Day 1 Arrive at Kunming (-/-/-)
Transfer via: International/Internal Flight arranged by you
Welcome to Kunming, where the political, economic, communications and cultural center of Yunnan lies. Because of its year-round temperate climate, Kunming is often called the "Spring City". We meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Visit the Dragon Gate in Western Hills by the Dianchi Lake in the afternoon.
- Dragon Gate: Lying 15 km west of Kunming City, the Dragon Gate in the Western Hills is close to the west shore of the Dianchi Lake. It consists of the Sanqing Temple Complex and the Dragon Gate Grotto Complex, which was accomplished through 72 years of hard work (1781-1853).
Day 2 Kunming (B/L/-)
Today's highlight is the visit of the Stone Forest.
- Stone Forest: A typical Karst landform, it is 350 square kilometers in area, groups of gray-black stone peaks, and stone pillars rise abruptly, pointing to the sky, like a very dense forest just as its name infers.
Day 3 Kunming / Dali (B/L/-)
Transfer via: Internal Flight arranged by us
Take flight to Dali in the morning (45 minutes). Today we will have a cruise on Erhai Lake, visit the Old Town of Dali, villages of local Bai People and their typical building in Xizhou Town, and the Three pagodas in Chongsheng Temple.
- Erhai Lake is situated at 1,972 m above sea level. In size, the North-South length of the lake is 40 km and the East-West width is roughly 7-8 km. Its area is 250 km, making it the second largest highland lake of Yunnan.
- Old Town of Dali: A historically and culturally famous city of China, which was built during Ming Dynasty emperor Hongwu's reign (1368-1398).
- Xizhou Town: Historically, it was a military fortress of Nanzhao Kingdom and a temporary palace of the King of Nanzhao. Because of its favourable geographical situation, the town used to be a commercial centre.
- Three Pagodas are made of brick and covered with white mud. As its name implies, the Three Pagodas comprise three independent pagodas forming a symmetric triangle. The elegant, balanced and stately style is unique in China's ancient Buddhist architectures, which makes it a must-see in the tour of Dali. The Three Pagodas, visible from miles away, has been a landmark of Dali City and selected as a national treasure meriting preservation in China.
Day 4 Dali / Lijiang (B/L/-)
Transfer via: Van arranged by us
In the morning, drive to Lijiang(3 hours), where the world famous and the UNESCO Heritage Site - Old Town of Lijiang lies. Visit the Old Town of Lijiang, Sifangjie Street and Black Dragon Pool in Jade Spring Park.
- Old Town of Lijiang: A well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture. Located on the plateau which is 2,400 meters above the sea level and embraced by the tree-covered Lion Mountain in the west, Elephant and Golden Row Mountains in the north, vast fertile fields in the southeast and crystal clear water running through, the old town looks like a big jade ink slab, therefore got the alias the Town of Big Ink Slab. Lijiang was placed on the world cultural heritage list in 1997.
- Black Dragon Pool is located at the foot of the Xiangshan Mountain (Elephant Mountain) north of the city of Lijiang. As the water here is a lucid green color, it gained another name Jade Spring Park (Yuquan Park). There are many distinctive and ravishing sites in the park. Hiding in the lush trees or standing along the liquid pool is the antique and exquisite architectural pieces, which are in the style of Naxi.
Day 5 Lijiang (B/L/-)
After a relaxed breakfast at hotel this morning, you will visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Ganhaizi, Yufeng Temple, Baisha Fresco and the Ancient Shuhe Village of Naxi people.
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: It's 4,000 meters above sea level, the highest peak Shanzidou, 5,569 meters high, together with the other 13 peaks which run 35 kilometers from the south to the north, look like a giant crystal jade dragon and thus get the name.
- Yufeng Temple: Built in the last year of the Kangxi Period of the Qing dynasty, it is one of the five important Lamaist temples in Lijiang.
- Baisha Fresco: It was made from 1385 to 1619, employing the eclectic artist energies of Chines Daoist , Tibetan and Naxi Buddhists and local dongba shamans.
- Ancient Shuhe: 4 kilometers (2 miles) to the northwest of the Old Town of Lijiang, at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, lies a compact village hidden in the forest, the Old Town of Shuhe. UNESCO has listed it as an important component of Lijiang as it is a well-preserved example of a town along the ancient tea route and one of the earliest settlements of the ancestors of Naxi people.
Day 6 Lijiang / Lugu Lake (B/L/D)
Transfer via: Van arranged by us
After breakfast, head to the Eastern beauty kingdom - Lugu lake(6.5 hours), listening to Mosuo girls love songs, dance with them by the campfire after dinner, participate in the optional Jiacuo party (on your own), feel the romantic custom.
- Lugu Lake is a high mountain plateau lake, 2685 meters (8543 feet) above sea level, located 202 km northeast of Lijiang. The lake is 48.5 square km in area and is quite deep, being about 93.5 m (314 ft) at its deepest point. The inhabitants around the lake are the Mosuo people. This minority group is considered to be a sub clan of Naxi people. They still hold on to their traditional matriarchal society where the inheritance is pass on to the women only. Hence this area is also known as the "The Last Girls Empire".
Day 7 Lugu Lake / Lijiang (B/L/-)
Have a cruise in the Lugu lake by "Pig-trough Boat". The water of Lugu lake is generally clean and green, with different shades of color: now turquoise blue, now sapphire blue, now white-gray, simply beyond one's imagination. Teeming in the lake are fine-scaled fish, carps and other species. Drive back to Lijiang in the afternoon.
Day 8 Lijiang / Departure (B/-/-)
International/Internal Flight arranged by you
After breakfast, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to your next destination.
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