6 Days Yunnan Tour to Kunming – Jianshui – Yuanyang

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Kunming Arrival
   Visit a Serene Oasis with Lush Beauty of Green Lake

   Welcome to Kunming for the 6-day Yunnan trip! The guide will greet you at the airport holding a welcome sign with your name or "China Xian Tour". Boarding a private, air-conditioned car, you will be transferred directly to your hotel to check in.

   Later on, you will follow the guide to visit Green Lake Park, one of Kunming's most beautiful parks, which features clear water, verdant willows, and tropical forests. Apart from the breath-taking scenery, many locals also like to gather here and practice tai chi together. And you can also see some of them doing exercises on the instruments or dancing in the open air. Take a nice stroll here if you want an easy glimpse into Kunming’s relaxed daily rhythm.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Kunming
2. Day 2: Kunming to Jianshui Tour
   Marvel at Karst Wonders, Explore Jianshui's Ancient Charm

   In the morning, the guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and then begin your Kunming tour at the famous Stone Forest, which is known for the typical karst landscape. When entering this vast scenic area, you’ll feel like waling into a unique worlds which is filled with towering limestone pillars shaped over millions of years by water and wind erosion. As you wander along stone paths, take a close look, you may find each of the stone resembles something interesting, like animals, castles, and natural sculptures that change appearance with the shifting sunlight. The landscape is like a giant maze of rocks, and get your camera ready, as there will be endless viewpoints for photography.

   TIP: The Stone Forest requires considerable walking. Be sure to wear comfortable athletic shoes.

   After lunch, 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 the hotel keeping energy for the next day's visit.

   

   4-Star Hotel in Jianshui
3. Day 3: Jianshui to Yuanyang Tour
   Explore Elegant Zhu Family Garden and Well-Structured Confucius Temple

   Today, you will pay a visit to Zhu Family Garden, the mansion built in the late Qing dynasty for Zhu's family. The complex is a masterpiece of traditional southern Yunnan residential design, and here you can see all the iconic features of this kind of design (winding corridors, delicate wood carvings and small ponds framed by lush greenery). And except for showing unparalleled charm, each section also served a different function. Visitors can get insight into the social status and refined lifestyle of the Zhu family by looking deeper into the details.

   Then, be guided to Jianshui Confucius Temple, with a history of more than 700 years. The temple is built with a grand north–south axial layout, and each site, like gates, pavilions, ceremonial halls, and tranquil gardens, all highlight Confucian ideals of order and harmony. Its red walls, ancient cypress trees, and serene ponds create a dignified atmosphere that reflects the scholarly traditions of historic Jianshui.

   In the afternoon, we drive for around 3 hours to Yuanyang county. You will check in at the local hotel tonight.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Yuanyang
4. Day 4: Yuanyang Rice Terraces Tour
   Apperciate Spectacular Terraces, Glimpse Traditions of Hani Minority People

   In the morning, meet your guide at the hotel lobby and then head to Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces. It is the masterpiece that Hani minority people left by generations, which looks very spectacular. These terraces cascade down steep mountainsides in sweeping layers. And they create a dynamic landscape that changes throughout the day. Sunrise and sunset use their magic to transform the terraces into a palette of gold, red, and silver. If time allows, you can take a walk through nearby villages, and feel the traditional vibe that still flowing among all the old houses.

   What comes after is Qingkou Hani Ethnic Village, a living example of Hani culture. When visiting here, you can follow the stone paths which would lead you to go through the iconic mushroom-shaped houses, and there will also be irrigation channels and communal spaces along the lane. By doing this, you may get to understand the village’s self-sustaining lifestyle. Discovering how the Hani people integrate terrace agriculture with spiritual beliefs and communal cooperation is also an interesting highlight, and the secret lies in small things that you can see everywhere, such as traditional clothing, weaving tools, and farming equipment.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Yuanyang
5. Day 5: Yuanyang Ethnic Market Tour, Back to Kunming
   Gain an Insight into the Daily Life of the Local Minority

   After your breakfast, follow your guide to a local ethnic market to gain an insight into 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. The guide will narrate the customs and other ethnic things to make your tour more interesting.

   Say goodbye to Yuanyang and hop in the car 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.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Kunming

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Kunming
6. Day 6: Kunming Departure

   In the morning, you will be led to visit Bird & Flower Market. The market is also a lively social hub, and don’t be surprised when seeing residents come to chat, bargain, and trade rare bird species or exotic insects everywhere. This is a perfect place for you to see the fun and authentic Kunming’s leisurely lifestyle. And you may even notice snack stalls selling fried insects - an iconic local specialty.

   At the end of this 6-day in-depth minority tour of Yunnan, your driver will transfer you to the airport for your departure. Thank you  very much for choosing China Xian Tour.

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