Chengdu to Yunnan Tour

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Listing Description

This 10-day journey through Sichuan and Yunnan is not only a visual and spiritual feast, but also a profound cultural and natural exploration.
From Chengdu to Sanxingdui, and then encounter the giant panda, Sichuan's flavor of all kinds of eyes; flying to Shangri-La, Songzanlin Temple, Pudacuo, and the warmth of the Tibetan family, you will experience the Tibetan flavor of Yunnan; Lijiang, Dali and the Lake Erhai, but also let people linger

Booking

  • Arrive in Chengdu and transfer to the hotel

  • 4+ stars Hotel

  • None


Welcome to Chengdu, which is known as the "Land of Abundance". After Arriving in Chengdu, you will experience the unique charm of the city. 

Our professional tour guide will meet you at the airport arrival and transfer you to your hotel for rest.

The rest of the day is free time. If you want to wander around, you can find a tour guide and your guide will give you some good suggestions.


Recommend for Free Time:

1. Take a stroll down Chunxi Road and have some snacks.
2. Face - changing of Sichuan Opera is one of the most famous local shows and you can ask guide to buy tickets for you.
3. Take a walk around Chengdu on your own to experience Chengdu's residential life.

  • The Sanxingdui Ruins--Chengdu People's Park--Jinli Old Street

  • 4+ stars Hotel

  • Breakfast


In the morning, you will visit the Sanxingdui Ruins, which is is considered to be one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the 20th century. A vast array of ancient bronzes, gold masks, ivory and jade have been found here. The unearthed objects are unique in shape and superior in techniques,which confirmed the extraordinary creativity of the ancient Shu people and their desires to connect with the heaven and understand the universe.

In the afternoon, you will step into Chengdu People's Park to experience the unique leisure and ease of this city. Here you can order a pot of tea and take a nap or join the local people in a game of mahjong and experience the ear cleaning service.

As night falls, you will step into the old street of Jinli, which has ancient buildings, lots of Chengdu snacks and cuisines, and exquisite handicrafts that are lively and interesting folk performances. You will spend an unforgettable night here.


  • Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding--Wenshu Monastery--Flight to Shangri-La

  • 4+ stars Hotel

  • Breakfast


After breakfast, you will go to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This is not only a scientific research base for pandas around the world, but also a cozy home for more than a hundred of pandas. You will be able to observe pandas of all ages eating, playing, rolling on the ground and climbing trees.

After lunch, you are about to set foot in the Wenshu Monastery, which is rich in history and culture. Once a famous Buddhist temple during the Tang Dynasty, it has now become a sacred place for tourism full of divine meaning.

At 20:30 pm, you will take a flight to Shangri-La.

  • Songzanlin Temple - Potatso National Park - Visit to a Tibetan Family

  • 4+stars Hotel

  • Breakfast


After breakfast, you will visit Songzanlin Monastery. This magnificent temple is known as the "Little Potala Palace" because it is modeled after the architectural style of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Visitors can experience the strong religious and cultural atmosphere here and observe the real scenes of monks' daily life - praying and chanting. You will feel the unique charm of Tibetan culture

If you have enough time, you can also take a walk along the shores of Lake Lamyangtso, where the clear waters of the lake reflect the panoramic view of the Songzanlin Monastery.

Next, you will go to Pudacuo National Park. It has a comprehensive natural landscape of highland lakes, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, canyons, meadows and pastures.
There are also many hiking routes to choose from in the park, allowing you to explore this natural wonderland more deeply.

Tips: Pudacuo Park is at an altitude of 3500m-4150m, please avoid strenuous exercise to avoid plateau reaction. In addition, some areas may be temporarily closed due to environmental protection needs

After a pleasant day in Pudacuo, we will visit a local Tibetan family. You will experience the life of the Tibetan people, taste the authentic Tibetan snacks and buttered tea, and learn the process of making buttered tea with the locals.

  • The Dukezong Old Town - Guishan Mountain Park - Tiger Leaping Gorge - The First Bay of Yangtze River

  • 4+stars Hotel

  • Breakfast


You will continue to explore the old town of Dokezong, one of the best-preserved and largest Tibetan residential complexes in China. Located in the heart of the old town is Guishan Mountain Park. Climbing to the top of the mountain, you will overlook the snow-capped mountains.

Then you will go to the Jinsha River, which is the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in China. It crosses the towering Hengduan Mountains, forming a unique canyon landscape.

Next you will see the stunning view of the Yangtze River rushing down from the Tibetan Plateau and making a sudden turn to form a spectacular U-shaped bend near the town of Shigu, which is known as the "First Bay of the Ten Thousand Mile Yangtze River". This scene is rare in the world and is a paradise for photographers.

Tiger Leaping Gorge is a section of the upper reaches of the Jinsha River and one of the deepest gorges in China. The width of the river at its narrowest point is only a few dozen meters, and it is said that a tiger can leap over it, hence the name "Tiger Leaping Gorge".

Today, we will visit the Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge - one of the most famous attractions in Tiger Leaping Gorge. Walk along the trestle for about 1,000 steps and feel the shock of the tumbling river.

(Tips: Tiger Leaping Gorge is suitable for most travelers with good physical strength. To ensure the comfort of your journey, it is recommended that you wear comfortable hiking shoes.)

  • Yuhu Village - Baisha Village - Shuhe Ancient Town - Dongba Culture Museum

  • 4+stars Hotel

  • Breakfast


In the morning, you will depart for an ancient village. At the southern foot of Yulong Snow Mountain, there is a village called “Wuluken”, which means village at the foot of the snow mountain, and this is the Yuhu Village.

Facing a crystal clear lake, the village is surrounded by snow-capped mountains with magnificent views. With blue skies, white clouds and fresh air, it is a paradise away from the city.

