16 Days Vietnam-China(Yunnan) Railway Tour from Hanoi to Hong Kong
Tour Overview
Discover the spectacular sceneries of China on this adventure tour. Explore Yuanyang, the picture-perfect home of the Hani people, where eye-popping terraced landscapes stretch as far as the eye...
Code of Tour: YET0000006270
Length of Travel: 16 Day
Destinations of Tour: Hanoi-Hekou-Yuanyang-Jianshui-Kunming-Guilin-Shenzhen-Hong Kong
Departure City: Hanoi
Price of Tour: Request
Type of Tour:
Features of Tour: Nature Culture Landscape Rice terraces Ancient towns
Discover the spectacular sceneries of China on this adventure tour. Explore Yuanyang, the picture-perfect home of the Hani people, where eye-popping terraced landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see. Step back in time among the pristine Qing and Ming dynasty masterpieces in Jianshui, and wander the downtown streets of Kunming at your leisure. Finish with an epic rail trip to Hong Kong, where pulsing lights and music strike a very Chinese contrast with the splendour of the harbour.
Highlights
- Appreciate the fabulous natural sceneries both of Vietnam and China, including the world natural heritage-the Stone Forest, Yuanyang Rice Terrace, Pudacuo National Park, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Guilin Kast landscapes.
- Explore diverse Yunnan ethnic cultures and also get close contact with Vietnamese customs.
- Meet both Chinese and Vietnamese culture – visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum Complex, Jianshui Ancient Town, Dukezong Ancient Town, Lijiang Ancient Town and Dali Old Town.
- Enjoy your leisure time in Hongkong – across to Hong Kong Island on the famous Star Ferry.
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
- Day 2: Hanoi – Laocai
- Day 3: Laocai – Hekou – Yuanyang
- Day 4: Yuanyang – Jianshui
- Day 5: Jianshui – Shilin – Kunming
- Day 6: Kunming – Shangri-La
- Day 7: Shangri-La
- Day 8: Shangri-La – Lijiang
- Day 9: Lijiang
- Day 10: Lijiang – Dali
- Day 11: Dali – Kunming
- Day 12: Kunming – Guilin
- Day 13: Guilin – Yangshuo
- Day 14: Yangshuo – Shenzheng – Hongkong
- Day 15: Hongkong
- Day 16: Hongkong Departure
Google Map
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Hanoi Arrival
Sightseeing and Activities:the Opera House, the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
Accommodation:Hanoi
Meals: D
Welcome to Hanoi! As soon as you come out from the restricted area, you will find our guide is waiting for you with a friendly smile and warm greetings. In a short while, you will be escorted to the designated downtown hotel. After a short break, we will take you to the very heart of this capital city for an orientation tour to the most popular sightseeing spots: the Opera House, the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. A welcome dinner of genuine Vietnamese food is served for you at a local best restaurant in the evening.
Day 2 Hanoi-Laocai by Night Train
Sightseeing and Activities:Ba Dihn Square, Ho Chi Minh Complex, One Pillar Pagoda, Presidential Palace,Temple of Literature, Quan Thanh Temple, the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda and West Lake, Water Puppet Show
Accommodation:None
Meals:B,L
We begin a full day city tour right after breakfast. We will first proceed to Ba Dihn Square to visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house), the nearby One Pillar Pagoda and the Presidential Palace. Afterwards, we explore the Temple of Literature, Quan Thanh Temple, the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda and West Lake. We also have chance to visit one of the city’s museums, either the History Museum or the Ethnology Museum based on your interests. A lively traditional Water Puppet Show is scheduled for you next. You will then be driven to the railway station to take an overnight train to Lao Cai.
Day 3 Laocai-Hekou-Yuanyang
Sightseeing and Activities:Qingkou Village, Bada Hani Rice Terrace, Shengcun Market, terraced fields of Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth)
Accommodation:Yuanyang
Meals:B,L
After breakfast, the car and guide will pick up you and transfer to Yuanyang via Hekou border. Then you will visit Qingkou Village and rice terraces where Hani people for generations inhabit. Visit Bada Hani Rice Terrace, Shengcun Market as well. In the late afternoon, you will enjoy the sunset of terraced fields of Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth).
Day 4 Yuanyang-Jianshui
Sightseeing and Activities:sunrise, Jianshui Swallow Cave, Jianshui Ancient Town, Zhu Family Garden and Confucius Temple
Accommodation:Jianshui
Meals:B,L
Get up every early in the morning, you’ll drive to visit Duoyishu Village and enjoy the sunrise of Duoyishu Rice Terrace Fields when the sun appears above the eastern horizon. Then have breakfast in the hotel and drive about 3 hours to Jianshui County. On the way back, visit Jianshui Swallow Cave, the largest karst formation cave in Asia. There are usually thousands of swallows flying around in this aptly named cave. You will follow a guide in the cave to see the striking caverns and also to see the bare hand rock climbing performance in the cave. Walk into the cave and visit the colorful Karst landform and take the small boat cruise out of the cave.
Arrive in Jianshui Ancient Town in the afternoon, pay a visit to Jianshui Ancient Town, Zhu Family Garden and Confucius Temple. Visit the famous Confucius Temple with its interesting history. Confucious was born in Shandong province 2,500 years ago and taught more than 3,000 students in his lifetime, among them 72 were outstanding. He is the greatest teacher in China’s history and has worldwide influence and his work has worldwide influence.
Day 5 Jianshui-Shilin-Kunming
Sightseeing and Activities:Stone Forest
Accommodation:Kunming
Meals:B,L
This morning, drive to the Stone Forest. There is a local saying: ‘It is a waste of time not to visit the Stone Forest while visiting Kunming’, which vividly expresses the deep love of the local people toward this world wonder. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder. After the tour, drive back to Kunming.
