Cuihu Park(Green Lake Park)

Despite being immersed in Chinese culture and speaking with locals on a daily basis, foreigners in Yunnan can find it difficult to make long-standing personal connections. This phenomenon is not a one-way street, as locals are sometimes reticent to approach laowai out of a fear of perceived language or social barriers.

Enter Cultural Diving, a non-profit group formed with the goal of putting together "fun and playful events designed to foster cultural exchange between the East and West." To this aim, the organization will hold its first major event, entitled City Adventure, on Saturday, August 16, at 3pm.

Equal parts group activity, scavenger hunt, massive interactive board game and mystery, City Adventure will pit groups of players against one another to see who can complete the game in the shortest amount of time. Based on the Chinese literary classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义), the competition will be held in Green Lake Park.

Each team will receive maps, clues and codes which will unlock levels in the real world, all while exploring the lakes, bridges and peninsulas that make up the park. They will also travel through the story that unfolds in what many consider to be China's greatest historical novel. Characters from the tale will come to life and aid teams in discovering a secret location, helping them to complete the game.

Trip highlights After getting lost in Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Zhongdian (Shangri-la), we will see the Ancient Constructions in Jianshui county, and Hani ethnic minority groups's rice terrace in Yuanyang. Yunnan minority and rice terrace tour welcomes you to join in...
Tour priceFrom US$1,356.00             
Destinations Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Zhongdian, Kunming, Jianshui, Yuanyang, Kunming
Tour type Private tour available everyday, private tour guide & driver

 Day1 :Our English speaking tour guide will hold a welcome sign to meet you at Kunming Airport and drive to the hotel. If time permit, you may stroll around to visit the Ancient Archway of Golden Horse and Green Phoenix, the Sculpture Cultural Pedestrian Street and Flower market.

Day2:After breakfast, transferred to visit the Stone Forest (about 89 KM / 2 hours). It covers 350 square kilometers, is the highest karst terrain in the world and a national scenic area in China. After the tour, drive back to Kunming, pay a visit to Cuihu Park for your leisure time at the rest of the day.

Day3:After early breakfast, transferred to Kunming airport for the flight to Dali. Upon your arrival at Dali airport, picked up by English speaking tour guide and drive to visit the Three Pagodas, Dali old town and Ancient Wall Gate.

Day4:Visit Xizhou morning market, Xizhou Bai Minority old town, enjoy the tea ceremony of Bai Ethnic, take as more pictures of the colorful costumes of Bai Ethics, listening to their stories...After lunch, transferred to Lijiang. Visit Dayan Old town, Square Street and enjoy the beautiful sunset on the top of the Lion Hill--Wangulou (if the weather is fine), overlooking the old town and the great Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is in the distance.

Day5:Drive to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the morning, take cable car to Yak Meadow, walk along the trails for 1 hour on the summit. Visit Yuhu village, a village famous for Naxi Ethnic Culture in the afternoon.

Day6:After breakfast, we will drive to visit First Bend of the Yangtze River and upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, then drive to Zhongdian (Shangri-la) directly. Visit pasture of Xiao Zhongdian on the way. Upon arrival Zhongdian, free time at your leisure.

Day7:Today we will drive to visit the Puda Tso National Park, including Shudu Lake & Bitahai Lake. Later drive back to Zhongdian, pay a Tibetan Family visiting on the way. Visit the Songzanlin Monastery, if you come at the right time, you may see the Lama having their evening lessons, and many Tibetan people enjoying the ceremony.

Day8:After breakfast, transferred to Zhongdian airport to catch the morning flight back to Kunming. Upon arrival at Kunming airport, be met and transferred to Jianshui county directly (140 KM / 3.5 hours) to visit the garden of Family Zhu, an example of a typical residential structure of southern Yunnan, built in Qing Dynasty.

Day9:Highlight morning tour to the Temple of Confucious, Shuanglong (Double Dragon) Bridge, Chaoyang Gateway Arch and the Zhang Family Garden in Tuanshan village. Afterwards, we'll drive to old town of Yuanyang (3.5 hours). We may enjoy the fresh air everywhere. Stay overnight in Yuanyang County for 2 nights.

Day10:After simple Chinese breakfast in hotel, we'll drive 28 KM to visit the Duoyishu Rice Terrace in sunrise. Afterwards, drive back to join in the Sheng village's morning market, then transferred to visit the Bada Rice Terrace. After your lunch, transferred to visit the Qingkou Hani and Yi ethnic minority villages, and enjoy the Tiger Mouth (Laohuzui) Rice Terrace in sunset, the eighth world wonder.

Day11:After simple Chinese breakfast, we will say goodbye to Yuanyang, and drive back to Kunming. The total journey is about 472 KM / 8 hours. Enjoy the unique view on the way. Check in the hotel in Kunming, free time at the rest of the day.

Day12：Morning is free at your leisure till transferred to Kunming airport according to your flight schedule. And your pleasant tour ends here.

I will pick you up at your hotel at around 8:30am (or your convenient time) for a day tour of this spring city.

In the Green Lake Park , you can observe the locals life in a series of local leisure programs like Taichi player, dancing, traditional instrument playing, Mahjong. If you visit the park in November, it is fun to buy a tiny pack of bird treat to feed the red-beaked seagulls.

Then move to the Kunming's largest Buddhist complex as well as the pilgrim draw lot--Yuantong Temple. The red pavilion, clear pond, white bridges, rockeries add more vivid touch to this old serene temple..

Drive about 8 km away from the city center for Golden Temple that is tucked away amid the pin forest on Mingfeng Mountain. The bronze Taoist temple was originally built as the summer palace of Wu Sangui, a turncoat rebel warlord in Qing dynasty. This temple houses a series of intricate carvings and divine statues will give a good browsing visit.

Conclude today's city tour by transferring back to Kunming. You then can choose whether to be transferred back to your hotel or get off in the city center to explore the surroundings by yourself.

`

Day 1 Arrival Kunming

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

Upon your arrival in Kunming, your local guide will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. For the rest of the day you will enjoy some leisure time to relax or have a first look at the new surrounding.

Green lake and Nanping street ,Jingxing Flower and Bird market

Then we will head to Golden Temple, located on top of Mingfeng (Singing Phoenix) Hill. It is the largest copper temple in China and is also known as the Tongwa Temple (Bronze Tile Temple).

Day 2 Kunming
 

Sightseeing: Stone Forest

Today we will go on a full day trip to Stone forest. Due to a process of weathering and erosion, nature has created an art gallery of stone sculpture here. This typical karst physiognomy seems like a forest of stone pillars and boulders. You will see fascination natural creations like Lion Arbor, Sword Peak Pond, Lotus Peak, Moon Lake, Jade Lake, and Dadie Waterfall.

Day 3 Departure Kunming (B, L)

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
Sightseeing: West Hill, Daguan Park, Kunming Flowers and Birds Market

We will start today’s tour with a visit of West Hill which contains Huating Hill, Taihua Hill and Luohan Hill, extending a distance of more than 40 kilometers at an altitude of between 1900 meters to 2350 meters above sea level. You will be astonished by the beautiful lush vegetation, blooming flowers, green grass and tranquil surroundings. West Hill has enjoyed great fame for unique natural scenery since ancient time and was renowned as " the most beautiful place in Yunnan".

Afterwards we will enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Daguan Park. Daguan means 'the grand view' and the park is located in the southwest of Kunming city.

Then we will visit Kunming Flowers and Birds Market, the city's biggest, most attractive shopping market where spring reigns all year. Since 1983, the Flowers and Birds Market has gradually been built into a comprehensive public spot for leisure, shopping, and trading. Strolling on the market street, you will see shops and stalls of all sorts, especially those featuring flowers, birds, and fish.

In the evening your local guide will transfer you to the airport where you will take the flight to your next destination.

`