11 Days Western Yunnan and Myanmar Border Cycling Tour

Western Yunnan Cycling Tour is developed by Charlie, who is the market manager of Lijiang China International Travel Agent (CITS Lijiang). It is a new but exciting cycling tour in the border cities between Yunnan and Myanmar. You will visit the top attractions of Tengchong and Ruili. Cycling to famous acenic spots, ancient towns and ethnic villages. Enjoy the beautiful views on the way. Then, fly to Kuming for city highlights cycling tour, also pay a visit to the “first wonder of the world”-the Stone Forest.

Highlights

  • Visit the Heshun Old Town, Rehai Hot spring, the Volcano Mountains, Nandian Chieftains House, the King of Banyan Tree, MengbaNaxi Rare Park and Tree-wrapped Pagoda.
  • Experience the ethnic life, border culture and visit the ethnic villages and towns.
  • Take the bamboo rafting, and adventure on the Ruili River. 
  • Have a wonderful tour about ethnic religion.

Breif Itinerary

  • Day 1 Kunming-Tengchong
  • Day 2 Tengchong
  • Day 3 Tengchong-50KM-Lianghe-48KM-Yingjiang
  • Day 4 Yingjiang Cycling and School visiting
  • Day 5 Yingjiang-Husa
  • Day 6 Husa-45KM-Longchuan-30KM-Ruili
  • Day 7 Ruili-30KM-Nongdao-30KM-Ruili
  • Day 8 Ruili-30KM-Nongdao-30KM-Ruili
  • Day 9 Ruili-30KM-Wanding-70KM-Mangshi
  • Day 10 Mangshi – Kunming
  • Day 11 Kunming-Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Kunming-Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities:Heshun Ancient Town, the Graveyard of the National Heroes, Dieshuihe Waterfalls
Accommodation: Tengchong
Meals: Lunch

Arrive in Kunming International Airport and change the flight to Tengchong. After arriving, you will drive from Tengchong Airport to Heshun Old Town for check in the hotel, after a short rest, cycling around Tengchong to visit the Graveyard of the National Heroes, Dieshuihe Waterfalls.

After dinner, enjoy Lisu Ethnic Show in Yuquan Garden.
 
–Tengchong County lies at the western foot of Gaoligong Mountains, in the western part of Yunnan Province. The Dieshui River-a tributary of the Dayingjiang River-winds its way round the city. Bordering on Keqinbang of Burma on the west with a boundary line of 148.7 kilometers, the county has an area of 5,693 square kilometers and a population of 530,000. This population consists of more than 10 ethnic groups, such as the Hans, Dais, Bais, Huis, Lisus, Achangs, and others, each with their own rich and colorful cultures and customs. Tengchog is a famous historic and cultural town, known as “the Homeplace of Overseas Chinese” and ” Land of Culture”. Besides, it is a “Geological Museum”, a “Natural Botanical Garden” and a “Natural Museum” that scientists long to visit.

Day 2 Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities:Tengchong Cluster of Volcanoes National Park, Longjiang River Canyon, Beihai Wetland Park
Accommodation: Tengchong
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch

Drive to visit Tengchong Cluster of Volcanoes National Park in the morning. Visit the Volcano Museum, the Volcano Cones of DakongShan Mountain and Xiaokongshan Mountain. Then ride the bike down to Longjiang River Canyon, start a short trekking from “Joint Pillar” to Heiyu (Black Fish) River. After a short break, continue the cycling to Beihai Wetland Park for your lunch.
 
After lunch, you will take the canoes to visit Beihai Wetland Park, ride back to Heshun Old Town in the late afternoon, visit local architecture and courtyard, the Dragon Pool, Wenchang Palace and Heshun Library, the Former Residence of Aisiqi, Anti-Japanese War Museum.
 
–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.

Day 3 Tengchong-50KM-Lianghe-48KM-Yingjiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Xuanfu Former Chieftain Office, the Jade Carving Workshop, Bapai Huge Spring, Hehua Town, Lianghe Hot Spring, Dai Ethnic Villages
Accommodation: Yingjiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Dayingjiang River in Yingjiang County, Dehong

You will have an easy cycling tour from Tengchong to Lianghe County, visit the Jade Carving Workshop in Hehua Town and Dai ethnic Village and Xuanfu Former Chieftain Office at Nandian. You will have lunch in Lianghe, then ride to Yingjiang County, visit Dayingjiang River which is the upper reach of the Irrawaddy River.
 
