16 Days Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi High Speed Rail Tour

Day 1 Arrive in Lijiang

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

Upon your arrival, meet your local tour guide and driver, then transfer to the hotel for rest.

Day 2 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Jade Dragon Snow Mountain,Yak Meadow,Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show, Baisha Old Town and Baisha Murals
Accommodation:Lijiang
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Pick-up at 7:30am, drive about 30KM to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, where 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, you will enjoy the Impression Lijang Ethnic Show(Regular seat )  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.

Later, move to Baisha Old Town for the tour of the Baisha Mural about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.

Day 3 Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:the First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu Old Town, Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation:Shangri-La
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

From Lijiang, you’ll drive about 60KM to the First Bend of the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, visit the Iron Chain Bridge, the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in the Shigu Old 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. 

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. Afternoon, you’ll head for Shangri La, the former Zhongdian which is well-known as the paradise destination for every tourist. 

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.

Day 4 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Songzanlin Monastery, Podacuo National Park
Accommodation:Shangri-La
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Today, begin your exciting tour with a visit to Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, then visit Podacuo National Park (green vans available in scenic area) after lunch. 

–Not far from Shangri-La, Songzanlin Lamasery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist lamasery in Yunnan, and one of the 13 large lamaseries in the joint area of Tibet, Yunnan and Sichuan. Constructed in 1679, it took about three years to complete. Built against the mountain with a magnificent appearance, Songzanlin is a faithful imitation of the Potala Palace in Lhasa Tibet. The most famous treasures in the lamasery are the eight gold-covered sculptures of Sakyamuni, bronze sculptures, the Ganzur scriptures hand-written in liquid gold, gold lamps, and many exquisite gilded silver incense burners.

–Located 22km east of Shangri-La, Potatso National Park is the first national park in mainland China. In Tibetan language, Patatso means reaching the opposite side of the lake by boat under the help of deity. Bitahai Lake and Shuduhu Lake are two major parts of the park. Besides these two lakes, forest, marsh, valley, alpine meadow and so on can be seen in the park. All major spots are connected by walkable plank which offers a closer distance for travelers to experience the natural environment.

Day 5 Shangri-La-Shaxi

Sightseeing and Activities:Dukezong Old town,Guishan Hill, Prayer Wheel
Accommodation:Shaxi
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, stroll around 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 Shangrila city and Dukezong Ancient Town.

Afternoon, head for Shaxi and stay overnight.

Day 6 Shaxi-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Shaxi Old Town, Shibaoshan
Accommodation:Dali
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, visit Shaxi Old Town. Then drive to Shibaoshan mountain. The most prominent sight at ShibaoShan is the Stone Bell Temple with its 139, well preserved stone carvings. Another interesting sight is the ‘Suspending Temple’, also called the Baoxiang Temple.

After the visit, drive to Dali for overnight.

Day 7 Dali-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake cruise, Xizhou, Zhoucheng, Dali Old Town
Accommodation:Kunming
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. After lunch, cruise on Erhai Lake by the small boat to the Jinsuo Islet in the east Erhai Lake.

In the afternoon, head for Xizhou Town to appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste the Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. Then visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop. At last, visit the Ancient Dali Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the relax time with local people.

Then transfer to the railway station to take the high speed train to Kunming.

Day 8 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:Jiuxiang Cave, Stone Forest, Flower and bird Market, Nanping Street
Accommodation:Kunming
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Firstly drive about 1.5hr to Jiuxiang Cave which is located 90km far from Kunming. Known as the “museum of karst caves”, Jiuxiang boasts more than 100 karst caves and is the largest cave group system in China.

After lunch, further diving 40m to Stone Forest, one of the most important attractions of Yunnan. An old local saying says that “If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.”

After the tour, drive back to Kunming downtown and stroll in the Flower and Bird Market and Nanping Street nearby. 

Day 9 Kunming-Guiyang

Sightseeing and Activities:Jiaxiu Tower and Qingyan Old Town
Accommodation:Guiyang
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, take the morning high speed train to Guiyang. Your local guide and driver will meet you at the train station and then transfer to hotel. Visit Jiaxiu Tower and Qingyan Old Town in the afternoon.

Day 10 Guiyang-Kaili

Sightseeing and Activities:Shiqiao Miao village, Matang village
Accommodation:Kaili
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

This morning make 3hrs driving to Kaili. Kaili is the capital city of the Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture of Southeast Guizhou, and also the base of southeast Guizhou’s ethnic culture tour. Today’s first stop is Shiqiao Miao village. Shiqiao Miao village is famous for its old technology of papermaking. The ancient traditional methods of production method can be traced back to the Tang dynasty. You can learn how to make paper in local family.

After lunch continue drive to Matang village, where you can see Gejia group, who are not listed into 55 minority groups in China. The Gejia people of Matang adore bow and arrow. As a legend goes, the ancestors of the Gejia people was hero who could shoot the sun with the arrow. You will appreciate the traditional Gejia batik in the village, and learn the art of batik. In the evening drive to hotel in Kaili.

Day 11 Kaili-Rongjiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Langde Miao Village,Datang Miao Village,Qiaotu Shui village
Accommodation:Rongjiang
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning pay leisure visit to explore Miao’s history and culture in Langde Miao Village and Datang Miao Village. Langde is a village of Long Skirt Miao. This village is considered to be the live museum of Miao Culture. Most wooden buildings were built from 1616-1911. Datang Miao Village is a Short Skirt Miao village, it is another branch of Miao live for hundreds years. Women in Datang are well known for their beautiful short skirts and hairstyle, they have worn a kind of traditional short skirt for 500 years. Another highlight in this village is the granary built over a pond with the multi-function of fire-proofing, rat-proofing and ant-proofing.

After lunch further driving to Rongjiang, on the way stop at Qiaotu Shui village, which villagers usually dress in black and blue. Men have long gowns and black turbans, and women wear collarless blue blouses, black trousers and aprons, all of which are embroidered.

Day 12 Rongjiang-Congjiang-Zhaoxing

Sightseeing and Activities:Basha village, Zhaoxing village
Accommodation:Zhaoxing
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast drive to explore Basha village, a hidden kingdom occupied by the legendary Basha Miao people. Enter the Last Gunmen’s Tribe in China. All the men wear their hair in a bun. when the boys grow to 16 years of age, an “adult ceremony” will be held for them. The man adult of Basha Miao Village carries a hunting gun on his shoulder and a gunpowder bag , a bullet bag and a knife around his waist, making himself up like an ancient warrior.

This afternoon continue drive to Zhaoxing village. Zhaoxing is the biggest Dong village with over 1,000 Dong households in China. It has a history of nearly 2000 years. The village is divided into five natural sections. Each section has a clan and each clan has a drum-tower, a Wind-Rain-Bridge and a stage.
Overnight in Zhaoxing village.

Day 13 Zhaoxing-Guilin-Yangshuo

Sightseeing and Activities:Tang’an village
Accommodation: Yangsuo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you have chance to visit Tang’an village. Tang’an village is situated at a mountain slope and encircled by rice fields， green trees and hills. It has been accepted jointly by China and Norway as an ecological museum of the Dong ethnic group. It is the only eco-museum of Dong Minority on the earth. Hike 2.5hrs from Tang’an Village to Zhaoxing village, you will passing the rice fields on the way. This afternoon you will take high-speed train to Yangshuo.

Day 14 Yangshuo

Sightseeing and Activities:Silver Cave, West Street
Accommodation:Yangsuo
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

You will take a boat trip to the Li River (Xingping section). You will feast your eyes with the reflection of fantastic peaks with various shapes, crystal clear water, green hills, bamboo groves, the river passes an endless procession of distinct peaks and bamboo groves and the stunning landscape. Then you will pay a visit to Silver Cave -The cave is deep and irregular, with a great number of stalactites of thousand charms, which, in lights glint like silver, hence the name of the cave. These majestic, diamond-like stalactites decorate the cave and make it into a dazzling place. Strolling along the West Street where is famous for its antiquated style and courtyard like environment.

Day 15 Yangshuo-Guilin

Sightseeing and Activities:Mulong Lake Park, Li River boat cruise
Accommodation:Guilin
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast. Transfer back to Guilin. Along the way we will visit Shangri-La and get a tour of elegant scenery, ancient bridge brook river, deep pool limestone cave and fallen village. Continues the trip to Mulong Lake Park. It features the integration of historical culture into the nature. To the north of Mulong Lake, visitors can find a group of manmade sights such as Dongzhen Gate and the site of the City Wall in Song Dynasty. A very large building complex is scattered around where visitors can admire forest, grass, falls and streams. Then go to take Li River (city section) boat cruise where you can view the ten famous hills like Elephant Truck Hill, Fubo Hill etc.

Li River: The Li River that flows from Guilin to Yangshuo is the most famous tourist attraction in Guilin. Boasting the No.1 Guilin Landscape among all the waters and mountains in the picturesque Guilin, Li River was listed as one of the top ten watery wonders in the world. When traveling to Guilin, a Li River cruise will take you to enjoy the spectacular scenery of verdant mountains, towering karst peaks, water sights, grotesque rocks and caves along the river.

Day 16 Departure from Guilin

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

Departure from Guilin. Service ends.