Yunnan is a microcosm of China in the areas of minority affairs and nationality relations. The province has 25 minority groups, nearly half of the countries total ( 56 ethnic groups ). With such ethnic diversity it is important to ask the question: what criteria are used to determine minority status and classification? Basically, there are five ways: Race , Language, Culture, Religion, History. Except 25 minorities mentioned in Yunnan, there are three kinds of the Peoples, for the reason of they are not the really a kind of minority in China . But they are the certain branches of the minorities. The three Peoples have the special customs which are quite different with their original nations and very interesting in the recent days for their names in tourism of Yunnan.

Highlights:

Experience the profound history and splendid culture of diverse ethnic groups.

Discover the ancient ethnic towns and villages.

Enjoy their traditional festivals and fantastic activities.

Brief Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrival Kunming
Day 2 Kunming-Shilin County
Day 3 Shilin-Luliang-Luoping
Day 4 Luoping
Day 5 Luoping-Qiubei-Puzhehei
Day 6 Puzhehei-Bamei
Day 7 Bamei-Babao
Day 8 Babao-Yanshan-Jianshui
Day 9 Jianshui-Yuanyang
Day 10 Yuanyang
Day 11 Yuanyang-Jiangcheng
Day 12 Jiangcheng-Zhengdong-Mengla
Day 13 Mengla-Jinghong
Day 14 Jinghong
Day 15 Jinghong-Jingmai
Day 16 Jingmai-Ximeng
Day 17 Ximeng-Shuangjiang-Cangyuan
Day 18 Cangyuan
Day 19 Cangyuan-Zhenkang
Day 20 Zhenkang-Mangshi
Day 21 Mangshi-Wanding-Ruili
Day 22 Ruili-Tengchong
Day 23 Tengchong
Day 24 Tengchong-Fugong
Day 25 Fugong-Bingzhongluo
Day 26 Bingzhongluo
Day 27 Bingzhongluo-Gongshan-Cizhong
Day 28 Cizhong-Feilaisi
Day 29 Feilaisi-Shangrila
Day 30 Shangrila
Day 31 Shangrila-Lijiang
Day 32 Lijiang
Day 33 Lijiang-Lugu Lake
Day 34 Lugu Lake-Lijiang
Day 35 Lijiang-Shaxi-Dali
Day 36 Dali-Dalin
Day 37 Dalin-Dali
Day 38 Dali-Kunming
Day 39 Departure from Kunming

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Arrive in Kunming, Green Lake
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Lunch

The Green Lake Park(Cuihu Park) in Kunming

Welcome to Kunming, the Spring City of China! Upon arrival at the Kunming airport/train station, the local tour guide and driver will meet you in the arrival hall and escort you to your hotel.You’ll begin your journey to the diverse and captivating province of Yunnan from the capital city, Kunming.

After a short rest, stroll in the most picturesque park in Kunming urban area – the Green Lake Park,a charming area of tea houses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings.. Here you can share the happiness of local people’s doing tai chi, performing local opera, and other vibrant activities. If you visit the park in November or December, you will see the grandeur of huge flocks of red-beaked seagulls that migrate there from Siberia.

Day 2 Kunming-Shilin County

Sightseeing and Activities: Western Hills, Dianchi Lake, Yunnan Ethnic Villages, Yunnan Nationalities Museum
Accommodation: Shilin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, drive to visit Western Hills. Western Hills boasts an excellent environment with flourishing flowers and dense forest, providing tourists an excellent environment to enjoy the tranquility and marvelous scenery. They have also been given another name – ‘Sleeping Beauty Hills’ for the hills because its skyline looks like a beautiful young lady laying beside Dianchi Lake with her face upward and her hair trailling into water. In the Western Hills, Huating Temple, Taihua Temple, and Sanqing Pavillion are shaded by flourishing woods and tall bamboo bushes. The exquisite Dragon Gate Grotto is built along the precipice cliff.

After lunch, transfer to Yunnan Ethnic Villages. This theme park displays the colorful folklore and architecture of 25 ethnic groups residing in Yunnan Province. The theme park offers shows and performances, folklore and wax museums, as well as replica buildings found in the villages of each ethnic group.Villages of over 25 minorities including the Yi, Dai, Miao, Jingpo, Wa, Hani, Naxi, Dulong and others have been built here. Through various displays and re-creations of the original villages, the Yunnan Ethnic Village displays the diverse local ethnic culture. Villages of different styles are well arranged and show visitors their unique charm. Displaying a variety of buildings, lifestyles, and religious beliefs in the region, the village is a microcosm of Yunnan’s colorful and diverse ethnic culture.

Afterwards, walk to Yunnan Nationalities Museum. Yunnan Nationalities Museum is located on the east bank of Dianchi Lake next to Yunnan Nationalities Village in Kunming City, China. Completed in 1995, it is a comprehensive ethnology museum. Covering an area of over 200 mu, the museum has a building area of 130,000 square meters. It consists of various exhibition halls, office building, report hall, storage and workshops. The ecological environment, religious customs, culture and arts and ethnic relics of the ethnic groups of Yunnan are collected in it.

Day 3 Shilin-Luliang-Luoping

Sightseeing and Activities: Stone Forest, Luliang Colorful Sand Forest, Luoping
Accommodation: Luoping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, visit Stone Forest (90 kms away, 1.5 hrs’ drive) which is a world natural heritage site and world geological park with amazing karst limestone landform, in the meantime, visit local villages and meet the local Yi ethnic minority people there.
Drive to Luliang County,visit Luliang Colorful Sand Forest, and then drive to Luoping which is known for its rape flowers, every spring, a rape flower festival is held there.

Day 4 Luoping

Sightseeing and Activities: Jiulong Waterfalls, Luobuge Gorge, Duoyi River, Buyi Ethnic Villages, Thousands of Mountains, Rape Flowers Festival
Accommodation: Luoping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visit Lubuge Gorge (known as “Small Three Gorges”) and the picturesque Duoyi River which is 12 kilometers long with waterfalls at different levels, where you can also have a glimps of the water mills that shows how the ancient people made use of the natural water resources, then visit Jiulong Waterfalls, a cluster of spectacular waterfalls formed on the Jiulong River, the greatest waterfall there has a drop of 56 meters with width of 112 meters.
Note: If this tour happens during the Rape Flowers Festival from Feb to Mar, you will have one more day option to explore the rape flowers sea in Luoping.

Day 5 Luoping-Qiubei-Puzhehei

Sightseeing and Activities: Puzhehei Scenic Area, Xianren Cave, the boat cruise, Yi and Miao ethnic villages
Accommodation: Puzhehei
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive to Puzhehei, Qiubei, Wenshan prefecture (3.5 hrs), visit Puzhehei Scenic Area, take a small boat to visit the Karst landscape and lakes, enjoy the local rurality. During your boat cruise, you will see large scale of lotus flowers on the lake. Then disembark at the Qinglongshan wharf and climb Qinglongshan Mountain to see the panorama of Puzhehei. After that, walk to visit the Torch Cave and Kwan-yin Cave.

Day 6 Puzhehei-Bamei

Sightseeing and Activities: Swan Lake, Bamei Village, Big Banyan Tree
Accommodation: Bamei
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, visit some villages in the scenic area to experience local life. Then visit the “Swan Lake”. After lunch, drive to Guangnan County, then take a boat to Bamei village by passing through the caves. After landing, visit Bamei Village and the Big Banyan Tree, enjoy the peaceful life of Zhuang ethnic people.

The Bamei Village is located on the common boundary of Ake Village and Bada Village in the north of the Guangnan County,Wenshan. It belongs to the Karst topography. The Village is surrounded by green mountains, and through the Village runs all the year round a clear river which is called Tuoniang River. The most interesting thing about the village is that people have to go through a deep and sombrous water cave by boat whenever they want go in and out.When you emerge from the tunnel you will be amazed. In a hidden valley, among a grove of green bamboos and old trees, lies Bamei Village. A blue stream gently flows by, and hard-working farmers silently till the green fields. It’s a picture of another lost Shangri-la. Due to inconvenient location and hard transit, the village escaped attacks by outsiders and the influences of the modern world, staying as unadorned and as pure as they always were. A well-preserved environment and sub-tropical climate made the area a “Promised Land” for the inhabitants.

Day 7 Bamei-Babao

Sightseeing and Activities: Bamei River, Pisa Village, Yanshan County
Accommodation: Babao Town of Wenshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, walk around in Bamei village and visit Bamei River. Have your free time, and enjoy the local life in this village. After lunch, take the boat to get out of the village from another cave.

Then drive to Yanshan County. On the way, you will visit a pure and quaint village of Zhuang ethnic people-Pisa Village(批洒村）in Zhela Township（者腊乡）.

Transfer to Babao Town where you will visit the typical Karst landform. Stay in Babao Town.

Day 8 Babao-Yanshan-Gejiu-Jianshui

Sightseeing and Activities: Sanla Waterfall, Shadian Grand Mosque, Jianshui Old Town
Accommodation: Jianshui
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, drive from Yanshan County to Gejiu City in Honghe Autonomous Prefecture for lunch. Then drive to visit the Grand Mosque of Shadian. Grand Mosque of Shadian was originally built in the year of 1684. After several restorations and reconstructions, the new Grand Mosque of Shadian is built into a large-scaled mosque with a construction area of 18,000 square meters. It is able to hold a capacity of 10,000 people to do prayers at a time.

Afterwards, transfer to Jianshui County. Visit Jianshui Old Town and Chaoyang Gate. The ancient city wall of Jianshui was built 600 years ago in Ming Dynasty. Today only Chaoyang tower at the East Gate and Qingyuan tower at the West Gate is left standing. It’s the landmark of Jianshui Ancient Town. Then visit Zhu Family Garden and old wells. The Zhu family garden is a local residence with distinctive features. It was built 100 years ago by a merchant named Zhu. The garden is built as a maze. It’s made up of many courtyard-style folk houses. The houses maintain the upturned eaves, the vivid paintings and the exquisite carvings on the roof beams.

Day 9 Jianshui-Yuanyang

Sightseeing and Activities: Jianshui Confucius Temple, Tuanshan Village and the Garden of Family Zhang, terraced fields of Laohuzui
Accommodation: Mengnong Chieftain Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, visit the Confucius Temple, which has a history of 700 years. It is the second largest Confucius Temple in China. Then you’ll visit Tuanshan Village and the Garden of Family Zhang; Tuanshan Village is a rare surviving example of an intact-albeit neglected-traditional walled Yunnan village compound in southwestern China, and has been added to the 2005 list of internationally significant sites by the World Memorial Fund for Architecture (WMF), an international fund for the protection of world heritage sites.
In the afternoon, you will transfer to Yuanyang and enjoy the sight of terraced fields of Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) at sunset. Overnight at Mengnong Chieftain Palace.
–Yuanyang is about 300km south of Kunming, renowned for its rice terraces, which claim as the world’s largest and most spectacular one, crafted out by bare hands by the Hani people one thousand years ago and is still in use today. The rice farmers have had to practice ecology and land preservation centuries before those concepts were widely accepted around the world. Without hard work maintaining the terrace walls and irrigation system, the precious top soil would wash down the hillsides into the rivers.
Yuanyang Rice Terrace is a self sustaining ecosystem. During winter to early spring, the entire field is irrigated with spring water from the forest above to rejuvenate and getting prepared for the next season. The Hani people have repeated this for more than a thousand years. There is only one harvest in a year for the Yuanyang Rice Terrace; planting is from March to Oct./Nov. every year.

Optional Sightseeing and Activities:
Lengdun Village of Baohe Town in Gejiu City(个旧市保和乡木花果村委会冷墩村)
Shadian Grand Mosque in Gejiu City (个旧市沙甸清真寺)
Abang Village of Jiasha Town in Gejiu City(个旧市贾沙乡陡岩村委会阿邦村)
Hetian Village in Gejiu City, Honghe(个旧市合田民俗村)
Jiajizhai Village and Pear Blossoms of Jijie Town in Gejiu City(个旧市鸡街镇加级寨村)

Day 10 Yuanyang

Sightseeing and Activities: the sunrise view of Duoyishu Rice Terraces, Bada Rice Terraces, Shengcun Market, Qingkou Village, the sunset view of Laohuzui Rice Terraces
Accommodation: Yuanyang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Get up every early in the morning, you’ll drive 30KM to visit Pugao Laozhai Village and enjoy the sunrise of Duoyishu Rice Terrace Fields when the sun appears above the eastern horizon. The terraced fields are ring upon ring and cascade one by one. They go along the hillside up to the sky. You will see the scenery of the terraced fields from the top of the mountains to the bottom. They are all farms under the sunshine and cloud and mist. The landscape is spectacular.

And then, you will visit Qingkou Village and rice terraces where Hani people for generations inhabit. Visit Bada Hani Rice Terrace, Shengcun Market as well.

Transfer back to Xinjie Town.

