Day 1
Arrive in Kunming
Arrive in Kunming. Be met and transferred to hotel in Kunming. Just relax and take a leisured stroll around Kunming city. You can excurse and reveal this charming city by person. 13 Day Minority Yunnan Tour from South to North is coming soon.
Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, with a history of more than 2400 years, owes its importance to the fact that it was the gateway to the celebrated Silk Road that facilitated trade with Tibet, Sichuan, Myanmar and India. Today the city is the political, economical and cultural center of Yunnan and the provincial center for transport, science and technology and consequently has become the most popular center for tourism in Southwest China. Kunming enjoys a pleasant climate and does its best to live up to its title of 'the City of Eternal Spring'. Whenever you are planning to go, the temperature is always pleasant. With its convenient transport links in and out of the city, Kunming welcomes and sees off tens of thousands of tourists every day.
Day 2
Kunming
Visit the Dragon Gate on the Western Hills Forest Park and then Golden Temple as your Kunming city tour.
Dragon Gate is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion formerly known as Toryumon Japan. Most of Dragon Gate's wrestlers are graduates from ltimo Dragon's Toryumon Gym, and thus the promotion is based on a Junior Heavyweight style with varying emphasis on high flying maneuvers, flashy technical grappling, and submissions. Dragon Gate is often associated with Mexico, as it is basically based on Mexican wrestling style, and many wrestlers in Dragon Gate went to Mexico to train there when they were beginners. Dragon Gate's main wrestlers often describe Mexico as their "mecca".
Golden Temple and Taihe Palace are regarded as two of the most interesting attractions in the Golden Temple Park (Jindian Park). The Golden Temple built during the Ming Dynasty is the most unique and well known structure in the park. The specialist of Golden Temple is its architecture. The walls, sixteen pillars, rafters, roof tiles, altar, statues, altar-hanging, the horizontal inscribed board, the table and even the banner on the right in front of the temple are all made from bronze.
Day 3
Kunming - 
- Kaiyuan
Visit this world biggest rock formation, Stone Forest today. Then drive to Kaiyuan. Driving along Nanpang River will brings you a new kind of experience of Yunnan tour.
Stone Forest is in the Lunan Yi Nationality Autonomous County, Yunnan Province. It covers an area of 2,670 square kilometers and is divided into several scenic areas with names like Greater Stone Forest, Lesser Stone forest, Outer Stone Forest, Underground Stone Forest, Stone Forest Lake, and Da Dieshui Fall. The Stone Forest was formed by Karst two million to thirty mullion years ago. The Forest was contains peaks, pillars, stalagmites, depressions, underground rivers, and caves. The fantastic stone pinnacles rising abruptly from the ground resemble a huge, dense forest. Many of the stone pinnacles are associated with legends.
210 km far away from Kunming, Kaiyuan is thought highly of in the field of traditional martial arts. Stay overnight in Kaiyuan.
Day 4
Kaiyuan - - Jianshui
Drive to Jianshui county, visit the amazing China ever discovered biggest Swallow Cave by boat and walking, tasting fresh cakes made of edible birds nest which is exclusive in our quotation. Visit the Confucius Temple, the 2nd largest Confucius temple in China.
Known as one of "the biggest and most splendid cave in Asia", the Swallow Cave Scenic Region is located in the mountains 30 km east of Jianshui, and consists of a dry cave, a water cave and a 30,000-square-meter natural forest, with a total area of 100,000 square meters. Every year between spring and summer, thousands of swallows will fly here from Malaysia, building nests and giving birth to and raising young swallows. Thus it is named "the Swallow Cave". The local environment is a perfect dwelling for swallows because steep cliffs make it impossible for mice and snakes to come up, and bushes and grassland outside the cave help produce insects that provide abundant food for swifts. The special ecosystem makes a grand scene-"the gathering of thousands of swallows".
The Jianshui Confucius Temple, the biggest temple in Yunnan Province, is Located near the north Gate to Jianshui. Its scale is second only to that of the Qufu Confucius temple in Shandong Province and is now one of the provincial historical relics. It is recorded that the Jianshui Confucius Temple was built in 1285.The temple covers an area of 114mu, imitating the style of the Qufu Confucius Temple, namely, a central - axis structure like a palace. This complex includes a main hall, two side - halls, three pavilions, four gates, five clan halls and eight memorial archways, all of which are kept in gook splendid. Jianshui has about 60 traditional bridges, but the most famous and longest is the impressive 17-arch Double Dragon Bridge, which stretches across the confluence of the Lu and Tachong rivers about 4km west of town. The first three arches were built in the Qing dynasty and the remaining section was built later. A three-story pavilion with flying eaves sits in the middle of the bridge with two smaller pavilions flanking both ends.
