8 Days to Explore Colorful Yunnan

Sightseeing and Activities:Arrive in Kunming.You'll begin your journey to the diverse and captivating province of Yunnan from the capital

city, Kunming. Upon arrival at the Kunming International Airport, meet your local guide and

transfer to the hotel.

You will drive 86 km to the Stone Forest. An old local saying says that 'If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted  your time.' Truly, the Stone

Forest is one of the most important attractions of  Yunnan.After lunch, drive back Kunming to visit the Flowers  and Birds Market.

Get up in the early morning. Transfer to train  station. Take a bullet train from Kunming to Dali.Arrive at Dali train station. Meet your local guide  in Dali. Then visit Three  Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years  located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain facing to the Erhai Lake. Three  Pagodas are made of three ancient

independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle. Then you’ll hop on biycle and cyling along the  Erhai lake (2 hours). Dali Erhai Lake Ear-shaped Sea) in Dali, at 1972 meters above  sea level, is the second largest highland lake of Yunnan, after Dianchi Lake. With crystal  clear water and the charming landscape, Erhai Lake is reputed as "Pearl of Plateau".  Hence, "Silver Cangshan Mountain and Jade Erhai Lake" is used to depict the amazing scene  of Erhai Lake. In the late afternoon, take a walk in  Dali Old Town. Visit Foreigner's Street, ancient city wall.

In  the  morning,you will  head  for  Xizhou  Town  to fully  appreciate  Bai-style  traditional architectural courtyards, taste  their fragrant Three-Course Tea and  explore their distinctive

culture. Xizhou is our home. This little village has been called ‘a living art museum’ due to its unusual concentration  of nationally  protected heritage sites,  mostly including  architecture

that spans the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) until the creation of New China in 1949, but also includes centuries old trees, parks, and wildlife preserves. Strolling through the morning market and main walking street will reveal a vibrant town with a healthy mix of traditional Bai culture and modern influence from Eastern China and abroad. It is  the balance of  development and  forward thinking that  exists in Xizhou  that makes it special. After Xizhou,visit  Zhoucheng Village which is  the largest Bai  ethnic village in  China and the Bai Ethnic Tie-dying Cloth Workshop where you can take some special souvenir with the Bai ethnic style. The tie-dyeing products in  Zhoucheng Village are well sought after, both at home  and  abroad.  Do  drop  by and  witness  for  yourself  the  process  of  this  historical craftsmanship. Who  knows, you  will return  home with  some cheap  and beautiful  crafted cloths. In the afternoon, drive to Shangrila.

In the morning explore Dukezong Old Town by climbing  up to the top of Guishan Hill (or Tortoise Hill) to  have a panoramic view  of the old town  and Shangri-La County and  join in

the tourists to turn the largest Prayer Wheel in the world. (Please note: In Jan.2014, a huge fire broke  out destroying most  of the town.  Now you could  visit the area  around Guishan

Hill.)Visit  the   Ganden  Sumtseling   Monastery,  the   largest  Tibetan   monastery   in  Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias - 'the little Potala Palace ', so named because the

whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious  atmosphere. Later, drive to the first national park in China - Pudacuo National Park. Throw yourselves

into the lush green forest with diverse species of flora and fauna, walk along  the plank road to catch  the gorgeous scenery of  Shudu Lake (hike  3.3 km, about 1  hr) and Bita Lake

(hike 4.2 km, about 1.5hrs ) and  seek for a real paradise in this natural wonderland.  (Note: the altitude of  Pudacuo is at 3500m-4150m and you  should avoid strong activities. There’s

no problem  to hike  in the  park.) After the  merry time  in the  park, pay  a visit to  a local Tibetan family and experience the highly-praised hospitality of Tibetan  people.

After breakfast,  be transferred  to Tiger Leaping  Gorge which  is the  deepest gorge in  the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can

find gold in the river. Tiger  Leaping Gorge  is  located between  the  5596  meters Jade  Dragon  Snow Mountain (Yulong Xueshan) to  the south and  5396 meters Haba Snow  Mountain (Haba Xueshan)  to the north. Legend says that in order to escape from a hunter, a tiger jumped across the river at  the  narrowest point,  hence  named  Tiger  Leaping Gorge  and  the  stone  called  Tiger Leaping Rock. And explore Lijiang Ancient Town. Lijiang Ancient Town has a history of more than 800 years; it was  listed as  the World  Cultural Heritage  by the  UNESCO 1997.  Here you  will see  the wonderful wooden architecture of Naxi ethnic people.

In this morning, your  guide and driver will  pick you up at your hotel  and escort you to  the Jade Dragon  Snow Mountain,  the southernmost  glacier  in the  Northern Hemisphere.

The 13 peaks in this mountain area  are the sacred mountains among Naxi people. Take the tramway to the Spruce Meadow at 3000 meter high, and you can both see the fascinating

sightseeing and appreciate the gorgeous look of the whole snow mountain at the best place. After that, you can  choose to enjoy the electrifying  Impression Lijiang Show  (Optional)

performed by 500 local  people under the white snow  and blue sky with  the background of white Jade  Dragon Snow Mountain,  which lasts  for about 70  min. (Note: For  the ticket is

hard to book  in peak season, if  you are interested in  the show, please tell  us your likes in advance.) On the way  back, you will  enjoy the charming scenery  and the crystal  clear water various with the weather in Blue-Moon Valley and its White  Water River. After that, head  to Baisha Village and  appreciate the ancient Baisha  Mural Paintings.

Visit Dabaoji Palace and Liuli Temple to view murals painted  over 1000 years ago which is a combination of Tibetan Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism.

Transfer to airport and fly back to your  sweet home.