Day 11 Yuanyang-Luchun-Jiangcheng

Sightseeing and Activities: Laomeng Sunday Market, Lvchun Local Market, Lvchun Hani Ethnic Culture Museum, Lixianjiang River Valley
Accommodation: Jiangcheng
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Dongmao Hani Folk Custom Park in Lvchun County, Honghe

After breakfast, visit the local market in Xinjie Town. Depart from Xinjie Town,drive around 2 hours to Laomeng. If you are lucky enough, you will have chance to enjoy the Laomeng Sunday Market. Laomeng holds the most flamboyant market every Sunday. One can see people from six different ethnic minorities, with women and children dressing up in colourful dresses, different in their own traditional style.
Continue the driving along the banana forest and some rice terraces, you arrive at Lvchun County. Lvchun county, on the south western border of Yunnan Provice, China, just like its name, is a land where the green mountains spread out like a ribbon, the azure water always flows, the winter isn’t too cold, and the summer isn’t too hot.
Pay a visit Lvchun Local Market and Lvchun Hani Ethnic Culture Museum. The main cultural legacy of the worldwide Hani people over several thousand years of development is its unique immaterial culture. Therefore, this museum, in accordance with current advanced theory, has discarded the model of a traditional museum which simply displays a collection of implements, and adopted a model of bringing together local characteristics and the worldwide Hani culture.
After lunch, drive along the Lixianjiang River Valley to Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous County. Visit Lixianjiang River Valley, Hani ethnic villages, rice terraces on the way.
Optional Sightseeing and Activities:
Huanglianshan Mountain Nature Reserve in Luchun County(绿春黄连山保护区)
Dongzhu Rice Terraces in Luchun County(绿春桐珠梯田)
Lagu Hani Rice Terraces in Luchun County(绿春腊姑哈尼梯田)

Day 12 Jiangcheng-Zhengdong-Mengla

Sightseeing and Activities: Longfu Border, Monument of One Foot in Three Countries, Triple-border Boundary Tablet, Longfu Border Market, Jiangcheng Tea Plantation, Shiceng Dashan Mountain, Place Straddling, Mantan Village, Chenzisanzhai Village of Dai Minority,
Accommodation: Mengla in Xishuangbanna
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous County is an autonomous county under the jurisdiction of Pu’er City, in southern Yunnan, China, bordering Laos and Vietnam to the south, making it the only county in the province to border more than one country. By road, its seat, the town of Menglie (勐烈镇), is 520 km (320 mi) from Kunming and 145 km (90 mi) from Simao District, the municipal seat of Pu’er.
Drive 1hour to Qushui Town and visit Longfu Border between China,Vietnam and Laos including Monument of One Foot in Three Countries, Triple-border Boundary Tablet, Longfu Border Market (3th,13th,23th). Longfu Border, located in Shiceng Dashan Mountain (Ten Layers Mountain), is famous for the Place Straddling the border of China, Vietnam and Laos.
Drive back to Jiangcheng, visit Jiangcheng Tea Plantation.
Drive to Zhengdong Town, 60KM from Jiangcheng County. Visit Mantan Village and Chenzisanzhai Village of Dai Minority. Chengzi Sanzhai Village consists of Manhe Village (曼贺寨), Manhejing Village (曼贺井寨) Manluanzai Village(曼乱宰寨).
Mantan Village(漫滩傣族村) is a traditional village with Dai people’s characteristics. Dai people has lived there since the Emperor Yongzheng(雍正) of Qing Dynasty(1636 A.D-1912 A.D.). Up to now, Dai people have occupied 95% percent of the population in the village.
Well-reserved natural environment and ethnic dwellings make the village beautiful and quiet. No garbage can be seen when strolling along the roads in the village.

Chenzisanzhai Village(城子三寨村): a unique village with exotic flavors
About 8 kilometers away from Mantan Village sits the Chengzisanzhai Village. It is a small yet ancient village where Dai people have lived there for generations. Traditional customs of Dai people are intactly reserved in the village. Exquisite traditional houses of Dai people can be seen everywhere.
The village borders to Laos and Vietnam. Its unique geographical location contributes to Dai people’s close communication with Southeast Asian countries. Nowadays, local Dai residents still keep the custom of intermarriage with the Lao and the Vietnamese, which endows an kind of exotic flavor to the village.
Drive to Mengla County for overnight.
Options:
Bobiezhai Village of Guoqing Town in Jiangcheng County (江城县国庆乡么等村委会博別寨)
Yiwu Old Town in Mengla County(易武古镇)
Yiwu Ancient Tea Mountain(易武茶山)

Day 13 Mengla-Menglun-Jinghong

Sightseeing and Activities: Wangtianshu Scenic Area, Air Corridor, Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden
Accommodation: Jinghong in Xishuangbanna
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visit Wangtianshu Scenic Area, which is the only oasis at 21 degrees north latitude, and has been recognized internationally as China’s unique tropical rainforest. Then walk in the Air Corridor (only the first entrance tickets of Wangtianshu Scenic Area and Air Corridor are included).
Drive to Menglun and take a tour of the Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden. As the home to many rare flora and endangered fauna, Xishuangbanna is an excellent place to take in the unique beauty of sub-tropical nature and biodiversity in China. Take a visit to the Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden and observe beautiful flowers, shrubbery, and trees in the spacious garden. If you go early enough in the morning, you can see the sunrise cast a dreamy golden glow over the garden.
Drive to Jinghong City for overnight.
Options:
Daka Village (Ake Ethnic People) of Menglun Town in Mengla County(勐腊县勐仑镇大卡村(阿克寨)

Day 14 Jinghong

Sightseeing and Activities: Ganlanba Morning Market, Dai Ethnic Garden, Mengle Great Buddha Temple, Manting Park, enjoy Dai Water Splashing Festival
Accommodation: Jinghong in Xishuangbanna
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Take one day tour to Ganlanba Morning Market, Dai Ethnic Garden, Mengle Temple.
In the morning visit Ganlanba Morning Market, water Dai villages, Burmese temple and rubber garden on the way. Visit Dai Ethnic Garden, located in the Ganlan Basin in Menghan County, proudly holds a national 4A rating as one of China’s top scenic spots. Within the Dai Ethnic Garden, five Dai villages – Manjiang, Manchunman, Manting, ManZha, and Manga – cover an area of 3.36 square kilometers and consist of 309 families, or 1487 individual villagers.

Transfer back to Jinghong in the afternoon and pay a visit Mengle Temple. Mengle Great Buddha Temple was built to memorize a beautiful Dai Minority queen who was a pious Buddhist during Ming dynasty (1368-1644), which was destroyed during a war in 1848 and what we see today was rebuilt in 2007. Notable for its peculiar shape which resembles a sitting Buddha, Mengle Great Buddha Temple, the largest Theravada Buddhist temple in China, is the most sacred and important religion site of Dai people.
Visit Manting Park which is a modern park that measures about 30 acres in Jinghong in Xishuangbanna. It has a large new Buddhist temple called Zongfo Si. There is a display of ethnic architecture, and people entertain themselves by water fights during the Dai Water Splashing Festival each year. Entertainment is presented in the evening.

Day 15 Jinghong-Menghai-Jingmai

Sightseeing and Activities: Jingmai Tea Mountain, Jinghong in Xishuangbanna, Mengjinglai Dai Ethnic Village, One Tree Forest, Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion,
Accommodation: Puer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Transfer to Daluo Town, visit Daluo Border between Myanmar and China, Daluo town is located in southwest of Menghai County. The southeast is Bulangshan Mountain, the southwest and west are bordering on the Myanmar with the national boundary of 36.5 kilometers.With a total area of 400 square kilometers and superior geographical advantage, and being 81 kilometers away from Menghai County, Daluo is an important port in Yunnan province.
Visit Mengjinglai Dai Ethnic Village. Mengjinglai is the most outstanding China-Myanmar village. It’s located in the southwest of Xishuangbanna, Menghai Town. The crystal clear Daluo River flows from the west of the village forms the natural borders for both countries.
Visit One Tree Forest. Some aerial roots will grow from the trunk of the big banyan tree to whose base they would twine. Through the branches of the banyan tree breaks 32 aerial roots that are hanging down into the earth to be an aerial roots jungle. These straight aerial roots stand in lines like the soldiers who protect their motherland at the frontier, which makes people respectful. Therefore, the One-Tree-Forest scenery in Da Luo town is indispensable for the tourists to Xishuangbanna.
Transfer to Xiding Town, visit Xiding Thursday Market if it is the market day today.
Visit Zhanglang Bulang Ethnic Village.
Drive to Menghai County, pay a visit to Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion. Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion was built in 1701 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) — the year 1063 according to the Dai calendar. It was originally built in a local Hinayana temple, but the temple was destroyed. The pavilion has retained its former features following three large-scale repairs.

Then drive to Jingmai Village in Huimin Town of Lancang County.
Options:

Day 16 Jingmai-Lancang-Menglian-Ximeng

Sightseeing and Activities: Jingmai-Lancang-Menglian-Ximeng, Lancang Huimin tourist town
Accommodation: Puer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Lancang Huimin tourist town(惠民旅游小镇)(60 Kilometer about 1-hour’s drive) — Jingmai Mangjing Scenic Area(18.7Kilometer about 33-minutes’ drive), including Dapingzhang ancient tea garden, Nuogan water village of Dai, the ancient village of Wengji Blang, Tea Ancestor Temple, — Menglian Xuanfu Sishu(孟连县宣抚司署) — Menglian Golden Pagoda, Menglian Nayun Ancient Town (111 Kilometer about 3-hours’ drive) — Ximeng Mengsuo Longtan Lake (60 Kilometer about 2-hours’ drive) — Muyiji Holy Valley (5 Kilometer about 34-minutes’ drive).

Day 17 Ximeng-Shuangjiang-Cangyuan

Sightseeing and Activities: Ximeng-Shuangjiang-Cangyuan, Icelandic village, tea-making, tea-tasting, Shuangjiang village
Accommodation: Lincang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Bingdao Village in Shuangjiang County, Lincang

After breakfast, head to Icelandic village from Shuangjiang village to experience making tea by hand. Then after lunch, back to Mengku tea shop to enjoy tea-tasting and visit farmer’s tea-making process.

Mengku Icelandic village ( “Bingdao” in Chinese) in Shuangjiang County, the famous ancient tea village, rich and famous for its large leafed Iceland tea, is one of the county’s first place for cultivating tea. Iceland tea is the main part of the famous Mengku large leafed tea and Icelandic village is the main birthplace of Mengku Tea. This kind of tea has a long history. There are written records during the Ming Dynasty (around 1485), or earlier than Ming period according to the storied unwritten records. As to the origin of the Iceland tea, some believe it was introduced from Xishuangbanna ancient mountain by local Chieftain, while others believe it was introduced from other places.

Day 18 Cangyuan

Sightseeing and Activities: Cangyuan Cliff Painting,
Accommodation: Lincang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, head to visit Cangyuan Cliff Painting. Lincang rock painting is located in the north of Menglai town, Cangyuan county and famous for the 3500- year old rock painting. Up to now, there are 11 pieces of rock paintings found in batches in 1965, 1978 and 1981, mainly distributing in Mengsheng township(勐省乡) and Mengyuan township(勐来乡) , which vividly show the Wa’s activities of hunting, herding, dancing and sacrificing, rich in content and unique in style. So far, Cangyuan rock painting is one of the oldest rock paintings found in China. According to the determination of drawing age,
the rock paintings were measured in the late Neolithic period which is more than 3,000 years ago. On June 25, 2001, Cangyuan rock painting, as a Neolithic relic, was included by the State Council of China in the list of the fifth batch of national relic protection units.

Visit Thousand-Meter Gallery of Chinese painting in the afternoon. Located in the middle part of the scenic area, the mural is about 3 kilometers long, 80-180 meters high and the highest 280 meters. Some cliff surfaces are uneven densely covered with honeycomb dissolved pore, some are smooth just as being cut by a knife or axe, and some are similar with terrace dotted to be colorful by impurities and climbing plants. It is like a giant mural painting, which depicts the vicissitudes of the old earth.

Day 19 Cangyuan-Gengma-Zhenkang

Sightseeing and Activities: Tea-making, pottery-making,
Accommodation: Lincang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, head to the scenic spots. Have you own DIY experience in Pu ‘er tea base, and visit Pu ‘er tea farmstead to enjoy tea-tasting and learn local tea culture. Then, go to tea factory to have DIY fun of making tea! Next go to experience Mengyong pottery-making. Drive to Zhenkang county for overnight.

Mengyong pottery and Pu ‘er tea base is a part of the intangible cultural heritage of Yunnan minorities, which is non-commercial and pay more attention to personal experience of tourists.

Day 20 Zhenkang-Mengyang-Mangshi

Sightseeing and Activities: Nujiang River, original forest and ethnic villages
Accommodation: Mangshi in Dehong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Nujiang River, original forest and ethnic villages

Day 21 Mangshi-Wanding-Ruili

Sightseeing and Activities: Menghuan Grand Pagoda, the Peacock Lake, the Pagoda wrapped in the tree, Moli Waterfall and Rain Forest, Jiegao Myanmar and China Border
Accommodation: Ruili in Dehong
Meals:

Menghuan Grand Pagoda, Peacock Lake, the Pagoda wrapped in the tree, Moli Waterfall and Rain Forest, Jiegao Myanmar and China Border

Day 22 Ruili-Longchuan-Yingjiang-Lianghe-Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities: Jiele Golden Pagoda, One Tree Forest, Dayingjiang River, Nandian Xuanfu Chieftain Palace
Accommodation:
Meals:

Jiele Golden Pagoda, One Tree Forest, Dayingjiang River, Nandian Xuanfu Chieftain Palace

Day 23 Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities: Rehai Hot Spring, Beihai Wetland Park, Heshun Ancient Town
Accommodation: Tengchong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, drive to Rehai Hot Spring. Tengchong is one of China’s three major geothermal areas, known as “Land Abounding in Geothermal Resources”. There are plenty of springs of hot water and hot vapour, called “Hot Sea”. There are quite a number of hot fields as well. Tengchong is a resort where people can travel, take a bath and have medical treatment. The Hot Sea, with an area of 9 square kilometers, lies 20 kilometers away southwest of the county seat and in the center of the geothermal area. There are over 80 springs of hot water and hot vapour, of which there are 14 spring whose temperature reaches 90¡ãC. The spring can be regarded as a rarity as far as their number and geothermal energy are concerned. The most magnificent view is the boiling pool with a temperature of 97¡ãC, so it is called “the Big Boiling Pot” by the local people. There are dozens of big springs of vapour with a temperature of 94¡ãC at the mouths of the springs, where you can steam food.

