Day 01 Arrival in Kunming

Upon your arrival, our guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Visit the Bamboo Monastery.

Bamboo Monastery: The first temple dedicated to Zen Buddhism in Yunnan. It dates back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The present structure mostly dates from the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The temple's most outstanding artistic feature is the statues of the life-sized clay figures of 500 Arhats.

Day 02 Kunming - Stone Forest - Kunming (Breakfast + Lunch)

After breakfast, drive 90 KM to Lunan county to visit the Stone Forest. Back to Kunming in the afternoon. Visit the Golden Temple.

Stone Forest: Situated in Lunan County, it is an area of typical karst landform with numerous groups of strange gray-black stone peaks and stone pillars. The Stone Forest covers an area of 400 square kilometers, is about 85 kilometers away from Kunming and requires 1.5 hours' driving.

Golden Temple: Originally built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the hall of the famous Taoist temple is made of copper, weighing about 280 tons. All the interior settings including the gate, walls, columns, doors, windows, Buddha statues, altars and roof tiles are made of copper.

Day 03 Kunming - Lijiang (Breakfast + Lunch)

Take flight to Lijiang. Visit Sifang Street in Lijiang Ancient Town.

Lijiang Ancient Town: As one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites in China, Lijiang Ancient Town has attracted many tourists from home and abroad. Different with other old towns, it has no city wall. Lijiang features with cobbled streets, crisscrossing canals flowing with water, swaying willow trees and gaily-hued blossoms and many buildings and structures are in styles of Ming and Qing dynasties. The people here are mainly from the Naxi ethnic group and you can still see many older women dressed in their traditional attire. They have an obvious passion for flowers, as almost every courtyard is a garden.

Day 04 Lijiang (Breakfast + Lunch)

Visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the Baisha Murals and the Ancient Shuhe Village of Naxi People.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: The much famed mountain is situated some 15 km. north of Lijiang County, with thirteen peaks resembling jade pillars holding the sky, it stands majestically on the east side of the Jinshajiang River. The main peak, Mount Fan (Shanzifeng), is 5,596 m. above sea level, and is annually snowcapped.

Baisha Murals: Lijiang's murals are works of the Ming Dynasty, chiefly created from the Hongwu to the Wanli eras. They were originally distributed among the Juexiansi Temple and twelve others, nine of which fell to ruins. The remaining four temples have altogether 55 murals, with a total area of 139.22 sq. m.

Naxi people: Naxi literature is rich in form and content. Besides works by Naxi scholars and writers, there is a repository of oral folk literature.

Day 05 Lijiang - Shangri-La (Breakfast + Lunch)

Drive 180Km to Shangri-la. On the way, visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge and the First bend of the Yangtze River.

Tiger Leaping Gorge: One of the longest, deepest and narrowest gorges in the world.

First bend of the Yangtze River: The upper reaches of the Yangtze River is named the Jinsha River, which originates from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The Jinsha River flowed southward along the Hengduan Mountain ranges and was forced to the turn to north because of the Alpine movements which caused changes in the earth's physiognomy. When the river reaches Shigu Township, it makes an abrupt turn and flows further northward, forming the rare V-shape bend.

Day 06 Shangri-la (Breakfast + Lunch)

Visit the Songzanlin Lama Temple, the Pudacuo Scenic region (including Shudu Lake, Bita Lake resort and Xiaji Resort.).

Songzanlin Lama Temple: A typical Lama monastery. Located at the foot of Mt. Foping, four kilometers north of Zhongdian County, a monastery was first built here in 1679 and has been rebuilt many times.

Bitahai Lake: A fault lake, is an intact natural attraction with various species of flora and fauna and, of course, picturesque landscapes.

Shudu Lake: The lake is known for its clear water, and the peaceful environment of the area around here. The lake abounds in unique species of fish, with double lips and a golden color.

Day 07 Shangri-la - Kunming - Departure (Breakfast + Lunch)

Take morning flight to Kunming. Tour to the Dragon Gate in Western Hills, then visit Bird & Flower market. Transfer to the airport for your departure, end of service.

Western Hills: Located at the west bank of the Dianchi Lake, is set in mountains well covered by evergreen woods and filled with sweet songs by lovely birds, perfect for hiking. Dragon Gate consists of the Sanqing Temple Complex and the Dragon Gate Grotto Complex.