7 Days Kunming – Dali – Shangri-La – Lijiang Small Group Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Kunming

   Welcome to our 7-day Yunnan Group Tour! Your local guide and driver will welcome you at Kunming airport / train station and then transfer you to downtown hotel to complete check-in procedure.

   And what to do in the rest of the day is all decided by yourself. And if you prefer a light cultural visit on your own, then why not go and have a look of Yunnan Nationalities Museum. You can find it near Dianchi Lake, and it introduces the history, customs, costumes, and daily life of Yunnan’s ethnic minorities. This can probably be the best place for you to get an initial insight into Yunnan’s diverse cultures without rushing.

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   4-Star Hotel in Kunming
2. Day 2: Kunming to Dali by Bullet Train
   Marvel at the Remarkable Karst Landforms of Stone Forest

   Enjoy breakfast in the hotel and your tour guide will meet you there at around 8:30 am. Then, you’ll be traveling to Green Lake Park, and this is one of Kunming’s most beloved urban parks both for locals and tourists. And while you gently walk through the site, you are able to catch a lot of pieces of local life. If you’re traveling in spring, then it would be incredibly pleasant to see colorful flowers decorate the paths, and if it’s in summer, feel the summer heat retreat a bit after lotus flowers bloom on the lake. And in winter, thousands of red-billed gulls would migrate here from Siberia, then everything becomes so lively even in the coldest season of the city. You may also notice residents practicing Tai Chi or playing traditional instruments in the park, and they are, indeed, the most indispensable part of Kunming’s beauty.

   Later, we’ll drive to the Stone Forest, and it’s time to explore this unique site which is famous for its dramatic karst landscape. What you’re about to see is unbelievable: towering limestone formations rising from the ground in the shapes of pillars, cones, pagodas, mushrooms and more. Undoubtedly, they form a natural stone maze that you can’t find elsewhere.

   Travel Tip: You might encounter excessive walking in the Stone Forest on uneven stone paths, so wear your comfortable walking shoes or sports shoes.

   In the late afternoon, take a high-speed train to Dali. Meet your local guide and driver at station and they’ll take you to your hotel.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Dali
3. Day 3: Dali Culture Experience
   Experience Bai Culture - Three-course Tea & Tie-dye

   After breakfast, your Yunnan tour in Dali will take you to Xizhou Ancient Town to savor the Three-course Tea. This is a traditional drink of the Bai people, which is divided into three stages: bitter tea, sweet tea and reminiscent tea. Afterwards, transfer you to Zhoucheng to visit a tie-dye workshop to learn about the process of dye making and how it is done.

   

   After lunch, we head to the Erhai Lake to feel the gentle sea breeze. Finally, we explore Dali Old Town. Located at the foot of the scenic Cangshan Mountain, Dali Ancient City has a history of more than 2,000 years, dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Once an important political, cultural and commercial center, it has preserved many exquisite ancient Bai buildings and cultural heritages. There are many stores in the ancient city dealing with local specialties such as marble carvings, ethnic costumes and local specialty foods. After the visit, return to the hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Dali

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Dali
4. Day 4: Dali to Shangri-La
   Visit China's Deepest Canyon and Explore the Tibetan Ancient City

   After breakfast, the local English-speaking guide and the driver will pick you up from your hotel, and drive you to Shangri-La. Along the way, you will visit The First Bend of Yangtze River. The rolling yellow Yangtze River, blocked by cliffs in Shigu Town, suddenly make a sharp turn into a "Ⅴ" shaped curve.

   Then continue driving north for about to Tiger Leaping Gorge (1 hour). It is known as one of the deepest and most spectacular canyons in China. The gorge lies between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain, where the Jinsha River rushes through a narrow valley. Take a picture with the Tiger Leaping Rock, which is named after a local legend that a tiger once jumped across the roaring river here. To better feel the power of nature, hike through the sites and hear the thunderous water on the viewing platform.

   

   Upon arrival, start your Shangri-La tour at Dukezong Ancient Town. It's the largest and best-preserved Tibetan population in China and also a very important stop along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Besides, you can walk 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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   3-Stat Guesthouse in Shangri-La
5. Day 5: Shangri-La Exploration
   Explore Grandeur at Songzanlin Monastery & Napahai Lake's Seasonal Wonders

   Shangri-La has a totally different appearance from the past places where you will start to meet Tibetan elements. The first site today is Songzanlin Monastery which is the largest Tibetan monastery in the Yunnan area and is famed as the "Small Potala Palace". It was built along the hillside, looking like an old castle, showing the brilliant construction technology of Tibetans.

   

   Afterwards, you will be guided to Napahai Lake and visit a local Tibetan family. In Tibetan language, “Napahai” means “the lake beside the forest.” This seasonal wetland attains a different appearance throughout the year. Fresh grass spreads across the land with spring’s magic. In summer, it turns into a vast green meadow when temperature rises. Autumn covers the whole world with warm golden tones, and in winter, snow-covered mountains will be living peacefully with the quiet lake. It is also an important habitat for many plateau bird species.

   Travel Tip: If you are a birdwatching enthusiast, visiting Napahai Lake between November and March is highly recommended. During winter, you may spot black-necked cranes and other migratory birds resting in this area.

   

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   3-Stat Guesthouse in Shangri-La
6. Day 6: Shangri-La to Lijiang
   Discover Lijiang's History, Culture, and Natural Beauty

   In the morning, we will drive around 3 hours to Lijiang to visit Lijiang Old Town. This old town won its name nationwide with its unique historical, cultural, and tourist value and is listed as one of World Cultural Heritage. It's home to Naxi Ethnic Minority, located on the plateau 2,400 meters above sea level.

   With the well-preserved unique architecture, the layout of the town, distinct traditional customs, and folk culture, you will find the ever achievement of the Chinese ancient city. Besides these shining titles, Lijiang is "Utopia" in China, especially for the youth trying to escape from the pressure of modern life.

   

   Then, head to Black Dragon Pool Park (Jade Spring Park) at the foot of Elephant Hill. Most people are coming here for its clear spring water and classic Chinese garden design. On clear days, reflections of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain will ripple and dance on the surface of the pool, which can make the whole scene even more tranqil and beautiful. Don’t miss other highlights in the park, such as the elegant five-hole bridge, Moon Embracing Pavilion, and ancient trees. Take a look, and you’ll understand why they together form one of the most photographed views in Lijiang.

   Today's Lijiang tour ends at Dongba Culture Museum, which houses more than 12,000 artifacts that fully demonstrate the mysterious Dongba culture of the Naxi people. After the tour, check in at your local hotel.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Lijiang
7. Day 7: Departure from Lijiang
   Unwind in Shuhe & Baisha Towns and Delve into Yuhu Village's Rich History

   After breakfast, spend a leisurely time in Shuhe Ancient Town - one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ancestors in Lijiang. Walking through the streets and alleys of the town, you can be surprised by the tranquility and elegance of the town. Later on, come to visit Baisha Old Town, a beautiful traditional Naxi-style old town. Baisha Murals here are the must-see sites that have been enrolled in the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO 1997. Transfer you back to your Lijiang hotel after the tour.

   Then head to Yuhu Village. Located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yuhu Naxi Minority Village is the birthplace of the Naxi ethnic group and has a rich history and culture.

   Your 7-day Yunnan group tour comes to an end. You will be transferred to Lijiang Airport. Hope you spend a great time with China Xian Tour.

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