Yunnan Province Attractions
The Stone Forest
The Stone Forest lies in the hinterland of the Middle Yunnan Plateau, 103°11″—103°29″ east longitude and 24°40″—24°56″ north latitude. Located in Shilin Yi Auto...
The Stone Forest lies in the hinterland of the Middle Yunnan Plateau, 103°11″—103°29″ east longitude and 24°40″—24°56″ north latitude. Located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, it’s over 70 kilometers away from Kunming. The climate belongs to the subtropical low latitude monsoon climate, with an average temperature of 16℃. It’s a large-scale comprehensive tourism area incorporating natural scenery, national customs, leisure and holiday, and scientific research.
As the essence of the world’s karst, the Stone Forest is well-known for “grandness, rarity, danger, elegance, quietness and vastness”. It is dubbed as “the first wonder of the world” and “a natural museum of physiognomy” and enjoys a good reputation in geology circles for its remote history, wide variety, and large scale. It took shape 270 million years ago, experienced long geological evolution and complex geographical change and became the precious geological relic it is today. It includes numerous physiognomy types of the world such as the stone forest of Malaysia, America and Africa. It seems that the stone forests of all the world assemble here. With well-structured stone teeth, peak clusters, water-eroded caves, karst lakes, waterfalls and underground rivers, it’s a typical plateau karst ecological system and a solid panoramic picture.
Covering an area of 1100 square kilometers and having a protection area of 350 square kilometer, there are all kinds of unique natural sceneries. According to the lay-out and features of the scenery, the scenic area is divided into eight sub areas: the Stone Forest Scenic Area, Heisongyan (Naigu) Stone Forest, Zhiyundong Cave, Changhu Lake, Feilong Waterfall (Dadieshui) Scenic Area, Kuishan National Forest Park, Yuehu Lake, and Qifengdong Cave. Among these, the Stone Forest Scenic Area (the key scenic area), Heisongyan Scenic Area, Feilong Waterfall Scenic Area and Changhu Lake Scenic Area have been developed and opened to tourists. In the Stone Forest Scenic Area, the key area, over 100 scenic spots familiar to tourists such as “Shilinshengjing (the highlight of the Stone Forest)”, “Qianjunyifa (in a most dangerous condition)”, “Phoenix Combing Wings” and Ashima are all here. Entering the scenic area is like entering the tunnel of time. You can feel the great works of Nature. Traveling in the maze below the sea, you can see barranca and stone peaks, just like a lively and grand natural painting.
In addition, there are many peripheral sights and potential scenic areas to be developed gradually for the people.
The charm of the Stone Forest lies not only in the natural sights but also in the customs of the Sani people of Shilin County, for it is “the hometown of Ashima”. In the endless stone peaks and red earth of Shilin, there are also precious national and historical culture resources. Sani People, a branch of Yi, have lived here for over 2000 years and are famous for their diligence, bravery and warmth. Yi culture typical of Ashima has rich connotations and great influence. What Ashima represents is not only the image of Shilin, but also that of Yunnan tourism. In Ashima culture, the most influential are “one poem”, “one film”, “one song” and “one festival”. The ancient narrative poem Ashima written in Yi characters has been translated into over 20 languages; adapted from this poem is China’s first stereo film Ashima which enjoys a great reputation in the world; the Sani song Please Stay here, You Guest from afar is famous in the world; and the Torch Festival of Yi, which falls on the 24th of the 6th month of the lunar year and incorporates wrestling and bullfighting, is dubbed as the “Oriental Carnival”.
The Stone Forest Scenic Area has the following titles approved by relevant international and national departments
▲China Key Scenic Area (State Council, 1982)
▲Demonstration Site of Chinese Civilized Scenic Areas (Central Office of Civilization, the Ministry of Construction and National Tourism Administration, 1999)
▲State AAAAA Scenic Area (National Tourism Administration, 2006)
▲Chinese Geological Park (the Ministry of Land Resources, 2001)
▲Demonstration Unit of Chinese Protection of the Legal Rights and Interests of Tourism Consumers (Consumer Protection Fund of China, Scenic Area Association of China, 2001)
▲Quality Management System Authentication ISO 9001:2000, Environment Management System Authentication ISO14001：1996, Professional Health and Safety Management System Authentication GB/T28001：2001
▲Famous Tourism Brand of China (China Tourism Newspaper)
▲World Geological Park (UNESCO, 2004)
▲World Heritage (UNESCO, 2007)
How to get to Lijiang
By Air Direct flights to Lijiang from Kunming,Beijing,Shanghai,Guangzhou,Shenzhen,Nanjing,Chengdu,Chongqing,Zhengzhou. The Lijiang airport is 27kms from the old town of Lijiang. Taxi from the Lijiang airport to the old town usually costs 80Yuan. Public transportation from the airport to Lijiang...
