7 Days Best Yunnan Tour to Dali Lijiang Shangri-La

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Dali Arrival

   Welcome to Yunnan for a private tour in China. Upon your arrival at the Dali Airport, meet your driver who'll drive you to the well-selected hotel by private vehicle. Enjoy your leisure time in Dali.

   You may spend the afternoon watching the serene sunset over Erhai Lake, stroll through Dali Old Town under the warm evening lights, or try local Yunnan specialties such as “Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles” and mushroom hotpot for dinner. These simple optional experiences offer a relaxing first impression of Dali’s charm and Bai culture.

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   4-Star Hotel in Dali
2. Day 2: Dali Highlights
   Experience the Culture of the Bai Ethnic Group; Enjoy the Erhai Lake Cruise

   After breakfast, your driver and guide will meet you at your hotel at 9 o’clock, then head to Xizhou Old Town. Much less touristy than Dali Old Town, Xizhou Old Town is small yet with a strong cultural atmosphere of Bai Minority. The bustling morning market is a bonus for you to meet locals in traditional minority clothing when they stroll around stalls selling local fruits, fresh meat, piles of spices, livestock, etc.

   Wander more of the town to observe the exquisite architecture and enjoy the pleasant countryside view. Have a stop at the Zhoucheng Village in Xizhou, where your eyes will be excited by many fascinating handmade tie-dye products and embroideries.

   

   Then, relax on a cruise to Jinsuo Islet of Erhai Lake. It is a small fishing village with more than 200 Bai households. Wandering through the Bai minority houses here will bring you into fertile fields, lush green trees, and the beautiful scenery of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake.

   During the cruise, you can enjoy sweeping views of the lake’s shimmering surface and spot the traditional fishing boats that still operate today. Upon reaching Jinsuo Islet, feel free to explore its tranquil trails, where old banyan trees cast shade over narrow lanes and locals dry their nets beside traditional Bai courtyards.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Dali
3. Day 3: Dali to Lijiang by Van
   Have a Glimpse into the Old Lijiang from Market to Museum

   You will be picked up from your hotel at 8 am and driven 3 hours to Lijiang (no English-speaking tour guide until you arrive in Lijiang). The Lijiang tour guide will meet you in Lijiang Ancient Town and begin your Yunnan tour in Lijiang at the Zhongyi Market. At this largest food and vegetable market in Lijiang, you will find fresh produce, dry goods, and street food and have a glimpse into the old Lijiang.

   Next, visit the Black Dragon Pool in Jade Spring Park which is an iconic site in Lijiang. Sit beside the pool bank are arbors, pavilions, swaying willow trees, a white marble bridge, and ancient temples. Reflected in the water is the marvelous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

   

   Next to the park, you will see the Dongba Museum. The relics and heritages displayed in the museum will give you a great insight into Naxi minority culture which is mainly about the language, sculpture, and architecture.

   Follow your private guide to the Shuhe Ancient Town which boasts an as long history as Lijiang Ancient Town but sees fewer tourists. Combining beautiful natural scenery and unsophisticated Naxi folk customs, it is a world cultural heritage site in China. Another local market can be visited before your driver transfers you back to Lijiang Ancient Town.

   Accommodation: in Lijiang

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Lijiang
4. Day 4: Lijiang to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
   Marvel at the Magnificent View of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

   Your driver and guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning, and today your first destination is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which would take around a 1-hour drive. And this is the sacred mountain of the Naxi people. Your exploration would begin at Ganhaizi, an open meadow at the foot of the mountain. While altitude already gets higher here, this unique grassland offers one of the best distant views of the entire snow-capped range to visitors and if you walk slowly, you can also see local people gathering here with their yaks and horses during the warmer seasons.

   After taking in the scenery, board the scenic sightseeing bus that brings you to the cable car station. From here, ride the cable car up to Yunshanping (Spruce Meadow), a peaceful alpine platform surrounded by dense spruce forests. This was once the secret meeting place of Naxi lovers, and even today the quiet woodland, fresh air, and sweeping views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain create an almost fairytale-like atmosphere.