When you arrive in Jiucheng Town, you will visit some Dai villages in Yingjiang Basin, Dai ethnic farmland, some big banyan trees as well.
 
–The King of Bayan Trees Yingjiang
The tree grows at Laodao Village of Tongbiguan in Yingjiang County. It is over 400 years old, 40 meters high and covers an area of 5.5 mu. More than 100 new trunks have grown from aerial roots, which touch the ground. The new and old trunks join together, forming a wonderful one-tree forest. Walking under the tree, you will feel as if you were wandering in a virgin forest. It is the biggest banian tree that has ever been found in China. That is why it is called the king of the Banian Trees in China

Day 4 Yingjiang Cycling and School visiting

Sightseeing and Activities:Manbing Elementary School Visiting, Dai ethnic villages, Yunyan Burmese Pagoda,Yinghu Lake, Dayingjiang River
Accommodation: Yingjiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Village of Dai Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Ethnic Villages, Kunming

Visit Yunyan Burmese Pagoda in Yunyan Mountain, and then ride along Dayingjiang- Irrawaddy River to Mangyun Town, you will have the opportunity to cross the Bamboo Bridge by Dai people over the Dayingjiang River. Drive back to Yingjiang for your lunch. In the afternoon, you will ride to the countryside to visit some original ethnic villages. Enjoy the local life with the dance and singing of local people. You will visit the local ethnic school and exchange with the ethnic students. If you prepare some gifts for the students, it will be better.
 
After dinner, you will have a relax night in New Land Bar at the bank of Yinghu Lake in the centre of Yingjiang, fresh Mango juice is available to drink in the bar with a nice night view. Also you can enjoy the modem dance with local people in the square, it happens every night.

Day 5 Yingjiang-Husa

Sightseeing and Activities:the Husa River, Husa Town, Husa Knife Factory, Achang Ethnic Minority
Accommodation: Husa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you will ride to Nongzhang Town, and Mangxian Town, you have to ride up to Husa Mountain and ride along the Husa River which is the tributary of Dayingjiang River. You will cycle to the remote villages on a dead-end road in Husa Town and visit the Husa Knife Factory.
 
Husa is an Achang Autonomous Town of Longchuan County. “Husa Knife,” a long-famed handicraft of the Achang ethnic group, gets its name because the Achang mainly inhabit Husa Town of Longchuan County in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province. This sort of knife is well-forged and elaborately made, and very sharp, tensile, durable. Sheaths made of wood, leather, silver and other materials are extremely exquisite, too.

Day 6 Husa-45KM-Longchuan-30KM-Ruili

Sightseeing and Activities:Guangshan Jingpo ethnic village, Jingpo Ethinc Square, the Golden Pagoda of Dai People
Accommodation: Ruili
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Cycling from Husa Town, you will ride up to a mountain about 15KM long, and then ride down to Zhangfeng Town in Longchuan County. You will visit Guangshan Jingpo ethnic village, Jingpo Ethinc Square, the Golden Pagoda of Dai People, optional cycling 8KM to Zhangfeng Border between Myanmar and China and visit the local market in the border.

Drive about 30KM to Ruili in the late afternoon. Explore Ruili city at night.
 
–Capital of the subtropical frontier county of Ruili, she lies on the east bank of the golden Ruili River, Whence comes her name. People call Ruili “the foggy town”, in the wintertime, she wakes up under a blanket of fog that she only sheds an hour or two after midday to welcome the sun.
 
Ruili is a beautiful land covered by green subtropical rain forest, dotted with big Banyan trees, each one looking like a forest. Buddhist temples can be seen everywhere in this city. The most famous temple is Jiele Golden Temple composed of 17 ring – shaped towers. The major tower is 36 meters high, surrounded by the other 16 towers that are smaller in size and height. Some outdoor scenes of the famous TV program ” Journey to the West ” were taken here.

