7D6N YUNNAN KUNMING DALI & LIJIANG

7D6N Yunnan Kunming Dali & Lijiang

Day 01 – ARRIVE KUNMING

On arrival at Kunming Airport, your driver and guide will meet you at the arrival hall and your sightseeing tour of Kunming, the “Spring City”, will commence with a visit to the famous Kunming Bird & Flower Market – the biggest of its kind in Kunming – where you will find some 700 stores selling numerous types of flowers, birds, fishes, antiques, featured jewelleries and handicrafts.  The next attraction is the beautiful Green Lake Park, renowned as the “emerald oasis” of Kunming City where you will see locals and visitors alike strolling leisurely to soak in its tranquil atmosphere.

Day 02 – KUNMING  [B/L]

No visit to Kunming is complete without seeing its iconic attraction Stone Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  You will see towering limestone rocks resembling sharp columns, cones, swords, pagodas, mushrooms, animals, plants and even mythological figures around this huge and spectacular natural karst landscape measuring about 400km².  After lunch, continue on to the huge stone-carved edifice of the Dragon Gate in the Western Hills Scenic Area.  This must-see attraction consists of winding stone paths and staircases, stone rooms, stone grottos and stone Buddhist figures that were exquisitely carved into a large natural rock.  You will have the chance to climb to the top for a sweeping view of the vast Dianchi Lake and the Kunming metropolis.   

Day 03 – KUNMING – DALI  [B/L]

After breakfast, board a bullet train for a 2-hour high speed train journey to Dali.  Your Dali guide will meet you upon arrival at Dali and bring you to your hotel in Dali Ancient City which is renowned for, among others, the traditional Bai ethnic minority folk houses that give the city its distinctive feel.  You will visit Dali’s landmark attraction, the Three Pagodas, consisting of three independent pagodas (a 70m-tall Qianxun Pagoda and two 42m-tall pagodas) forming a triangle.  After that, you will hop on a horse-drawn carriage for a pleasant ride along the shores of Erhai Lake, a beautiful lake with great photo opportunities, thanks to its clear waters, seagulls in huge flocks hovering above and green mountains in the background.

Day 04 – DALI: WEISHAN COUNTY   [B/L]

Travel to Weishan County after breakfast and visit the cozy and picturesque Weishan Old Town where you will see a large number of well-preserved ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).  Located in a fertile valley surrounded by hills and mountains, this charming historical and cultural old town is home to several ethnic minorities – the Han, Yi, Hui (Chinese Muslim), Miao, Bai and Lisu people – for centuries.  You will find many small stores selling snacks, souvenirs and antiques along the streets of this authentic old town.  After lunch, continue on to Donglianhua Village where you will visit the Ma Family Compound – a typical courtyard of the Bai minority – and also stop by a mosque in the village.

Day 05 – DALI – LIJIANG   [B/L]

Depart Dali and travel to Lijiang.  Enroute, you will have a brief stop at a morning market in Xizhou where you can get to learn how to make a local snack called Xizhou Baba.  After that, proceed on to Yan’s Compound, a magnificent mansion of Bai nationality.  Upon arrival in Lijiang, you will have free time to meander around the beautiful historical centre of Lijiang City.  Lijiang’s Old City (2,400m), with a history of over a 1,000 years and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site,  is one of the four best-preserved ancient cities in China and the only old city built without a city wall.  You will find traditional settlements combining the architecture and decorations of residential clusters of Naxi, Han, Bai and Tibetan people all line up in an orderly fashion along flagstone-paved paths and gurgling water canals.  Ubiquitous arched bridges and canals, exquisite mural walls, stunning courtyards, elegant wooden houses and beautiful flowers and verdant plants all add up to give the old city the beauty and charm it is so well known for and also its reputation as the “Oriental Venice” and the “Suzhou in Highland”.

Day 06 – LIJIANG  [B/L]

Today’s highlight is the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (JDSM), one of Lijiang’s iconic landmarks and a must-see scenic spot.  Famous for its variant and beautiful natural scenes, JDSM is considered the most sacred place among the local Naxi ethnic people.  This mountain massif, a popular hiking destination, stretches a length of 35km and width of 20km.  Consisting of 13 peaks, among which Shanzidou is its highest peak at an altitude of 5,596m,  the mountain is perennially covered in snow and fog, resembling a silver-white dragon from a distance, and therefore its name.  Your guide will take you to the meadows of Ganhaizi (3,100m) to enjoy panoramic views of the JDSM and, thereafter, to board a ropeway that will bring you to the Spruce Meadow (3,240m) at the foot of the JDSM to enjoy its scenic surroundings and also to view glaciers.  After lunch, continue on to Baisha Village where you will be able to admire the renowned Baisha Murals.  You will also visit a local Naxi family to learn more about their daily activities and life.

Day 07 – DEPART LIJIANG  [B]

This morning, you will visit the beautiful Black Dragon Pool Park at the foot of Elephant Hill.  The reflections – such as the Longshen Temple, the Deyue Pavilion, the Suocui Bridge and the Hanyue Stage – on the crystal clear waters of the Black Dragon Pool are legendary and it is one of the most famous photography locations in Lijiang.  Next you will visit the Naxi Dongba Culture Museum for an insight into the Dongba culture of the Naxi people.  After that, you will be transferred to Lijiang Airport for your departure flight.

Whether you prefer the above itinerary “as-is” or have it customised, if you will indicate the start/end dates of your intended travel and provide your contact details, we will get in touch with you to discuss the itinerary on a no-obligations basis on your part.