Day 6 Kunming-Shangri-La by Flight
Sightseeing and Activities:Dukezong Ancient Town, Guishan Hill, the largest Prayer Wheel
Accommodation:Shangri-La
Meals:B,L
Fly to Shangri-La in the morning. Upon arrival, meet the tour guide and transfer to visit Dukezong Ancient Town, an important town of the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet and India. Walk up to the top of Guishan Hill or tortoise Hill, you will see the largest Prayer Wheel of the world and have a panoramic view of Shangri-La county and Dukezong Ancient Town.
Day 7 Shangri-La
Sightseeing and Activities:Pudaocuo Park, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery
Accommodation:Shangri-La
Meals:B,L
This 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.
Then visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park. It 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.
Afterwards visit a Tibetan family.
Day 8 Shangri-La-Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities:Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shigu Town, First Bend on the Yangtze River
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:B,L
In the morning, drive to Lijiang. En route, visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge(Shangri-La section), 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.
Then visit the Iron Chain Bridge, the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in the Shigu Old Town and the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery. 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.
Afternoon, arrive at Lijiang and check in your hotel.
Day 9 Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities:Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baishui River, Yak Meadow, Yufeng Temple, Baisha Old Town and Baisha Murals
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:B,L
In the morning, drive about 30 KM to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. You will take the sightseeing bus for a short visiting through the Baishuihe River, take the chairlift up to visit Yak Meadow (3700m) of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cableway will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around 1 hour in the original forest in Yak Meadow (3700M).
After lunch, visit Yufeng Temple (30min) – a distinctive and conjunct architecture style of Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism and the local Naxi Dongba Religion. After that, go to see the Baisha Murals (30 min) – the cradle of the Naxi culture and ancient capital of the Naxi Kingdom. After this tour, drive back to your hotel and free of the rest day.
Day 10 Lijiang-Dali
Sightseeing and Activities:Lijiang Ancient Town, Xizhou Town, Zhoucheng Village
Accommodation:Dali
Meals:B,L
Today, you will head for Lijiang Ancient Town (1 – 2 hours) – walk down the cobblestone streets over 700 years and see the Naxi way of life which changed little over time.
Then drive to Dali and visit 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 11 Dali-Kunming
Sightseeing and Activities:Cruise tour in Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas, Dali Ancient Town
Accommodation:Kunming
Meals:B,L
Today, you will visit Erhai Lake, ranked the second in Yunnan Province and the seventh freshwater lake in China by area and water storage. Take the Erhai Cruise (3 hours). Continue to visit Three Pagodas (1.5 hours) – the symbol of the history of Dali. After that, walk around in Dali Ancient Town (1 hour) – which is featured by the unique traditional Bai ethnic folk houses.
Then take the high speed train to Kunming. Upon arrival, your tour guide will wait for you and then transfer you to your hotel.
Day 12 Kunming-Guilin by Speed Train
Sightseeing and Activities:Guilin
Accommodation:Guilin
Meals:B,L
Take the speed train (8 hours) from Kunming to Guilin via Guizhou. You will have a beautiful landscape of the South China karst land-form on the way.
Arrive in Guilin in the afternoon and pick up from Guilin train station, transfer to hotel.
Day 13 Guilin-Yangshuo
Sightseeing and Activities:Li River cruise, West Street
Accommodation:Yangshuo
Meals:B,L
Start the Li River cruise from Mopan Hill pier to Yangshuo, walk around the West Street in the afternoon.
Day 14 Yangshuo-Guilin-Shenzhen-Hong Kong
Sightseeing and Activities:the Reed Flute Cave, the Elephant Hill
Accommodation:Hong Kong
Meals:B,L
Transfer back to Guilin and visit the Reed Flute Cave, the Elephant Hill ,transfer to train station after lunch(15:22 or 17:55).
Arrive in Shenzhen, transfer to Hong Kong with the help of your local guide.
Day 15 Hong Kong
Sightseeing and Activities:Star Ferry
Accommodation:Hong Kong
Meals:B,L
Reclaimed by China from Britain in 1997, Hong Kong remains an intriguing place to explore, with a spectacular, fast-paced cityscape, and islands and beaches on its doorstep. Enjoy a walking tour of the city and take a scenic journey across to Hong Kong Island on the famous Star Ferry. This gives you beautiful views of the harbour and surrounding areas. The rest of the day is yours. Perhaps ride the Peak Tram – the only way to truly experience Hong Kong’s wonders. In the evening, gather your group to celebrate your final night and watch the harbour’s spectacular light show – a spectacle of laser beams and searchlights synchronised to music and narration.
Day 16 Departure from Hong Kong
Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Hong Kong
Accommodation:None
Meals:B
You will be free to discover Hong Kong in the morning. Transfer to Hong Kong International Airport for returning.
Recommended Hotels
| Destination | 5 Star | 4 Star | 3 Star | Hostels |
| Yuanyang | Yuanyang Twelve Manor | Yunti Hotel | Shuiyunjian Hotel | Guanjing Heaven Hotel |
| Jianshui | Ting Ziyun Hotel | Lin An Hotel | Res Sky Hotel | Huiyuanlou Inn |
| Kunming | ofitel Hotel | Jingjiang Hotel | Long Teng Hotel | Tu Tu Inn |
| Shangri-La | Shangri-La Hotel | E-outfitting Boutique Hotel | Bodhi Boutique Hotel | Wu Fu South Yunnan Boutique Inn |
| Lijiang | InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort | E-outfitting Boutique Hotel | Liwang Hotel | Flowers Hall Inn |
| Dali | Hilton Dali Resort and Spa | E-outfitting Boutique Hotel | Gnosis Hotel | Fengxuegucheng |
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;
- High speed train tickets(2nd class seat).
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.