After that, drive to Beihai Wetland Park. The wetland is surrounded by mountains, located in a special geographical position, and is a typical subtropical volcanic lava barrier lake marsh wetland. The reserve features a “floating blanket style” marsh, complex biodiversity and high productivity. The reserve is not only a garden of national protected plants like Brasenia schreberi and wildwater chestnuts, but it is also a paradise for water birds.

In the afternoon, arrive in Heshun Ancient Town in Tengchong County in the late afternoon, you will be free in Heshun Ancient Town and enjoy the relax life after the wonderful Three Parallel River Grand Canyons adventure tour. Walk around Heshun Old Town, pay a visit to Clothes-Washing Pacillion, Heshun Library,Wenchang Temple and the Anti-Japanese War Museum as well as the local ancient houses.

Day 24 Tengchong-Liuku-Fugong

Sightseeing and Activities: Gaolig Gongshan Mountain Nature Reserve, Nujiang River, Laomudeng Village.
Accommodation: Nujiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Leave Tengchong, drive to Liuku. Enjoy your day at Nujiang Grand Canyon and visit Laomudeng Village and the bathhouse of Lishu Nationality. It is a tradition to welcome new year that all people take a bath together in the open hot springs by the banks of the river. Then go on driving to Fugong. Sightseeing includes a visit to a suspension bridge and a glide cable. Special Lishu food will be served during dinner. In the evening you will take part in a party with the local people.

Day 25 Fugong-Gongshan-Bingzhongluo

Sightseeing and Activities: Nujiang Grand Canyon, Nu ethnic village, the Suspension Bridges
Accommodation: Bingzhongluo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive from Fugong to Gongshan (4-hour’s drive), the scenery just got better and better: the river twisted and turned, the valley sides became steeper and there were huge crags and mountains rising beyond-Myanmar was only a few km away over the crest of these green hills. We will pass the famous Shi yue liang, the so-called “bright moon in the mountain”, about an hour outside of Fugong, and source of many Lisu and Nu folkstories. Stop to see the first Bend of the Nujiang River (Salween River) and Mt. Gaoligong. You could also try crossing the Nujiang River hanging from a rope, the Liusuo, a traditional way to cross the river in the olden days when there was no bridge. Then drive to Bingzhongluo (2-hour’s drive).

Day 26 Bingzhongluo

Sightseeing and Activities: Nujiang Grand Canyon, Bingzhongluo Village, Nujiang River (Salween River), the First Bend of Nujiang River, Qiunatong Village, Wuli Village, Dimaluo Village, Chongding Catholic Church
Accommodation: Binzhongluo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

You will have a beautiful hiking tour in Bingzhongluo including the attractions of Qiunatong Village, Wuli Village, Dimaluo Village, Chongding Catholic Church and Nujiang River Grand Canyon.

There are easy and beautiful walks to nearby villages along the Nujiang. A few kilometers outside of town, the river widens and cuts through very deep and dramatic gorges. The road hugs the Nujiang and landslides occur from time to time along the way. It is said that the scenery is especially spectacular after rain, however this also increases potential delays and exacerbates the danger from landslides.

The most beautiful part of Nujiang Gorge starts from Binzhongluo, the northernmost town of the Gorge, where the essential attractions of the Nujiang Gorge are located. Hiking is the best way to enjoy the landscape and an average of 2.5 hours is needed for most tourists to reach the famous “Tea Horse Caravan Route.” Renting a mini bus at Bingzhongluo town is an alternative for the less adventurous sightseers.

On the way to the “Tea-Horse Caravan Route”, one can see the 100-year-old Zhongding Catholic Church built and founded by a French missionary. Shimen Pass is another fantastic section of the gorge along with Wengli (also called Wuli), another stunning landscape lying on a beautiful slope along the river bank. Very near to the Wengli, a carved path is seen on the other bank cliff, the so-called “Tea-Horse Caravan Route”, a path used by traders ferrying their goods between Yunnan and Tibet. At the end of the trekking road, an old hanging bridge and a new one-year-old bridge swing side-by-side.

To those wanderlusts, some trekking routes are worthy of spending days or even weeks longer between Gongshan and Bingzhongluo. Getting 90km further west to the Drung River from Gongshan reveal beautiful virgin forests as well as the kind-hearted Drung ethnic people living their old way of life.

Day 27 Bingzhongluo-Gongshan-Cizhong

Sightseeing and Activities: Nujiang Grand Canyon, Dulong ethnic village, Biluo Snow Mountain, Laowo Mountain
Accommodation: Cizhong in Diqing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive from Bingzhongluo to Gongshan. Stop to visit the First Bend of Nujiang River. Continue the driving along Nujiang Valley to Gongshan County

Drive along the newly built road from Gongshan County to Cizhong,the road is bumpy but the scenery is so fantestic because the view of Mekong River and Nujiang River grand cayons as well as the Biluo Snow Mountain.

Biluo Snow Mountain is located at Lanping churchyard which I continuous 145KM. There are 15 snow mountains, which stand 4000 meter above sea level. The Laowo Mountain is the most beautiful a highest mountain than the others, which is 4500 meters above sea level. It is 3200 meters higher compared with the Lantsang. The original ecosystem has been preserved. The climate changes unconventionally in the mountain. The flowing waterfall is densely 6 covered, edelweiss and lakes are gathered, and it is called the mountain with thousand waterfalls and thousand lakes.

Day 28 Cizhong-Meili Snow Mountain-Feilaisi

Sightseeing and Activities: Tibetan Catholic Church, Feilaisi, Meili Snow Mountain, Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas,
Accommodation: Feilaisi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visit the Tibetan Catholic Church built by French missionaries in 1867, the church is used by Tibetan, Naxi and Lisu people. They still have the grapes planted by missionaries and old the traditional way of making wine. –Lancang River is the longest river flowing from north to south in China. It takes its source from the Zhaqu of the Guangguori Peak of Tanggula Mountain Range in Qinghai Province, China. It is called the Lancang River after it reaches Changdu. The river runs south until it leaves China at the Nanla Bay out of Yunnan Province and therefrom changes its name from the Lancang River to the Mekong River. The Grand Canyon of the Lancang River is famous for not only its deep and long vale, but also the rushing water. The river water is limpid and rushing in winter, but turbid and onrushing in summer. As the river becoming narrow in the Grand Canyon, high waves are striking against the banks and making a sound like thunder. What a fantastic spectacle! Such steep mountains, deep valley and miraculous geographic structure are seldom seen all over the world.

Drive to Mingyong Village. Hike from Mingyong village to Mingyong Glacier (2600m) which is the low altitude glacier of the lowest latitude in the world. Then you will trek down directly to the edge of Meikong River(2,050m/6,724ft) . Walk along the Mekong Grand Canyon and arrive in Xidang Village(2,200m/7,216ft) where you can visit some scattered Tibetan houses in the village.

Arrive in Feilaisi in the late afternoon, you will have a nice sunset view of Meili Snow Mountain from the Sightseeing Platform, where you can see the 13 white pagodas meaning of the 13 peaks of Meili Snow Mountain over 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) above sea level, known as the “Prince’s 13 peaks”.
–Meili Snow Mountain (Meili Xueshan), also called Kawakarpo, is a UNESCO nature site located in Deqin County dividing Yunnan from Tibet, a wonderful place to hike and explore both nature and Tibetan culture.Rising between the Salween River and the Mekong River in the extreme edge of Northwest Yunnan, the Meili Snow Mt. region is part of Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas. Legend says that the Meili Snow Mountain is a god guarding Tibetan Buddhism. With 13 peaks over 6000m in the range, the main peak Kawakarpo (“Kawagebo” in Chinese) is a sharp snow mountain with an altitude of 6740m,which has never been conquered yet.

Day 29 Feilaisi-Shangrila

Sightseeing and Activities: Benzilan, Baimang Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, the First Bend of Jinsha River or Moon Bend
Accommodation: Shangrila
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, drive back to Shangri-la. You will stop at Benzilan for lunch. Visit Baimang Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, you will be able to view Baimang Snow Mountain if the weather is clear, pass the top part of today at 4292m altitude at 156km. After that, visit the First Bend of Jinsha River or Moon Bend, which is the boundary between Sichuan and Yunnan. This is different from the First Bend of Yangtze River in Lijiang City. The bend in Shigu Town changes the flow direction of the Yangtze River but in Benzilan, the Moon Bend is just a grand bend between the mountains with an impressive scenery.

Day 30 Shangrila

Sightseeing and Activities: Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, Shudu Lake
Accommodation: Shangrila
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias ‘the little Potala Palace ‘, so named because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere. Walk around Songzanlin Monastery.

And afterwards you’ll visit the tranquil Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park. Pudacuo National Park is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. While the region comprises only 0.7 percent of China’s land area, it contains more than 20 percent of the country’s plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species.

Finally, you will visit a Tibetan’s family to experience the local life in the bonfire party with Tibetan dance and music and you will try Tibetan home-made yak and cheese.

Day 31 Shangrila-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Tiger Leaping Gorge, Bendiwan Village, Iron Chain Bridge, Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument,
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, drive to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river. Start the hiking tour of the Tiger Leaping Gorge from the 14KM Point to Halfway Guesthouse in Bendiwan Village for lunch,you will enjoy the wonderful view of Tiger Leaping Gorge and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from the balcony of Halfway Guesthouse. Trek 1 hour to the Guanyin Temple and Bamboo Forest, and then continue the hiking down to Tinas Hostel in the middle part of the gorge.Meet our driver and transfer to Shangrila.

Then drive to the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, visit the Iron Chain Bridge, the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in the Shigu town. The town of Stone Drum got its name from a large, cylindrical, marble tablet shaped like a drum. The scenery is magnificent as the road running through the Lijiang valley which is filled with wheat fields and drying haystacks.

In the late afternoon, transfer to Lijiang for overnight.

Day 32 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang Ancient Town, Ganhaizi Meadow, Baishuihe River, Impression Lijang Ethnic Show, Baisha Village, Baisha Mural
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy the sunrise of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang Ancient Town in the morning, drive about 30KM to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M), you will take the sightseeig bus for a short visiting through the Baishuihe River, take the chairlift up to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cableway will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around1 hours in the original forest in Spruce Meadow (3200M).

After lunch, you will enjoy the Impression Lijang Ethnic Show directed in Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M). A cultural show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area. The show takes place inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park at 3500m in an outdoor theater specifically designed to showcase the mountain which is used as a backdrop. The production itself was designed by Zhang Yimou, Fan Yue and Wang Chaoge, a cast of over 500 people, and a number of horses. In the afternoon, you’ll stroll through Baisha Village, which is an enchanting traditional Yunnan village. Visit the Baisha Mural about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.

–Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stretches a length of 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a width of 20 kilometers (13 miles). Looking from Lijiang Old Town in the south which is 15 kilometers (nine miles) away, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The highest peak named Fan Peak (Shanzidou in Chinese) which is about 5596 meters above sea level. There are three cablecars in the mountain, the fist to the Glacier Park(4500M),the second to Spruce Meadow(3200M), the third to Yak Meadow(3700M).

Day 33 Lijiang-Lugu Lake

Sightseeing and Activities: Lugu Lake, Liwubi Island and Heiwawu Island, Mosuo Culture Museum, take part in Mosuo Bonfire Party
Accommodation: Lugu Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, dive 4-5 hrs on the spectacle mountain road to visit the mysterious Lugu Lake. On the way, enjoy the beautiful view among the huge mountains and rivers.

Late afternoon, you will take the canoes to visit Liwubi Island and Heiwawu Island in Lugu Lake. Pay a visit to Mosuo Culture Museum and learn the Mosuo ethnic custom in the museum. Enjoy the sunset wonder of Luguhu Lake in Luoshui Village. In the evening, take part in Mosuo Bonfire Party with ethnic dance and singing performance. You will dance and sing with Mosuo boys and girls around a big bonfire in the outdoors theatre.

Day 34 Lugu Lake-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Zhamei Lamaist Monastery, Ancient Tea-Horse Trade Caravan, Mosuo Market, Ninglang Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you will drive about 20Km to visit the Zhamei Lamaist Monastery which is the biggest lamasery in Moso area Yongning Town. Tibetan people call Yongning as “taluo”, meaning “the way to heaven”. The place the Zhamei Lamasery lies in is called “Zhameige”, which means “no war”. The coincidence of these two names make the Lamasery even famous in Tibet.

Yongning Town is an important town of the Ancient Tea-Horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet. Located between Yunnan and Sichuan, Yongning keeps the original ethnic life which is still not damaged by tourists. You will visit Mosuo Market in Yongning Town. We will arrange a Mosuo family to visit and have lunch in Mosuo family, enjoy the Mosuo real life in a village.

Afternoon, drive back to Lijiang. On the way to Ninglang Town,you will stop to visit a Pumi Ethnic Village and Pumi Family.The ancestors of Pumi were a nomadic tribe living in the southern part of Gansu Province and the eastern part of Qinghai Province. Later, their descendants moved south to warmer areas along the Hengduan Mountain Range. After the 13th century, the Pumi ethnic group gradually settled down in Ninglang, Lijiang, Weixi and Lanping counties.

Day 35 Lijiang-Shaxi-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Shibaoshan Mountain, Shizhong (Stone Bell) Hills, Shaxi Old Town, Dali Old Town, Foreigner Street, Erhai Lake
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning , pick up from your hotel in Lijiang , drive to visit Shibaoshan Mountain. Located 25 km southwest of Jianchuan County, the Shibao (Stone Treasure) Hills are also called the Shizhong (Stone Bell) Hills. Built during the Tang and Song Dynasties, it is considered an official historical site.

Later go ahead to visit Shaxi Old Town The remains of an ancient market town and once an active trade stop on the Southern Silk Road that connected Tibet and China with Southeast Asia and on to Europe. This Road is actually older than the more famous Silk Road (in the North), predating it by at least 300 years. Shaxi has been listed by the World Monuments Fund as one of the world’s 100 most endangered sites.

