8 Days Yunnan Pu’er Tour with Kunming & Xishuangbanna

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Kunming Arrival

   Welcome to Kunming, your Yunnan tour starts from this beautiful city! Upon arrival, a local private driver will pick your family up from the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore or rest at the hotel.

   If Yunnan’s diverse ethnic traditions sound really attractive to you, then we’d suggest you visit the Yunnan Nationalities Museum during this short (maybe half-day) break. This site introduces you to the local cultures, costumes, and folk arts before you go deeper into the villages and towns.

   Vehicle

   4-Star Hotel in Kunming
2. Day 2: Kunming Highlights
   Marvel at the Typical Karst Landscape of Stone Forest

   In the morning, your guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and take you to visit the Stone Forest. A local proverb, "A trip to Kunming is not complete without the Stone Forest," vividly expresses the locals' love for this wonder of the world.

   The Stone Forest is about 90 km far from Kunming. This unique karst landform has a story that’s been written over millions of years. Once submerged under the sea, the limestone gradually rose and eroded, eventually forming a surreal “forest” of towering stone pillars or weirdly shaped rocks. From sword-like cliffs to mushroom-shaped stones and narrow stone corridors that twist and wind, creating a natural maze. Walking among these formations feels like wandering through a giant open-air gallery of geological art, where every turn reveals dramatic shadows, weird formations, and even glimpses of local folk legends tied to the area — a marriage of natural grandeur and ancient culture.

   In the afternoon, follow your guide to Green Lake Park, one of Kunming's most beautiful parks, which features clear water, verdant willows, and tropical forests. If time permits, you will be taken to a flower and bird market, filled with a large variety of plants, pet birds, and insects.

   After the tour, drive you back to your hotel.

   

   Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Kunming
3. Day 3: Kunming to Pu'er by Bullet Train
   See Cute Animals and Spend Night in a Treehouse-like Hotel

   After breakfast, you will be transferred to the railway station and taken to Pu'er by bullet train (2.5-3 hours).

   Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the Taiyanghe Forest Park, where your kids will see many cute animals such as red pandas, deer, slow lorises, and rhinos.

   The forest coverage of this park is reportedly as high as 94.5%, so that you can enjoy yourself in a lush, near-pristine environment which is full of dense trees and fresh mountain air. Here, the young and old trees together shape a broad, verdant canopy to shelters a rich variety of flora (nearly 1,000 species of plants). The abundance of forest and plant life makes this secret world a rejuvenating and restful stay. And this is why visitors can see wild animals such as bison, green peacocks, macaques and other protected species roam freely, and this must be a rare chance for your children a rare chance to observe wildlife up close. The calm of the forest, the mix of exotic tropical vegetation and native wildlife, and the sense of immersion in nature will make your train journey restful and memorable.

   Spending a night in a treehouse-like hotel room in the forest will be an unforgettable experience for your family.

   

   High Speed Train, Vehicle

   B,L

   Overnight in Forest Park
4. Day 4: Best Pu'er Exploration
   Explore Nakeli on the Tea Horse Ancient Road, Visit Xiaowazi Coffee Manor for a Coffee Experience

   After breakfast, we set off for the Tea Horse Ancient Road Scenic Area and follow your knowledgeable guide to trace the ancient trade routes. We will visit Nakeli, a very important post on the Tea-horse Ancient Road. It is a small town with strong ethnic characteristics on 213 National Road, a perfect combination of natural and human landscapes, where it is said that there are only 66 ethnic minority families.

   In the afternoon, drive for 1 hour to Xiaowazi Coffee Manor. Here you can take a close look of coffee growing, processing, making, and brewing. Pu'er is known as the "coffee capital" of China, and it sees almost half of Yunnan's coffee production.

   

   At Xiaowazi Coffee Manor, you’ll have a chance to walk through fragrant coffee plantations. Take your time here, it can be quite interesting and also immersive to observe coffee cherries ripening on bushes under subtropical sunshine. And you can learn hands-on about the harvesting and drying processes. You’ll also see how the beans are roasted and brewed, and don’t forget to taste freshly brewed local Pu’er coffee, this delicious taste connects memories of landscape, cultivation, and your day here. The manor is an ideal setting to relax, experience local agriculture, and appreciate why Pu’er coffee has gained nationwide fame.

   Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Pu'er
5. Day 5: Pu'er to Xishuangbanna
   Explore the Only Sanctuary of Wild Elephants in China

   After breakfast, you will be transferred to Xishuangbanna, a paradise for animals and plants.

   The local guide will take you and your children to explore the Wild Elephant Valley - the only sanctuary of wild elephants in China.

   Wild elephants are not some animals that you can always see, however, Yunnan will give you a chance. Wild Elephant Valley is designed to give people a safe opportunity to observe wild Asian elephants in their natural tropical habitat. As you walk along elevated wooden walkways or observation platforms, be ready to go into a wild and passionate natural world where elephants can show up in front of you in any minute. All activities will be arranged in smooth way, and visitors should all remember to keep a respectful distance so as not to disturb their lives. In addition to elephants, you can also sometimes see other native wildlife such as macaques and green peacocks. And all of them together make up Xishuangbanna’s rich biodiversity. This encounter is especially meaningful for children and nature lovers.

   

   After that, follow your guide to the Manzhang Village, a characteristic village with a history of more than 500 years and the Dai nationality as the main ethnic group. You will get a glimpse of the interesting traditional stories of the local people and take a wild hike in the virgin forest.

   Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Xishuangbanna
6. Day 6: Xishuangbanna's Culture & Nature
   Visit the Dai Villages and See Rich Plant Diversity

   Today's tour starts at the soul of Xishuangbanna - Dai National Park, where you will see some of the best-preserved Dai villages, see traditional Buddhist temples, simple bamboo houses, and enjoy local folk entertainment that reveals the region’s ethnic customs and living heritage.

   When visiting the park, you may feel like going into a world rather distant from modern city life. Just walk along the gentle pathways that wind through villages, and every step you take shortens the distance between you and traditions. Slow down your pace and appreciate the simple bamboo stilt-houses standing amid palm groves, and you can even go to the ornate Buddhist temples, which carry countless people’s wishes and beliefs. Except for visiting attractions with vast cultural significance, children might also be fascinated by the lively local folk performances, whereas adults may appreciate more of the serene atmosphere and insight into Dai culture.

   

   Afterwards, drive to the Tropical Botanical Garden. This garden houses more than 13,000 species of tropical plants and is considered one of the richest botanical collections in China. It's like a wonderland that would only exist in films.

   With the incredibly rich amount of species, every step you take can lead you to pass between towering dipterocarp trees (they may even be older than) or shady fern-covered forest floors. If you’re lucky and careful enough, you may also get to see rare and nationally protected species like the Parashorea chinensis in this place. And to add more fun to your journey, take a look at the themed zones: orchid gardens, medicinal-plant areas, and sections preserving endangered species. Going through these sites can make your time here educational as well as visually stunning. Wander along boardwalks, soak up rainforest scent and sounds, and let the diversity, these are all good activities to give your family a deeper sense of Yunnan’s tropical richness and ecological value.

   Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Xishuangbanna
7. Day 7: Xishuangbanna Tea Tour
   Hike along the Nannuo Tea Mountain and Explore Hani Villages

   After breakfast, we will drive to Manting Park, the landmark of Xishuangbanna and the carrier of Dai culture. In this 1,300-year-old former royal garden of the Dai kingdom, learn the culture of the Dai royal family, and folk customs.

   Then continue your Xishuangbanna tour to Zongfosi Temple (General Buddhist Temple), just behind Manting Park. It is the oldest temple in Xishuangbanna, feasting your eyes with over 25 states of Buddhas and many grand Dai Buddhist architectures.

   

   After that, move forward to Nannuo Tea Mountain, which is well-known for its long history of tea cultivation. Hiking along the trail through forests of green bamboo and other trees, you will encounter some of the oldest and largest tea trees (many between 200 - 500 years old) which grow together with some wild plants and produce some of the best Pu'er tea in Yunnan. The oldest of the tea trees is the over 800-year-old "King of Tea Trees".

   Step into some Hani Villages, meet the locals and try discovering facts about their customs, culture, and traditional life tightly related to countless tea trees growing around homes.

   Vehicle

   B,L

   4-Star Hotel in Xishuangbanna
8. Day 8: Xishuangbanna Departure

   After breakfast, our driver will pick you up from your hotel lobby and drop you off at Xishuangbanna Airport, at the agreed time according to your flight. Your 8-day Yunnan Pu'er tour package ends here. Thanks a lot for choosing China Xian Tour for your Yunnan family tour. Safe travels!

   Note: There are no guide services today.

   Vehicle

   B