10 Days Classic Yunnan Tour with Mile Exploration

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Kunming

   Welcome to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. Upon arrival, the local driver will meet you at the airport or high-speed railway station and transfer you to the pre-booked hotel.

   If you arrive early, you may have more time to explore the city on your own. And we would recommend you to spend some time in the Green Lake Park. It is always pleasant to wander through a beautiful urban park in the city center. Whether you want to enjoy the natural beauty of Kunming or experience local daily life, this park is, by all means, a great place to mark the beginning of your journey.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Kunming
2. Day 2: Kunming to Lijiang
   Pay a Visit to the Private Residence of a Famous Dance Artist

   After breakfast at your hotel, your driver will pick you up and then we drive around 4 hours to Dali. En route, enjoy the changing landscapes and rural life.

   After arriving in Dali, we’ll first go have a delicious lunch. Then, our next destination is Shuanglang, a picturesque lakeside town. The local tour guide will take you to explore the highlight of this place: Taiyang Palace. It was originally the private residence of the famous dance artist Yang Liping (built in 2000). This 'palace' greatly shows the characteristics of Bai ethnic residential architecture. While walking through its magnificent hall and courtyard, you may feel the Bai ethnic culture unfolding in front of you and so do the story of Yang Liping.

   Continue your Yunnan tour to Lijiang for an overnight stay.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Lijiang
3. Day 3: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Adventure
   Take the Cable Car to Glacier Park for a Close-up View of the Magnificent Snow Peak

   Today, we’ll focus on a mountain adventure. So that get up early and we’ll drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. This is an incredibly beautiful place, and you can try to let the white snow soothe tired body and heart. It's the biggest snow mountain in the Northern Hemisphere, and altitude goes over 4,000 meters. You will reach Ganhaizi Meadow first. Then after a short exploration, take a sightseeing bus to visit the Baishuihe River and eventually take the cable car to Yunshanping. It sits at a rather high elevation and provides sweeping views of the mountain’s glaciers and ridgelines. Be aware of that the cable-car summit area is at a significant altitude (around 4,200–4,500 m).

   Tips:

   • Cable car tickets to the mountain’s upper viewing areas are often limited and sell out quickly. Inform your travel advisor and they can reserve tickets for you in advance.
   • Many travelers experience altitude effects at high elevations on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Consult your doctor beforehand to confirm whether your health is suitable for high-altitude visits and consider bringing altitude medication if advised

   

   After descending, take a battery cart to Blue Moon Valley where you will see jewel-like lakes spread across the valley and marvel at the striking scenery.

   After lunch, we’ve prepared a schedule for you to enjoy the Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show. It is held in Ganhaizi Meadow, at an altitude about 3,100 m.

   Follow your guide to travel through Black Dragon Pool, also known as Jade Spring Park. Black Dragon Pool is especially photogenic as it’s set against the mountains. However, its clear water, indeed, reflects the distant snow peaks, and you’ll find classical features such as the five-hole bridge that frame perfect reflection shots. The pool’s calm surface and nearby willow trees create a painterly scene that attracts photographers at dawn and dusk.

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   4-Star Hotel in Lijiang
4. Day 4: Lijiang to Shangri-La
   Marvel at the 'Little Potala Palace', also the Largest Tibetan Temple in Yunnan

   After breakfast, the local 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 we shall continue driving north to the impressive Ganden Sumtseling Monastery. This site is perched on a hillside, and because of it’s rebuilt in a style that echos the great Lhasa palaces, it is often called the "Little Potala Palace,". Its complex features layered chapels, gilded roofs, and richly painted interiors filled with thangka scrolls, butter lamps and ancient murals. The monastery compound has different sections, for instance, assembly halls used for important religious ceremonies, residential quarters for monks, and several buttery-colored stupas. Walking the perimeter, visitors can still observe colorful prayer flags and groups of pilgrims performing clockwise kora (circumambulation), and the monastery’s hilltop position provides a sweeping view over the town of Shangri-La and the surrounding plateau landscape.

   After that, walk up to the top of Guishan Hill to admire the typical Tibetan-style view - Prayer Wheel. From there, have a bird-view of Shangri-La County and Duzekong Ancient Town.

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   3-Star Guesthouse in Shangri-La
5. Day 5: Balagezong Scenic Area Exploration
   Spend a Day Exploring Primitive Canyons, Rivers, Forests, and Tibetan Villages

   Today's Yunnan adventure in Shangri-La takes you to the amazing Balagezong Scenic Area. There, you will see numerous landscapes - snow capped mountains, canyons, glaciers, rivers, plateau lakes, primitive forests, Tibetan villages, and Buddhist pagodas.

   

   Upon arrival, first visit Bodhi Tree, over 3,000 years old. It stands against the mountain, with its entire branch like climbing on a cliff. After more than thousand years of wind and rain, it remains lush and vibrant.