Day 5
Jianshui
Visit Chaoyang Gate in this old city of Ming Dynasty and Private Garden of the Zhu Family in Jianshui.
Built in 1389Ad, Chaoyang Gateway Arch stands in the center of Jianshui County. Its significance to Jianshui is the same as that of Tian' Anmen to Beijing, thus it has enjoyed the reputation of "the Miniature Tiananmen. Actually, the Chaoyang Gateway Arch is 28 years older than Tiananmen. It is the symbol of this ancient military town in the southeast border and an emblem of Jianshui, a historic and cultural city.
The Private Garden of the Zhu Family lies in Jianshui Street, Jianshui county, has a total area of 20,000 square meters and a floor space of 5,000 square meters, This grand complex is a typical local residence with distinctive features .As it was built by Zhu Chaoying and his brother in the late Qing Dynasty, it got the name "the Private Garden of the Zhu Family ".
Day 6
Jianshui - - Yuanyang
Drive to Yuanyang from Jianshui. Visit the Qingkou Hani Village.
Qingkou is a typical Hani Village, 6 kilometers in the south of Xinjie Town of Yunayang County. It consists of 150 families and has a population of 800 all of whom belong to the Hani ethnic minority. The village is shrouded in luxuriant forests where you can hear the humming birds and cicadas in summer and experience the primitiveness.
Qingkou Village is noted for the harmony gained among forests, village, terraced fields and water conservation system. Setting foot on Qingkou, you will be definitely impressed by its Mushroom Houses and unsophisticated villagers. A museum has been established to showcase the culture and history of the Hani People. The see-saw mill, sacred forest, grinding mills, ploughs, spades, looms, and other utensils are all worth your visiting. Besides, you also can choose to visit a family and experience the cozy Mushroom Houses.
Day 7
Yuanyang - - Kunming
Drive back to Kunming, enjoy the beautiful scenery of Muslim Village.
A feature in Muslim villages of Yunnan like Wen Min and nearby Tian Bai Mu is the widespread use of Arabic in notices on the wall and street signs. This is particularly heart-warming as one does not usually see such deep devotion in more traditionally Muslim countries like Malaysia. Some houses also hang or have Arabic calligraphy inscribed on their walls and doors. This ranges from the common shahadah, Qur'anic verses, and wise sayings to prayers seeking protection for the household and those who enters it. The notices are characteristically outspoken and religious in tone. It goes to reflect on the confidence of the inhabitants in their faith. One notice had a motivational, Sufi saying that "the sign of loving God is to love the remembrance of him."
Day 8
Kunming - 
- Dali
Take a morning flight to Dali. Go to the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple and Dali Ancient Town in your Dali city tour.
Magnificent Chongsheng Temple together with famous Three Pagodas was originally a Royal temple of the Dali Kingdom (Yunnan province of China) and one of the largest Buddhist centers in Southeast Asia. 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 square kilometers, making it the second largest highland lake of China, after Dianchi Lake. Its circumference reaches 116 km; its average depth is of 11 m and the total storage capacity of 2.5 billion cubic meters.
Dali Ancient Town is about 13km away from Xiaguan in Dali City and is one of Dali's Three Ancients-ancient city, ancient pagoda and ancient steles. History of Dali can be dates back to 1382 during the Ming Dynasty and it has been listed among the top historic cities of China. The town's layout was uniform, with five main streets from south to north and eight main streets from east to west, while marketplaces were neatly arranged within the town, which has remained unchanged to this date. You can experience this ancient town in your China Yunnan tour.
Day 9
Dali - - Lijiang
Travel by road 200Km from Dali to Lijiang. Move on to Lijiang, you will pass through many enchanting minority villages on the way to Lijiang. Upon arrival, visit Lijiang Ancient Town. Enjoy the Naxi Classical Musical Show which is exclusive in our quotation. Feel free to contact our travel advisor about the details and cost.
Lijiang Ancient Town is a place where worth visiting, like great cities as Athens and Paris, it has been listed in World Famous Historic Cultural Cities. It is sometimes known as the Oriental Venice and located on a plateau of about 2,400 meters above sea level, at the mountainside of Yulong Snow Mountain (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain) in northwest Yunnan Province, built about 800 years ago at the time of late Southern Song Dynasty. The Old Town of Lijiang, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture, is a central town of the Lijiang Autonomous County of the Naxi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Province. Located on the plateau which is 2,400 meters (7,874 feet) 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 (Dayanzhen).
Day 10
Lijiang
Visit the Baisha Murals depicting Tibetan, Naxi and Han legends, and the 600-years-old Ten Thousands-Blossom Camellia Tree at Yufeng Lama Monastery. Then visit the Spruce Meadow of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. On the top of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, you will have the opportunity to see the 40000-years-old glacier.
Baisha is a small village 10km north of Lijiang. Although the traditional houses do not look very impressive, Baisha was the historical capital of the Naxi Kingdom and is still a good place to have a glance at the Naxi culture by visiting the famous Baisha Mural.
Locating between 10004'-10016'east longitude and 2703'-2740' north latitude, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Mountain) is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Consisting of 13 peaks, among which Shanzidou is the highest one with an altitude of 5,600 meters (18,360 feet), Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stretches a length of 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a width of 20 kilometers (13 miles). Looking from Lijiang Old Town in the south which is 15 kilometers (nine miles) away, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Day 11
Lijiang - - Shangri-la
Travel by road 180km to Shangri-la. Take a short tour to the Tiger Leaping Gorge on the way, and then continue your Yunnan tour to visit the First Bend of the Yangtze River at Shigu Town before arrival in Shangri-la.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is a canyon on the Yangtze River-locally called the Golden Sands River, located 60 km north of Lijiang City, Yunnan in southwestern China. It is part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas World Heritage Site.
First Bend of the Yangtze River: The Yangtze River Bend, as its name denotes, is the spot where the south running river suddenly turns northward due to changes in the shape of the nearby mountain ranges which form a mammoth V shape at this spot. With the gradual deposit of fertile soil at this spot, a village slowly came into being, now called Shigu Town, meaning "stone drum" in Chinese. Since ancient times, this town has been important, linking Tibet with the outside world. Here Tibetan people bring their quality fell, hide and herbal medicine and take home tea, salt, cloth and other necessities. When market day comes, the town is incredibly crowded and noisy.
Day 12
Shangri-la
Tour the virgin forest of Bitahai Lake Forest Reserve area and Potatso National Park. Fly to Kunming in the evening.
Located 22km east of Shangri-La, Patatso National Park is the first national park in mainland China. In Tibetan language, Patatso means reaching the opposite side of the lake by boat under the help of deity. Bitahai Lake and Shuduhu Lake are two major parts of the park. Besides these two lakes, forest, marsh, valley, alpine meadow and so on can be seen in the park. All major spots are connected by walkable plank; which offers a closer distance for travelers to experience the natural environment. The spectacular mountain scenes and virgin forest scenery will delight your senses, and the Napa Lake lawn, visit the Gedan Songzangling Lama Palace. Visit the Tibetan Family, try home made Yak Butter Tea and Tibetan Cheese.
Day 13
Shangrila - - KunmingDepart from Kunming
In the morning, visit Flower and Birds market and Yuantong Temple as the ending of your Yunnan tour package. Then depart from Kunming. Your wonderful and impressive Yunnan tour in China this time comes to the end!
The Flower and Bird Market at the Jingming Street is an interesting places either for a leisurely stroll or to purchase some lovely things to take home. Stalls in the sprawling market provide great varieties of items from blossoms, potted plants, dedicate art crafts and antiques. Houses lined with the street provide some good examples of traditional Kunming architecture.
Yuantong Temple is at the foot of Yuantong Hill in the northern part of Kunming. With a history of more than 1,200 years, Yuantong Temple is the grandest as well as the most important Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province.
We are sure that you have enjoyed Chinese splendid culture and unique scenery by this China Yunnan tour and you can be our best ambassadors to share that experience with your friends and neighbors. We sincerely hope to see you revisit China again with your friends.
