The Silk Road connecting  the cultures of  the East and West  is probably one of the most well-known and significant trade routes in all of history. Tucked in the verdant landscape of southwestern China, however, the Tea Horse Trail is a lesser-known route that parallels the Silk Road in cultural and historical importance.  

 

Today, although the Tea Horse Road is no longer used as a trade route, we can  still  see  the evidences of many years of  cultural exchange and prosperity. You will find the regions of the Tea Horse Road to be incredibly rich, diverse and full of natural beauty.

 

You  will meet  only  a  few  tourists  on  the  way  due  to  the  low popularity of regions along the route. We pass by many minority villages  and  get  the  impression  of  unique  lives  and  culture  of different minority people.  

 

There are many  complex  feeling when you  retrace  this ancient trade route in modern times.  

Kunming to Dali

 

 

 

Take morning flight from Kunming to Dali. Arrive in Dali, take cable car to Cangshan Mountain. After one-hour’s hiking in the mountain, we visit Xizhou village to experience Bai minority culture.  

 

Overnight at Landscape Hotel Dali (3*)

 

Dali

 

Day 2 

 

Drive 1.5 hours  to Weishan County.  In  the morning, we visit Weibao Mountain,  where  the  Taoist  Temples  located(including  Nanzhaoben Temple, Wenchang Palace, Lingguan Temple, Changchun Cave). In the afternoon, we visit the Weishan Old Town and a Mosque in Lotus Village.

 

Drive back to Dali, overnight at Landscape Hotel Dali (3*)

 

Dali to Yunlong

 

Day 3 

 

Drive 5 hours to Yunlong County. On the way, we visit Lisu and Yi minority village.

 

Overnight at Yunlong Hotel(3*)

 

Drive to Shaxi

 

Day 4 

 

Day trip to Nuodeng Village, a Bai people village. Nuodeng Village was an important stopover of the ancient Tea-Horse trail. A salt mine was also inside the village. After one hour walking and exploring in the village, we drive 5.5 hours to Shaxi.  

 

Overnight at Shaxi Guesthouse  

Shaxi to Lijiang

 

Day 5 

 

In the morning, we visit the ancient village of Shaxi, is a culturally diverse town and to the Bai and Yi minority peoples. The dramatic mountainous landscape and beautiful weather, combined with Shaxi's unique history and culture, make for a complete and enjoyable experience. After lunch, we trek 2 hours to Shibao Mountain and visit Shibao Shan 7th Century Buddhist Cave Rock Carvings. Then we drive

 

3.5 hours to Lijiang

 

Overnight at Qianshuilou Hotel(3*)

 

Lijiang Day Trip

 

Day 6 

 

In the morning, we take a bike ride near Lijiang. We ride on the flat road with mountains on the left and right. Our ride ends at Baisha Village, where the ground was paved by white sand. In the town there are many ancient buildings built during the Ming Dynasty, including Dabaoji Palace, Liuli Temple, and Wenchang Palace. The well-known Baisha Frescoes are located in Dabaoji Palace. We visit Black Dragon Pool in the afternoon. Stroll along the narrow canals at night, with red lanterns lit

by stone bridge.

 

Overnight at Qianshuilou Hotel (3*)  

 

Lijiang to Shangri-la

 

Day 7 

 

In the morning, we drive 45 kilometers, have short stop to take a bird view of the first bend of Yangtze river, then drive 55km or 1 hours, along Yunnan-Tibet highway to Tiger Leaping Gorge (1850 meters), visit gorge and have lunch in qiaotou town. After lunch drive 2 hours to Zhongdian, visit old town of Shangri-la.  

 

Overnight at Longxiang Hotel (2*)

Visit around Shangri-la

 

Day 8 

 

Sightseeing’s to Songzanlin Monastery, or "Little Potala" as it is affectionately known, is a spiritual hub for people to discover the mystery and traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Sectional Napa Lake is a well known freshwater lake. In summer the water melting from surrounding mountains flows in and forms a vast lake, in dry season, the water recede and grassland appears--the best time for herding sheep or cattle. September is paradise of migratory birds like bar-headed geese, wild ducks, and cranes. Wander in natural wonderland Pudacuo National Park, China's first national park.  

 

Overnight at Longxiang Hotel (2*)

 

Shangri-la to Home

 

Day 9 

 

Depart Shangri-la and fly home via Kunming. End of our journey.