Day 7 Ruili-30KM-Nongdao-30KM-Ruili

Sightseeing and Activities:Dadenghan Dai ethnic village, Dadenghan Temple, the King of Banyan Tree, Hansa Village, Hansa Temple, Jiele Golden Pagoda
Accommodation: Ruili
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hansa Zangfang Temple in Ruili City, Dehong

Cycling to Nongdao Town, visit Dadenghan Dai ethnic village, Dadenghan Temple, the King of Banyan Tree, Hansa Village, Hansa Temple. After lunch, drive back to Ruili and visit Jiele Golden Pagoda, Jiegao Border, and the border market.
 
–Jiegao Border Port
“Jiegao” in Dai language, means “old city”, which passed down since between Yuan and Ming (13-14th century), when the LuChuan King built a capital in this area, hence its name. During the Anti-Japanese War, a temporary airport was built here and there were very often takeoffs and landings of the U.S. aircrafts delivering munitions and supplies. It is located in the urban Ruili about 4 km southeast of the Ruili River, with a total area of 2.4 square kilometers closely linked to the state level port—Mujie of Myanmar in the East, south and north.

Day 8 Ruili-30KM-Nongdao-30KM-Ruili

Sightseeing and Activities:Dadenghan Dai ethnic village, Dadenghan Temple, the King of Banyan Tree, Hansa Village, Hansa Temple, Jiele Golden Pagoda
Accommodation: Ruili
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you will cycle to Wanding, visit One Banyan Tree Forest and Wanding Border, and then drive to Huihuan for the Ruili River cruise from Huihuan to Wanding Bridge. Ruili River is the tributary of Irrawaddy River, you will cruise about 15KM along the Ruili River.
 
After the cruise, drive to Luxi City, the capital city of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, you will ride around Luxi city to visit the Menghuan Grand Pagoda, the Peacock Lake, Mengba Naxi Rare Park, Tree-wrapped Pagoda, Mangshi Plaza. 

Day 9 Ruili-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Western Hills
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you will take the flight to Kunming. After checking in the hotel, ride to Western Hills, take the chairlift from the Dragon Gate to Yunnan Ethnic Villages. Continue the riding back to visit The Golden Horse and Jade Rooster Archway in the downtown.

Day 10 Kunming-78KM-Stone Forest-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:the Stone Forest , Guandu Ancient Town, Jingang Pagoda
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Large Stone Forest in Shilin County, Kunming

You will drive 86 km to the Stone Forest. An old local saying says that ‘If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.’ Truly, the Stone Forest is one of the most important attractions of Yunnan. After lunch drive back Kunming to visit the Guandu Ancient Town which is a famous historical & cultural town in Kunming; it keeps the main architectural style of Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties.
 
After dinner, you will have an option to enjoy the large-scale dance drama “Dynamic Yunnan” which has been an outstanding innovation on the Chinese stage in recent years directed by Yang Liping. Primitive, unsophisticated folk dances and a fresh artistic concept converge in the programme, giving audiences a unique “Yunnan Impression.” Sixty-two drums and 120 masks of strong ethnic characteristics are incorporated in the performance.

Day 11 Kunming-Departure

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

Transfer to Kunming International Airport and take the flight back home. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination 5 Star 4 Star 3 Star Hostels
Tengchong   Guanfang Hotel  Tengchong Empark Grand Hotel  Tengchong Dongfang Xuanyi Holiday Hotel Mid-hill Villa Tengchong Heshun
Ruili Jing Cheng Earthsea SPA Holiday Center Jingcai Hotel Yujingtan International Hot Spring Hotel Lingfeng Inn
Yingjiang / SHI MI WA DI HOTEL Jing Zhu Hotel Local Hostel
Kunming  Crown Plaza Kunming City Centre  Wenhui Hotel  Baiyun Hotel Tu Tu Inn

Service Included:

  • All land transfer and transportation;
  • Accommodation with breakfast;
  • Entrance fees and activities as listed in the program;
  • A Skilled driver& An Experienced English-speaking guide;
  • Two bottles of water each day each person;
  • Meals as mentioned;
  • Air ticekts from Kunming to Tengchong and Ruili to Kunming.

Service Excluded:

  • International Train Tickets/Flight Tickets;
  • Meals not mentioned;
  • Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
  • Personal Travel Accident Insurance;
  • Any optional programs/activities;
  • Chinese visa fees;
  • Personal Consumption;
  • Tips (150CNY/day to Guide; 100CNY/day to Driver);
  • Bank Charge of remittance.