By Air Direct flights to Lijiang from Kunming,Beijing,Shanghai,Guangzhou,Shenzhen,Nanjing,Chengdu,Chongqing,Zhengzhou. The Lijiang airport is 27kms from the old town of Lijiang. Taxi from the Lijiang airport to the old town usually costs 80Yuan. Public transportation from the airport to Lijiang city bus station(15Yuan/pp),then tranfer to a taxi to the old town. By train There are 2 trains each day from Kunning via Dali to Lijiang. 8:20am----20：05 hard seat,hard sleeper 22:00 ---- 08:00am hard sleeper,soft sleeper By bus: From Kunming start at Kunming western long distance bus station. every hour,and takes 9hours to get to Lijiang. From Dali,Shangri-la, every half an hour From Chengdu,every day/every 2days,takes about 24hours to arrive From Panzhihua, about 4 bus each day,takes 7hours,poor road!!!!
Yunnan Province Articles
Traditional Naxi clothing
Sheepskin cape is an important symbol of the lijiang naxi women's dress. It usually made from the whole piece of pure black sheepskin....
Sheepskin cape is an important symbol of the lijiang naxi women's dress. It usually made from the whole piece of pure black sheepskin. Sheepskin cape is elegant , can not only have adornment effect, but aso keep warm and protect the body, the Naxi clothing can be concluded as"Pixingdaiyue" in chinese which means "To travel day and night" . there is 7 embroidery circles in the middle of Black and white color, symbol of 7 stars in the sky, means naxi women get up early, to travel day and night, in a show of diligence.
Circle cutting sheepskin is to imitate the shape of a frog, There is 2 round embroidery circles on the shoulder according to the old style of Naxi clothing, meaning "the eyes of the frog," this shows the aboriginal residents worship of frog and Sheep.
Clothing of Naxi people living in shangrila is much more primitive, They use the whole piece of sheep skin as shawl in their back.
the mile spring pool
the mile city is 160km from kunming.now it is the new impression of yunnan.there not only has the nice people but also the beautiful view. expecially the spring there which attractes many visitors sightseeing there but enjoy the spring....
the mile city is 160km from kunming.now it is the new impression of yunnan.there not only has the nice people but also the beautiful view. expecially the spring there which attractes many visitors sightseeing there but enjoy the spring. i thing if thereis anyone who has time .you should go to.
一the yuanyang terrace
yuanyang terrace is located in the heart of yunnan province.weather there is hot and wet.so the local hani people found that terrace way is the best solution to solve the life isssues.it is an example for the harmony betwen man and nature.
Top Yunnan Province Tours
$1200 Per Day
9 Days Standard Tour of Kunming ——Dali ——Lijiang and Shangri-La
Day1
...Read moreDay1
Meet you outside the baggage claim area at Kunming Airport and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city.
Kunming hotel
★★★★
Day2
Full day tour to visit the Qiongzhu Temple and the Stone Forest the Stone Forest scenic area is composed of seven scenic spots, including the Big Stone Forest, the Small Stone Forest, Naigu Stone Forest, Da Die Shui, Long Lake, Moon Lake, Zhiyun Cave and Qifeng Cave. The Stone Forest is really a typical model of China's Karst,
Kunming hotel
★★★★
Day3
Take an early morning flight to Dali. Visit the Erhai Lake Park, the Three Pagoda Temple and the Dali Old Town, the Three Pagoda Temple is made up of three ancient independent pagodas standing in a symmetrical triangle.
Dali Old Town -The history of Dali Old Town can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty when Dali was the capital of Nan Zhao Kingdom.
Land Scape hotel
★★★★
Day4
It takes about three hours' driving to Lijiang and transfer to the hotel. On the way to Lijiang, visit the Bai Traditional House in Xizhou and Zhoucheng, famous for tie dyeing. Visit the Square Street of the Lijiang Old Town. Lijiang Old Town was originally built in the later period of 13th Century. It has an elevation of 2400 meters (about 1.5 miles) and covers an area of 939 acres. The population of the old town is over 25,000, most of which are Naxi people. What is interesting is that Lijiang Old Town is the only Chinese historical and cultural town built without city wall.
