4 Days Kunming and Jianshui Ancient Town Tour by High-Speed Train

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Kunming, Culture & Nature Exploration
   Explore Scenic Western Hills and Discover Ethnic Culture Museum

   Ni Hao. So happy to see you on our 4-day Yunnan adventure to Kunming and Jianshui. Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel for check-in.

   After a short rest, you will start your Kunming tour at the Western Hills. Located on the western shore of Dianchi Lake, it boasts the perfect blend of stunning natural beauty and profound cultural heritage.

   Dragon Gate is the top-visited attraction of the Western Hills. People like to come here since it’s not just a simple scenic overlook, indeed, it’s attractive for the cliffside walkways, grottoes, and tunnels which are carved entirely by hand. It took 72 years to finish the project, and the grotto system is considered the most refined Taoist rock-carving achievement in Yunnan. Here, every detail shows a piece of the extraordinary craftsmanship of ancient artisans. Take your time here, and try to feel walking through centuries of devotion and perseverance.

   

   Later, be guided to visit the Yunnan Nationalities Museum, the largest ethnic museum in China showing over ten thousand exhibits of various ethnic minorities. The tour guide will take you to appreciate porcelain, ethnic musical instruments, folk crafts, ethnic costumes, etc., and explain the stories of some important exhibits to you.

   After the tour, return to your hotel for a well-deserved rest.

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   4-Star Hotel in Kunming
2. Day 2: Kunming to Jianshui by High-speed Train
   Wander around Historic Jianshui, Iconic Chaoyang Tower, and Elegant Zhu Garden

   After breakfast, you will be escorted to the railway station for a 2-hour high-speed train journey to Jianshui County. This ancient town, boasting a history of over 1,200 years, is home to a large amount of historical heritage and ancient folk residences. Upon arrival, check in at your accommodation in Jianshui Ancient Town.

   After a brief break, go to explore the iconic Chaoyang Tower, a historical and cultural heritage of Jianshui. This three-floor building features a flying eave roof, and exquisite wooden carvings and paintings. Because of its similarity to Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Chaoyang Tower is also nicknamed “Small Tiananmen”. On the tower, there is a giant bronze bell from the Tang Dynasty and a stone tablet with Jianshui’s history on it.

   Then, wander through the well-preserved Jianshui Ancient Town to admire ancient houses & temples, and taste local snacks like tofu pudding and rice noodles.

   Then we’ll be visiting the Zhu Family Garden. And this site was originally built by an influential family in the late Qing Dynasty. There are 214 rooms and 42 courtyards here (quite large), all arranged in harmonious clusters. In the garden section, you may get to walk through many unique creations, such as winding corridors and decorative bridges. And with them, you can better catch an atmosphere of refined elegance. The layout reflects traditional Chinese aesthetics, emphasizing balance between human and nature and the designer’s pursuit of tranquility.

   

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   4-Stat Hotel in Jianshui
3. Day 3: Jianshui Ancient Town, Back to Kunming by High-speed Train
   Admire Double Dragon Bridge and Explore Ancient Tuanshan Village

   This morning, you will leave Jianshui Ancient Town and then go to visit the famous Double Dragon Bridge. This site is also carrying a profound historical significance. It’s been praised as the masterpiece of Qing-era engineering, and this can be better understand through some figures: the bridge stretches about 148 meters across the confluence of the Lu River and Tachong River. The bridge has 17 arches of varying sizes, as a result, you can catch a dynamic rhythm here despite its amazing length. Standing on the bridge, you can hear the rivers flowing beneath. And together, these features tell why the site is not only an architectural treasure but also one of the most atmospheric photo spots in Jianshui.

   

   Continue to Tuanshan Village, a traditional walled settlement inhabited by both Han and Yi ethnic groups. Dating back to the late 14th century, the village preserves more than 200 buildings, including traditional residence and temples. And you might surprisingly find out that each home is adorned with detailed wood carvings on roofs, beams, and doors. And if you can take a close look of the carvings depict auspicious symbols and scenes from daily life. They create a vivid window into old Jianshui’s social traditions.

   After the tour, head to the railway station for a high-speed train back to Kunming. Your guide and driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Kunming.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Kunming
4. Day 4: Kunming City Highlights, Departure
   Experience Ancient Architecture, Park Strolls, Karst Landscapes

   After breakfast, your Kunming city tour can begin with a visit to Yuantong Temple. It is one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Yunnan, since it’s built in the Tang Dynasty. Unlike many hilltop temples, Yuantong Temple sits in a peaceful basin, giving it a unique sunken layout. Everything like halls, bridges, and pavilions are arranged around a central pool. And such a serene environment is deeply connected to Buddhist symbolism.

   Next, take a leisurely stroll through Kunming Green Lake Park, aka Cuihu Park, a beautiful urban park in Kunming city center. With its serene green lake surrounded by lush willows and lotus flowers, the park offers picturesque scenery all year round and is widely praised as “Jade in the City”. Here you will also experience the slow-paced leisure life in Kunming.

   

   After lunch, head to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Stone Forest. Hailed the "First Wonder of the World," it is a world-renowned karst landscape scenic area, with the Big Stone Forest, Small Stone Forest, and three other areas. You will see various stone formations such as stone peaks, columns, stalactites, and stalagmites on this vast land. Each rock has its unique posture and story. Strolling through it feels like entering a forest of stone.

   After this natural wonder adventure, you will be transferred to the airport or train station for your departure. Bid farewell to your guide and driver. Safe travels!

   

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