9 Days Best Yunnan Minorities Discovery

Yunnan is the province with the largest population of minorities with 25 of them having more than 5000 members, among them 16 are indigenous (including Bai, Dai, Naxi, Hani, Lisu, Lahu, Wa, Jingpo, Bulang, Pumi, Achang, Nu, Jinuo, De’ang, Durung, etc.). During this tour, we will explore the ethnic groups in Yunnan, as well as discover the natural beauty along the journey.

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Kunming Arrival
• Day 2: Kunming
• Day 3: Kunming – Dali
• Day 4: Dali – Lijiang
• Day 5: Lijiang
• Day 6: Lijiang – Shangri-La
• Day 7: Shangri-La
• Day 8: Shangri-La – Kunming
• Day 9: Kunming Departure

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

Sightseeing and Activities: Stone Forest
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, head to visit the Qiongzhu Temple. Located on wooded Yu’an Mountain and surrounded by verdant plants, the temple is famous for exhibiting five hundreds painted arhat sculptures.

Then continue the tour to Stone Forest, a notable set of limestone formations and two parts of which have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites as part of the South China Karst. Besides, Stone Forest is also famous for the ethnic culture of the Sani People (a branch of the Yi ethnicminority).

After the visit, drive back to Kunming city.

Day 3 Kunming – Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Erhai Lake Park, Three Pagodas, Dali Old Town
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, take a morning flight to Dali. After airport-hotel transfer, head to visit Erhai Lake Park, the best place to appreciate the beautiful Erhai Lake scenery. Then move on to Three Pagodas of the Chongsheng Temple, a symbol of the Dali City. The last stop is Dali Old Town. Wander around the streets to experience the local culture and have some local snacks. Located between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, Dali Old Town is a historic town with rich culture, which attracts many visitors every year.

Day 4 Dali – Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Xizhou, Zhoucheng, Square Street of Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, 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 arrival in Lijiang, check in the hotel and have a short rest. Then visit the Square Street of Lijiang Old Town paved by local bluestones and with numerous souvenir shops around. 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 5 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Baisha Old Town, Naxi family visit, Baisha Murals, Former Residence of Dr. Joseph Rock, Black Dragon Pool Park, Dongba Cultural Museum
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, pay a visit to Baisha Old Town and a local Naxi family. Baisha, the former political, economic and religious center of Lijiang, is famous for the murals and the old town built about 600 years ago. Then continue the trip to visit Baisha Murals, a wonderful art form of minorities in west Yunnan.

Afterwards pay a visit to the Former Residence of Dr. Joseph Rock in Yuhu village at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, who traveled to Lijiang in 1922 and was known for his study on Dongba culture of Naxi minority group. Finally, visit the Black Dragon Pool Park and the Dongba Cultural Museum. By visiting this museum, learn more about Dongba culture preserved by Naxi People.

Day 7 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Songzanlin Temple, Pudacuo National Park, a local Tibetan family visit
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, visit Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Monastery), reputed as the “Little Potala Palace”. Established by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1679, the monastery belongs to Gelug sect of Buddhism, and it is also the largest Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province with around 600 monks.

Then, drive to the first national park in China – Pudacuo National Park which is mainly comprised of Shudu Lake, Militang Grassland, Bita Lake. Shudu Lake is a famous pasture, herds of yak and goat grazing beside the lake. Militang Grassland is located between Shudu Lake and Bita Lake with lush grass in meadow. Bitahai Lake, regarded as a pearl of the Plateau, is an intact natural attraction with outstanding landscapes.

After the merry time in the park, pay a visit to a local Tibetan family to experience the highly-praised hospitality of Tibetan people and taste some special Tibetan snacks and butter tea.

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.