5 Days Dali and Lijiang Family Tour with Boutique Hotels

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Dali Arrival
   Wander around the Dali Old Town Freely on Your Own

   Welcome to Dali! Your incredible 5-day tour is going to see its beginning here. Upon your arrival at Dali, your local private guide will pick you up (from airport or train station) and drive you to the hotel.

   You can freely decide what to do in the rest of the day. And our recommendation is take a short exploration of Dali Ancient Town. This one of the most popular tourist attractions is also a historic settlement that once served as the capital of the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms. The town is renowned for its well-preserved traditional scenes now lined with boutique shops, teahouses, and local eateries. As you wander around, you may find out a lot of hidden stories and a unique cultural vibe in every corner. Don't miss tasting local delicacies, the snacks of “er kuai” (rice cakes) and Bai-style sandwiches are recommended.

   Your private tour guide will meet you at the hotel the next morning at the appointed time.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Dali
2. Day 2: Dali to Xizhou
   Understand Bai Culture, Ride a Bike along Erhai Lake

   After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel and then drive to Xizhou Old Town to start your guided Dali tour. Much less touristy than Dali Old Town, Xizhou Old Town is small yet with a strong cultural atmosphere of Bai Minority.

   Your guide will lead your family to a bustling market to join the local Bai villagers while they wander around various stalls of local fruits, vegetables, meat, piles of spices, etc. Full of colors, shouts, and products, the market is the place where you can find the true soul and traditions of Bai Minority.

   

   After that, move to a bicycle rental near Erhai Lake. But before that, maybe you should first take a short stroll along the lakeside promenade near Erhai Lake. This activity allow you to enjoy views of the lake dotted with small fishing boats, lotus flowers in bloom, and distant Cangshan peaks reflecting on the water. The serene surroundings are perfect for photography and peaceful family moments.

   Next, rent a bike or electric bike to take a ride alongside Erhai Lake. Your children will be attracted by many pretty flowery meadows and can take multiple photos. The riding will last for about 1 hour, then, before heading back to your hotel, there is some relaxing time for you to enjoy a cup of coffee and appreciate the lake scenery.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Xizhou
3. Day 3: Dali to Lijiang by Van
   Get In-depth Experiences of the Naxi Local Life and Culture

   Drive about 2.5 hours to Lijiang in the morning. Also called Dayan Old Town, Lijiang Old Town was once a reputable trading hub on the Ancient Tea and Horse Road, highlighting breathtaking natural landscapes and mysterious ethnic culture. Follow your Lijiang tour guide to explore the ancient town.

   

   After a short rest at your hotel in Lijiang, we’d drive to explore a Naxi village, and here you can immersively experience the traditional local life. By walking into a Naxi household, you’ll learn how to make soybean milk with a stone mill in traditional Naxi costumes. And you may also explore Dongba pictographic characters, and enjoy an authentic Naxi-style dinner (optional). These activities should be engaging for both adults and children, and by the end of this day, you can all expect to get a deep insight into Naxi customs and daily routines.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Lijiang
4. Day 4: Lijiang to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
   Ascend the Snow-capped Yulong Snow Mountain for the Magnificent View

   After breakfast, we’ll drive straightforwardly to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. This is one of Lijiang’s most iconic natural attractions. And what makes it more different from other mountains is its role as a sacred mountain for the Naxi people. The mountain area offers breathtaking scenery, you can even take views of glaciers, alpine meadows, and snow-capped peaks all at once. Upon entering the scenic area, you’ll first see the Ganhaizi Grassland. It is a picturesque plateau surrounded by snowy peaks where wildflowers bloom seasonally. Don’t forget to record its beauty in your camera.

   Next, we’ll go to the cable car station by sightseeing (battery) car. Here, we start to ascend to Yunshanping (Spruce Meadow, altitude ~ 3,100 meters). What you can embrace on the meadow is beyond imagination: dense spruce forests, alpine flowers, and panoramic views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains. Afterwards, descend to Blue Moon Valley. Many people describe the turquoise lakes here as scattered pearls. They are beautiful, clear, offers stunning reflections of the mountain peaks.

   

   For those interested, the famous outdoor performance “Impression Lijiang” by director Zhang Yimou can be attended here, providing an artistic interpretation of local culture and legends.

   After the tour, return to Lijiang Old Town and enjoy your free time for shopping or wandering around.

   Note: Tickets for the Glacier Park cable car are extremely hard to buy. If you wish to visit, please inform your travel advisor in advance.

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   4-Star Hotel in Lijiang
5. Day 5: Departure from Lijiang

   After breakfast, check out from your hotel after breakfast and then head to Lijiang Airport for your departure flight. The 5-day Dali Lijiang family tour ends here. Thanks for choosing China Xian Tour and hope you had a great time with us!

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