Lijiang Grand hotel
★★★
Day5
Visit the Baisha Village and a local Naxi family, the Baisha Murals, the Rock Joseph's Former Residence in Yuhu Village. Afternoon is free for you to enjoy the small bridges, swift streams, cobbled streets and grey tiled roofs of the Residential Houses in the Lijiang Old Town. Enjoy the Naxi Ancient Music and Dance Performance at Dongba Palace in the evening
Lijiang Grand hotel
★★★
Day6
Drive to Shangri-La and transfer to the hotel. On the way to Shangri-La, visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the First Bend of the Yangtze River and the Stone Drum Town. the Tiger Leaping Gorge lies in the upper reaches of the Golden Sand River. Its total length is 18 kilometers (11.2 miles), with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the east and the Haba Snow Mountain in the west. The vertical height of the gorge is 3,790 meters (12,434 feet), thus it is the deepest gorge of the world. Since the narrowest part is only 30 meters (98.4 feet) wide, the tiger could just leap from a reef to the other side of the river. So it gained the name Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Shangri-La Paradise Hotel
★★★★★
Day7
Visit the Songzanlin Temple, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Yunnan, the Bitahai Lake, Shudu Lake and a Tibetan family. Songzanlin Temple - As the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province,
The Bitahai Lake is in the shape of trumpet shell, encircled by mountains. Covering an area of 148 acres, the lake is 40-meter (131 feet) deep and has an altitude of 3504 meters (11,496 feet). The plants around the lake are various, including spruces, pinares, oaks, white birches and azaleas.
Shudu Lake - As one of the biggest lakes of Shangri-la County, the plants around the lake are lush and the wild animals are various, such as the musk deer, golden cats, samburs, Tibetan eared pheasants, bears and panthers.
Shangri-La Paradise Hotel
★★★★★
Day8
Take flight to Kunming. Visit the Golden Temple, the Daguan Park and the Flowers and Birds Market. Check in at the hotel
Golden Temple - was built in the Ming Dynasty. The Mingfeng Hill was also named Xiangdu Hill. Since then, the scenic area around the temple has become a well-known Taoist attraction of Yunnan.
Daguan Park - The Daguan Park in Kunming is located on the bank of the Dianchi Lake and faces the Western Hills which are on the other side of the lake. It is said that the original site of the Daguan Park was a small temple built by a monk for giving Buddhist lessons. Several years later, the governor of Yunnan Province Wang Jiwen was attracted by the beautiful scenery here and decided to construct a park by adding halls, pavilions, rockeries and porches. The most notable attraction in the park is the Daguan Pavilion.
kunming hotel
★★★★
Day9
Your pleasant China tour ends as we transfer you to the airport and help you board the flight back home
End of the tour
$0 Per Day
Trek one week from Tiger Leaping Gorge to Shangrila
Day 1 Public bus from Lijiang to Qiaotou for 2.5 hrs, start trekking along Tiger Leaping Gorge, 6 hrs to halfway Guesthouse.
Day 2 2 hrs trekking to Middle Gorge, 3.5 hrs to walnut garden, night in Woody Inn.
Day 3 Drive 0.5 hr to Xincun, then trek 6 hrs to haba village, ( take lunch box from walnut Garden). Night in Haba Snow Mountain Inn.
Day 4 Drive 1 hr to Baishuitai, around 2 hrs there, then drive 2.5 hrs toshangrila, night in Lefu Hotel, Songstam Hotel or Maji House.
...Read moreDay 1 Public bus from Lijiang to Qiaotou for 2.5 hrs, start trekking along Tiger Leaping Gorge, 6 hrs to halfway Guesthouse.
Day 2 2 hrs trekking to Middle Gorge, 3.5 hrs to walnut garden, night in Woody Inn.
Day 3 Drive 0.5 hr to Xincun, then trek 6 hrs to haba village, ( take lunch box from walnut Garden). Night in Haba Snow Mountain Inn.
Day 4 Drive 1 hr to Baishuitai, around 2 hrs there, then drive 2.5 hrs toshangrila, night in Lefu Hotel, Songstam Hotel or Maji House.
Day 5 Take local bus to Songzanlinsi Lama Temple, trek from there for about 3 hrs to Napa Lake, 2 hrs trekking around the lake and village there. Then quote a mini van back to Galtang, Shangrila.
Day 6 Trek 3 hrs from Galtang Hotel to Rhingha Temple area, 2 hrs trekking along the river and villages there, then Tianshengqiao Hotspring later. Hitch hike or quote a mini van back to Maji House outside of the town or Lefu Hotel in Galtang.
Day 7 Quote a mini van to Tianbao Snow Mt., climb the mountain and down (altitude at 4500 meters), 5 hrs, mini van to xiaozhongdian, Overnight in a Tibetan family there or in a hotel near Yangtangqu, beautiful area.
Day 8 Take public bus back to Lijiang and have a few relaxing days here, or fly to your next destination from Shangrila Airport.
$650 Per Day
Seven Days Exotic South of Yunnan
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. If time is available, you can visit Kunming's landscape - Green Lake Park, the vibrant Flowers and Birds Market, and Kunming's symbol building - Golden Horse & Green Phoenix Archway. Overnight at the hotel in Kunming.
Highlights
Green Lake Park, Phoenix Archway ,Flowers and Birds Market ...Read more
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. If time is available, you can visit Kunming's landscape - Green Lake Park, the vibrant Flowers and Birds Market, and Kunming's symbol building - Golden Horse & Green Phoenix Archway. Overnight at the hotel in Kunming.
Highlights
Green Lake Park, Phoenix Archway ,Flowers and Birds Market
Day 2 Kunming - Mile via Stone Forest (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Today's Activities
In the early morning we take you to visit the World Geopark - 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 travel southwards to the famous hot spring spa resort Mile, which is known as "the Kingdom of Hot Spring", "the Kingdom of Tobacco" and "Eden of Plateau Grape". This evening, you will have plenty of time to luxuriate in hot spring bath at open-air mountain spa resort.
Highlights:
Yunnan Stone Forest Minority performance in Stone Forest Mile hotspring resort
Day 3 Mile - Jianshui (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Today's Activities
After a leisurely breakfast inside the resort, you will visit the Mile Vineyards to taste the latest wine.Then drive to Jianshui. After lunch you will begin your sightseeing of Jianshui by visiting the very famous Zhu Family Garden, which is built in the end of Qing Dynasty. In this grand complex of civilian houses, you could enjoy the style of local residential buildings. The next attraction is Jianshui Confucian Temple. It is the biggest and best-preserved Confucius relic in China after the temple in Qufu, Shandong province. The evening is free for you to stroll leisurely in the old town.
Highlights:
Layout of Zhu Family Garden Delicate carving in Zhu Family Garden Jianshui Confucian Temple
Day 4 Jianshui - Yuanyang (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Today's Activities:
In early morning a thrilling excursion to the western outskirt of Jianshui town to explore Tuanshan Village. Built more than 600 years ago, Tuanshan Village is famed for its Han style residential complexes. When you strool in the village, it feels like travelling to another China. Small, cobbled lanes and old women with bound feet blend will leave you with impressions of timelessness, art and architecture. On the way back, visit Double-Dragon Bridge. Having appreciated the 400-year-old bridge known for elegant pavilion style and 17 bridge openings, you can't help marveling at the great architectural aesthetics of Chinese people in ancient times. After lunch, drive to Yuanyang New Town. On half way you can see Red River Valley. It will charm your eyes and the moisture in the air makes you fresh from head to toe. Upon arrive in Yuanyang, go to see terrace fields. The great terraces in sunset are so marvelous!
Highlights:
Courtyard of an old house in Tuanshan Double Dragon Bridge Local people in Tuanshan Village
Day 5 Yuanyang (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Today's Activities
From November to April, the second year, you will keep being dazzled by the glowing water-logged Yuanyang Rice Terraces, which is immersed with water for rice transplanting. The 3 most-famous rice terraces zones you’re to visit are Duoyishu, Bada and Tiger Mouth Pass. Duoyishu is the best spot for sunrise view while the latter two are perfect for sunset spectacle.
At dawn you will get to Duoyishu Village to have a grand view of the rice terrace in sunrise. Then cross a bustling morning market of local ethnic minority at Shengcun Village to reach the Bada Mountain, where you can appreciate the breathtaking steep terraces on the commanding point. Later go to Qingkou Hani Ethnic Village. You’ll meet with the lovely mushroom houses Hani people build, colorful ethnic garment of Hani women and their favorite food. It’s an eye-opening experience. In the afternoon, drive to Tiger Mouth Pass. Under the rays of sunset, everything turns to gold, while the panorama of the terraces below is unsurpassable.
Highlights:
Sunrise in Qingkou Hani Village Yuanyang terraces in mist Morning market at Shengcun Village
Day 6 Yuanyang - Kunming (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Today's Activities
After enjoying a breezy good time for breakfast in the hotel, transfer back to Kunming. There are charming landscape alongside on the way back to Kunming. You may pass Kunming Ethnic Village and Dianchi Lake by. Just keep in good mood and feast on all these beautiful sceneries.
Highlights:
Kunming Ethnic Village Dianchi Lake Puer tea
Day 7 Depart Kunming (Breakfast)
Today's Activities After breakfast, transfer to airport for your departure flight. Say goodbye to spring city and fly to your next destination.