The first band of Yangtzi River

September is a nice season to visit  Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangrila in the northwest of Yunnan province.

Here is our schedule:

Sep 28.  Arrive Kunming and pick up from Kunming airport and send to Kunming hotel.
 

Sept 29.  Day tour Visit Stone forest , Flower, bird market , over night at Kunming.
Take night train from Kunming to Dali.  K9636 leave Kunming at 2339pm  and arrive Dali at 7:25am  in the morning Of sept 30 

Sep 30. Dali tour
Pick up from Dali Train station and,Drive to Xizhou Visit bai family’s courtyard and enjoy cormorant fishing show on Erhai lake.  Visit Dali old town, climb to the top of the city wall to enjoy the birdview of the old town. Walk around old town and the foreigner’s street in Dali old town.   over night at Dali old town.

Oct 1. Dali to Tiger leaping gorge.
Check out from Dali hotel, enjoy view of 3 Pagoda from outside of the park  and go to Qiaotou, then start hiking through leaping gorge, Hiking  trip will be 5 hours , Pass by Naxi village and Beautiful view of the gorge. Over night at the village.

Oct 2.  Continue Hiking about 2 hour to meet the driver, Drive to Shibaoshan mountain where you can see wild monkey forest and 1000 years old Budhism temple, then go to Shaxi old town and enjoy the relaxing time there.   over night at Shaxi old town.

Oct. 3.  Drive to Lijiang and visit Shu old town and Baisha village.  Then explore Lijiang old town and  square market. Over night at Lijiang old town.

Oct. 4.  Lijiang to the next Destionation
Fly From lijiang to hongkong by Mu733 leave at 11:10 and arrive at 16:05

Duration: 8 days
Destinations:
Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-la (Stone Forest - Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Monastery - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Songzanlin Monastery)
Departure date: As you prefer
Availability: Whole year

You will experience the ancient towns, unsophisticated villages, fantastic world heritage sites and legendary Shangri-la; Magnificent scenery of Yunnan-Tibet Plateau, and colorful customs of ethnic minorities & authentic Tibetan culture.
1.Visit the geological Karst wonder - Stone Forest
2.Tour the magnificent Cangshan Mountain
3.Marvel at the breathtaking Tiger Leaping Gorge
4.Experience Tibetan custome and lifestyle in ancient Gyalthang Town

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming - Free time
Today's Activities：
Arrive in Kunming, the Spring City of China. Meet your guide at the airport and transfer to the featured hotel to check in. After a little rest, free to explore around Kunming city, such as the "Kunming 's Jade" - Green Lake Park, Kunming's symbol building - Phoenix Archway, and the vibrant Flowers and Birds Market. Tonight you will stay at the featured hotel in Kunming.
Highlights：
Green Lake Park ，Phoenix Archway， Flowers and Birds Market         
Day 2 Kunming (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Today's Activities：
In the early morning we take you to visit the Yunnan Stone Forest, which is one of most remarkable natural phenomena of China. You will wonder at the innumerable bizarre-shaped ancient limestone cliffs and peaks, which is created by wind and water erosion some 270 million years ago.

After lunch you will proceed to explore the Guandu Old Town, which is one of the historic and cultural towns in Kunming area. The ancient Shaolin Temple and Vajra Pagoda are the must-see of this old town. You will spend a lazy afternoon without the hassle of leaving the city. You can sit down for a cup of tea and chat with local people. A designated food street on the old town's east side offers a wide selection of local eats. Tonight you will stay at the hotel in Kunming.
Highlights：

Yunnan Stone Forest ；Guandu Shaolin Temple Vajra Pagoda in Guandu Old Town         
Day 3 Kunming - Dali (Breakfast, Lunch)
Today's Activities：
After breakfast in the hotel, you will go to visit the Western Hills where Taoist temples and Buddhism Temples could be found. A very beautiful lake view of the Dianchi Lake comes into your eyes if being on the top of the Hills - Dragon Gate. The elevation of the Dragon Gate is over 2,300 meters, 300 meters higher than the water surface of the Dianchi Lake. It consists of the Sanqing Temple and the Dragon Gate Grotto which was accomplished through 72 years of hard work (1781-1853). The 3rd March of lunar year is a festive time in the Western Hills, when it is considered the best time for Kunming residents to climb the mountains and look into the distance, to admire the spring flowers and appreciate the feeling of new life.