   Balagezong is a dramatic protected valley where steep cliffs, tumbling rivers and ancient pine forests coexist with isolated Tibetan hamlets. The canyon’s geology creates a patchwork of microclimates: mossy cliffs and waterfalls feed clear mountain streams, while broad plateaus reveal grazed grasslands and prayer-flagged village temples.

   Continuing on to explore Bala Village, located at the foot of the mountains at the end of Balagezong Canyon. Your tour guide will take you to experience the local culture through communication with villagers. Afterwards, pay a visit to Shambhala Pagoda, located in the northeast of the Balagezong Mountain. The naturally formed pyramid shaped mountain peak stands tall in the sky covered in white snow, resembling a monk sitting upright reciting scriptures.

   After the tour, return to Shangri-La.

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   3-Star Guesthouse in Shangri-La
6. Day 6: Shangri-La to Dali
   Stroll Leisurely in Shaxi Ancient Town, Exploring the Traces of the Tea Horse Road

   After breakfast, we’ll travel to a world with a peaceful and quite essence, Shaxi Ancient Town. It was once an important post on the ancient Tea Horse Road, but now it serves more of a calm tourist attraction which can give visitors a short break. Except for the typical old-town layout, just like many other towns, its architecture also blends Bai and Naxi influences. When traveling to Shaxi, slow down your pace and consider walking into the town’s small temples or artisan workshops. You may discover the hidden beauty in all the corners and record it with your camera. Besides, if you want to buy some hand-made crafts as souvenirs, this is also a good place to shop these products.

   

   And after we finish lunch, it’s time to drive back to Dali to visit Yangnanxi Flower Fields. It is a colorful fields stretching over gentle slopes, where seasonal blooms (such as dahlias) create long ribbons of color against the backdrop of distant hills. Just try to between flower rows, take photos on wooden viewing platforms, and scent the air heavy with blossom—this peaceful stop offers a bright contrast to the region’s mountain scenery.

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   4-Star Hotel in Dali
7. Day 7: Dali to Kunming
   Enjoy the Exquisite Ancient Bai Architecture and Cultural Heritage

   Begin today’s Dali tour at the Dali Old Town. We can meet this old town at the foot of the scenic Cangshan Mountain. Its history spans over 2,000 years, which can be dated back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Since it had served as an important political, cultural and commercial center for quite a long time, history and cultural heritage are still swinging in the exquisite ancient Bai buildings.

   If you’re interested in local specialties such as marble carvings or ethnic costumes, you can also go visit some shops lined along the shart alleys. In the afternoon, before driving back to Kunming, we can add a short mention of Tiger Leaping Gorge. Many people think it’s one of nature’s greatest works and it is one of China’s deepest river canyons located northeast of Dali. While the full gorge trek requires more time and is typically visited from Lijiang, the viewpoint areas offer dramatic river-and-cliff panoramas. They are frequently included on regional itineraries for travelers who want a taste of the gorge’s vertical scenery.

   

   Then drive back to Kunming to explore the private garden of the famous singer Yu Chengqing. Next, stroll through Nanqiang Market, one of the two remaining historical and cultural neighborhoods in Kunming, originated in the Qing Dynasty. There you can look for unique local crafts and souvenirs such as jewelry and jade.

   In the evening, enjoy normal Yunnan flavors at a local restaurant.

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   4-Star Hotel in Kunming
8. Day 8: Kunming to Mile
   Appreciate the Red Brick Art Museum and Other Uniquely-shaped Buildings

   After breakfast, we’ll continue to Mile, where Taipinghu Forest Park awaits you. People visiting this place are mostly come for its dense mixed forests, winding forest trails, and naturally sculpted lakes. This scenery has made it an attractive spot for nature lovers. The park’s canopy and understory provide good shade and a cool microclimate; interpretive paths lead to viewpoints where visitors can enjoy panoramic vistas, birdwatching opportunities, and short boardwalks through mossy ravines. Taipinghu’s blend of mature trees, quiet lake edges and scattered pavilions creates a restorative green space, ideal for photography and gentle walks in all seasons.

   

   After lunch, transfer you to visit Dongfengyun Scenic Area. There are bizarre shaped buildings such as the red brick Art Museum, Music Farm, and Seal House in the scenic area, which are fascinating. This is a very popular place among internet celebrities. You will spend the night in a luxury hotel in the scenic area.

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   4-Star Hotel in Dongfengyun
9. Day 9: Relaxation & Back to Kunming

   Today’s morning is designed for having a good rest. Guests who stayed overnight in the Dongfengyun Scenic Area can take advantage of the morning can casually explore the site when it’s all covered in the gentle morning light. Visit the uniquely shaped buildings, take photos of the red brick Art Museum, or enjoy a quiet coffee at an on-site café before departure.

   Later in the day, we drive back to Kunming (about 2 hours).

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Kunming
10. Day 10: Departure from Kunming

    Enjoy your morning at leisure. You can do some last-minute exploration or shopping in Kunming. Later, your driver will escort you to take a flight to your next destination or home. The 10-day Yunnan tour with China Xian Tour ends here. Safe travels!

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