After the tour , drive to Dali. Visit Dali Old Town. Walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the relax time with local people. After climbing up to the City Wall of Dali, you will have panoramic view of the Erhai Lake.

Day 36 Dali-Erhai Lake-Xizhou-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery,cruise in Erhai Lake, Xizhou Town, Xizhou Town,
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain facing to the Erhai Lake. Three Pagodas are made of three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle.

After lunch, you’ll cruise in Erhai Lake by the small boat to the Jinsuo Islet in the east Erhai Lake. There are 200 Bai ethnic families around 1000 people in Jinsuo Island.In Erhai Lake cruise, you will enjoy the green Cangshan Mountain and the Three Pagodas from a far as well as lots of birds and seagulls flying over the lake.

After landing, you will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste their fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture.

Day 37 Dali-Donglianhua Village-Weishan-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Donglianhua Village, Tea and Horse Road, Weishan Old Town
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, drive to Weishan County. You will visit Donglianhua Village first. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, they became involved in trade as caravan leaders on the Tea and Horse Road (茶马古道). The courtyards and mansions of village of Donglianhua (东莲花) shows how successful these Chinese Muslims traders were. The Muslims of Weishan (巍山) region in Yunnan (as well as other Chinese regions) belong to the Hui ethnic group (回族). The ancestry of the Hui varies. Some are the descendants of intermarriages between Muslim men of Middle-eastern or Central Asian origins and local women, others are the descendants of Han-Chinese who converted to Islam.

Then transfer to Weishan Old Town. Weishan Old Town is located at the foot of Ailao Mountain. It is a historical and cultural city known as the cradle of Nanzhao Kingdom. First built in Yuan Dynasty, Weishan Old Town has been changed to the brick city and remained the style and features until today. As the place that carry out Tusi System for the longest time in Yunnan, the long history of Weishan breeds numerous temples, echoing with the natural landscape at the diatance.

In the late afternoon, drive back to Dali.

Day 38 Dali-Yunnanyi-Chuxiong-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Yi Ren Old Town, Yunnanyi
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive from Dali to Yunnanyi. Yunnanyi is located in Xiangyun County of Dali Prefecture, about four hours’ drive from Kunming. As the earliest place named Yunnan(the place to the south of the colorful cloud), Yunnanyi is the former site of Yunnan County of West Han Dynasty and Yunnan Prefecture of Wei and Jin Dynasties; in the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, Yizhan (remount or post stations) were set here, so it is named Yunnan Yi. Due to its significant geographic location, Yunnan Yi used to be a must-take position since it can connect Dali, Chengdu, Kunming, South and West Yunnan; a time-honored ancient passage stretches through the small village with well conserved folk residences of Bai.

After lunch, drive to Yi Ren Old Town in Chuxiong City. The Yi Ren old town located at the west of Chuxiong economic development zone, Yunnan. And it is fuses both China and Yi minority national traditional culture as the main key of the antique construction. With fully Yi national minority’s characteristic the entire old town selects material from Yi national minority’s modeling, totem and the color.

In the afternoon, drive to Kunming for overnight.

Day 39 Departure from Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Depart from Kunming
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

Depart from Kunming. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Kunming	Sofitel Hotel	Kunming Jinjiang Hotel	Kunming Longteng Hotel	T&T Story Hotel
Shilin	Days Hotel and Suites Tongce Shilin of Wyndham	Bosheng Holiday Hotel	Ashima Business Hotel	Local Hostel
Luoping	/	/	/	Local Hostel
Puzhehei	/	/	/	YI DA Inn
Bamei	/	/	/	Local Hostel
Jianshui	Tinziyun Resort	Lin’an Hotel	Hongmantian Hotel	Local Hostel
Yuanyang	The Twelve Manor Terraces Hostel	Yunti Hotel (Yuanyang Shengcun)	Yunshuijian Guesthouse	Local Hostel
Jinghong (Xishuangbanna)	Jinhong Qixi Hotel	Jinghong Ninty-Seven Daiyun Theme Hotel	Fanyin Shuyuan Hotel	Jinghong Daixiang Vocational Hotel
Lincang	/	Hetang Yuechun Hotel	Yuncheng Hotel	Local Hostel
Dehong	Mangshi Hotel	Jingcai Hotel	Huangjia Hotel	Local Hostel
Tengchong	Tengchong Guanfang Hotel	Tengchong Empark Grand Hotel	Tengchong Dongfang Xuanyi Holiday Hotel	Local Hostel
Bingzhongluo	/	/	/	Local Hostel
Cizhong	/	/	/	Songtsam Lodges Cizhong
Feilaisi	Guanjing Tiantang Hotel	Mingzhu Hotel	Mingzhu Hotel	Local Hostel
Shangrila	Tianju Shangri-la	E-outfitting Boutique Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Inn	Wu Fu South Yunnan Boutique Inn
Lijiang	InterContinental Hotel	E-outfitting Boutique Hotel in Shuhe	Baisha Holiday Hotel	Local Hostel
Lugu Lake	Sealily Lugu Lake Angyue Boutique Hotel	Sealily Lugu Lake Honeymoon Solu Boutique Holiday Hotel	Sealily Travel Hotel	Local Hostel
Dali	Hilton Dali Resort And Spa	Dali E-outfitting Boutique Hotel	Taiheju Hotel	Dali Fengxue Gucheng

Service Included:

Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals as listed in the itinerary;
Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
Private English-speaking tour guide;
Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
Service charge & government taxes;
Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
Domestic train tickets of soft sleeper.

Service Excluded:

Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
Chinese visa fees;
Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
Single room supplement;
Tips to guides and drivers;
Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
Personal travel accident insurance;
All optional programs.

Travel Tips:

Visitors are advised to always carry changes of clothing due to the large variations in temperature between day and night.
The climate is relatively dry, so drink more water every day.
Protecting oneself from strong UV radiation at high altitude.
Protecting oneself from altitude sickness. Lessen the effects of altitude sickness, avoid strenuous exercise and have plenty of rest.
Respect local customs , habits, and religious beliefs.

This is the best birds watching tour in Yunnan which will bring you to watch birds in the main attractions of Yunnan, including tranquil lakes – Napahai Lake, Lashihai Lake; significant mountains – Gaoli Gongshan, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain; beautiful wetlands – Beihai Wetland; rivers and parks, etc. With terrain ranging from tropical rainforest to snow-capped peaks, Yunnan boasts half of China’s plant and animal species. It is also the home to a third of China’s ethnic minorities (nearly 50%). So, you will also step into ancient towns and ethnic villages to explore the diverse ethnic cultures and profound history of Yunnan in this tour.

Highlights:

Watch diverse birds of Yunnan.
Discover the profound history and ethnic culture.
Appreciate the charming landscape on the way.

Brief Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming
Day 2 Kunming – Shangri-La
Day 3 Shangri-La – Lijiang
Day 4 Lijiang
Day 5 Lijiang
Day 6 Lijiang – Shibao Mountain
Day 7 Shibao Shan – Dali
Day 8 Dali
Day 9 Dali – Gaoligongshan Mountain
Day 10 Gaoligongshan Mountain
Day 11 Gaoligongshan Mountain
Day 12 Gaoligongshan Mountain – Tengchong
Day 13 Tengchong
Day 14 Tengchong – Yingjiang
Day 15 Yingjiang – Nabang
Day 16 Nabang
Day 17 Nabang – Ruili
Day 18 Ruili
Day 19 Ruili
Day 20 Ruili- Kunming
Day 21 Kunming
Day 22 Kunming Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Arrive in Kunming
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Lunch

Today you arrive in Kunming, the Eternal Spring City and capital of Yunnan Province. Greeted and received by your local guide who will escort you to your hotel. The rest of day is at your own disposal. Overnight in Kunming.

Day 2 Kunming – Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Napa Lake, Gyalthang Old Town
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning you will take a flight to Shangri-La (Zhongdian), met with and transferred to your hotel for luggage drop off. Then you will begin the birding in Yunnan. You will have half day birding at Napa Lake which is a seasonal alpine lake and a wetland half an hour drive from town. Later of the day you back to Shangri-la and enjoy some relaxed time in Gyalthang Old Town. Overnight at Shangrila.

Day 3 Shangri-la – Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Songsamlin Monastery, Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast you will have a culture visit at the Songsamlin Monastery, then you will drive towards Lijiang and make birding stops on the way. En route visit Tiger Leaping Gorge at Daju. Often called Ganden Sumtseling Monastery or Guihua Monastery, is located at the foot of Foping Mountain near Shangri-La County in Yunnan Province. The monastery was built on a hillside and looks like an ancient fort. The Songzanlin Monastery is often called as the little Potala Palace because of its traditional Tibetan architectural style. The Tiger Leaping Gorge, itself is tucked neatly between the Yulong Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain, which surround its two sides, as the turbulent water of the Jinsha River is forced by Hailuo Shan standing in its way to turn abruptly 100 degrees northeastwards and thus gives birth of the “First Bend of the Yangtze River”. Overnight at Lijiang.

Day 4 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Lashi Hai (lake), Black Dragon Pool, bird watching
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy a day trip in and around Lijiang. You will first of all drive to Lashi Hai (lake) for birds, and then return Lijiang for bird watching at Black Dragon Pool in the Ancient Town. Overnight at Lijiang.

Day 5 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today is for sightseeing. You will drive outside Lijiang to see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain(Yulong Xueshan), including a walking to Spruce Terrace Yak, walk in the forest and birding. Located 15 km north of Lijiang old town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stretches 35 km from north to south with 960-square-kilometers of snow-capped area. Experts say that it has the southernmost glacier in the North Hemisphere. Of all the 13 peaks on the mountain, Shanzidou is the highest with an altitude of 5,596 meters above sea level. Looking from afar, you can see that the mountain just looks like a huge dragon lying in the cloud. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the holy mountain – “God of Sanduo” of Naxi people. Overnight at Lijiang.

Day 6 Lijiang – Shibao Mountain

Sightseeing and Activities: Shibao Mountain
Accommodation: Shibao Mountain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive to Shibao Mountain and birding in the mountain. Shibao Shan lies about 10km north of Shaxi on the road to Jianchuan, and was one of the very first nature reserves and religious sites to be officially protected in China back in 1982. The 2000 hectare area is made up of three separate mountains reaching up to a height of 3083 meters, known as Mount Baoding, Mount Shisan and Mount Shizhong, along with four temples; Shizhong Temple, Baoxiang Temple, Haiyun Temple, and Jinding Temple. Overnight at a local hotel.

Day 7 Shibao Shan – Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Three Pagoda Temple
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning birding at Shibao Shan, head south to Dali and visit Three Pagoda Temple in the Old Town. On the way to Dali you will pass through ancient town Shaxi, an important stop on the ancient Tea and Horse Caravan Route. Three Pagodas is a symbol of the history of Dali City, and a record of the development of Buddhism in the area. As its name implies, Three Pagodas are made of three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle. Overnight in Dali.

Day 8 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Cangshan Mountain, Birding
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

One full day birding on Cangshan Mountain. Cangshan lies in the West of Dali. The highest summit, Malong, is 4,122m, but the mountain includes another 18 peaks all over 3,500m. The mountain is noted for its very rich, diverse flora, first scientifically documented by Pierre Jean Marie Delavay in 1882. We will have lots of opportunities to watch many kinds of pheasants on the mountain. Overnight in Dali.

Day 9 Dali – Gaoligongshan Mountain

Sightseeing and Activities:Dali – Gaoligongshan Mountain, Birding
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan Mountain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning birding on Cangshan Mountain, in the afternoon we will cross the Mekong and Salween to Baihualing in the north range of the Gaoligongshan Mountain. Overnight at a local hotel.

Day 10 Gaoligongshan Mountain

Sightseeing and Activities: Baihualing Natural Reserve, Birding
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan Mountain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We have a full day birding at Baihualing Natural Reserve on Gaoligongshan Mountain. Walk to different parts in the mountain for birds. Have a picnic lunch during the day. Extending more than 300 miles along Yunnan’s border with Myanmar, the narrow, jagged Gaoligong mountain range meets with the Salween River in a dramatic 500-mile-long gorge. The mountains form a divide between two major rivers in Asia, with the Salween, known to the Chinese as the Nu River to the east and the Irrawaddy to the west. Two more great rivers, the Yangtze and the upper Mekong, converge where the mountains meet the Nujiang River gorge. Remote and rugged, the Gaoligong Mountains are recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, the epicenter of plant endemism in northwest Yunnan, and a MUST-DO for birders to Yunnan. Overnight at a local hotel.

Day 11 Gaoligongshan Mountain

Sightseeing and Activities: Gaoligongshan Mountain, Birding
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan Mountain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We carry on the birding in Gaoligongshan Mountain. We expect to see more than 50 species on the mountain. Overnight at a local hotel.

Day 12 Gaoligongshan Mountain – Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities: birding on the way
Accommodation: Tengchong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive across Gaoligongshan Mountain to Tengchong, birding on the way. Overnight at a local hotel.

Day 13 Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities: Mt. Laifengshan, Yunfeng Mountain
Accommodation: Tengchong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Tengchong is a good place to see Yunnan’s tropical birds. We start the day birding on Mt. Laifengshan and Yunfeng Mountain in Tengchong. Overnight at a local hotel.

Day 14 Tengchong – Yingjiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Beihai Wetland, birding near Yingjiang
Accommodation: Yingjiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Birds are more active in morning time. We drive to observe as more species as possible at Beihai Wetland, in the afternoon we will drive to Yingjiang and birding near Yingjiang. Overnight at a local hotel.

Day 15 Yingjiang – Nabang

Sightseeing and Activities: birding in and around Nabang
Accommodation: Nabang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive to the border village Nabang, birding in and around Nabang at Nong Tian and Tongbiguan etc. Overnight at a local lodge.