After lunch, transfer to Dali city, the economic and cultural center of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. Overnight at the hotel in Dali.
Highlights：
Western Hill， Dragon Gate， Dali Old Town         
Day 4 Dali - Lijiang (Breakfast, Lunch)
Today's Activities：
Today, enjoy your one-day day city tour. You will first take a visit to the famous Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Monastery. Then continue to explore Cangshan Mountain that made up of 17 peaks, among which, Malong Peak is the highest one that reach the height up to 4122m. You will catch a cable way up the mountain. On the mountain top, you can enjoy the fantastic view of Erhai Lake.

Afterwards proceed to Xizhou Village which is located about 18 kilometers north of Dali. Xizhou Village is one of the Bai ethnic minority villages around the Erhai Lake and has historic prominence with a cluster of over 100 protected buildings. You will be escorted to visit the house of local residents which is characterized by a traditional Chinese rectangular courtyard with a screen wall facing the gate. You will be greeted with the show of Three Courses of Tea which is the genuine tea ceremony of the Bai minority, and treated to a song & dance performance by local Bai people. In the late afternoon transferred to Lijiang. Enjoy a leisure stroll in Lijiang Old Town in the evening.
Highlights:
Dali landscape - "Three Pagodas" ,Magnificent Cangshan Mountain ,Entrance of Dali Old Town         
Day 5 Lijiang (Breakfast, Lunch)
Today's Activities:
After breakfast at hotel, start your visit to the Mu Mansion which is famed as Forbidden City of Naxi people. It is once the residential and working site of the Naxi rulers of Lijiang in the ancient time.

Then you will enjoy beautiful natural scenery in Black Dragon Pool Park which is located at the foot of Elephant Hill. It was built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty and offers a spectacular view on the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Proceed to tour the Dongba Culture Exhibition Museum, which represents the Dongba Pictographic Characters and Naxi Minorities mysterious Culture, some of which still use the matriarchal social system up till today. In the late afternoon, transfer back to the Lijiang Old Town. You are free to explore this ancient town.
Highlights:
Mu Mansion, Black Dragon Pool Park ,Dongba Culture Exhibition Museum         
Day 6 Lijiang - Shangri-la (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Today's Activities:
In the morning drive to Shangri-la. On the road, you can enjoy the spectacular view of the First Bend of Yangtze River at Stone Drum Village. Also you will view the deepest gorge in the world - Tiger Leaping Gorge. Its magnificent scenery will be among the best of your whole trip. What's more, you can admire the fascinating meadow scenery on the way.
Highlights:
           
First Bend of Yangtze River, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Village on the way to Shangri-la         
Day 7 Shangri-la (Breakfast, Lunch)
Today's Activities:
In the morning you will take 2 hours to visit the fascinating Napahai Lake, the largest grassland in Zhongdian. Napahai is in fact a seasonal lake. When summer comes, snow on the adjacent mountains melts and flows down into about ten rivers forming a vast lake. You will appreciate a grand area of peaceful lake surrounded by snow mountains. In the dry season, Napahai becomes a boundless green grassland where you will find flocks of yaks, horses and sheep. Also you have chance to see the precious black-necked cranes, of which only 6,000 remain in the world. During the dry season, this grassland is an ideal place for horse-back trekking. You can hire a horse from local people with a reasonable fare.

After lunch visit the ancient Songzanlin Monastery, which is the largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist monastery in southwest China. In the main hall you will appreciate a series of precious Buddhism-related objects like scriptures written on palm leaves, the Shakyamuni statues, etc. Standing on the roof of the temple, you will amaze at the magnificent landscape of front meadow and the town. The blue sky is so close to you as if you can reach it with your hand. Downhill along the hill slop, you will find smaller temples and monk's residences where about 700 monks live. If you want to deeply experience the Buddhists' life, you can join in the morning class or evening class. You will have a peacefull mind and remain in deep thought.

