If you want go deeper into Yunnan’s diverse landscapes and cultures, then this 11-day Yunnan tour is exactly what you should be looking at. While Kunming‘s gentle weather and calm city vibe can mark an impressive beginning, there are way more treasures waiting for us to explore. We shall first travel to Jianshui, the classical buildings in this county are still telling stories of the centuries-old Confucian heritage. Stop at the corners and discover the history.
When traveling to Yuanyang, you’ll need to be ready to be shocked by the impressive beauty of one of China’s most extraordinary cultural landscapes: the rice terraces. And later when we are in Dali, you can have a close look at how the serenity of nature lives harmoniously with Bai traditions, while Lijiang similarly blends incredible nature views with the artistic spirit of the Naxi people. And in the end, this trip will culminate in the mystical Shangri-La. Here, the profound sense of tranquility and spirituality will lead you to find your inner peace.
Travel destinations: Kunming, Jianshui, Yuanyang, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la
Suitable for: Natural Lovers, Photographers, Cultural Explorers
Tour type: Private
Welcome to the most romantic place in China - Yunnan! A local private driver will greet you at the airport holding a welcome sign with your name. Then you will be transferred directly to your hotel to check in.
Later on, you can visit Green Lake Park on your own. Aka Cuihu Park, it is a beautiful urban park in Kunming city center. You will appreciate the natural beauty, enjoy ultimate relaxation, experience local daily life, and even look into the rich cultural and historical relics of Kunming.
In the morning, your tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and then take you to Stone Forest to start your Yunnan tour. The Stone Forest is not just a geological wonder, it has an even more profound significance: a dramatic karst labyrinth formed over millions of years. As you wander through limestone pillars or naturally sculpted formations, you may be surprised about how they resemble animals, pagodas, and even legendary figures from local folklore. The area is large, and many paths involve gentle climbs.
A useful tip: wear comfortable walking shoes, as exploring the main viewpoints and hidden corners can take several hours.
After lunch, we will drive 2 hours to Jianshui Ancient Town, which can be called a "museum of ancient architecture" and "museum of folk dwellings". You can freely explore the town on your own, or just have a good rest in your hotel keeping energy for the next day's visit.
Today your Yunnan tour package in Jianshui takes you to Zhu Family Garden, the mansion built in the late Qing dynasty for Zhu's family. Your tour guide will show you around the garden and delight you with each unique part of the design, including the exquisite decorations, the function of the houses, and the story at that time.
Then, go to visit Jianshui Confucius Temple, with a history of more than 700 years. The temple adopted the palace-type design with north-south axis symmetry. The whole building is magnificent and well-structured, giving people a sense of solemnity. It also highlights the property of Confucianism.
After the visit, you will have lunch and then be transferred to Yuanyang County for about 3 hours.
After breakfast, meet your tour guide at the hotel lobby and then take a guided Yuanyang tour of Hani Rice Terraces. The Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces stretch across steep mountainsides like flowing ribbons, creating an ever-changing palette of reflections and colors. Sculpted by the Hani people over more than 1,300 years, these terraces demonstrate an extraordinary harmony between humans and nature. As you walk through nearby villages, you’ll see traditional mushroom-shaped houses, daily farming practices, and locals in vibrant ethnic dress. Depending on the season, the terraces may glisten with water, shimmer with young rice shoots, or glow gold at harvest time—each offering a spectacular photographic moment.
What comes after is Qingkou Hani Ethnic Village. Visitors can experience the essence of Hani terrace culture in just a few hours by walking along the village's stone path and viewing the national costumes, harrows, hoes, looms and other production and living tools.
After your breakfast, follow your guide to a local market to get down to the daily life of the native minority. You will see people wearing their traditional costumes and women carrying the special pack basket made of bamboo, for carrying babies. Your guide will narrate the customs and other ethnic things to make your today's Yunnan tour more interesting.
Bid farewell to Yuanyang, you will hop on the comfortable van for a 6-hour ride back to Kunming City. Enjoy the scenery outside the window along the road. When you get to Kunming, the guide will help you check in at a local hotel.
After breakfast, you will be picked up and then driven to the train station. Take the bullet train for 2 hours and get to Dali. Upon your arrival, the local guide will greet you at the train station and then transfer you to the hotel in the Old Town of Dali. Here, you can stroll along the alleys of the ancient city and enjoy its languid atmosphere. Also, catch the sight of those wearing traditional ethnic costumes and take a leisure walk in the market street selling various souvenirs.
After that, we’ll lead you to visit the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, which has Erhai Lake in the east and Cangshan Mountain in the west. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple actually forms one of Yunnan’s most iconic architectural ensembles. The central pagoda enjoys a really long history that can be traced back to the Tang dynasty. You can see it’s unique beauty as it stands elegantly against the backdrop of Cangshan Mountain. The other two smaller pagodas simply mirror it from opposite sides, which create a perfect symmetry (show this point in your photos).
As you walk through the temple grounds, you’ll easily gain insight into ancient Buddhist engineering or the region’s earthquake-resistant building techniques. If you’re interested in Dali’s long history, then it’s also a good place to get deeper understanding of local culture and religion.
Finally, explore the Erhai Lake at your own pace. You are encouraged to rent a bike and cycle around the lake, enjoying its beautiful scenery and story of the lake.
In the morning, you will be transferred to Lijiang from Dali. The journey usually lasts 3-4 hours. Along the road, you will stop by Bai Minority Traditional Houses in Xizhou. Follow your guide to explore the distinctive dwellings with a typical minority culture, and you may also have a chance to see the process of local food making, which is called Baba as the specialty.
Later, stop by a former mansion of Yan's Family, where you can learn the layout of the Chinese courtyard of Bai minority style and appreciate its wood sculpture as well as the architectural ornament. Stop by Zhoucheng to explore the ancient handcraft of tie-dying. You will have the chance to enter the workshop to learn the procedure of the skill and try to do it (optional, cost on your own).
When you arrive in Lijiang, the guide will then lead you to appreciate the charm of Lijiang Ancient Town. It is a living showcase of Naxi culture, and visitors may feel it really impressive for it has things like flowing canals, cobbled lanes, and traditional wooden houses decorated with hanging lanterns. The town’s layout reflects ancient geomantic principles, which is designed to stress the natural harmony between water, mountains, and settlement.
And nowadays, the town has also embraced many modern influences, so when you explore inside, you’ll find small cafés, hidden courtyards, and local artisan shops selling embroidery, silverwork, and tie-dye crafts. By evening, soft lights illuminate the waterways, giving the old town a romantic atmosphere while musicians perform traditional Naxi melodies in intimate squares. Finally, the guide will help you check in at the hotel.
On today's Yunnan tour in Lijiang, you are arranged to visit the Baisha Village first. It is the original settlement of the Naxi people. The village still retains the antique style, which is quiet and simple. There's a highlight here - Baisha Mural. The painting of the Baisha mural lasts for more than 300 years from the beginning of the Ming dynasty to the Qing dynasty, vividly depicting the local lifestyle and religious impressions.
In addition, you will also pay a visit to a local Naxi family to learn more about the local culture of the inhabitants.
In the afternoon, explore the Black Dragon Pool Park, which offers one of the most classic postcard views in Yunnan—its calm waters mirroring Jade Dragon Snow Mountain behind elegant pavilions and stone bridges. The park is also a peaceful retreat where you can observe locals practicing tai chi or playing traditional instruments.
At the nearby Dongba Museum, you’ll learn about the Naxi people’s ancient Dongba script, rituals, and artistic traditions. Exhibits of manuscripts, ceremonial objects, and shamanic symbols help you understand how the Naxi preserved their unique identity through centuries of cultural blending.
In the morning you will be transferred to Shangri-La for about 4-5 hours. Before reaching your destination, you will see the First Bend of the Yangtze River on the way. The site got its name from the special form of a sudden V-like bend of the stream of the Yangtze River. The Stone Drum Town is less visited but keeps its original visage, which still holds the custom of Market Day. The observation deck of First Bend of the Yangtze River is set in the town.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is a highlight of your Yunnan tour. It is one of China’s deepest and most dramatic river canyons, and this unbelievable creation is made by the rushing Jinsha River, which runs between two towering mountain ranges. You can take some time at the viewing platform, this allows you to directly feel the sheer force of the water as it crashes through the narrowest point. And in terms of how it got its name, we might need to trace back to the legend which says a tiger once leapt across this span. The trails and viewpoints offer spectacular angles of steep cliffs, roaring rapids, and mist rising from the river, and this scene will surely be an unforgettable natural spectacle in your journey.
Upon arrival, check in at the hotel in Shangri-La.
After breakfast, your Shangri-La tour starts at the Songzanlin Temple. Often called the “Little Potala Palace,” it is the most important Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. Built in the 17th century under the guidance of the 5th Dalai Lama, it blends fortress-like architecture with ornate religious artwork. Inside, you’ll find golden statues, ancient murals, and prayer halls filled with butter-lamp light and the low chants of resident monks. Your guide will explain the temple’s role in local spiritual life and how its rituals continue to shape the Tibetan culture of Shangri-La.
After lunch, go to visit China's First National Park - Pudacuo National Park. This is a paradise on Earth with an area of over 500 square miles (1,300 square kilometers). You'll find yourself placed in a painting, with continuous snow mountains around you, grasslands and pastures extending beyond the horizon, and vast, clear lakes reflecting the sky. Bita Lake and Shudu Lake are major attractions in the park.
Before the end of today's tour, you will visit a local Tibetan family to be fully immersed in the unique cultural atmosphere. You can try traditional Tibetan food and never miss the dance and music shows performed by real Tibetan folks.
You will check out the hotel today, and then visit the last station of this Yunnan cultural tour – the Old Town of Dukezong. Built in the Tang dynasty, Dukezong is a Tibetan pronunciation meaning "moonlight city" and "castle built on stone". The layout of the town is like eight petals of a lotus, and the center is the moonlight square. Climb Guishan Hill to view the world’s largest Prayer Wheel and have a panoramic view of the Dukezong Old Town.
Afterward, the guide will see you off at the airport for your departure. Our 11-day tour in Yunnan ends here.
The price varies depending on the activity, number of people, travel date, and selected hotel. Please contact us for a specific price.
Located in the plateau, Yunnan boasts the breath-taking scenery and unparalleled ancient towns & villages, and splendid local ethnic cultures. Human settlements could be found in many flatlands hidden in…
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