Discover China's Yunnan Province - 8 Days

Highlights

• Wander among the colorful stalls of Kunming's Flower and Bird Market
• Cycle along the shores of picturesque Erhai Lake in historic Dali
• Enjoy a Three Courses Tea Ceremony with an expert Bai tea master in Xizhou
• Create a traditional Bai tie-dye artwork at a workshop in Zhoucheng
• Watch the open-air cultural Impression Lijiang Show atop a snowy mountain

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Kunming, Kunming City Tour with Local Markets

Welcome to China! Your tour of the southwestern province of Yunnan begins in its capital, Kunming, known as the "City of Eternal Spring" due to its year-round warm weather and mild climate. Your driver will be waiting at the airport to whisk you to the city center. Check into your hotel, then meet your guide for a leisurely half-day tour to explore the best of Kunming and the lifestyles of its inhabitants.

Immerse yourself in local life by visiting Cui Hu Park (Green Lake Park), a sprawling lagoon in the city's center. Enjoy walking along the paths and over the charming bridges while taking in the city views above the trees. Visit islands such as Bamboo Forest Island and wander through the numerous temples and architectural gems that adorn this centuries-old gathering place.

Then, head to the nearby Yuantong Temple, one of Yunnan's most important Buddhist sites. This ancient temple has many halls and pavilions, intricate artwork, and paths lined with cypress. Walk through the peaceful grounds and learn the history of this beautiful, sacred site. End the day at the Flower and Bird Market, which sells beautiful specimens of local flora and exotic birds. While you wander, you can also purchase locally made artwork, handicrafts, and souvenirs.

Day 2: Day Trip to the Stone Forest

Take a guided day trip away from Kunming today to one of Yunnan's most famous natural wonders, the sprawling Stone Forest Scenic Area. About an hour's drive east of Kunming, this UNESCO-listed site features a diverse range of landscapes, from limestone formations to dense forests. The Stone Forest is the focal point of the entire area, which spans approximately 425 square miles (1,100 sq km).

Marvel at the tall rocks that resemble petrified trees, creating the illusion of a forest made of stone, while your guide shares the legend of Ashima, a beautiful girl of the Yi people who was forbidden from marrying her true love. Instead, she turned to stone in the forest. Hike through the otherworldly karst landscape and visit caves, lakes, underground rivers, waterfalls, and scenic viewpoints. Highlights include Bushao Hill and Eternal Mushroom.

Day 3: Train to Dali, Cultural Tour of Xizhou & Zhoucheng Old Towns

This morning, catch a train for a 2.5-hour transfer from Kunming to Dali, where your guide will be waiting to meet you and take you to your hotel in the center of this Ming-era, walled city on the shores of Erhai Lake. After you settle in, join a five-hour guided tour beginning at nearby Xizhou Ancient Town. This well-preserved village is populated mainly by the Bai people, a regional ethnic minority. Visit the Museum of Bai Architecture, which showcases the magnificent, intricate Bai design details, and taste local dishes such as xizhou baba (sweet or salty flavored bread rounds). 

While visiting the historic village, you'll also take part in a Three Courses Tea Ceremony. The Bai people have practiced this ancient ceremony since the Ming Dynasty, and it's typically reserved for special occasions or to welcome distinguished guests. Savor the three courses of tea, each with a different flavor (bitter, sweet, and mixed), all poured by a tea master.

Afterward, continue with your guide to Zhoucheng Old Town, home of the Bai people's traditional and colorful tie-dye art. Here, you'll participate in a tie-dyeing workshop led by local artisans. Watch as your expert teacher shows you how to create intricate patterns. Then, try your hand at learning how to tie traditional knots and dye your own piece of indigo tie-dye. Return to your hotel in the evening and enjoy your free time in Dali Ancient Town.

Day 4: Xizhou Market, Authentic Cooking Class in Dali, Erhai Lake Cycling Tour

Meet your guide early this morning to visit the Xizhou Morning Market, a bustling spot populated with locals in traditional dress trading essentials. Immerse yourself in the traditional daily life of the locals as you shop for produce and souvenirs before heading into town for an authentic cooking class. Join an expert chef and learn the secrets of Chinese (specifically Yunnan) cuisine. Gain masterful skills in stir-frying and balancing dishes with the right sauces and ingredients. These may include gui ji (ghost chicken) and rice noodles. Then, enjoy the fruits of your labor for lunch.