On the way back, explore a local village and be a guest in a Tibetan family with a taste of Tibetan specialities such as yak butter tea, yogurt & Tibetan barley. Then you head for the ancient Gyalthang Town, which was established in Tang Dynasty. Though it is small, the old town is quite different form others in Yunnan. You can find many Tibetan cultural facts such as Buddhist paintings and Tibetan residences side by side. A peaceful cobble path guide you to the Daguishan Hill where you can turn the biggest praying wheel in the world and take a birds-eye view of Shangri-la.  Tonight you will stay at the hotel in Zhongdian.
Highlights:
Napahai Lake, Songzanlin Monastery,Gyalthang Town         
Day 8 Depart Shangri-la (Breakfast)
Today's Activities Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for next destination. Wish you a happy journey!

Duration: 8 days/ 7 nights

Destinations: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La

Highlights: There are so many extraordinary places waiting for you to discover in Yunnan. In 8 days, you can feast your eyes on the wonderful natural beauty as well as the historic and cultural heritages in Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La. The Stone Forest, Three Pagodas, Lijiang Old Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Ganden Songzanlin Monastery and Nixi Village of Tibetan will highlight your trip.
• Day 1  Kunming
Arrival in Kunming, meet your guide at airport and transfer to hotel.
The capital of Yunnan Province, Kunming is one of China’s noted historical and cultural cities. The city is located in central Yunnan at the elevation of 1894 meters above sea level and is praised as the city of eternal spring.
Rest of the day at leisure
Accommodation:
Kunming Grand Park Hotel
• Day 2  Kunming
Drive along the new express way to the Stone Forest. Stone Forest is 75 kilometers from Kunming and is accessible by a bus ride of 70 minutes. The Stone forest belongs to the typical Karst geomorphology, it consists of innumerable bizarre-shaped ancient limestone cliffs and peaks created by wind and water erosion some 200 million years ago, and this area is praised as the “First Wonder Under Heaven”. It’s inscribed as Nature Heritage by UNESCO.
Drive back to Kunming by the old road, visit a village en route.
Visit the Green Lake Park in the afternoon. Attractions in the neighborhood of Green Lake Park include the former Yunnan Army Academy, believed to be the biggest quadrangle building of China, and people in Kunming enjoying their leisure life in the afternoon.
• Day 3  Kunming - Dali (by public express bus)
Overland drive with seat in public bus from Kunming to Dali, 360 kilometers, or about 4.5 hours.
Standing against the Cangshan Mountains in the west and adjoining the Erhai Lake in the east, embraced by undulating hills around, Dali was the capital of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdom as early as 1,300 years ago. It is home to Bai minority.
Upon arrival in Dali, proceed to visit the Three Pagodas, followed by a guided stroll in Dali old town.
Standing in a way of a tripod on the outskirts of old town, the Three Pagodas were constructed in about 850 and 1050 following the model of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an. For centuries, they are considered landmark of the region.
The Dali Old Town of weathered gray granite stands at 2,100 meters on a long, narrow rice plain between the Cangshan Mountains and the Erhai Lake, a natural configuration that seems specially designed for a good, bountiful life. Format of the old town is like a chessboard with four gates guarding in the directions of east, south, west and north, a design that was adopted by most towns in ancient China.
Accommodation:
Dali Landscape Hotel
• Day 4 Dali - Lijiang (by automobile)
In the morning, overland drive of 180 kilometers, or 3.5 hours, along the new road on private vehicles to Lijiang.
Visit the Bai minority village Xizhou on the way.
23 kilometers north of Dali, Xizhou village has a more mixed population and cosmopolitan background. It grew and flourished in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) along with the fortunes of Dali’s renowned tea merchants that traded to Tibet. Family Yan’s courtyard is a good example of traditional Bai houses. And each morning, villagers in Bai dresses gather in a small market to buy and sell their produce and daily wares.
Then continue driving to Shaping. Shaping Market is a local market on every Monday. The local people come to the market from surrounding villages to exchange their daily wares, farming products, traditional clothes, or simply foods and vegetables.
Upon arrival in Lijiang, check in at hotel. Afternoon will be free for your first visit of the old town.
A gathering place of rugged mountain people with the Naxi forming the majority, Lijiang is a small mountain town of stone and tile, laced with swift canals, which was enlisted as an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 1999.
Old town of Lijiang is a big area with its center, or Si Fang Jie (Square Street) in the form of an official ink stone, hence its name Dayan (ink stone) Town. It enjoys a long history of over 800 years and unlike most of the old towns in China, there is no city walls due to a superstitious belief of the local ruler whose family name is Mu (tree), when encircled by walls, would be Kun (besieged). Wooden structures, mountains, small rivers and lanes integrate harmoniously in this mountain town.
Accommodation:
Hexi Hotel Lijiang (or similar)
• Day 5  Lijiang
In the morning visit the Black Dragon Pond with Dongba Museum. The Pond provides you opportunity of taking great pictures of the crystal clear pond with backdrop of snow mountains in a distance.
Then, drive out to the Naxi minority villages at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountains.
Visit the Yuhu Village, a simple village of Naxi minority with the Former Residence of Dr. Joseph Rock. Dr. Rock, an Austro-American botanist and explorer who lived here off and on from 1922-1949, is best remembered for the introduction of innumerable plant species to the West and his rigorous works on Naxi ethnology.
Transfer back to your hotel after lunch. Rest of the day for your own discorvery in the Old Town.
Lunch at local Chinese restaurant, dinner at leisure.
• Day 6 Lijiang - Shangri-La (by automobile)
We drive to Shangri-La with stops and visits to the First Bend of the Yangzi River and the Tiger Leaping Gorge on the way.
The village of Stone Drum stands at the First Bend of the Yangzi River, some 70 kilometers west of Lijiang. Approaching to Stone Drum offers a dramatic view of the Yangzi's near-180-degree turn, where the wide, swift waters perform a miraculous about-face. For nearly 20 kilometers the river, first flowing south, then north, runs parallel to itself. Locals say if it were not for their village standing guard at the bend, China would lose the water of the Yangzi to Southeast Asia, like that of the adjacent Mekong and Salween Rivers.
The Tiger Leaping Gorge, or Hutiaoxia in Chinese, is the Yangzi's best-known gorge after the Three Gorges in Sichuan and Hubei. Wedged tightly between titanic cliffs, the river is so narrow here, as legend tells us, that a hunted tiger made his escape to the other side in a single bound. Here, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountains and the Haba Snow Mountains lean close to each other and a large volume of torrent moving between them cutting deeper and deeper into the bottom of the gorge. In some places there is a drop of 3,000 meters to the water.
Arrive Shangri-La in the late afternoon, check in at hotel.
Shangri-La lies in a landscape of rolling hills, snow-capped peaks, virgin forests of spruce, pine and meadow dotted with wild flowers and tranquil lakes. The old town, still entirely in local Tibetan style, is to the south of Shangri-La.
Accommodation:
Shangri-La Moonlight City Hotel (or similar)
• Day 7 Shangri-La
Visit Ganden Songzanlin Monastery in the morning.The Ganden Songzanlin Monastery was founded in the 17th century during the reign of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama only 2 kilometers to the north of county proper. Being one of the thirteen Tibetan monasteries in the Kangba Region, where Tibet, Yunnan and Sichuan join, Ganden Songzanglin Monastery is nicknamed by local the Lesser Potala Palace. Holding about 700 monks and one living Buddha, the monastery is a must-go in the region.
Then make an excursion to Tukawa Village to visit a Tibetan family where the Tibetan builds their houses by wood with big sitting room and Buddhism hall.
Late afternoon at leisure for your own visit of the old town and local market in Shangri-La.
• Day 8 Shangri-La
Free at leisure and departure transfer to airport for next flight.
Service ends.
Tour excludes:

-- Arrival flight to Kunming and airport tax;
-- Departure flight from Shangri-La and airport tax;
-- All dinners, other meals, drinks and personal expenses;
-- Tips to the guide and driver;
-- Any program other than mentioned in our program.

Day 1. Kunming to Dali

pick up from Kunming airport or kunming hotel ,drive 5 hours to Dali,  upon the arrival,   we will check in Dali hotel,  visit 3 pagoda park.  & Dali old town, & foreiner 's street . Climb up to the tower to have a bird's view of  Dali old town.

Day 2.  Dali to Shaxi

Leave Dali at in the morning,   we will firstly visit xizhou old town,  where we will visit a local morning market. You will see the real daily life of minorities in this area.  after lunch explore shibaoshan and buddhism grotto in the mountain.    then drive to  shaxi ,  check in the hotel, visit the beautiful and quiet shaxi village. you will enjoy your free time in the evening.

Day 3. shaxi to lijiang

We will explore villages in shaxi area by bicycle in the morning,  visit the old house of Bai people. then drive to lijiang, walk around in lijiang old town,  square market.

Day 4.  Lijiang Tour

Today, we will visit Wenhai village,  where you can see many different wild flowers, such are prirose,  Azaleas, etc.   Drive to baisha village,Baisha village was the former capital of Naxi kingdom,   Visit local Naxi family . If you like to drink coffee, you will find a nice coffee shop Near the main street of baisha.   then enjoy Naxi ochestra at night.

Day 5. Lijiang-Liming tortoise' mountain

Meet you from lijiang hotel lobby and drive to shigu--it is called stone drum in english  . visit the first bend of Yangtze river, then visit the mounument of red army and the village. visit the Iron chain bridge,   Drive to liming, then we will limb to the top of mountain, on the top ,we can see tortoise's back- like  sandy rock.  there are thousands of them.  it's the most famous dangxia landform in south china.  If the weather is good , you can see stunning sunset in the valley.

Day 6.  liming to Shangrila

After breakfast, we will have relaxing walk in liming valley, visit Lusu village,  You can see lisu ethnic group go to church on Sunday dressing the traditional clothing  visitting the local church. lisu people were converted into christian by french missionary in 19 century,even nowadays, christianity is still a popular religion in the village.

Then drive to tiger leaping gorge, on the way to tiger leaping gorge, you can see snow-capped peak of jade dragon snow mountain. Tiger leaping gorge is 3900m deep, just between jade dragon snow mountain and Haba snow mountain.  it’s one of the deepest gorge in the world . a perfect place for a leisure walk . Then we drive  to Shangrila.

Day 7. Shangrila Tour

After breakfast ,we will visit songzanling monastery,  then drive to Napa lake,  Hiking at Napa Hai lake . visit Dukezong old town and the the Turtle’s hill where you can see the biggest Tibetan prayer wheel in the world. 

If you like a long hiking,  There is another long hiking trail though the mountain & Tibetan villages for 4 hours.

Day 8. Finish the tour in Yunnan

Drive to Deqing airport, finish the tour in beautiful Yunnan province , fly to your next destination.

 Quotation include:
1. All of transfer service by private Car/Van mentioned above
2. All of tourist attractions entrance tickets mentioned above
3. All of activities and sightseeing mentioned above
4. English speaking tour guide service

Quotation exclude:
1.Arrive and Depart flight tickets
2.All of meals and Accommodation
3.Insurance fee
4.Personal spend
5.Other activities and terms not mentioned above

Meet at the hotel lobby at 9 o'clock,  and drive to tiger leaping gorge. it's 2.5 hours from lijiang by car.on the way to tiger leaping gorge, you can see the beautiful Yangtze river valley,  Tiger leaping gorge is one of the deepest gorge in the world. the depth is 3900m. it's a nice place for relaxing walking  1.5 hour(round way)  . On the way back to lijiang,we will visit an authentic naxi village. we will walk to the farmland and meet local people.   drive back to lijiang visit the old town of lijiang. back to hotel. service end.

Minimum 2 people
 

Quotation Include:

1.a private car &driver’s service

2. professional english speaking tourguide.

3.entrance fee to tiger leaping gorge

 Quotation exclude:

1.Insurance, meal& personal expense. 

2.tip to guide and driver (optional)