Six-day Yunnan Highlights Tour

    You will meet your guide and driver at Kunming Changshui International Airport and be escorted to your hotel in downtown Kunming. After you check in at your hotel, you may go to Nanping Street or Jinma-Biji Street for a stroll in your free time.

    Kunming is the capital city of Yunnan Province. It is nicknamed as the City of Springtime due to its warm climate. The airport operates flights to 47 overseas metropolises and 122 cities within Mainland China. The overseas terminals include Paris, Moscow, Vancouver, San Francisco, Sydney, Dubai, Seoul, Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, etc.

    After breakfast, you will be taken to visit Lunan Stone Forest. In the afternoon, you will return to downtown Kunming and pay a visit to Yuantong Monastery and the Emerald Lake. You will stay overnight in your hotel in Kunming.

    Lunan Stone Forest is a national five-star scenic area, is located 78 kilometers(48 miles) to the east of downtown Kunming. It takes about one and a half hours to drive from Kunming to the stone forest. The scenic area covers an area of 350 square kilometers(135 sq.mi). It feature the Karst landform. As a component of South China Karst, Lunan Stone Forest was added to the list of world natural heritage sites and designated as a World Geo-park by UNESCO in 2007. It is a typical example of pinnacle Karst landscapes.

    Yuantong Monastery is situated on the southern slope of Yuantong Hill, is one of the oldest monasteries in Yunnan Province. It was founded in 765. The monastery combines the traditions of the three major Buddhist sects, namely, Mahayana, Theravada and Lamaism.

    The Emerald Lake lies at the foot of Wuhua mountain, 500 meters(1640 feet) from Yuantong Monastery. It is the most beautiful park in downtown Kunming. The lake measures 15 hectares(37 acres) and is surrounded by willows. It is the winter home of migratory birds.

    In the morning, you will take a bullet train to Dali. After having lunch in downtown Dali, you will have a boat trip around Erhai Lake. It is a round trip, taking about two hours. Then, you will go to visit the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple and enjoy your stroll around Dali Old Town. In the evening, you will check in at your hotel in Dali.

    Erhai Lake is noted for its gorgeous view when the moon casts a silver glow over the lake. It lies at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. The lake measures 256 square kilometers(99 sq.mi), 22 meters(72 feet) at its deepest point . It is the second largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province and the seventh largest in Mainland China. Erhai Lake is one of the must-see attractions in Yunnan.

    Chongsheng Temple is situated on the eastern slope of Cangshan Mountain, overlooking Erhai Lake. It can be dated back to the early eighth century. There are three pagodas in the compound of Chongsheng Temple. The pagodas are the landmark of Dali. The main pagoda stands in the middle of the three pagodas. It is called Qianxun Pagoda or Wenbi Pagoda by locals, is a sixteen-storied building with a height of 69.13 meters(227 feet). Qianxun Pagoda boasts a long history of over 1,200 years. The other two are smaller in height than the main pagoda. Both are ten-storey pagodas which are 42.19 meters(138 feet) high.

    Dali Old Town was founded in 1382. It covers an area of 300 hectares(741 acres). It has been the homeland of the Bai people for thousands of years. It used to be the capital of both the Ancient Nanzhao Kingdom and the Ancient Dali Kingdom.

    In the morning, you will be guided to Xizhou Ancient Town in the morning and Dali Tie-dye Museum. You will pay a visit to the Residence of Yan’s Family and enjoy the taste of the Three-course Tea, the traditional drink of the Bai People. After having lunch, you will travel to Lijiang by car. The distance between Dali and Lijiang is around 190 kilometers(118 miles). The journey to Lijiang takes about three hours. Then, you will go for a stroll in Lijiang Ancient Town. A hotel in downtown Lijiang will be booked for you for two nights.

    Xizhou Ancient Town is situated on the west shore of Erhai Lake, 18 kilometers(11 miles) to the north of Dali Old Town. It boasts a long history of over 1,000 years and shows the authentic Bai People’s cultural tradition and absolutely unique architecture. The Residence of Yan’s Family is a typical example of the Bai People’s traditional architecture. The house was constructed in 1907. It was the property of Yan Zizhen, who was one of the richest businessmen in Yunnan Province in the early twentieth century. The dwelling measures 2,478 square meters(2,964 sq.yd). Nowadays, it has become a folk museum.

    Lijiang Ancient Town was founded in the late thirteenth century. It covers an area of 728 hectares(1,799 acres). As a national five-star scenic area, the old town is one of the must-see attractions in Yunnan Province. It combines the features of ethnic minorities’ architecture, such as the Naxi Group, Tibetan People, the Bai People and the Yi Nationality. The houses are built and decorated in the traditional way. Sometimes, the locals dance together to entertain themselves in the town square in the evening, wearing their own folk costumes. Mufu Palace can be traced back to the Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368). It used to be Chieftain Mu’s mansion. The Mu clan ruled their territory for over 400 years. The compound covers an area of 3 hectares(7.5 acres). It is quite a luxury mansion.

    You will have a day trip to some attractions in Lijiang and the surrounding areas. After breakfast, you will ride your car to the Jade-Dragon Scenic Area, pay a visit to Ganhaizi Wetland and watch an amazing performance. The show is called the Impression of Lijiang. In the afternoon, you will be taken to Yuhu Naxi’s Village, Shuhe Ancient Town, Baisha Village and the Black-Dragon Pool.

    The Jade-Dragon Snow-capped Mountain lies in the north of Lijiang Prefecture, 21 kilometers(13 miles) to the city. It is the southernmost mountain in the Northern Hemisphere which is capped by snow all year round. The principal range of the mountain runs south to north. The mountain consists of thirteen peaks which stand on the range. It looks like a white dragon lying on the ground. The summit is called Shanzidou Peak which is 5,596 meters(18,360 feet) above sea level. Its view is amazingly gorgeous and magnificent. Ganhaizi Wetland lies at the foot of the mountain. The wetland is at an elevation of 2,900 meters(9,514 feet) above sea level, is a lovely pasture giving stunning views of the snow-capped mountain. Yuhu Village is located in the southern foothills of the Jade-Dragon. It is a picturesque village where the Naxi people dwell. Joseph Rock was a celebrated explorer, geographer, linguist and botanist in the twentieth century. He travelled to Lijiang in the year of 1922. Then, he lived in the village for many years. The former residence of Joseph Rock has been maintained by the locals.

    Shuhe Ancient Town is situated 8 kilometers(5 miles) to the north of downtown Lijiang. It is the cradle of Naxi’s civilization. The town used to be a very important post-station on the Ancient Tea and Horse Path. The old buildings perfectly harmonize with their surroundings. It has been added to the list of the most attractive old town in Mainland China. The nearby Baisha Village is noted for its exquisite and vivid mural paintings. The murals can be dated back to the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644). The assemblage of the murals depicts the aspects of the Naxi People’s culture and folk customs.

    The Black-Dragon Pool lies nearby Lijiang Ancient Town. It is a very beautiful park in Lijiang where people can go for a stroll. The Museum of Dongba Culture stands in the park. The museum was founded in 1984. It houses over 12,000 historical curiosities, showing the splendid and absolutely unique culture of the Naxi People.

    You will be transferred to Lijiang Sanyi International Airport according to your flight timings. The airport is located 29 kilometers(18 miles) to the south of downtown Lijiang. It operates flights to 47 domestic cities within Mainland China, such as Chengdu, Kunming, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.