8 Days Yunnan Highlight Tour: Kunming Dali Lijiang Shangri-La

Welcome to Kunming, the Spring City! Upon arrival in Kunming, your guide will meet you at the airport/train station and escort you to your hotel. Have a good rest tonight! If you want to explore nearly, feel free to get some practical suggestions from your tour guide.

Arrival Ideas:

By Air: Kunming is served by Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) and it offers many domestic and international flights including Bangkok, Singapore,Tokyo, San Francisco, London, and Los Angeles, etc.

By Train: Kunming is served by Kunming Railway Station and South Railway Station. There are many high-speed trains that connect Kunming to other cities in China, such as Guiyang (2hrs), Chongqing (4hrs), Chengdu (5.5hrs), Guangzhou (7hrs), Hong Kong (7.5hrs), Beijing(11hrs), Shanghai(11hrs), etc.

This morning, drive 78km (about 1.5 hours) from Kunming to the must-see Stone Forest (Shilin), which covers an area of more than 300 square kilometers. You will see a large forest of black limestone standing through winds and rains that formed about 270 million years ago. This amazing natural scenery used to be covered by an ancient sea. There are thousands of meters of calciferous shells that would one day become limestone and dolomite. This deep layer was later uplifted and shaped like trees at an altitude of 1,500 meters. You will take a sightseeing bus to visit Big Stone Forest and Small Stone Forest. With its touching legend of Ashima and unique minority culture, you will fall in love with this famous tourist spot.

After that, you will head back to Kunming (91km, about 1.5 hours) and have a walk in the Yuantong Temple (Yuantong Si). It is the largest Buddhist temple in Kunming with a history of more than 1,200 years (founded in the Tang dynasty). Differing from most other temples that were built with an ascending entrance, you will enter the Yuantong Temple (Zen Buddhist Temple) from above. The temple's great hall is at the lowest point of the temple. It gains a high reputation in the Southeast Asia area and attracts many pilgrims and locals to visit every year. To the rear, a hall has been added with a statue of Sakyamuni, a gift from Thailand's King. You will see people throngs swarm to the temple, especially during the Qingming Festivals and the first and fifth days of each lunar month. If there is time, you can hike in the Green Lake Park (Cui Hu Park, Jade in Kunming), an urban park in Kunming. Then have a good rest at your hotel.

In this morning, your guide and driver will take you to the train station for a high speed train from Kunming to Dali (about 2 hours). Upon arrival at Dali Railway Station, the local guide and driver will meet you and take you to Dali Ancient Town area for today’s sightseeing.

The first stop today is to the Symbol of Dali - Three Pagodas and Chongsheng Temple. It consists of one big pagoda and two small pagodas, an ensemble of three independent pagodas arranged in an equilateral triangle. The big pagoda, called Qianxun Pagoda, was originally erected in the mid-9th century by engineers from Xian. Move to Chongsheng Temple which was the royal temple of Dali, and walk to the Reflection Pond to capture the awesome scene of the Three Pagodas. Later, transfer to Erhai Lake, the second largest highland lake of China which was reputed as “Immaculate Jade Between Mountains”. Take a relaxing cruise sailing on the lake and you’ll enjoy the green Cangshan Mountain and Three Pagodas from afar as well as lots of birds and seagulls flying over the lake. (Note: If you want to explore Erhai Lake by cycling with 2 hours’ ride or take a sightseeing bus trip for 1 hour, please feel free to tell us your ideas.)

The last stop today is the famous 1200-year-old Dali Old Town, which was the capital of the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms. It is an authentic ancient town with many historic sites, ancient buildings, temples, and streets lined with featured shops, restaurants, and bars. Take a stroll along the historic streets with weeping willows dancing and colorful flowers blooming in the sunshine. Pay a visit to Wuhua Tower and climb up the tower for a panoramic view of the ancient town. Continue your walk on Renmin Road to see bustling shops selling Yunnan specialties and have a look at the Christianity church. Don’t miss the famous must-visit Foreigner Street to soak in the busy atmosphere along the old path and in those boutique shops and old coffee shops. Enjoy your time roam in this famous old town and feel like going back to the old times.

After breakfast, you will explore Dali with a cultural trip to Xizhou Ancient Town. It is a gathering place where local Bai people really live and work that you can fully experience Bai people’s culture. Visit the local morning market which is a great place for local people in traditional costumes selling daily supplies that you can view the real life of local people. Visit the typical architecture called Yan Family Compound and appreciate the exquisite residential complexes decorated fabulous sculptures, paintings, pointed eaves and wall screens. Have a nice try of Bai’s Three-Course Tea in bitter, sweet and mixed flavors and enjoy the traditional ceremony performed by the Bai ethnic people.

Later, be driven to Zhoucheng Old Town which is known as “Hometown of Bai People’s Tie-dye Art” to appreciate the exquisite Tie-dye in person. Tie-dye is a typical feature to present the Bai’s excellent handcraft with various colors and elegant designs. You’ll visit local indigo workshop in Zhoucheng and know the way of making.

After the tour, it is time to transfer to Lijiang (2 hours’ driving). Upon arrival, you will make a leisure visit to the Old Town of Lijiang (2,400m) which has a history of over 1,000 years. As a World Heritage Site, Lijiang Old Town was once a confluence for trade along the "Old Tea Horse Caravan Trail". In Lijiang Old Town, a well-preserved old city of the Naxi minority, you can hike leisurely and enjoy the unique Naxi culture on each corner of the town. After dark, Lijiang Old Town presents you with a more charming image with lamps, red lanterns, and alive songs and music. If time permits, you will visit Mufu Palace and Wanggu Tower.

This morning you will drive 37km (about 1.5 hours) to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain National Park (Yulong Snow Mountain). The name comes from its appearance in the winter when its thick snow cover is thought to make its peak look like a stainless jade dragon. As the highest mountain on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain soars to some 5596m, you can take the cable car to the Spruce Meadow (3,000m) and admire the holy mountain of the Naxi people. Keep in mind that this is a very popular destination so it can be very crowded.

After the tour, you will have lunch at Baisha Ancient Town, the earliest settlement of the Naxi ethnic minority. The town has a history of more than 800 years, you will like the ancient constructions built in the Ming Dynasty, such as the Dabaoji Palace, the Liuli Temple, and the Wenchang Palace. It is a great ancient town for you to discover the incredibly beautiful sights and the culture of ethnic minorities.

In this afternoon, we can explore Lijiang through Black Dragon Pool Park (Heilongtan Park) and the Old Town of Lijiang. Black Dragon Pool Park is a popular attraction to take brilliant photos of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain if the weather permits. As the Dongba Cultural Institute is part of a renovated complex on the hillside inside, you can explore more about Naxi cultural artifacts and scrolls featuring the unique Naxi pictograph script.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel and drive from Lijiang to Shangri-La (185km, about 4 hours). On the way, you will first visit the First Bend of the Yangtze River. It is called the “first bend” because the river makes a 90 degree turn from south to east within a distance of 1 kilometer. Reach the observation deck to capture the panoramic view of the bend and marvel at the beauty of the turn which like a wonderful landscape painting unfolding before your eyes.

Later, continue your driving to Tiger Leaping Gorge (1800m) on the way. The Upper Section of Tiger Leaping Gorge is 115km (about 2.5 hours) away from Shangri-La, it got its name from a legend about a hunter chasing a tiger through the gorge until they reached the narrowest point. The tiger found itself trapped between the hunter and the rushing river at the base of the gorge. As one of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge is a good spot for you to view the roaring Jinsha River (part of the Yangtze River) and feel the strong power of nature. Also, as Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (5596m) and Haba Snow Mountain (5386m) stand on each side, you will immerse yourself in the beautiful and diverse landscapes.

After that, you will drive to Shangri-La, in the northwestern part of Yunnan in Diqing, a beautiful and peaceful Tibetan world. Your guide will help you check in your hotel. Later, pay a leisure visit to 1300-year-old Dukezong Ancient Town with Tibetan cultures. It is a world of traditional Tibetan houses, ancient temples and beautiful pagodas, and narrow, winding alleyways, all adorned with iconic Tibetan prayer flags of various colors. Walk through the featured alleys to have a bite of Tibetan culture and climb to the Guishan Park for a panoramic view of the town.

In this morning, you will be transferred to visit Ganden Sumtsenling Monastery (Songzanlin Monastery, 3,380 meters), the largest Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Yunnan that built-in 1679. Built according to the structure of Potala Palace, Songzanlin Monastery is also reputed as the "Little Potala Palace". You will learn more about this monastery through its architecture which is a fusion of the Tibetan and Han Chinese. Currently, there are about 700 monks accommodated in its 200 associated houses. You may get the chance to discover the life of a Tibetan Lama and even meet monks who chant and meditate in the hall lit with incense and yak butter oil lamps.

Then with a drive of 25km (about 30min) to visit Potatso National Park (Pudacuo National Park), the first national park in China that open in 2007. Situated on the vast Tibetan Plateau, an important part of the "Three Parallel Rivers" scenic spot, the park is famous for its primitive landscape and features several scenic hills, meadows, lakes, plants, birds, and more than 100 endangered animals, including leopards, cranes, macaques, lynxes, and so on. Enjoy a relaxing hike in the amazing highland nature reserve, and view the mirror-like mountain lakes, pastures with clean water and green grass, wetlands full of flowers, and mystery forests hidden with birds and animals.

Before heading back to your hotel, you will visit a local Tibetan family to get a better understanding of Tibetan culture while trying some local snacks and yak butter tea.

It is time to end your 8-day Yunnan tour. You will have some free time in Shangri-La and explore more on your own till your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to next destination. 

Departure Ideas: Diqing Shangri-La Airport (DIG) is a small airport. If you leave from Shangri-La, you can fly to several destinations within China, including Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Lhasa, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and more cities.

Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia. Safe journey!