6 Days Kunming, Lijiang&Dali Tour

• Kunming Arrival - Yunnan Nationalities Museum - Xishan Mountain
• 4+stars Hotel
• None

Upon your arrival at Kunming Airport or Railway Station, your tour guide and car driver will be on time to meet you at the lobby and escort you to the hotel where you are staying, assisting you to check in easily. (Special note: If you wish to join our afternoon tour, we suggest you choose a flight or train that arrives in Kunming before 10:00 am.)

This afternoon, we will take you to visit Yunnan Nationalities Museum, which is regarded as the largest ethnic minority museum in all of Asia. The museum houses more than 20,000 pieces of precious cultural relics, including beautiful costumes, unique ethnic festivals, scenes of daily life, exquisite musical instruments, and splendid cultural texts of each ethnic group. You will be immersed in this colorful sea of ethnic cultures and experience the essence of Yunnan culture in depth!

Next, you will visit Xishan Mountain, known as the "Sleeping Beauty Mountain", which is elegantly nestled next to Lake Dian, known as the "Pearl of the Plateau". Strolling through this lush forested mountain park, you will be captivated by its tranquillity and beauty.

One thing you can't miss on this trip is the magical Longmen. Standing on the city wall, you can feel the heaviness of history and the precipitation of years. At the same time, you will be struck by the serene Lake Dian and the panoramic view of Kunming City, which are in front of your eyes as if they were a magnificent painting.

If you are interested, we also recommend you to visit Huating Temple and Taihua Temple. Both of these temples are included in the admission fee, and not only do they have a long history and deep cultural heritage, but they also give you a sense of inner peace and tranquility.

As the sun sets in the west, you will end this rewarding and emotional trip to the Xishan Mountain. Get in the car and drive towards the direction of the hotel.

• Stone Forest - Cuihu Park - Dali
• 4+stars Hotel
• Breakfast

After breakfast, we will drive 85 kilometres to the Stone Forest, known as the "essence of the world's karst landscapes". Listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, the spectacular stone peaks covering 12 square kilometres of land are a breathtaking sight to behold. Taking a sightseeing bus, we will go deep into the Boulder Forest Scenic Area, as if entering a labyrinth of giant boulders.

Next, we will continue by bus to the Little Stone Forest. Here you will have the opportunity to see the iconic stone "Ashima" up close. This realistic boulder looks like a graceful young lady standing quietly in the wilderness.

Then, you can take a leisurely walk to Kunming Cuihu Park. Known for its stunning lakes, quaint pavilions, winding corridors and flourishing gardens, this park is an integral part of Kunming citizens' daily lives. This is especially true from November to March, when black-headed gulls from Siberia arrive as promised, adding life and vitality to this lake. During your relaxing walk, you can also interact with these lovely and vibrant creatures and experience a harmonious coexistence with nature.

At the end of the tour, you will take the train to Dali, where your guide and driver will check you into your hotel.

• Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple - Lake Erhai - Dali Old Town
• 4+stars Hotel
• Breakfast

After breakfast, you will proceed to the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, the symbol of Dali. These three pagodas stood on the land of Nanzhao Kingdom in the 10th century, and the big pagoda and the small pagoda form a harmonious and symmetrical triangle. Here, you will have the opportunity to feel the solemnity and gravity of these ancient pagodas up close and listen to the history and stories behind them. Meanwhile, you can also visit Chongsheng Temple, the royal temple of Dali, and capture a stunning moment of the Three Pagodas and their reflections.

Afterwards, you will head to the famous Lake Erhai. You can choose to take a sightseeing bus and enjoy the lakes and mountains along the way with ease; or you can choose to take a boat tour and feel the lake breeze as you swing in the lake; of course, if you love sports, you can also try to ride a bicycle around the lake and enjoy the scenery while riding. Please inform your travel consultant of your choices when booking so that we can arrange suitable activities and prices for you.

1) Choose the Lake Erhai sightseeing bus tour, which costs RMB 50 per person for about an hour. The sightseeing road around the lake shoreline and the 27.5-kilometer-long ecological corridor provide you with a comfortable and mobile perspective. On the mini-bus, you can enjoy the calm surface of the lake, the fresh air and the breeze on your face, bringing you peace and comfort.
2) If you want to immerse yourself even more in the beauty of the Lake Erhai, you can opt for a boat trip, which lasts about 2 to 3 hours and costs from RMB 145 per person. On the cruise, you will be able to see the green Cangshan Mountains and the Three Pagodas from afar, and at the same time get close to the birds and seagulls flying on the lake, experiencing the vitality and vigor of nature.
3) Of course, if you love sports and are physically fit, then riding along the Lake Erhai will be another flavor. The two-hour bike ride, which costs about RMB 50 per person, will bring you closer to the scenery and more exciting experience. During the ride, you can stop as often as you like to admire the scenery and enjoy the tranquility and freedom that is uniquely yours.