After your lesson, embark on a cycling ride with your guide along the shores of picturesque Erhai Lake. The lake, dotted with beautiful islets and surrounded by mountain peaks, is also a food source for the Bai people. End the day back in Dali Old Town, this time capsule of an enclave that's one of the real gems of Yunnan. Feel the long historical legacy here as you stroll its tranquil pedestrian streets and see its historic architecture, then have dinner in one of the many traditional restaurants.

Day 5: Train to Lijiang, Explore Lijiang Old Town & Black Dragon Pool

This morning, pack your bags and board a northbound train for a two-hour journey to Lijiang, a city near Tibet's border and one of China's major commercial centers during the 1300s. Throughout the city's history, the populace of Lijiang has been mainly comprised of ethnic minorities from the Himalayan foothills, like the Bai, Yi, and Naxi people. When you arrive in the city, transfer to your hotel for check-in. 

Grab a bite to eat at the hotel, then head out on a half-day tour of the UNESCO-listed Lijiang Ancient Town. This historic center is home to the Naxi people, whose culture goes back 1,000 years to when the town was a stop on the ancient Tea Horse Road trading route. Even today, this neighborhood is filled with Naxi homes built from timber and mud bricks in the traditional style with colorful facades and intricately carved wooden doors and windows.

Next, you'll travel outside of Lijiang to visit the incredible Heilongtan Park (Black Dragon Pool), a 99-acre (40 ha) green space located just north of town at the foot of Elephant Hill. Beyond the park's namesake glassy pond, you'll visit several other historic landmarks, like the 15th-century Deyue Pavilion, the arched Suocui Bridge, and the 16th-century Longshen Temple, once the site of sacrificial rituals to the gods. Wander along the crystal-clear streams, take in the snow-tipped mountain views, and walk the winding paths leading to charming bridges.

Day 6: Day Trip to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Impression Lijiang Show

Dress warmly this morning for a guided full-day trip to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, about 9 miles (15 km) outside Lijiang. Consisting of 13 craggy peaks, the highest of these, Shanzidou tops at 18,360 feet (‎5,596 m). As seen from Lijiang's old town, the peaks often appear above the mist, resembling a dragon resting in the clouds. You'll travel up the mountain on a scenic cable car to the Spruce Meadow plateau, at nearly 10,000 feet (3,000 m). As you glide above, witness the glory of nature in this biological reserve, home to 400 types of tree and 30 animal species, all of which are protected. 

When you arrive at the plateau, admire the green meadow and wildflowers (in summer and spring) and marvel at the spectacular views of the snow mountain, considered sacred by the Naxi people, rising above a forest of spruce. Afterward, you'll head to Ganhaizi (Dry Sea Meadow) at 10,171 feet (3,100 m) to see a one-hour outdoor theater performance, the Impression Lijiang Show. Find your seat and watch as 500 local ethnic people share their rich cultural traditions and lifestyle through song and dance, with the magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the background.

On the way back from the mountain, enjoy scenic views of Blue Moon Valley and the White Water River, which changes between sparkling turquoise, deep blue, and emerald green depending on the weather, before returning to your hotel for a cozy evening. 

Day 7: Day Trip to the Yangtze River & Tiger Leaping Gorge

After breakfast at the hotel, put on some sturdy hiking shoes and join your driver and guide for a two-hour trip south to the First Bend of the Yangtze River. While this isn't the first bend in China's famous river, it is the most pronounced. At this point, the river takes a dramatic 180° turn, curving around a pyramid-shaped mountain. Arrive at the observation deck to witness this impressive "U" riverbend and admire the far-reaching views that will have the artist in you grabbing your sketchbook.

Continue to Tiger Leaping Gorge, a 10-mile (17 km) long, UNESCO-listed canyon on the Jinsha River, a tributary of the Yangtze. At a staggering depth from peak to river of 12,434 feet (3,790 m), this is one of the world's deepest gorges. Follow your guide on a hike through the Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge along a wooden walkway decorated with small bells with red tags, honoring Naxi ancestors.

Breathe in the crisp mountain air as you hike along the walkway, which includes about 1,000 steps from the start to the Tiger Leaping Rock in the middle of the river. Enjoy hearing the legend of the tiger (who jumped across the river here) from your guide, then cover your ears as the mighty river furiously forces its way through the narrow gap. Afterward, return to the entrance for a 1.5-hour transfer back to Lijiang for your final night in China.

Day 8: Depart Lijiang

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel or in a nearby café on your last morning in China. Then, meet your driver at your hotel for a transfer to the Lijiang airport, where you'll board a flight to either Shanghai or Beijing. From there, you can catch your departing flight home or to other destinations. Safe travels! 

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