Afterwards, you will proceed to Baisha Ancient Village to admire the Baisha murals at Dabao and Liuli Monastery, which were painted 500 years ago, showing the fusion of Dongba culture and Tibetan Buddhist style.

Then you will go to Shuhe Ancient Town. Shuhe Ancient Town is an ancient Naxi town full of historical heritage. With rich historical and cultural heritage and unique folk customs, it is an important window to understand the history and culture of the Naxi people.

Next you will visit the Dongba Culture Museum, a museum focusing on the display and preservation of the Naxi Dongba culture, an important place to learn about the history and culture of the Naxi people and the Dongba culture.

  • The Old Town of Lijiang - Zhoucheng - Xizhou Old Town

  • 4+stars Hotel

  • Breakfast


After breakfast, you will be transferred to Lijiang for about 2 hours. This is a World Heritage Site and a magical place where time seems to slow down. You can stroll through the old alleys around Sifangjie Square, browse the specialty stores and bars, and experience the hustle and bustle of Lijiang's Old Town.

If you are interested in the history of Lijiang, you can visit the Mufu Palace, which is the landmark of Lijiang Ancient City and was originally the office and private residence of the Lijiang Tusi. Now it has become an important place to understand the history and culture of the Naxi people.

Next, we head to Zhoucheng, the town of tie-dye. You can experience the production process of tie-dye craft and feel the charm of traditional culture.

Afterwards, you will come to the morning market in Xizhou Ancient Town, where people dressed in traditional costumes trade fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and daily necessities, giving you a close-up experience of the Bai people's living atmosphere.


Recommended Activities:
Climbing up to the Shizishan Observation Deck, you will have a magnificent panoramic view of the whole Lijiang Old Town. You can also see the Yulong Snow Mountain in the distance.

  • Three Pagodas Temple of Dali - Lake Erhai - Dali Ancient Town

  • 4+stars Hotel

  • Breakfast


Early in the morning you will visit the Three Pagodas Temple of Dali, a royal monastery during the Dali Kingdom. Historically, it has been a representative of Buddhist culture and art, attracting many monks and devotees to practice.

Afterwards, we will go to the famous Erhai Lake . The water of Erhai is so clear and transparent that it has been called the "Flawless Jade among the Mountains" since ancient times. You can choose to take a sightseeing bus, a boat tour, or try to ride a bicycle around the lake to explore the Erhai Lake.

Optional:

1. The Erhai Sightseeing Bus Tour costs RMB 50 per person for about an hour and follows the shoreline of the Erhai Lake.
2. If you want to get closer to the Erhai Lake, you can opt for a boat trip, which lasts about 2 to 3 hours and costs from RMB 145 per person.
3. Of course, if you love sports as well as want to explore the Erhai Sea freely, then cycling along the Erhai Sea will be a good choice. The approximately two-hour bike tour costs from about RMB 50 per person.

Afterwards, we will step into Dali Ancient Town, the former ancient capital of the Dali Kingdom. Here, you can enjoy the unique Bai culture. Stroll along the stone streets, admire the ancient buildings and traditional houses, taste the local cuisine, and visit the beautiful sites around Dali Old Town, such as Drum Tower and Wuhua Pagoda.

Next, we will explore Honglongjing, Renmin Road and Yangren Street. These are places where ancient dwellings meet modern bars and cafes. The bustling stores are filled with Yunnan's specialties and handicrafts.

Recommended Activities:
You can learn to make Dali's specialty flower cake. This traditional pastry is made with fresh rose flowers as the main ingredient, which is very delicious. After you finish making it, you can take the flower cake home as a wonderful reminder of Dali culture.

  • Dali to Kunming- Yunnan Museum of Ethnic Minorities - Xishan Mountain

  • 4+stars Hotel

  • None


Early in the morning, you will take a high speed train to Kunming, known as the "Spring City of China".

Yunnan is the province with the largest number of ethnic minorities in China. This afternoon, we will take you to visit the Yunnan Museum of Ethnic Minorities, which is regarded as the largest ethnic minority museum in Asia. Here, you will have the opportunity to experience the profound culture and unique charm of 25 ethnic minorities in Yunnan up close.

Then you will visit Xishan Mountain, known as “Sleeping Beauty Mountain”, which offers a panoramic view of Dianchi Pond.

In addition to the natural landscape, there are also ancient sites such as the Dragon Gate(Longmen)where you can enjoy the art of grottoes.

If you are interested, we recommend you to visit HuatingTemple and Taihua Temple. Both temples are included in the entrance fee, where you can enjoy the ancient Buddhist culture and feel the peace of mind.

  • Stone Forest - Cuihu Park - Kunming Departure

  • 4+stars Hotel

  • Breakfast


In the morning, we will come to the Stone Forest, which is regarded as “the essence of the world's karst landscape” and listed as a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO. 

Taking a sightseeing bus, we will go deep into the Boulder Forest Scenic Area, as if entering a labyrinth of giant boulders. Along the way, you'll see towering concentrations of rocky peaks and unique panoramas of rocky forests.

Next, we will continue by bus to the Little Stone Forest. Here you will have a chance to see the iconic stone “Asima”, a realistic boulder that resembles a graceful young lady.

While you are visiting the Stone Forest, you can also experience the unique charm of Yi ethnic minority culture, enjoy the traditional songs and dances of the Yi people, and taste the authentic Yi cuisine.

Next, you can take a leisurely walk to the nearby Kunming Cuihu Park. From November to March, black-headed gulls from Siberia migrate here, where they spend the warm winter months and become a unique sight in the park.

After today's tour, you will be transferred to the airport or train station for your flight or train to your next destination.

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