai Lake by the small boat to the Jinsuo Islet in the east Erhai Lake. At last, visit the Ancient Dali Town, including Foreign street, ancient city wall and Tower Gate.
Day 7 Dali – Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities: Xizhou Town, Zhoucheng Village, Black Dragon Pool, Dongba Museum, Lijiang Ancient Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, drive about 3-4 hours to Lijiang. On the way, pay a visit to the Bai Minority Traditional Houses in Xizhou, which is the place where the best and most of Bai Minority Traditional Houses are preserved. Then move on to Zhoucheng nearby and visit the traditional hand-made Tie Dyeing.
Upon Lijiang arrival, visit the Black Dragon Pool Park and the Dongba Cultural Museum. By visiting this museum, learn more about Dongba culture preserved by Naxi People. The last stop is Lijiang Old Town. With a history of more than 800 years, Lijiang Old Town was listed as the World Cultural Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1997.
Day 8 Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Impression Lijang Ethnic Show, Baisha Old Town and Murals
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, drive to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. About 15 kilometers from Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the southernmost snowcapped mountain in the Northern Hemisphere. Upon arrival, visit the scenic spots of Ganhaizi Meadow, White Water River and the famous Yak Meadow.
After lunch, enjoy the Impression Lijang Ethnic Show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area directed in Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M). Later stroll through an enchanting traditional Yunnan old town – Baisha Old Town and visit Baisha Mural – one part of Lijiang World Cultural Heritage.
Day 9 Lijiang – Shangri-La
Sightseeing and Activities: Shigu Ancient Town, the Iron Chain Bridge, Stone Drum, Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning drive about 100KM to Tiger Leaping gorge Town(Qiaotou Town) along the Naxi ethnic villages and the upper Yangtze River. Visit the Iron Chain Bridge and Stone Drum in the Shigu town. Then head to Tiger Leaping Gorge – one of the world’s four great gorges, which is honored as one of the deepest and most marvelous gorges with 3900 meters in depth.
Then continue the drive to Shangri-La.
Day 10 Shangri-La
Sightseeing and Activities: Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, Dukezong Ancient Town
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning, visit the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan – Songzanlin Monastery. Afterwards visit Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park, which is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world.
Later stroll around Dukezong Ancient Town and walk up to the top of Guishan Hill to see the Grand Prayer Wheel and have a panoramic view of Shangri-La city and Dukezong Ancient Town.
Day 11 Shangrila Departure
Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast
Transfer to Shangri-La airport for the departure flight. Service ends.
Service Included:
- Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
- Meals as listed in the itinerary;
- Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
- Private English-speaking tour guide;
- Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
- Service charge & government taxes;
- Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
- Domestic train tickets of soft sleeper.
Service Excluded:
- Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
- Chinese visa fees;
- Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
- Single room supplement;
- Tips to guides and drivers;
- Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
- Personal travel accident insurance;
- All optional programs.