Day 16 Nabang

Sightseeing and Activities: observing birds in and around Nabang
Accommodation: Nabang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Spend another day in Nabang for endemic species. We shall be observing birds in and around Nabang at Tongbiguan, Banyan King and Xima Old Trail etc. Overnight at a local lodge.

Day 17 Nabang – Ruili

Sightseeing and Activities: Greater Yingjiang River, Ruili River, Birding
Accommodation: Ruili
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we will get to Ruili and birding at Greater Yingjiang River on the way. Ruili is a birthplace of the Dai ethnic group. The Ruili River looks like a white jade belt winding around green mountains and fields. Ruili is a prosperous border trade city. Overnight at a local hotel.

Day 18 Ruili

Sightseeing and Activities: Nanjingli Woodland and Jiele Reservoir
Accommodation: Ruili
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Birding at Nanjingli Woodland and Jiele Reservoir. Overnight at a local hotel.

Day 19 Ruili

Sightseeing and Activities: Moli Nature Reserve
Accommodation: Ruili
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

One day birding at Moli Nature Reserve in Ruili. Overnight at a local hotel.

Day 20 Ruili- Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Ruili Arboretum, birding on the way to Mangshi
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We take half day birdwatching at Ruilin Arboretum, and then we will drive to Mangshi and birding on the way, take flight back to Kunming. Enjoy some free relaxed time upon checking in hotel in Kunming. Overnight in Kunming.

Day 21 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: West Hill and Dianchi Lake
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Birding on West Hill and Dianchi Lake. Dianchi Lake is the biggest fresh water lake in Yunnan and the sixth largest fresh water lakes in China. Driven back your hotel and free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Kunming.

Day 22 Kunming Departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Departure from Kunming
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast

Departure from Kunming. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Kunming	Sofitel Hotel	Kunming Jinjiang Hotel	Kunming Longteng Hotel	Wu Fu South Yunnan Boutique Inn
Shangri-La	Tianju Shangri-La	E-outfitting Boutique Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Inn	Wu Fu South Yunnan Boutique Inn
Lijiang	InterContinental Hotel	E-outfitting Boutique Hotel	Liwang Hotel	Erma’s Inn
Shibao Mountain	/	/	/	Local Guesthouse
Dali	Hilton Dali Resort And Spa	Dali E-outfitting Boutique Hotel	Taiheju Hotel	Dali Fengxue Gucheng
Gaoligongshan Mountain	/	/	/	Local Guesthouse
Tengchong	Tengchong Guanfang Hotel	Tengchong Empark Grand Hotel	Tengchong Dongfang Xuanyi Holiday Hotel	Yinxingge Guesthouse
Yingjiang	/	/	/	Local Guesthouse
Nabang	/	/	/	Local Guesthouse
Ruili	Jingcheng Dihai Hot Spring Resort Hotel	Jingcai Hotel	Ruili Biancheng Hotel	Local Guesthouse

Service Included:

Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals as listed in the itinerary;
Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
Private English-speaking tour guide;
Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
Service charge & government taxes;
Luggage transfers between airports and hotels.

Service Excluded:

Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
Chinese visa fees;
Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
Single room supplement;
Tips to guides and drivers;
Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
Personal travel accident insurance;
All optional programs.

Travel Tips:

Visitors are advised to always carry changes of clothing due to the large variations in temperature between day and night.
The climate is relatively dry, so drink more water every day.
Protecting oneself from strong UV radiation at high altitude.
Protecting oneself from altitude sickness. Lessen the effects of altitude sickness, avoid strenuous exercise and have plenty of rest.
Respect local customs , habits, and religious beliefs.

Yunnan province is famed for its multitude of ethnic groups, whose diverse customs can still be seen today. Of China’s fifty-five officially recognized ethnic minorities, twenty-five can be found in Yunnan: about one-third of the population is not ethnic Han-Chinese. Three Parallel Rivers area is reputed to be the “Biological Gene Bank of the World.” Because it was not covered by the Quaternary glaciers and most mountains lie from north to south, the area has become a main passage and sanctuary for biological species of the Eurasian Continent. This Yunnan Panorama tour will take you explore most of Yunnan beauties.

Highlights

Visit spectacular sceneries including blues lakes, white snow mountians, rapid rivers, grand cayons, charming valleys, acres of rice terraces, tropical rainforest and other attractive wonders.
Meet diverse ethnic cultures, colorful tribal groups and profoud tea cultures of Yunnan.
Hike the holy Meili Snow Mountain, the grand Tiger Leaping Gorge and Three Parallel Rivers area.
Spend leisure time in ancient towns and villages to explore the profound history of local people.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Kunming Arrival
Day 2: Kunming – Chuxiong – Dali
Day 3: Dali
Day 4: Dali – Weishan – Dali
Day 5: Dali – Shaxi – Lijiang
Day 6: Lijiang
Day 7: Lijiang – Lugu Lake
Day 8: Lugu Lake – Baoshan Stone Village
Day 9: Baoshan Stone Village – Bendiwan
Day 10: Bendiwan – Shangrila
Day 11: Shangrila
Day 12: Shangrila – Feilaisi
Day 13: Feilaisi – Xidang
Day 14: Xidang – Yubeng
Day 15: Yubeng – Ice Lake – Yubeng
Day 16: Yubeng – Holy Waterfall – Yubeng
Day 17: Yubeng – Ninong Vally – Cizhong
Day 18: Cizhong – Gongshan – Bingzhongluo
Day 19: Bingzhongluo
Day 20: Bingzhongluo – Gongshan – Dulongjiang
Day 21: Dulongjiang River Valluy Hiking
Day 22: Dulongjiang River Valluy Hiking
Day 23: Dulongjiang – Gongshan – Liuku
Day 24: Liuku – Tengchong
Day 25: Tengchong
Day 26: Tengchong – Yingjiang – Ruili
Day 27: Ruili – Mangshi
Day 28: Mangshi – Yonghe
Day 29: Yongde – Zhenkang – Cangyuan
Day 30: Cangyuan
Day 31: Cangyuan – Shuangjiang – Ximeng
Day 32: Ximeng – Lancang – Jingmai
Day 33: Jingmai – Menghai – Jinghong
Day 34: Jinghong
Day 35: Jinghong – Menglun – Mengla
Day 36: Mengla – Jiangcheng – Lvchun
Day 37: Lvchun – Yuanyang
Day 38: Yuanyang
Day 39: Yuanyang – Jianshui
Day 40: Jianshui – Yanshan – Babao
Day 41: Babao – Guangnan – Bamei
Day 42: Bamei – Guangnan – Puzhehei
Day 43: Puzhehei
Day 44: Puzhehei – Luoping
Day 45: Luoping – Shilin – Kunming
Day 46: Departure from Kunming

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Arrive in Kunming
Accommodation:Kunming
Meals:

Pick you up at Kunming airport. Meet your local guide and driver. Transfer to hotel.

Day 2 Kunming-Chuxiong-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Kunming-Chuxiong-Dali
Accommodation:Dali
Meals:B,L

In the morning, drive to Chuxiong and visit Yiren Ancient Town, Chuxiong Museum and enjoy the Yi ethnic life with local people. Then drive to Dali. Visit Dali Old Town. Walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the relax time with local people. After climbing up to the City Wall of Dali, you will have panoramic view of the Erhai Lake.

Day 3 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery, Erhai Lake, Xizhou Town, Zhoucheng Village.
Accommodation:Dali
Meals:B,L

Take the morning flight to Dali which is a historically and culturally famous city of China, is renowned for her historical interest and Bai ethnic culture. You visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain facing to the Erhai Lake. Three Pagodas are made of three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle.

After lunch, you’ll cruise in Erhai Lake by the small boat to the Jinsuo Islet in the east Erhai Lake. There are 200 Bai ethnic families around 1000 people in Jinsuo Island. In Erhai Lake cruise, you will enjoy the green Cangshan Mountain and the Three Pagodas from a far as well as lots of birds and seagulls flying over the lake.

After that, you will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste their fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. Visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop where you can take some special souvenir with the Bai ethnic style.

Day 4 Dali-Weishan-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Weishan Old Town, Donglianhua Village
Accommodation:Dali
Meals:B,L

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to visit Weishan Old Town. Weishan old town was the cradle of Nanzhao kingdom(a kindom established by Yi Minority), the history can be traced back to 7th centuary. Its a very nice old town and not touristic. It was a important town on the ancient tea and horse road. You will also enjoy the traditional Bai people’s building design.

Then visit Donglianhua Village in Weishan County.These villages were founded by Muslim soldiers from Central Asia sent to Yunnan by the first emperor of China’s Mongol dynasty of the Yuan(1271-1368). During the Ming and Qing dynasties, they became involved in trade as caravan leaders on the Tea and Horse Road (茶马古道). The courtyards and mansions of village of Donglianhua (东莲花) shows how successful these Chinese Muslims traders were.

Drive back to Dali for overnight.

Day 5 Dali-Shaxi-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Shaxi Old Town, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:B,L

Drive from Dali to Shaxi Old Town. Walk around this town. Explore the ancient culture and architectures. The remains of an ancient market town and once an active trade stop on the Southern Silk Road that connected Tibet and China with Southeast Asia and on to Europe. This road is actually older than the more famous Silk Road (in the North), predating it by at least 300 years. Shaxi has been listed by the World Monuments Fund as one of the world’s 100 most endangered sites.

In the afternoon, explore Lijiang Old Town. Lijiang Old Town has a history more than 800 years; it was listed as the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997. Here you will see the wonderful wooden architecture of Naxi ethnic people.

Day 6 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Ganhaizi Meadow, Baishuihe River, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, ‘Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show’, Baisha Old Town, Baisha Murals
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:B,L

Enjoy the sunrise of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang Ancient Town in the morning, drive about 30KM to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M), you will take the sightseeing bus for a short visiting through the Baishuihe River, take the chairlift up to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cableway will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around 1 hours in the original forest in Spruce Meadow (3200M).

After lunch, you will enjoy the Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show directed in Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M). A cultural show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area. The show takes place inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park at 3500m in an outdoor theater specifically designed to showcase the mountain which is used as a backdrop. The production itself was designed by Zhang Yimou, Fan Yue and Wang Chaoge, a cast of over 500 people, and a number of horses.

In the afternoon, you’ll stroll through Baisha Old Town, which is an enchanting traditional Yunnan town. Visit the Baisha Murals about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.

Day 7 Lijiang-Lugu Lake

Sightseeing and Activities:Holy Lugu Lake, Liwubi Island, Mosuo Culture Museum, Mosuo Bonfire Party.
Accommodation:Lugu Lake
Meals:B,L

In the morning, drive 4-5 hrs on the spectacle mountain road to visit the mysterious Lugu Lake. On the way, enjoy the beautiful view among the huge mountains and rivers. We plan to start your walking from Jin’anqiao Bridge to Shudi along the road at the bank of Yangtze River. You will see the beautiful canon and Yi ethnic people’s villages in the steep mountains. After 1 hour walking in the canon, we will continue the driving and we can stop in many Yi villages.

In the late afternoon, you will take the canoes to visit Liwubi Island and Heiwawu Island in Lugu Lake. Pay a visit toMosuo Culture Museum and learn the Mosuo ethnic custom in the museum. Enjoy the sunset wonder of Luguhu Lake in Luoshui Village. In the evening, take part in Mosuo Bonfire Party with ethnic dance and singing performance.You will dance and sing with Mosuo boys and girls around a big bonfire in the outdoors theatre.

Day 8 Lugu Lake-Baoshan Stone Village

Sightseeing and Activities:Labo Township, Baoshan Stone Town
Accommodation:Baoshan Stone Town
Meals:B,L

Drive 3.5 hours to Labo Township(拉伯乡). Then have an 1 hour boat trip to Baoshan Stone Town. On the way, enjoy the valley landscape around Jinsha River. This tour will be impressive and amazing. After arriving at Baoshan Stone Village, walk aroung this village and then have your leisure time with local people. Tonight, enjoy home stay with ethnic people.

Day 9 Baoshan Stone Village-Daju-Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge-Bendiwan

Sightseeing and Activities:Tina’ Guest House, Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge-Bendiwan
Accommodation:Halfway Guesthouse
Meals:B,L

Drive from Baoshan Stone Village to Daju Township. Take a ferryboat across a river. Then drive to Tina’s Guesthoue in Tiger Leaping Gorge area. You will start your hiking from here. Hike about 1.5 hours to Halfway Guesthouse for overnight. Relax yourself and enoy the beautiful secenery of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Day 10 Bendiwan Village-Nuoyu Village-Qiaotou-Shangrila

Sightseeing and Activities:28 Zigzag Bends, Zhong Nuoyu Village, Naxi Family Gusthouse, Dukezong Ancient Town.
Accommodation:Shangrila
Meals:B,L

Hike from Halfway Guesthouse to Nuoyu Village. On the way, you will pass through a waterfall. You will start the most difficult part trekking to the 28 Zigzag Bends trail and reach the top peak at the elevation of 2670m. Arrive at Nuoyu Village and have lunch at Naxi Family Guesthouse. Hike to Qiaotou Primary School to finish your trekking today.

Drive to Shangri-la in the late afternoon. Upon arrival in Shangri La, you will have entered the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields and yaks scattered in the valleys. Walk around Dukezong Ancient Town, an important town of the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet and India.

Day 11 Shangrila

Sightseeing and Activities:Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, Pudacuo Nsational Park.
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:B,L

In the morning, visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias – ‘the little Potala Palace ‘, so named because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere. And afterwards you’ll visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park. Pudacuo National Park is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. While the region comprises only 0.7 percent of China’s land area, but more than 20 percent of the country’s plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species.
Walk down to visit Xiaojiezi Tibetan Village located at the foot of Songzanlin Monastery.

