5 Days Yunnan Tour of Lijiang and Shangri-La

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Lijiang Arrival & Lijiang Tour
   Explore the Multiple Ethnic Groups in Lijiang

   Ni Hao! So happy to see you on our 5-day private Yunnan tour! Upon your arrival at Lijiang airport, the local English-speaking tour guide and driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board "China Xian Tour".

   After a short rest, your exploration begins with Black Dragon Pool Park. Built during the Qing Dynasty in 1737, this serene park offers a chance to admire ancient architecture and leisurely stroll along its pathways. Don’t miss the enchanting reflection of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the clear waters of the pool.

   Next, you will explore the Dongba Cultural Museum, home to around 12,000 precious artifacts that tell the rich history of the Naxi Kingdom. The museum offers visitors a detailed panorama of Naxi culture, religion, and traditional practices, making it an excellent introduction to the region’s heritage.

   

   The tour continues to the famous Lijiang Old Town, this name may be quite familiar with many of you since it’s one of China's famous historical and cultural cities, and basically everyone come to Lijiang would like to take a stroll through the town. It’s so charming and energetic that it even gets an UNESCO World Heritage status for its uniqueness and unparalleled beauty. Everything here is connected with many traditional ethnic cultures coming from Naxi, Tibetan, Bai, and Han. Its unique layout of stone-paved lanes or traditional wooden houses also creates a warm atmosphere that seems to only exist in the past. And they could make you forget the existence of time.

   While passing the quiet corners with old tea houses and boutiques selling handmade silver or embroidery, slow down your pace, try to embrace more of their culture in these details. The town becomes so beautiful when lanterns light up at dusk, and you may never going to see the same view elsewhere.

   After the relaxing sightseeing, you will check into the local hotel.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Lijiang
2. Day 2: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tour from Lijiang
   Capture the Amazing Landscapes of Yulong Snow Mountain

   Today you will enjoy an exciting Lijiang tour to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is a sacred mountain for the Naxi people, also a must-see when you come to Lijiang. It shockingly gets 13 peaks in a row, and each one of them is covered with snow all year round. It stretches for more than 35 kilometers and every bit of the site, such as dramatic glaciers, alpine meadows, and ever-changing clouds, can leave visitors with some indelible memories.

   Before entering deeper into the scenic area, you will first stop at Ganhaizi Meadow, a wide, high-altitude meadow located at the eastern foot of the mountain. It is one of the best places to admire the panoramic view of the Yulong range, with open grasslands, wildflowers in summer, and yaks or horses grazing peacefully.

   The tour includes the cable car ride to Yunshanping (Spruce Meadow). The amazing views will definitely take your breath away. Yunshanping, 3240 meters above sea level, is a vast expanse of grassland hidden among a primeval spruce forest. Here you can enjoy different scenery in four seasons, hear romantic and sad love stories of Naxi people, and watch girls dancing in their traditional costumes.

   Blue Moon Valley is famous for its crystal blue water and crescent moon-like valley. It’s like a blue moon set at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. You will find the place is really photogenic and relaxing.

   

   Impressions of Lijiang is a wonderful performance created by one of China's most influential directors Zhang Yimou. With the backdrop of the snow mountain, over 500 local farmers put on a visual feast about the Naxi people's lives.

   Upon completing the Impressions of Lijiang show, you will visit Baisha Ancient Town, to look into the timeless charm of Naxi culture. The village is known for its 55 over 500-year old murals. These murals vividly illustrate the history, mythology, and daily life of the Naxi people. Stroll through the town at leisure, absorbing the atmosphere, and glance up to admire the ever-present backdrop of the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

   After the show, you will head to Baisha Ancient Town, one of the important cradles of Naxi culture. You can stroll around to explore the town and learn about local customs from your tour guide. And when you look up, you can see the majestic snow mountain. Moreover, there are 55 pieces of murals kept in Baisha Ancient Town. Most of the murals were painted over 500 years ago. Although the murals have faded with time, they still give you an insight into Naxi culture. At end of the visit, drive back to your hotel.

   Notes:

   • The Glacier Park cable car tickets are extremely hard to get. If you want to visit the Glacier Park, please inform your travel consultant in advance.
   • Food options inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are limited. You may bring simple snacks or light meals with you.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Lijiang
3. Day 3: Lijiang to Shangri-La Tour
   Be Guided to Visit the Deepest Gorge in the World

   Today you will head to the splendid Shangrila. Firstly, drive around 1 hour from Lijiang to the First Bend of the Yangtze River with breathtaking gorge scenery. Walk through the Iron Chain Bridge on the river, which is a thrilling experience. And then visit the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument at the Shigu Old Town to learn about the suffering but great history of new China. Shigu means stone drum in Chinese. There is a large, cylindrical marble tablet shaped like a drum in the town, hence the name.

   

   Later, drive around 1.5 hours to the Tiger Leaping Gorge which is the deepest gorge in the world, famous for being “steep and dangerous”. Jinsha River flows softly from Qinghai Plateau but starts to run rapidly like a roaring tiger when meeting the narrow and deep gorge, thus it gets the name of Tiger Leaping Gorge. After that, drive around 2.5 hours to Shangrila for an overnight stay.

   

   Upon arrival, go visit Dukezong Ancient Town on your own. It's the largest and best-preserved Tibetan population in China and also a very important station along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Besides, walking up to the top of Guishan Hill to appreciate the typical Tibetan-style view - Prayer Wheel. From there, you will have a bird-view of Shangri-La County and Duzekong Ancient Town.

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   4-Star Hotel in Shangri-La
4. Day 4: Highlights of Shangri-La Tour
   Meet Tibetan Elements, Enjoy Lake Wetlands

   Shangri-La has a different appearance of the past places where you will start to meet Tibetan elements. The first site on your Yunnan tour in Shangri-La will be Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan and often called the “Small Potala Palace.” Built along a hillside, it resembles an ancient fortress, showcasing remarkable Tibetan construction techniques. Inside, golden statues, intricate murals, and prayer halls reflect centuries of religious devotion. The monastery is also an active center of Tibetan Buddhism, where monks perform daily rituals, giving visitors a rare glimpse of authentic monastic life.

   

   In the afternoon, you will head to Pudacuo National Park, one of the first national parks in China and, indeed, a highlight of Shangri-La tour. Traveling here could require you to prepare more, for example, prepare for the altitude. Its altitudes ranging from 3,500 to 4,159 meters, which may more or less affect your travel experience. However, this factor also plays an important role in the park’s achievement of protecting a rich ecosystem of alpine meadows, wetlands, lakes, forests, and rare wildlife.

   Your visit includes two of the park’s most beautiful lakes, and the first one is Shudu Lake, surrounded by dense spruce forests and sweeping meadows where yaks and sheep graze peacefully. Its still, mirror-like surface embraces reflections of the sky and mountains. A wooden boardwalk circles part of the lake, offering easy access to viewpoints and ideal spots for photography.

   And don’t forget the Bita Lake, which is often called the “Pearl of the Plateau.” It is renowned for its deep blue water, floating island-like vegetation mats, and serene forests. Autumn is the best season for this lake as the forest nearby will all turn golden.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Shangri-La
5. Day 5: Shangri-La Departure

   The 5 days Lijiang and Shangri-La tour will end by today. At the confirmed time (according to your departure flight), the driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and see you off at Shangrila Airport. Safe travels! Thanks for choosing China Xian Tour!

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