9 Days Yunnan Classic Tour

Your private guide will pick you up at the airport on time and transfer you in a comfortable vehicle to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day to explore the city by yourself.

After 1 hour and a half driving, you will visit an authentic wonder of nature located 90km southeast of Kunming - Stone Forest. These strange and crowded rock formations, some of 30 meters, have been baptized with names as original as Rhinoceros looking at the moon and Mushroom always alive. This species of petrified forest is crossed by paths and dotted with ponds and viewpoints.
After the tour you will return to the city and be transferred to the train station for the high-speed train to Dali.

Weishan Ancient Town is located 60km from the town of Dali. The current town was built in 1389 and therefore has a history of more than 600 years. It is less touristy, more calm and authentic.
Mountain Weibaoshan is 10km southeast of Weishan Ancient Town. Currently, there are about twenty Taoist temples on the mountain. Wenchang Palace is the main subject of the visits.
Donglianhua Hui Village located 25km south of Dali, halfway to the Weishan Ancient Town. It is a quiet and classic Muslim village. It dates from the Ming Dynasty, and the houses and ancient architecture are well preserved.
Back to the ancient city of Dali, that receives a multitude of visitors. The history of the city dates back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Its old town, surrounded by the remains of a Ming wall, is characterized by cobbled streets and stone houses. Spend the night in the old city.

We will visit the morning market and the houses of the Bai nationality in Xizhou. Xizhou is not only a famous historical township, but also a typical commercial township of the Bai people. You will see traditions and typical dresses of Bai. Some buildings are old and typical old architectures, which are the 'local royal' houses. On the exterior walls of each house, there are numerous exquisite paintings, showing the importance of art in this area.
With a history of more than 1000 years, Three Pagodas are arranged in a triangle on the slope of Cangshan Mountain to the northwest of Dali. The largest of the three, Qianxun Pagoda has six levels and is 69 meters high, which is built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The two smaller pagodas built during the Five Dynasties (904-960) are solid brick octagonal structures with 10 levels, measuring 42 meteres high.
Then we will go to Shaxi Town, which is halfway from Dali to Lijiang. Being an old village, its history dates back to the Spring and Autumn period (771 to 481/453 BC). Tea Horse Road (also known as the Southwest Silk Road) has made Shaxi a shopping centre. We're going to spend a night in this quiet town.

In the morning, we will visit Mountain Shibaoshan which is near Shaxi. Mountain Shibaoshan is characterized by its Danxia relief and Buddhist temples, caves and temples.
Then we will head to the Old Town of Lijiang, which is a better preserved ancient ethnic minority village. Wooden buildings overlooking cobble-stoned streets lead up and over a hill to Lijiang’s river. The old town’s main thoroughfare divides into two here, running along both banks of the river until it joins the central market square. . You can also climb Lion Hill for a bird's eye view of the entire town.

Today, we will visit the villages around Lijiang. The village of Baisha was the cradle of the Naxi ethnic culture. Baisha's frescoes have a history of more than 500 years. They show us the local life and religious elements.
Yuhu village is located at the foot of the snow-covered mountain, about ten kilometres north of Lijiang. There is an artificial lake in the village. The reflection of the mountain on the lake is one of the most famous landscapes in Lijiang. The village houses are built of stone. It's special. In the village, you can also visit the former residence of Joseph Rock, a famous American photographer.
Ancient Town of Shuhe, a miniature of the old town of Lijiang, is a well-preserved village. You can see the water flow, old houses, small alleys and local ethnic groups.

Today he drives from Lijiang to Shangri-La. Along the way, visit two legendary sights.
First you can see the First Bend of the Yangtze River with the imposing landscape of the gorge and iron chains bridge in the Shugu village (stone drum). Surrounded by mountains and rivers, the First Bend of the Yangtze River has a picturesque landscape. Three rivers meet here and turn suddenly.
After lunch, explore the Tiger Leaping Gorge to see one of China's deepest canyons and enjoy steep cliffs. The gorge gets its name from the tiger that supposedly fled from hunters saving the canyon from a jump at its narrowest point. Touring the canyon, with peaks of up to 4,000 meters, is quite an adventure. The route, 30 kilometers long and along the cliff, is well marked, has a complicated stretch and passes through villages where you can rest.
Continue to Shangri-La and spend the night.

When you arrive in Shangri-la, you are in the Tibetan region; the Tibetan is also one of the ethnic groups that live in Yunnan. We will experience Tibetan culture and religion in Shangri-la.
Potatso National Park is the first national park in China, covering an area of 601.1 square kilometers and its maximum altitude is 4159 meters. We will visit Shudu Lake, Bita Lake and a Tibetan village.
Being the largest and most famous Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, Sumtseling Monastery is also known as the "Little Potala Palace" because of its architectural similarity. We're going to have knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism.