Lijiang–Jade Dragon Snow Mountain–White Water River–Impression of Lijiang Show. O/N Lijiang

Old Town of Lijiang - China - The tour guide will meet guests in the hotel lobby at 09:00 am and provide a transfer to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a 50-minute drive covering 25 km.

Yulong (Jade Dragon) Mountain - The visit to the Snow Mountain may start with a cable car ride to Spruce Meadow or a visit to White Water River, depending on the schedule of the Impression Lijiang Show, which varies daily between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm and lasts for 60 minutes. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is easily accessible via a network of cable cars that transport visitors to various parts of the mountain. The 13 peaks, home to several glaciers, are snow-covered year-round. Different altitudes offer diverse landscapes, with serene meadows leading to snowy paths and glaciers. The choice to visit Spruce Meadow via cable car is due to its lower altitude (3300M) and fewer visitors compared to Glacier Park, along with its beautiful views.

Lijiang Impressions Show - Next, guests will attend the Lijiang Impression show. This outdoor performance, featuring traditional songs and dances by local ethnic groups from the surrounding villages, is held at the base of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, just outside the main building, at scheduled times.

Blue Moon Valley - Afterwards, a private car will take guests to White Water River (Blue Moon Valley). The Blue Moon Valley is a strikingly blue river winding through a lush valley of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. From a distance, it resembles a blue crescent moon at the mountain’s base, which inspired its name. However, the river’s color changes; if it rains, the white mud and limestone rubble in the riverbed mix with the water, turning it milky white. Thus, the local Naxi people call it White Water River (Baishui River).

Lijiang - After lunch, guests will be transferred to their hotel in Lijiang, concluding the day’s services.

Lijiang–Tiger Leaping Gorge–Shaxi. O/N Shaxi old town.

Lijiang - The tour guide will meet guests in the hotel lobby at 09:00 am and transfer them to Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia) - After purchasing entrance tickets, the driver will take guests to the gorge. The hiking tour begins with a 15-20 minute walk along the plank road to the viewing platform on the valley floor. The powerful currents of the Jinsha River roar through the narrow valley, with waves crashing against the rocks. Guests are encouraged to have their cameras ready to capture this breathtaking view. At the narrowest point, a giant rock, 13 meters (43 feet) high, sits in the river’s center, splitting the torrents into two branches. The surging waves crash against the rock with a tremendous roar. A special viewing platform allows visitors to fully appreciate this impressive scenery and take photos.

Guests will have 1.5-2 hours to enjoy the gorge’s stunning scenery. Afterward, they will return to the parking lot with the guide.

Yunnan Shaxi Ancient Town - Following this, a private car will take guests to Shaxi old town, where they will check into a hotel and spend 2 hours exploring. Guests can stroll around Shaxi Old Town, Shaxi River, Xinjiao Temple, the square stage, and some ancient courtyards with local residents.

Shaxi once played a vital role as a bustling trade station on the Tea and Horse Caravan Road, an important branch of the Silk Road. Over a thousand years ago, this ancient trade route connected Tibet with Eastern China. In exchange for Yunnan teas, Tibetans traded their renowned horses to Song Dynasty officials in eastern China, who were defending their territory from northern invaders. Thus, the Tea and Horse Caravan was established, with Shaxi as the main trade station along this route. Although Tibet and China no longer trade along this route, Shaxi retains its border-town atmosphere. Old cobblestone alleyways remain unchanged from a thousand years ago. Various minorities, including the Yi and Bai, still gather every Friday during the Sideng Market when mountain villagers descend to trade their goods.

Shaxi–Dali. O/N Dali

Yunnan Shaxi Ancient Town - The tour guide will meet guests in the hotel lobby at 09:00 am and transfer them to Dali.

Dali Ancient - The first stop is Dali Ancient Town, one of China’s most famous ancient towns. As a major stop on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, or Southwest Silk Road, it is rich in historic sites and traditional culture. Compared to Lijiang’s Old Town, Dali Ancient Town is smaller, less crowded, and more elegant. Guests can spend a few hours leisurely exploring the paved streets, admiring the traditional architecture of the Bai ethnic minority, sampling local food and snacks, and purchasing souvenirs.

Xizhou Town - Next, guests will visit Xizhou, another excellent place to observe typical Bai Minority folk culture and architecture. A characteristic Bai courtyard residence consists of rooms on three sides and a decorative screen wall facing south. These residences often feature carved beams, turned-up eaves, and vibrant green, gold, blue, and white paint.

Xizhou is a quiet, uncrowded town that has preserved itself from mass tourism, allowing visitors to observe authentic local life, especially around the main square where families gather and children play until after dark. Guests can relax in a restaurant or cafe around the square, enjoy fresh local beer, and watch the lively surroundings.

Chongsheng Three Pagodas - Afterwards, a private car will take guests to the Three Pagodas, which face Erhai Lake. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple in Dali form a tripartite arrangement with one large pagoda and two smaller ones. As one of South China’s oldest and most magnificent architectural sites, it symbolizes Yunnan Province’s ancient history and culture. Built during the Nanzhao Kingdom, a local regime of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the pagodas were named after the temple. Although the temple was damaged during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the pagodas have survived numerous natural disasters and human incidents. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple were designated as an important heritage site protected by the state in 1961 and inscribed as an AAAAA grade scenic area in 2011.

Erhai Lake - After lunch, guests will be transferred to Erhai Lake, where they can enjoy the sunset or cycle around the lake. The Erhai Lake (Ear-shaped Sea), known as the “Pearl of Plateau,” is Yunnan’s second-largest highland lake.

Dali–Jianshui. O/N Jianshui

Dali - Guests will take an early train to Kunming.

Kunming - Upon arrival at Kunming train station, guests will head directly to Jianshui.

Zhu’s Family Garden (Zhu Jia Huayuan) - Zhu’s Family Garden is located in the middle of Jianxin Street in Jianshui. This grand complex, built by Zhuchaoying and his brother in the late Qing Dynasty, covers 20,000 square meters. With well-arranged yards and well-furnished rooms and halls, the architecture is described as “streamlined,” earning it the nickname “the Daguan Garden at a Border Town.” Large and magnificent buildings like the Zhu family’s private garden are now rare in China.

Jianshui Confucius Temple - Afterwards, a private car will take guests to Jianshui Confucius Temple, originally constructed in 1285 and renovated and extended over 40 times, covering an area of 114 mu. It is one of the best-preserved Confucius Temples, with a large scale and high architectural level. With over 700 years of history and excellent preservation, it offers valuable materials for studying Confucianism and traditional architectural art. It is one of the national key cultural relics protection units.

Jianshui County - After completing the sightseeing, guests will check into a hotel in Jianshui, with the rest of the time free for personal activities.

Jianshui–Tuanshan Village–Double Dragon Bridge–Yuanyang. O/N Yuanyang.

Jianshui Ancient City - At 8:30 am, the tour guide will meet guests at the Jianshui hotel and transfer them to Jianshui Tuanshan Village.

Double Dragons Bridge - After lunch, guests will visit the Shuanglong (Double Dragon) Bridge, located 5 km from Jianshui city. First built in the Qing dynasty, it spans the Lujiang and Tachonghe Rivers, resembling two dragons, hence the name Double Dragon Bridge. It is 148 meters long and 3-5 meters wide, making it one of China’s largest old bridges.

Yuanyang Rice Terraces - After completing the Jianshui sightseeing, guests will drive to Yuanyang Bada Rice Terraces (3 hours drive, 120 km) hotel. The Bada Rice Terraces, part of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, were listed as a World Heritage Site in 2013. The 950-hectare Bada Rice Terraces resemble ladders to heaven with over 3700 levels, rising from 800 meters to 2000 meters. Words like “Vast,” “Magnificent,” “Beautiful Curved Lines,” and “Stereoscopic” describe the Bada Rice Terraces. Villages like Quanfuzhuang, Malizhai, Bada, and Shangmadian are surrounded by the rice terraces, offering travelers panoramic views of the beautiful villages when photographing the rice paddies.

Sunrise in Duoyishu Rice Terrace–Local Market-Minority Village. O/N Yuanyang

Yuanyang Rice Terraces - At 5:00 am, the guide will meet guests in the hotel lobby and take them to the Duoyishu Rice Terraces, the best site to watch the sunrise over the rice fields. In the early morning, the sunglow appears splendidly over the mountains, and a few minutes later, the gentle sun begins to rise slowly over the mountain tops. As the sun rises over the 6000-mu Duoyishu Rice Terraces, the entire village brightens, and the vast rice terraces resemble a mirror, radiating golden light. What makes the Duoyishu sunrise most beautiful is not only the golden rice terraces but also the mysterious sea of clouds and the Hani people’s mushroom-like houses. Whether photographers or not, guests should capture the amazing Duoyishu Rice Terrace sunrise with their cameras.

Yuanyang–Stone Forest–Kunming & Drop off at the Kunming airport/train station.

Yuanyang Rice Terraces - The guide will meet guests at 08:00 am at the hotel and transfer them to Kunming Stone Forest Park, a 300 km, 5-hour drive.

Yunnan Stone Forest Geological Park - Kunming Stone Forest, known as Shilin in Chinese, is a spectacular set of limestone formations and a representative of South China’s karst landscape. Known since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) as the ‘First Wonder of the World,’ it is one of Yunnan’s most important attractions. A local saying goes that visiting Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest is a wasted trip.

Kunming - After lunch, guests will be transferred to Kunming airport/train station, concluding the services. P.S: Guests’ flights/trains should be scheduled for after 6:00 pm, as arrival is around 6:30 pm. If the flight is the next day, guests will be dropped off at a Kunming hotel first, and the next day, they will be taken to the airport/train station.

• Entrance fees included
• Lunch provided
• Second-class train ticket from Kunming to Dali
• Private car and guide for personalized experience

• The hotels

Explore the best of Yunnan, encompassing Kunming, Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Dali, and the ancient town of Lijiang, on an exclusive private tour spanning 7 days, beginning in Lijiang.
Transportation for pick-up will be provided from your Lijiang hotel, airport, or train station and you’ll be conveniently dropped off at your preferred location in Kunming, whether it be a hotel or the airport.

• Can add more days if you want
• The Sunset or Sunrise at Yuanyang terraces area, it dpendes of the season, normally, the Dec to May, will have a more chance to catch the sunrise and sunset.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.