   Next, continue to Blue Moon Valley, and this site is famous for its turquoise terraces and cascading pools. The water appears milky-blue as it has glacial minerals from the mountain. And every moment here will be stunning and rewarding as surrounding cliffs and forests form a dramatic backdrop for the whole area.

   And before your day ends, we’ll be taking you to watch the “Impression Lijiang” performance, a large-scale outdoor show directed by the famous Chinese director, Zhang Yimou. The performance is completed by hundreds of local Naxi, Yi, and Tibetan villagers, and during the show, you’ll get to see the best of their traditions and the spiritual connection between the people and the snow mountain in the performers’ beautiful and powerful moves.

   After the tour, drive back to Lijiang Old Town and enjoy your free time there.

   Notes:

   • Glacier Park cable car tickets are extremely difficult to purchase. If you wish to visit Glacier Park, please inform your travel consultant as early as possible.
   • Dining options inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are limited, so you may bring some light snacks.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Lijiang
5. Day 5: Lijiang to Shangri-La by Van
   Hike One of the Deepest Gorges in the World; Experience Making Thangka

   After breakfast, we will start our Shangri-La tour! Drive about 60 km to marvel at the First Bend of the Yangtze River. Then move on to the Tiger Leaping Gorge where you will enjoy imposing gorge scenery during a 1.5-hour drive (part highway, part country road). As you travel deeper into the gorge, the canyon walls rise sharply on both sides, with the roaring Jinsha River squeezed through a narrow gap below. The dramatic contrast between the steep cliffs and the rushing water makes it one of the most visually striking sections of the entire Yangtze River. On clear days, you can also see the snow peaks of Jade Dragon and Haba Mountains towering above the valley.

   

   This is one of the deepest gorges in the world, it measures 3900 meters from the waters of the Jinsha River to the Haba Mountain.

   After that, drive 2.5 hours to Shangri-La, a holy land rich in Tibetan culture where you can encounter the grand monastery, snow-capped mountains, barley fields, yaks, and ancient Tibetan dwellings. You will get a chance to experience the process of making Thangka. A dedicated teacher will be arranged to teach you how to make a Thangka from the basics.

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Shangri-la
6. Day 6: Shangri-La Tibetan Experience
   Visit Tibetan Buddhist Monastery and Capture Primitive Landscapes

   After breakfast, take a guided Shangri-La tour to Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. It was built in the late 17th century under the guidance of the Fifth Dalai Lama. Since its design had greatly followed the layout of Lhasa’s Potala Palace, it now often gets called the “Little Potala Palace.” Even just a glimpse of its outer look, which has golden roofs shining under the sun and colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind, you’ll catch the feeling of peace and calm immediately.

   Inside the main halls, there are intricate murals depicting Buddhist cosmology, and also some lifelike statues of various Buddhas and ancient thangkas. Walking through its courtyards, you may also encounter monks chanting or turning prayer wheels, and this may give you a deeper insight into local Tibetan religious life.

   

   Then, be transferred to the first national park in China, Pudacuo National Park, which features primitive landscapes with verdant forests, meadows, streams, wetlands, rare flora and fauna, plus minority villages.

   Walk along the plank road and meander through meadows, and you will arrive at Shudu Lake. Here you will find herds of cattle, yaks, and sheep grazing around the lake. The lush forests surrounding the lake are home to many rare animals such as musk deer, bears, leopards, and golden cats.

   Keep exploring by visiting Bita Lake, which is famous for its gorgeous emerald waters. It is surrounded by lush forests, century-old pines and cypress, and snow-capped peaks in the distance. Autumn is one of the best times to visit the park.

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Shangri-la
7. Day 7: Departure from Shangri-La

   After breakfast in your hotel, your driver will transfer you to Shangri-La Airport or the bus terminal for departure. This is the end of your 7-day Yunnan tour.

   If you would like to visit more cities in Yunnan like Kunming and Xishuangbanna, China Xian Tour will be happy to tailor-make a private tour based on your preferences.

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