Afterwards, you will step into Dali Old Town, the former ancient capital of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdom. Strolling along these historic streets, you will be immersed in a leisurely atmosphere, only to see weeping willows dancing gently and flowers of various colors blooming brilliantly in the sunshine.

We will take you to the Drum Tower to admire the iconic Wuhua Pagoda, a witness to the history of the ancient city. Next, we'll explore Honglongjing, where ancient dwellings meet modern bars. Beside the clear water stream, you can feel a different kind of tranquility and beauty.

Continuing on, we will stroll along Renmin Road, a busy street lined with bustling stores filled with Yunnan's specialties and handicrafts. In addition, you will encounter the only Christian church in the old city, a unique blend of Chinese and Western cultures.

While you are immersed in the ancient charm of the old city, you can also stroll down the famous Foreigner Street. This exotic, busy street is lined with boutiques and vintage coffee shops. Here you can enjoy your time and feel like you've traveled back in time to experience the history and sentimentality of the area.

Recommend for Activity

You can learn to make Dali's specialty flower cake. Famous for its unique shape and exquisite patterns, the essence of this traditional pastry lies in the thin, crispy pastry in the center and the floral, richly scented filling. After you finish making them, you can even take home a few copies as a wonderful reminder of Dali culture.

• Xizhou Old Town - Zhoucheng - the Old Town of Lijiang
• 4+stars Hotel
• Breakfast

After breakfast, you will step into the charming Xizhou Ancient Town, which is the real life scene of the Bai ethnic minority people. First, we take you to the local morning market, where people dressed in traditional costumes are busy trading fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and daily necessities, giving you a close-up experience of the Bai people's living atmosphere. This is a treasure of the Bai ethnic architectural art, with exquisite sculptures, paintings, pointed eaves and wall screens showing the chicness and elegance of the Bai ethnic residences.

Next, we head to Zhoucheng, the home of tie-dyeing techniques. You will visit a local indigo workshop to witness the making of tie-dye and experience the charm of this ancient technique.

After that, we will take a 2-hour drive to Lijiang. Upon arrival in Lijiang, you will stroll through the charming Old Town of Lijiang. Founded in the Ming Dynasty, this Naxi ancient city has remained intact for 800 years and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

In the Old Town of Lijiang, we will take you to visit the Mufu Palace, which is known as the "Forbidden City of the South", a magnificent Naxi ethnic palace that showcases the glorious history and culture of the Naxi ethnic people. Stroll through the alleys of the ancient city, cross the old bridges, browse the specialty stores and bars, and finally arrive at the Sifang Street Square, where tourists and Naxi ethnic people gather, and the bustling atmosphere makes people forget to come back.

Recommend for Activity

Choose to climb up to the Lion Mountain Observation Deck and embark on this journey to the top. As you step up to the 33-meter-high Wanggu Tower, a landmark building in Lijiang, you will have a magnificent panoramic view of the entire Lijiang Ancient City. From here, you can look out to the Yulong Snow Mountain in the distance, feel its majesty and magnificence, and let your mind be tranquil and relaxed in this beautiful scenery.

• Yuhu Village - Baisha Village - Shuhe Ancient Town - Dongba Culture Museum
• 4+stars Hotel
• Breakfast

In the morning, you will head to Yuhu Village, a peaceful village nestled in the north of Lijiang, surrounded by natural beauty. It has a unique Naxi ethnic minority flavor, with ancient dwellings and clear lakes, as if a peaceful idyllic painting. Here, you can feel the tranquility and comfort away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Next, you will head to Baisha Village. This is an ancient Naxi village with a long history, preserving a great deal of traditional culture and architectural styles of the Naxi ethnic minority. Here, you can gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of this ethnic group and feel its unique charm.

Afterwards, you will go to Shuhe Ancient Town. In Shuhe Ancient Town, you can stroll through the ancient streets and admire the exquisite ancient buildings and unique art. In addition, you can also taste the authentic food and feel the unique charm of Naxi ethnic minority.

Finally, you will visit the Dongba Culture Museum. There is a large collection of Dongba cultural relics and ancient books here, demonstrating the unique charm and profound heritage of Dongba culture. Here you will have a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the Naxi ethnic minority and feel the unique charm of this ancient nation.

• The First Bay of Yangtze River - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Departure
• None
• Breakfast

display of the Jinsha River - the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

Then, we will head to the world-class natural landscape - Tiger Leaping Gorge. This is one of the deepest and most spectacular river gorges in the world and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Yunnan Three Parallels Reserve. Sandwiched by the Yulong Snow Mountain at 5,596 meters in the south and the Haba Snow Mountain at 5,396 meters in the north, the gorge is 17 kilometers long. Today, we will visit the most mature part of it, the Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge. Walking along the trestle, you will need to descend about 1,000 steps, but each step will bring you a magnificent view of the gorge and the shock of the tumbling river.

(Travel Tip: Tiger Leaping Gorge is suitable for most travelers with good physical strength. To ensure a comfortable journey, it is recommended that you wear comfortable hiking shoes.)