Day 12 Shangrila-Benzilan-Feilaisi

Sightseeing and Activities:Baima Snow Mountain, Dongzhulin Monastery, First Bend of Jinsha River
Accommodation:Feilaisi
Meals:B,L

In the morning, drive 4 to 5 hours to Deqin County (3400m altitude) which is 187km away from Zhongdian via Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, where you will be able to view Baima Snow Mountain if the weather is clear, pass the top part of today at 4292m altitude at 156km.

After traversing mountain ranges, you will make a short stop and have lunch at Benzilan town, take some shots on the Moon Bend of Jinsha(Yangtze) River, Dongzhulin monastery and Baima Snow Mountain. The view along the way is fantastic with different kinds of trees, streams down the valley, prayer flags and stupas, and Tibetan villages.

Stay at Feilaisi.

Day 13 Feilaisi-Mingyong Glacier-Xidang

Sightseeing and Activities:sunrise of Meili Snow Mountain, Mingyong Glaciers, Taizi Monastery.
Accommodation: Xiding
Meals:B,L

Get up early in the morning, enjoy the magic sunrise of Meili Snow Mountain. Then drive another 1.5 hours to Mingyong village, where you will walk on the trails for about 4km to Mingyong Glaciers of Meili Snow Mountain, walk another one or so, you will get to Tibetan Taizi Monastery-another good spot to view the magnificent Mingyong Glaciers. (optional: You can choose to hire a horse to go up to the glacier on your own expense in order to save your energy).

Drive to Xidang for overnight.

Day 14 Xidang-Yubeng

Sightseeing and Activities:Xidang Village, Hike to Yunbeng Village
Accommodation:Upper Yubeng Village
Meals:B,L

Early in the morning , you could enjoy the golden mountain ,on top of which the sunrise touches its snow capped peak. weather permitting. After breakfast, drive along Mekong River to reach trail head. You will get off the car at Xidang Village, then hike up to and over a mountain pass to Yubeng, with picnic lunch (5-7 hours, with several steep sections). Arrive in Upper Yubeng village; dinner in a traditional Tibetan living room, overnight in Yubeng. Today you will need a horse to carry your luggage. Stay overnight in local guest house.

Day 15 Yubeng-Ice Lake-Yubeng

Sightseeing and Activities:Hile to visit Binghu Ice Lake, Mt. Kawagebo Glacier
Accommodation:Upper Yubeng Village
Meals:B,L

Enjoy the sunrise of the Mt. Kawagebo glacier from the guesthouse, then walk up to Binghu Ice Lake of the Meili Snow Mountain. Walk through the original forest from Yubeng Village, you will see some horses and yaks, as well as some wild animals if you are lucky enough. A beautiful river originate from the Glacier Park, walk along the river with some wooden bridges and spruce trees, you will have a wonderful view of Mt. Kawagebo Glacier. At last, arrive at the Ice Lake which is located at the foot of the glacier. Trek back to Upper Yubeng . Stay overnight in local guest house.

Day 16 Yubeng-Holy Waterfall-Yubeng

Sightseeing and Activities:Yubeng-Holy Waterfall-Yubeng
Accommodation:Upper Yubeng
Meals:B,L

If the weather is good, we will wake up to a clear view of the Mt.Kawagebo glacier. After breakfast we will hike to the Holy Waterfall (7km, 2-3 hours), from which Yubeng’s name originated. Buddhists coming to this area on pilgrimages circumamnbulate the waterfall 13 times with the belief. Then walk back to Upper Yubeng. Stay overnight in local guest house.

Day 17 Yubeng-Ninong Valley-Cizhong

Sightseeing and Activities:Yubeng Hiking, Ninong Village
Accommodation:Cizhong
Meals:B,L

This morning, you need a horse to carry your luggage. Walk along the least traveled path of Yubeng, from Yubeng Village to Ninong Village. After lunch, drive to Cizhong for overnight. On the way to Cizhong, you will see grand canyon and idyllic secenry.Stop to view at a distance.

Stay overnight in Cizhong.

Day 18 Cizhong-Gongshan-Bingzhongluo

Sightseeing and Activities:Cizhong-Gongshan-Bingzhongluo
Accommodation:Bingzhongluo
Meals:B,L

Drive along the newly built road from Cizhong to Gongshan County,the road is bumpy but the scenery is so fantestic because the view of Mekong River and Nujiang River grand cayons as well as the Biluo Snow Mountain. Arrive in Gongshan County and continue the driving along Nujiang Valley to Bingzhongluo. Stop to visit the First Bend of Nujiang River on the way to Bingzhongluo.

Biluo Snow Mountain is located at Lanping churchyard which I continuous 145KM. There are 15 snow mountains, which stand 4000 meter above sea level. The Laowo Mountain is the most beautiful a highest mountain than the others, which is 4500 meters above sea level. It is 3200 meters higher compared with the Lantsang. The original ecosystem has been preserved. The climate changes unconventionally in the mountain. The flowing waterfall is densely6 covered, edelweiss and lakes are gathered, and it is called the mountain with thousand waterfalls and thousand lakes.

Day 19 Bingzhongluo

Sightseeing and Activities:Bingzhongluo Hiking
Accommodation:Bingzhongluo
Meals:B,L

You will have a beautiful hiking tour in Bingzhongluo including the attractions of Qiunatong Village,Wuli Village,Dimaluo Village,Chongding Catholic Church and Nujiang River Grand Canyon.

The most beautiful part of Nujiang Gorge starts from Binzhongluo, the northernmost town of the Gorge, where the essential attractions of the Nujiang Gorge are located. Hiking is the best way to enjoy the landscape and an average of 2.5 hours is needed for most tourists to reach the famous “Tea Horse Caravan Route.” Renting a mini bus at Bingzhongluo town is an alternative for the less adventurous sightseers.

On the way to the “Tea-Horse Caravan Route”, one can see the 100-year-old Zhongding Catholic Church built and founded by a French missionary. Shimen Pass is another fantastic section of the gorge along with Wengli (also called Wuli), another stunning landscape lying on a beautiful slope along the river bank. Very near to the Wengli, a carved path is seen on the other bank cliff, the so-called “Tea-Horse Caravan Route”, a path used by traders ferrying their goods between Yunnan and Tibet. At the end of the trekking road, an old hanging bridge and a new one-year-old bridge swing side-by-side.

To those wanderlusts, some trekking routes are worthy of spending days or even weeks longer between Gongshan and Bingzhongluo. Getting 90km further west to the Drung River from Gongshan reveal beautiful virgin forests as well as the kind-hearted Drung ethnic people living their old way of life.

Day 20 Bingzhongluo-Gongshan-Dulongjiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Bingzhongluo-Gongshan-Dulongjiang
Accommodation:Dulongjiang
Meals:B,L

It is 3 hours driving today with the rough road in the virgin forest. Nu ethnic minority lives mainly in Yunnan Province’s Bijiang, Fugong, Gongshan and Lanping counties, which comprise the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture. Others are found in Weixi County in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The Nu people are mainly engaged in agriculture, but also hunt and gather wild plants. Their main crops include corn, buckwheat, barley, potatoes and beans. Some Nu people support themselves through cottage industries such as weaving, wine brewing, iron forging, etc.

Visit Bukawa Village and enjoy the fantastic scenery of Dulongjiang Valley in the afternoon.

Day 21 Dulongjiang River Valley Hiking

Sightseeing and Activities:Dulongjiang River Valley Hiking
Accommodation:Dulongjiang
Meals:B,L

Drive about 30 kilometers southward to Maku Village. Get into Maku Village and start a fantastic trekking trip to Dulongjiang River Region. You will see the Haba Waterfall from Maku Pass and then trek along the virgin forest down to Qinlangdang Village. Arrive in Qinlangdang Village in the afternoon and trek about 1 kilometer to arrive at Haba Waterfall, here is the only way to Myanmar from Dulongjiang River.

Drive back to Kongdang.

Note: There are lots of leeches in the virgin forest in summer, so you should take some medicine to keep them away.

Day 22 Dulongjiang River Valley Hiking

Sightseeing and Activities:Dulongjiang River Valley Hiking
Accommodation:Dulongjiang
Meals:B,L

Drive about 30 km to Longyuan Village, visit the original villages as well as the old tattoo women, if you want to take photos for them, you have to give the tips. Come back to Kongdang.

Day 23 Dulongjiang-Gongshan-Liuku

Sightseeing and Activities:Dulongjiang-Gongshan-Liuku
Accommodation:Liuku
Meals:B,L

Leave for Gongshan and drive 110 km through the fascinating mountain areas to Fugong. Sightseeing includes a visit to a suspension bridge and a glide cable. Special Lishu food will be served during dinner. In the evening you will take part in a party with the local people.

Return to Liuku. Enjoy your last day at Nujiang Grand Canyon and visit Laomudeng Village and the bathhouse of Lishu minority. It is a tradition to welcome new year that all people take a bath together in the open hot springs by the banks of the river.

Overnight in Liuku.

Day 24 Liuku-Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities:Liuku-Tengchong
Accommodation:Tengchong
Meals:B,L

Enjoy your last day at Nujiang Grand canyon and visit Laomudeng Village and the bathhouse of Lishu Nationality. It is a tradition to welcome new year that all people take a bath together in the open hot springs by the banks of the river.

Drive to Tengchong County, visit Nujiang River Bridge in Lujiang Basin, drive along the Gaoli Gongshan Mountain and arrive in Tengchong at noon. After lunch, you will visit Heshun Ancient Town including the Museum of Yunnan-Burmese Anti-Japanese War,Heshun Library, the Archway, Dragon Pool,the Wanlouzi Museum of Native Residence, Wenchang Daoist Palace, Clothes-washing Pavilions,Yuanlong Daoist Pavilion,the Philosopher Ai Siqi’s Former Residence, Guanyin Ancient Spruce Trees an so on.You will enjoy the Lisu Ethnic Show and Lisu Family visiting in Jade Spring Garden at night. You can dance and sing with Lisu ethnic people as well have some snacks.

–“Heshun” means peace and harmony. You could walk leisurely around the historical old town, built in earlier days by overseas Chinese as a location for their retirement. The remaining old town is a very beautiful place with many ornamental structures such as pavilions, memorial halls, archways, and balustrades, and also with lotus ponds and outlands with many birds. The library in this town is worth mentioning-set up in 1924, it possesses over 60,000 volumes of books, many of which are rare editions of ancient works.

Day 25 Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities:Tengchong
Accommodation:Tengchong
Meals:B,L

Visit Laifeng Mountain National Forest Park in the early morning, climb up to the half mountain, pay a visit to Laifeng Temple bult in Tang dynasty; Climb to the top of the mountain, visit Wenbi Pagoda and the panoramic view of Dianyue Town of Tengchong County.

Visit the Graveyard of the National Heroes, and Dieshuihe Waterfall Park in the town, then drive to Beihai Wetland Park, you will take a small boat to the lake for a nice view. After lunch, drive back to Tengchong, and visit Rehai hot spring Park.. You will have an option to enjoy the hot spring in the park.

–Tengchong is one of China’s three major geothermal areas, known as “Land Abounding in Geothermal Resources”. There are plenty of springs of hot water and hot vapour, called “Hot Sea”. There are quite a number of hot fields as well. Tengchong is a resort where people can travel, take a bath and have medical treatment. The Hot Sea, with an area of 9 square kilometers, lies 20 kilometers away southwest of the county seat and in the center of the geothermal area.

Day 26 Tengchong-Yingjiang-Ruili

Sightseeing and Activities:Tengchong-Yingjiang-Ruili
Accommodation:Ruili
Meals:B,L

In the morning drive 1 Km to visit the Dieshuihe Waterfall, 1 Km to visit the Graveyard of the National Heroes. Sightseeing at the Pagoda wrapped inside tree, then drive to Ruili, on the way, visit Wanding, the smallest city in China, which is also a border with Burma. Also stop at the One Single Tree Forest, which is a very big banyan looks like a forest.

Day 27 Ruili-Mangshi

Sightseeing and Activities:Ruili-Mangshi
Accommodation:Manghsi
Meals:B,L

Visit a waterfall in the forest which is not far away from Burma, then visit a Dai village and a Jingpo village. After dinner, visit the prosperous Night Market which is really an attraction of Ruili, you will meet many businessmen from Burma, Laos, Thailand, India, Pakistan and Nepal. Many travelers come to this market to buy jade products.

Day 28 Mangshi-Yongde

Sightseeing and Activities:Mangshi-Yongde
Accommodation:Yongde
Meals:B,L

Enjoy your free morning in Mangshi. After lunch, drive to Yongde for overnight. On the way to Yongde, visit some ethnic villages.

Day 29 Yongde-Zhenkang-Cangyuan

Sightseeing and Activities:Yongde-Zhenkang-Cangyuan
Accommodation:Cangyuan
Meals:B,L

Drive 2 hours to visit the Nangun River Nature Reserve which is for the protection of wild elephants. (The Nangun river is the border between China and Burma), then continue drive along the border road to Zhengkang county. On the way, visit several ethnic villages.

Day 30 Cangyuan

Sightseeing and Activities:Cangyuan
Accommodation:Wengding Wa Ethnic Village
Meals:B,L

Drive to visit Menglai Grand Canyon. Menglai Grand Canyon is also called Thousand-Meter Gallery , situated at the middle part of the scenic spot. The rock paintings in the area is about 3KM. The cliff is about 80-180 meters high and the highest one is about 280 meters. Some of the cliff surface is ragged like a honeycomb, and some are flat and smooth as if cut by the axe, while some are just like the terraced fields. Due to the erosion of some special materials and the decoration of the climbing plants, the surface the cliff becomes colorful just like a giant rock paintings reflecting the vicissitudes of the nature.

Visit Cangyuan Cliff Painting. The cliff paintings of Cangyuan is said to take on different colors as the time, weather and humidity change. According to the proverb of the local Wa and Thai people that the cliff painting changes three times a day: in the morning the color is red, at noon lighter and in the evening purple. Nowadays the paintings have already been designated as the key historical relic protection unit at the provincial level.

Drive to visit Mengka Dai Ethnic Village.

Stay overnight at Wengding Wa Ethnic Village.

Day 31 Cangyuan-Shuangjiang-Ximeng

Sightseeing and Activities:Cangyuan-Shuangjiang-Ximeng
Accommodation:Ximeng
Meals:B,L

Walk to visit Wending Wa Ethnic Village this morining. Then drive to Ximeng. If you are lucky enough, you could see the sea of clouds. Visit Dragon Pool, a picturesque lake with around 38 sq. meters, combined with wetland, lotus pond, queer rocks, charming mountains, pretty temples, charming pavilions

Day 32 Ximeng-Lancang-Jingmai

Sightseeing and Activities:Ximeng-Lancang-Jingmai
Accommodation:Jingmai
Meals:B,L

Tour to the Jingmai-Mangjing Ten-thousand-mu Millenary Ancient Tea Plantation, the most famous and biggest Puer Tea Plantation in the world.Visit the Wengji Village of Bulang Minority, Nuo Gan Water Village.

Day 33 Jingmai-Menghai-Jinghong

Sightseeing and Activities:Jingmai-Menghai-Jinghong
Accommodation:Jinghong
Meals:B,L

Drive to Menghai. Pay visit to Menghai Tea Factory. The factory is well known for its old raw pu-erh cakes and is highly reputed in the tea industry of China. Further transfer into the old Aini village near Nannuoshan, visit Aini people’s market selling pu’er tea, local vegetables, fruits and hand-made crafts.Then 20 minutes driving to the Aini vellage where we start to walk or start walk up from the foot of the mountain. 2 hours walking on a jungle path to see the old Pu er tea tree plantation in forest and a huge bush tea plantation. All the tea trees are between 300 and 800 years old. At noon, drink local tea and have packed lunch at a place with nice view.

Drive to visit a Dai ethnic village where the local people make paper for wrappering Pu’er Tea with a priminal method.

Transfer to Jinghong City for overnight.

Day 34 Jinghong

Sightseeing and Activities:Jinghong
Accommodation:Jinghong
Meals:B,L

Today , drive to Ganlanba, visit Galanba (Olive Dam) with an elevation of 530 meters above the sea level, a small town where you will see typical Dai bamboo cabins, Dai ethnic villages, Mangting Park, tropical plants and colorful fruits.

Then drive to visit Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park. Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park, also called Xishuangbanna Virgin Forest Park, is 8 kilometers east of the Jinghong City and north of the Lancang River. Situated in a river valley of 720 to 1,355 meters above sea level, the forest park has an area of 1,700 hectares of which 98％ is covered by trees, and is thus the largest comprehensive ecological place of interest in the prefecture.

Afterwards, visit Dry Dai ethnic village.

Day 35 Jinghong-Menglun-Mengla

Sightseeing and Activities:Jinghong-Menglun-Mengla
Accommodation:Mengla
Meals:B,L

In the morning, drive to visit Jinuo Mountain.Visit Jinuo People, who uniquely belongs to this region, is the last ethnic nationality classified by Chinese Government in 1979. See the ancient tea plantations around Jinuo village, which used to be one of Six Great Tea Mountains reputed as the cradles of famous Pu’er Tea, try Wrap-charcoaled Tea and Salad Tea Jinuo people prepare in their traditional way.

Drive to Mengla County. Visit Menglun Botanical- Menglun tropical botanical garden is the largest tropical botanical garden in China. It was established in 1959 by Chinese famous botanists including Prof. Cai Xitao, who devoted all his life to related scientific research with remarkable achievements. The garden boasts more than 4000 species of tropical plants covering an area of 900 hectares, quite a few of which are rare elsewhere, forming a colorful botanical landscape.

Day 36 Mengla-Jiangcheng-Lvchun

Sightseeing and Activities:Mengla-Jiangcheng-Luchun
Accommodation:Lvchun
Meals:B,L

Drive from Mengla to Lvchun. On the way, you have some stops to visit ethnic villages and enjoy tropical scenery.

Day 37 Lvchun-Yuanyang

Sightseeing and Activities:Luchun-Yuanyang
Accommodation:Yuanyang
Meals:B,L

This morning, visit rice terraces in Lvchun. Then drive to YuanyanYou have time to tour around Xinjiezhen to trek along Longshuba Rice Terrace and see kinds of Mushroom-shaped Houses. Stay overnight in Yuanyang.

Longshuba Rice Terrace: Located 5 km from Xinjiezhen(Yuanyang Old Town), Longshuba Rice Terrace is only accessible by foot in around 40 minutes, which is the solo scenic spot comparing with other terraces. After you arrive there, you will be surprised by the unique red duckweed and colorful rice terraces.

Mushroom-shaped Houses: Where there are Hani people, there is Mushroom-shaped House. Inspire by the Mushroom, the Hani people built their houses. Nowadays, numbers of mushroom houses spread in Hani Villages, making a wonderful landscape with peaks, sea of clouds and diverse rice terraces.

Day 38 Yuanyang

Sightseeing and Activities:Yuanyang
Accommodation:Yuanyang
Meals:B,L

You have whole day to view the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, including Duoyishu Rice Terrace, Bada Rice Terrace and Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) Rice Terrace which are the best scenes to sightseeing and photograph-shooting. Visit local ethnic market. Stay overnight in Yuanyang.

Day 39 Yuanyang-Jianshui

Sightseeing and Activities:Yuanyang-Jianshui
Accommodation:Jianshui
Meals:B,L

Drive to Jianshui (4-5hrs ). Visit Shuanglong Birdge and Tuanshan Village as well as the Garden of Family Zhang in Tuanshan Village. Tuanshan Village is a rare surviving example of an intact-albeit neglected-traditional walled Yunnan village compound in southwestern China, and has been added to the 2005 list of internationally significant sites by the World Memorial Fund for Architecture (WMF), an international fund for the protection of world heritage sites. Later , you’ll visit the Jianshui Old City and the Chaoyang Gateway Tower, which was built in Ming Dynasty (1389). It is also known as ‘Miniature Tian’an men’ because the out shape of it is similar to Tian’anmen Square in Beijing. Visit the Confucius Temple, which has a history of 700 years. It is the second largest Confucius Temple in China. Then visit Zhu Family Garden.

Day 40 Jianshui-Yanshan-Babao

Sightseeing and Activities:Jianshui-Yanshan-Babao
Accommodation:Babao
Meals:B,L

Drive from Jianshui to Babao. On the way, have a stop at Yanshan County to have your lunch. When you enter Babao, visit Sanla Waterfall. Stay overnight at Babao.

Day 41 Babao-Guangnan-Bamei

Sightseeing and Activities:Babao-Guangnan-Bamei
Accommodation:Bamei
Meals:B,L

This morning, drive to Guangnan County, then take a boat to Bamei village by passing through the caves. After landing, visit Bamei village and theBig Banyan Tree, enjoy the peaceful life of Zhuang ethnic people.

Day 42 Bamei-Guangnan-Puzhehei

Sightseeing and Activities:Bamei-Guangnan-Puzhehei
Accommodation:Puzhehei
Meals:B,L

This morning, walk around in Bamei village and visit Bamei River. Take the boat to get out of the village from another cave. Then drive to Puzheihei.

Day 43 Puzhehei

Sightseeing and Activities:Puzhehei
Accommodation:Puzhehei
Meals:B,L

In the morning, take a small boat to visit the Karst landscape and rurality and lakes. If you come to Puzhehei on June, July and August, you will see large scale of lotus flowers on the lake. Then disembark at the Qinglongshan wharf and climb Qinglong Mountain to see the panorama of Puzhehei. After that, walk to visit the Torch Cave and Kwan-yin Cave.

Then visit the “Swan Lake”.

Day 44 Puzhehei-Luoping

Sightseeing and Activities:Puzhehei-Luoping
Accommodation:Luoping
Meals:B,L

Drive to Luoping. Visit Luositian (Snail Farms). The fields here are of smaller scale. The flowers are grown in circular rings following the contours of the slopes and the fields look like the rings of a snail’s shell. Then visit Jinjiling in time for sunrise photography. Jinjifeng(Golden Rooster Hill), the most famous spot for photographing rapeseed flowers. It offers an excellent and expansive view of the fields and hills. Lingyi Temple, located in the middle of the hill, offers a perfect platform for photographing the fields and sunset.

Day 45 Luoping-Shilin-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Luoping-Shilin-Kunming
Accommodation:Kunming
Meals:B,L

Our tour guide pick up you from your hotel lobby, then you’ll be driven 1.5 hrs to the renowned Stone Forest, the ‘First Wonder of the World’. You’ll marvel at its natural stone masterpieces and be bewitched by the intricate formations. You feel like come into a ‘stone world’.

Drive back to Kunming.

Day 46 Departure from Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Kunming
Accommodation:
Meals:B,L

Departure from Kunming. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Kunming	Sofitel Hotel	Jingjiang Hotel	Long Teng Hotel	Tu Tu Inn
Dali	Hilton Dali Resort and Spa	E-outfitting Boutique Hotel	Gnosis Hotel	Fengxuegucheng
Lijiang	InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort	E-outfitting Boutique Hotel	Liwang Hotel	Flowers Hall Inn
Lugu Lake	Ocean Paradise Hotel	Anyue Boutique Hotel	Shi Lily Touring Hotel	Bai Ge Lan Diao
Shangrila	Shangri-La Hotel	E-outfitting Boutique Hotel	Bodhi Boutique Hotel	Wu Fu South Yunnan Boutique Inn
Feilaisi	Guanjing Tiantang Hotel	Deqin County Temple Pearl Hotel	Deqin County Temple Pearl Hotel	Deqin Yunling Inn
Xiding	/	/	/	/
Cizhong	/	Songtsam Cizhong Lodge	Hiker Home	/
Bingzhongluo	/	/	Nu Xia Hotel	Fusheng Manor Inn
Dulongjiang	/	/	Nu Xia Hotel	Fusheng Manor Inn
Liuku	/	/	Shengshi Hongbang Hotel	/
Tengchong	Guanfang Hotel Tengchong	Pumi Wenlv Zhang’s Courtyard (Hepan)	Yongle Holiday Resort and Spa	Yonder Way Hostel
Ruili	Jing Cheng Earthsea SPA Holiday Center	Ruili Sidawo Hotel	Hesheng Hotel	Lingfeng Inn
Mangshi	Huafeng Peacock Lake Hotel & Resort	Mangshi Dabo Hotel	Mangshi Hotel	Xiaochenggushi Inn
Yonghe	Huafeng Peacock Lake Hotel & Resort	Mangshi Dabo Hotel	Mangshi Hotel	Xiaochenggushi Inn
Cangyuan	Mengluo Hotel	Jialinsai Hotel	Jingwa Hotel	Eighteen Tribe Hotel
Ximeng	/	Mijing Wazhai Rice Field Manor	Qiansheng Hotel	/
Jingmai	/	/	/	Princess Bulang Inn
Jinghong	Hermit Hotel	Xile Hot Spring Hotel	Tai’ anmeng Holiday Hotel	Rainforest Paradise Inn
Mengla	Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort	Hejing Hotel	Hailun Holiday Hotel	Shuibian Dai Inn
Lvchun	/	/	Yunti Hotel	/
Yuanyang	Yuanyang Twelve Manor	Yunti Hotel	Shuiyunjian Hotel	Guanjing Heaven Hotel
Jianshui	Ting Ziyun Hotel	Lin An Hotel	Res Sky Hotel	Huiyuanlou Inn
Puzhehei	/	Yi Da Inn	/	Guyue Lakeview Inn
Luoping	/	Xicheng Hotel	Flower Whisper Hotel and Resort	Flowers Inn

Service Included:

Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals as listed in the itinerary;
Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
Private English-speaking tour guide;
Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
Service charge & government taxes;
Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;.

Service Excluded:

Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
Chinese visa fees;
Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
Single room supplement;
Tips to guides and drivers;
Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
Personal travel accident insurance;
All optional programs.

Dulong River is the first order affluent of Irrawaddy River, stretching across China and Myanmar. It originates from the southeast of Tibet, flows through Yunnan Province and runs into Myanmar in Gongshan County. Dulong River Canyon is a mysterious and remote canyon with an altitude from 1000 to 4936 meters. The canyon preserves intact sustainable landscape and contains rich natural resources. This tour is designed for those who like exploring new thing.

Highlights:

Sightsee the Nujiang Grand Canyon and feel the true charm of nature.
Hike in Dulongjiang river valley and Bingzhongluo, explore ethnic villages there.
Experience the ethnic culture of Lisu, Nu and Dulong minorities.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Liuku Arrival
Day 2: Liuku-Gongshan
Day 3: Gongshan-Kongdang
Day 4: Kongdang
Day 5: Kongdang
Day 6: Kongdang-Bingzhongluo
Day 7: Bingzhongluo
Day 8: Bingzhongluo-Liuku
Day 9: Liuku Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Liuku

Sightseeing and Activities: Nujiang River, Nujiang River Bridge
Accommodation: Liuku
Meals: Lunch

Arrive at Liuku Town, visit Nujiang River and Nujiang River Bridge.

The Nujiang River is China’s important river flowing from north to south. It has its source on the southern slope of the Tanggula Mountain Range in Tibet Autonomous Region, flowing across the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province, with a total length of 2,816 kilometers and a drainage area of 324,000 square kilometers.

The name of the river is changed into the Salween River after flowing into Burma from China, and it finally empties into the Andaman Sea of Indian Ocean at the Moulmein. The upper reaches of the river are known as the Naqu River in Tibetan. The river is called Anurimei by the Nu ethic minority, Anu is the name of the Nu people called by themselves, the Rimei means the river, so Anurimei means the river dwelled by the Nu people.

Day 2 Liuku-Gongshan

Sightseeing and Activities: the Nujiang Grand Canyon, Laohutiao Gorge, the Flying Stones and the Stone Moon
Accommodation: Gongshan
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Drive from Liuku to Gongshan. On the way you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Nujiang Grand Canyon with Laohutiao Gorge, the Flying Stones and the Stone Moon.

The 247-kilometer-long Nujiang River Gorge is flanked by two 4,000-meter-high mountains. The mountain peaks on the two sides have an average altitude of over 3,000 kilometers. The gorge is located in Yunnan Province in southwestern China, an area rich in ethnic minority culture. It is now a first choice for many domestic and foreign travelers.

The Dulong (also known as Drung) ethnic group is one of the smallest ethnic groups in China. With a total population of about 5,816 (data from the census in 2000), the Dulong people mainly live in the Dulong River Valley in the Gongshan Dulong and Nu Autonomous County in north-western Yunnan Province.

Day 3 Gongshan-Kongdang

Sightseeing and Activities: Dulongjiang River Valley, Bukawa Village, Dulongjiang Valley
Accommodation: Kongdang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Visit Bukawa Village and enjoy the fantastic scenery of Dulongjiang Valley in the afternoon.

Day 4 Kongdang-Bapo-Maku-Qinlangdang-Kongdang

Sightseeing and Activities: Dulongjiang River Valley, Maku Village, Dulongjiang River Region, Qinlangdang Village, Trekking
Accommodation: Kongdang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Drive about 30 kilometers southward to Maku Village. Get into Maku Village and start a fantastic trekking trip to Dulongjiang River Region. You will see the Haba Waterfall from Maku Pass and then trek along the virgin forest down to Qinlangdang Village. Arrive in Qinlangdang Village in the afternoon and trek about 1 kilometer to arrive at Haba Waterfall, here is the only way to Myanmar from Dulongjiang River.

Drive back to Kongdang.

Note: There are lots of leeches in the virgin forest in summer, so you should take some medicine to keep them away.

Day 5 Kongdang-Xianjiudang-Longyuan-Kongdang

Sightseeing and Activities: Dulongjiang River Valley, Longyuan Village
Accommodation: Kongdang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Drive about 30 km to Longyuan Village, visit the original villages as well as the old tattoo women, if you want to take photos for them, you have to give the tips. Come back to Kongdang.

Day 6 Kongdang-Gongshan-Bingzhongluo

Sightseeing and Activities: Bingzhongluo, Nujiang River (Salween River), First Bend of Nujiang River, Stone House of the Nu Minority, Peach Island, the Tibetan Puhua Temple, Excursion
Accommodation: Bingzhongluo
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Drive 96 km back to Gongshan Derung and Nu Autonomous County. It is also 3 hours driving but with beautiful original forest.

A half day excursion to Bingzhongluo, sightseeing includes the First Bend of Nujiang River (Salween River), the stone house of the Nu minority, Peach Island, the Tibetan Puhua Temple. You will then have the chance to visit a minority household and experience the life of the local people. Overnight in Bingzhongluo.

Day 7 Bingzhongluo

Sightseeing and Activities: Bingzhongluo, Trekking
Accommodation: Bingzhongluo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

In Bingzhongluo, we see groups of horses and mules milling at street corners and waiting to set off on the next journey north. The caravan drivers would spend a couple of days in Bingzhongluo to stock up on groceries and goods to be delivered and animal feed for the journey.

Walking with the horse caravan can be a tiring experience. Unlike human, the horses/mules only rest twice a day- at midday (lunch) and at night when they stop. Therefore unlike trekking where one would normally take a break after a couple of hours, there are no such opportunities with the caravan, it can be quite tiring.

Day 8 Bingzhongluo-Liuku

Sightseeing and Activities: Nujiang River (Salween River), Nujiang Grand canyon, Laomudeng Village
Accommodation: Liuku
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Leave Gongshan and drive 110 km through the fascinating mountain areas to Fugong. Sightseeing includes a visit to a suspension bridge and a glide cable. Special Lishu food will be served during dinner. In the evening you will take part in a party with the local people.

Return to Liuku. Enjoy your last day at Nujiang Grand Canyon and visit Laomudeng Village and the bathhouse of Lishu minority. It is a tradition to welcome new year that all people take a bath together in the open hot springs by the banks of the river.

Overnight in Liuku.

Day 9 Departure from Liuku

Sightseeing and Activities: Nujiang Grand Canyon
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast

End the wonderful adventure tour of Nujiang Grand Canyon. Transfer back to Kunming. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Liuku	/	/	Shengshi Hongbang Hotel	/
Gongshan	/	/	Nu Xia Hotel	Fusheng Manor Inn
Kongdang	/	/	/	/
Bingzhongluo	/	/	Nu Xia Hotel	Fusheng Manor Inn

Service Included:

Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals as listed in the itinerary;
Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
Private English-speaking tour guide;
Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
Service charge & government taxes;
Luggage transfers between airports and hotels.

Service Excluded:

Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
Chinese visa fees;
Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
Single room supplement;
Tips to guides and drivers;
Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
Personal travel accident insurance;
All optional programs.

Journey with us into deep lush forests, an area so remote that it still remains largely undiscovered by the discerning birder, as we journey into these rich sub-tropical forests and marvel at the spectacle of swathes of orchids clinging on to their host climber. We watch as sunbirds dart from orchid to orchid sipping the sweet nectar and then on to rhodedendrums with flocks of at least a dozen species of other birds in a accopanying symphony of sound and dazzling color. With billowing clouds shrouding the verdant forest and waking up in a tent to a cacophony of birdsong in this area, is a memorable bird watching experience in Yunnan.

Highlights:

Have a memorable bird watching experience in Yunnan.
Enjoy the stunning scenery along the way.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Kunming Arrival
Day 2: Kunming-Zhixishan
Day 3: Zhixishan
Day 4: Zhixishan – Dali
Day 5: Dali
Day 6: Dali – Bawan
Day 7: Bawan-Gaoligongshan
Day 8: Gaoligongshan
Day 9: Gaoligongshan
Day 10: Gaoligongshan – Bawan
Day 11: Bawan – Tengchong
Day 12: Tengchong
Day 13: Tengchong Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Kunming arrival

Sightseeing and Activities: Arrive in Kunming
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: None

Upon your arrival at the airport, meet your local tour guide and driver and then transfer to your hotel for rest. If time permits, explore the city on your own.

Day 2 Kunming-Zixishan

Sightseeing and Activities:Qiong Zhu temple, Zixi Shan reserve
Accommodation: Zixishan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning birding in Kunming around Qiong Zhu temple. After lunch, drive to Zixi Shan reserve.

Day 3 Zixi Shan Reserve

Sightseeing and Activities:Zixi Shan reserve
Accommodation: Zixishan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A whole day birding in Zixi Shan reserve, a good place for Giant Nuthatch,Tree crepper, Ms Hume`s Pheasants.

Day 4 ZixiShan-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: ZixiShan
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After morning birding in ZixiShan, drive to Dali in the afternoon. Overnight at Dali ancient town.

Day 5 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Mt. Cangshan, Lady Amhersts, Dali Ancient City
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Bird watching in Mt. Cangshan in the morning, a good opportunity to see Lady Amhersts, fire-tailored sunbirds and blood pheasant at 3100M elevation. Birdwatching in the farmland in the afternoon. Overnight at Dali Ancient City.

Day 6 Dali-Bawan

Sightseeing and Activities: Cangshan, birding
Accommodation: Baoshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bird watching in Cangshan, drive to Bawan in Baoshan city. Evening bird watching for tropic birds along the Nujiang river in the valley and farmland. Overnight in Bawan.

Day 7 Bawan-Gaoligongshan

Sightseeing and Activities: birding
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After morning bird watching, drive to Baihualin in Gaoligongshan. Birding on the way, and overnight in Baihualing.

Day 8 Gaoligongshan

Sightseeing and Activities: birding
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Birdwatching in Gaoligongshan.

Day 9 Gaoligongshan

Sightseeing and Activities: birding
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Birdwatching in Gaoligongshan.

Day 10 Gaoligongshan-Bawan

Sightseeing and Activities:Bawan
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After morning birding in Baihualing, drive back to Bawan. Birding on the way.

Day 11 Bawan-Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities: birding
Accommodation: Tengchong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to Tengchong. On the way, make several stops for some easy roadside birding.

Day 12 Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities: Laifengshan Forest Park, Yunfengshan
Accommodation: Tengchong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the early morning, birding at Laifengshan Forest Park. After breakfast, drive about 50 km to Yunfengshan, a Taoist Mountain and important habitats for some mid-altitude birds. Climb to a Taoist Monastery on the top of the mountain.

Day 13 Depature from Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities:Depature from Tengchong
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

Departure from Tengchong. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

City	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostel
Kunming	Crowne Plaza Hotel	Wenhui Hotel	Camellia Hotel	T&T Story Hotel
Zixishan	/	/	/	Local Guesthouse
Dali	Hilton Dali Resort And Spa	Landscape Hotel	Taiheju Hotel	Dali Fengxue Gucheng
Gaoligongshan	/	/	Local Guesthouse
Bawan	/	/	Local Guesthouse
Tengchong	Guanfang Hotel Tengchong	Empark Grand Hotel Tengchong	Dongfang Xuanyi Holiday Hotel

Service Included:

Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals as listed in the itinerary;
Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
Private English-speaking tour guide;
Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
Service charge & government taxes;
Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
Domestic train tickets of soft sleeper.

Service Excluded:

Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
Chinese visa fees;
Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
Single room supplement;
Tips to guides and drivers;
Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
Personal travel accident insurance;
All optional programs.

Travel Tips:

The economy-class airfare of China flights as specified in the itinerary.
The hotel/cruise accommodation is based on two persons sharing one standard twin room/cabin with private facilities in all relevant locations. If a single client requests a twin room/cabin alone, the single room/cabin supplement will be charged.
For the land tour in each city, daily American breakfast is served in the hotel, and Chinese lunch and/or dinner will be served with two cups of soft drink outside the hotel. All meal arrangements are served as the itinerary specifies.
On the cruise daily American breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. The beverage arrangements are subject to policies.

Home
Tag: Kunming-Nujiang Tours

Kunming-Nujiang Tours

During Kunming-Nujiang tours, you can experience the highlights of Kunming and Nujiang such as Stone Forest and Nujiang Grand Canyon.

39 Days Yunnan 25 Ethnic Minorities Discovery and Photography Tour

Kunming--Shilin County-Luliang-Luoping-Puzhehei-Bamei-Jianshui-Yuanyang-Mengla-Menglun-Jinghong-Menghai-Jingmai-Lancang-Cangyuan-Mangshi-Ruili-Tengchong-Fugong-Bingzhongluo-Cizhong-Meili Snow Mountain-Shangrila-Lijiang-Dali-Kunming

Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La-XishuangBanna Tours Veiw

22 days Yunnan Birds Watching Tour

Kunming, Shangri-la. Lijiang, Dali, Gaoligong Shan, Tengchong, Ruili, Mangshi

Wildlife Tours Veiw

46 Days Yunnan Panorama Photography Tour with 25 Ethnic Minorities Discovery and Three Parallel Rivers Hiking Adventure

Kunming-Chuxiong-Dali-Lijiang-Lugu Lake-Baoshan-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangrila-Deqing-Nujiang-Tengchong-Ruili-Mangshi-Cangyuan-Jinghong-Yuanyang-Jianshui-Bamei-Puzhehei-Luoping-Kunming

Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La Tours Veiw

9 Days Nujiang Grand Canyon Tour with Dulongjiang River Valley Hiking Adventure

Liuku-Gongshan-Kongdang-Bingzhongluo-Liuku

Three Parallel Rivers Tours Veiw

13 Days Yunnan GaoliGongshan Mountain Birding Tour

Kunming-Zixi Shan reserve-Dali-Baoshan-Gaoligongshan-Bawan-Tengchong

Yunnan Birdwatching Tours Veiw

Tips Before Travel

Bring copies of your passport

Don't assume you're restricted to the main hubs of Beijing and Shanghai, our tours can start from any city.

Register with your embassy

For your safety, please register with the Embassy.

Always have local cash

Exchange some local currency for your trip

Our Team

Fenggu Yingshan Tea House and Tea Culture Learning Lijiang

Charlie Lee-General Manager of Yaso Travel and Xilinshan Tea Company

Leon Liu-Network Engineer of Trans Asia Discovery

Vincent Zhao-French Market and the Founder of VoyagesYunnan.com

Gary Elliot-Shareholder of Trans Asia Discovery

Michael Huang-Excellent French and English-speaking Tour Guide in Yunnan

Stephane-Volunteer of Yaso Travel

David Yao-Lijiang Tour Operator of Yunnan Exploration

Cindy Cao-Yunnan Tour Operator

Xilinshan Tea House (Kunming, Yunnan)

Rachel Nan-China Tour Operator

Lydia Li-The Founder of Yunnan Exploration

Anna Chen-Yunnan Tour Operator

Kelly Yu-Yunnan Travel Consultant

Cloudy Fu-Website Editor of Yunnan Exploration

Cuiyuan Yang

Skye Zhang-website editor of Yunnan Exploration

Customize a Trip

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once enquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

Customize a Trip

Contact Info

Address: Building 4, Yifuyuan, Hehong Road, Xishan District, Kunming, Yunnan, China
Wechat/QQ: 270384698
Office Call: 86-18812220370
Email: Trip@YasoTrip.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/YasoTrip

Tel/WhatsApp: +8618088243690
Trip@YasoTrip.com

Daily: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm