8 Days Malaysia-Yunnan Tour from Kuala Luampur to Lijiang

Day 1 – Arrive in Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:

• Arrival in Kunming (昆明):
  Upon arrival at the Kunming International Airport (昆明国际机场), meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel in Kunming (昆明). After check-in, feel free to ask your guide for recommendations on exploring the bustling streets of Kunming . Enjoy sampling unique local delicacies, chatting with enthusiastic locals, and relaxing at a teahouse (茶馆).

Accommodation: Kunming (昆明)
Meals: None

Day 2 – Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:

• Stone Forest (石林):
  In the morning, drive 86 km to the renowned Karst landform known as the Stone Forest (石林). As the local saying goes, “If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest (石林), you have wasted your time.”

• Green Lake (绿湖公园) & Flowers and Birds Market (花鸟市场):
  After lunch, drive back to Kunming (昆明) to visit the historic Green Lake Park (翠湖公园) located in the city center, then enjoy a 20-minute walk to explore the vibrant Flowers and Birds Market (花鸟市场).

Accommodation: Kunming (昆明)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 – Lijiang to Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:

• High-Speed Train to Dali (大理):
  Start your day early and head to the train station for a high-speed journey from Kunming (昆明) to Dali (大理). Upon arrival at Dali Train Station (大理火车站), your local guide will be waiting to greet you.

• Three Pagodas (三塔) at Chongsheng Temple (崇圣寺):
  Visit the Three Pagodas (三塔) of Chongsheng Temple (崇圣寺) – a site with over 1,800 years of history, located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain (苍山) and facing Erhai Lake (洱海).

• Erhai Lake Cruise (洱海) & Dali Old Town (大理古城):
  After exploring the ancient temple complex, take a small boat cruise on Erhai Lake (洱海) toward Jinsuo Islet. Enjoy views of the green Cangshan Mountain (苍山), the Three Pagodas (三塔), and flocks of birds over the lake. In the late afternoon, stroll through Dali Old Town (大理古城), including a visit to Foreigner’s Street (洋人街) and the ancient city wall (古城墙).

Accommodation: Dali (大理)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 – Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:

• Xizhou Town (喜洲镇):
  In the morning, head to Xizhou Town (喜洲镇) to fully appreciate Bai-style traditional architecture, savor the fragrant Three-Course Tea (三道茶), and explore the distinctive local culture.

• Zhoucheng Village (周城村):
  Next, visit Zhoucheng Village (周城村) and explore a Bai ethnic Tie-dye workshop, where you can pick up a special souvenir reflecting local traditions.

• Transfer to Lijiang (丽江):
  After lunch, drive to Lijiang and take time to relax in the well-preserved Lijiang Old Town (丽江古城). Situated at an elevation of 2,400 meters, it is embraced by the tree-covered Lion Mountain (狮子山), Elephant Mountain (象山), and Golden Row Mountains (金龙山), with vast fertile fields and crystal-clear waterways, earning it the nickname “Town of Big Ink Slab (大墨玉镇).”

Accommodation: Lijiang (丽江)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 – Dali → Shaxi → Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:

• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area (玉龙雪山景区):
  Drive approximately 30 km into the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area (玉龙雪山景区). Your first stop is Ganhaizi Meadow (甘海子草甸) at an altitude of 3,100 m.

• Baishuihe River (白水河) & Spruce Meadow (云杉坪):
  Board the sightseeing bus for a short tour along the Baishuihe River (白水河). Then take a cable car to Spruce Meadow (云杉坪) and enjoy a 30-minute forest hike before riding a battery cart to Blue Moon Valley (蓝月谷).

• Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show (印象丽江):
  After lunch, enjoy the Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show (印象丽江) directed by Zhang Yimou, held in Ganhaizi Meadow (甘海子草甸) at 3,100 m above sea level.

• Baisha Old Town (白沙古镇) & Baisha Murals (白沙壁画):
  Finally, take a leisurely stroll through Baisha Old Town (白沙古镇) and visit the 600-year-old Baisha Murals (白沙壁画), part of the World Cultural Heritage designated by UNESCO in 1997.

Accommodation: Lijiang (丽江)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 – Lijiang to Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:

• The First Bend of the Yangtze River (长江第一湾) & Iron Chain Bridge (铁索桥):
  Drive about 60 km from Lijiang (丽江) to the First Bend of the Yangtze River (长江第一湾) where you can admire magnificent gorge scenery. Visit the Iron Chain Bridge (铁索桥) and the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument (红军长征纪念碑) in Shigu Old Town. The town of Stone Drum (石鼓镇) is named after its large cylindrical marble tablet resembling a drum, and the surrounding landscape is filled with wheat fields and drying haystacks.

• Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡):
  Continue on to Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡), the deepest gorge in the world, renowned for its 34 rapids along the Yangtze River (金沙).

• Tibetan Cultural Area:
  Enter the Tibetan cultural area to see vast barley fields and scattered yaks (牦牛) in the valleys.

• Dukezong Ancient Town (杜鹃古镇) & Guishan Hill (龟山):
  Finally, stroll through Dukezong Ancient Town (杜鹃古镇), a key stop on the ancient Tea-Horse Caravan route from Yunnan to Tibet and India. Climb Guishan Hill (龟山) (also known as Tortoise Hill) for a panoramic view of Shangri-La County (香格里拉县) and Dukezong Ancient Town (杜鹃古镇), and see the world’s largest prayer wheel.

Accommodation: Shangri-La (香格里拉)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 – Shangri-La to Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:

• Songzanlin Monastery (松赞林寺):
  Visit Songzanlin Monastery (松赞林寺), the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, often called the “Little Potala Palace (小布达拉宫)”.

• Tibetan Family Experience:
  Next, visit a Tibetan family (藏族家庭) and enjoy a traditional Yak Butter lunch (牦牛黄油午餐) in their home.

• Shudu Lake (属都湖) in Pudacuo National Park (普达措国家公园):
  In the afternoon, visit Shudu Lake (属都湖) within Pudacuo National Park (普达措国家公园), one of the world’s most biologically diverse regions. Despite occupying only 0.7% of China’s land area, this region is home to more than 20% of the country’s plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species, and nearly 100 endangered species.

Accommodation: Shangri-La (香格里拉)
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 – Departure from Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:

• Departure:
  Today, your tour guide and driver will transfer you to Shangri-La Airport (香格里拉机场) for your departure, marking the end of your captivating Yunnan journey.

Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast