Yunnan Highlights: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang & Jade Dragon Snow Mountain – 6-Day Premium Custom Tour

DAY 1 Tourists fly to Kunming — 24-hour free airport pick-up — Check into hotel — Free activities

For guests arriving on an early flight, if time permits, it is recommended to explore the attractions in downtown Kunming, such as Cuihu Park, Jindian Park, Haigeng Dam, Dianchi Lake, and Guandu Ancient Town. You can also visit the "Xiangyun" Food City to taste Yunnan's specialty snacks: experience the dazzling Yunnan delicacies like stinky tofu and small pot rice noodles, while enjoying the atmosphere of the "Spring City"!

DAY2 Kunming — 5A Scenic Area Shilin National Geopark — Ashima Stone — Wild Mushroom Hot Pot — Check-in Hotel

After breakfast, your dedicated guide and driver will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby to set off for the Stone Forest, visiting the famous AAAAA-rated scenic area known as the "Wonder of the World" - Shilin National Geological Park.

The Stone Forest Scenic Area is located in Shilin County, Kunming, and is one of the key attractions in Kunming. The Stone Forest features typical karst geomorphology, with stone peaks, stone sprouts, sinkholes, and underground rivers spread throughout. The forest of peaks transforms into various shapes, including sword-like, tower-like, and mushroom-like formations, all uniquely bizarre and stunningly beautiful.

The Shilin Scenic Area is relatively dispersed in several large areas. The Da and Xiao Shilin Scenic Areas are at the center, with the Nagu Stone Forest located about 12 kilometers north of the Da and Xiao Shilin. The Da Die Shui Scenic Area is located approximately 29 kilometers southwest of the Da and Xiao Shilin, while the Changhu Scenic Area is situated 26 kilometers southeast of the Da and Xiao Shilin. Regular visits to Shilin usually refer to the Da and Xiao Shilin.

Taste Yunnan cuisine ❤ After the Chinese meal, take a car to Kunming for a short rest and enjoy afternoon tea time.

In the afternoon, take a bus to the Yi Township of China,【Chuxiong】 (Chuxiong Prefecture is one of the birthplaces of humanity, boasting a long history and brilliant culture. As early as 1.7 million years ago, the Yuanmou people living in the Jinsha River basin within the prefecture had already entered the Paleolithic era).Distance: approximately 165 kilometers / about 2 hours

Taste the special wild mushroom hot pot in the evening

DAY 3 Chuxiong — Dali — Open-top Jeep — Instagram-worthy Flower Sea Photoshoot (Glass Ball, Sky Mirror, etc.) — Erhai Lake Fiberglass Private Yacht — Dali Ancient Town

After breakfast, take a car to the beautiful Dali, known as the place where dreams begin for many. So why not embark on a journey to fulfill your dreams?

Erhai Lake is located on the east side of Dali Ancient City, at the foot of the lush Cangshan Mountain. The lake is a stunning blue, renowned for its beautiful landscapes and the unique charm of its various villages and towns, making it one of the four famous scenic spots in Dali.

The famous scenery of Erhai Lake is Shuanglang on the eastern shore, where one can enjoy beautiful lake views. The sunlight shines through the clouds and refracts on the water, creating the "Divine Light of Erhai." With the continuous green mountains in the background, it is a picturesque spot favored by photography enthusiasts.

Dali Ancient City is located at the foot of the picturesque Cangshan Mountain, and it was the capital of the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom and Dali Kingdom. This is a great place to live; the locals work at sunrise and rest at sunset, spending their leisure time gardening and sunbathing. Additionally, the sunny weather and moderate temperatures attract countless tourists.

Must-Visit During the Day

In the ancient city, during the day you can stroll along Fuxing Road, which is a pedestrian street in the ancient city. There are numerous shops on both sides of the street selling local specialties such as marble carvings, ethnic costumes, and local delicacies. As you wander between the colorful shops, you can find unique ethnic-themed items. If you get tired or hungry, the small food stalls along the roadside offer distinctive local snacks.

Nightlife in the Ancient City

At night, you can mingle with the locals and gather around Yangren Street and Renmin Road, where there are numerous特色 bars and small cafes. Some places even have resident singers or impromptu performances by travelers, creating a lively atmosphere. You can seek out that vibrant experience that belongs to you amidst the drinks and music.

DAY4 Yunnan Ethnic特色 Jade Culture Center — Lijiang — Lashihai — Large Ethnic Song and Dance Performance "Lishui Jinsa" — Lijiang Ancient Town — Sifang Street

After breakfast, take a car to Lijiang and visit Lashi Lake.

Lashi Lake is located 10 kilometers west of Lijiang City. It is a lush wetland with abundant water and beautiful grasslands, where the lakeside is dotted with green grass and schools of fish and shrimp swim in the water, creating a very beautiful environment. This area is also a wintering habitat for many migratory birds, with hundreds of thousands of them spending the winter here each year. As a result, Lashi Lake has become an excellent place for horse riding, boating, and bird watching in Lijiang.

Starting from Lijiang Old Town, head west along Changshui Road, and after crossing a hill (Huangshan Hill), you will see the expanse of water. The lakeside is lush with vegetation, and the mirror-like surface of the water reflects the blue sky and white clouds, creating a tranquil and harmonious scene. Surrounding the lake are Naxi villages, each lakeside village has established horse-riding venues for tourists to enjoy horseback riding and leisurely boating. You can spend a few dozen yuan to rent a horse and stroll along the grassy banks of the lake, breathing in the fresh air of the wetlands; you can also invite a boatman to slowly row you across the lake while enjoying grilled fish; or you can take a longer route around the lake, riding to the deeper wetlands on the opposite side, inhaling the fragrant air of the grass while listening to the horseman’s endless stories of old Naxi tales.

The months between December and February of the following year are the best time for bird watching at Lashi Lake. During this time, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds come from various places to winter here. During the day, the birds forage in different areas, and in the evening, they rest in the grass by the lakeside. Early morning and evening are the prime times for bird watching.

Appreciating the large-scale musical "Lishui Jinsa"

"Lishui Jinsha" is presented in the form of a dance poem and painting, showcasing the unique cultural atmosphere of the northwest Yunnan plateau nurtured by the extraordinary mountains and waters of Lijiang, as well as the ancient cultural treasures of the legendary Naxi Kingdom. Ten items of national intangible cultural heritage comprehensively display Lijiang's distinctive and rich ethnic culture and national spirit.

Lijiang Old Town, also known as Dayan Town, is one of the famous towns along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. It has been the filming location for various films and television dramas, such as "One Meter Sunshine" and "The Wind and Cloud of the Mu Family." Within the ancient town, there are wooden buildings with grey tiles, ancient stone streets, and flowing water under small bridges. Standing on the East Street of the ancient town, you can gaze up and see the stunning Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which is truly picturesque.

Lijiang Ancient Town is built against the mountains, with its streets and alleys laid out along the flowing water. It was once a trading market on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. From Sifang Street, four main roads extend: Guangyi Street, Qiyi Street, Wuyi Street, and Xinhua Street. These four roads give rise to a network of intersecting streets and alleys, forming an ancient town centered around Sifang Street. The Mufu Mansion, praised by Xu Xiake in ancient times, is located near the entrance of Qiyi Street, where one can experience the essence of Naxi ethnic architecture.

The Jade River divides into three in the city, which further splits into nine, and then into countless water channels, creating a scenario where the main streets are alongside the river and the alleys run by the canals, bringing vitality to the ancient city.

The ancient city is filled with shops selling local specialties, including ethnic jewelry, tea, silverware, shawls, and more. In addition, there are numerous restaurants offering a wide range of cuisines, from local flavors to Western dishes like pizza, all of which will satisfy your appetite.

DAY 5 Naxi Folk Culture Experience Center — Yulong Snow Mountain — Glacier Park Cableway — Blue Moon Valley — Return to Kunming by bus from Lijiang

Yulong Snow Mountain is one of the famous attractions in Lijiang and is considered a sacred mountain by the Naxi people. It consists of 13 peaks that rise and fall, resembling a silver dragon in flight, hence the name. Within the scenic area, visitors can take a cable car directly up the mountain, easily enjoying the stunning views of the high-altitude glaciers, which is a highlight for many tourists who come here.

Overview of Snow Mountains

Yulong Snow Mountain is renowned for its "dangerous, strange, beautiful, and elegant" qualities. From the foot to the peak of the mountain, there are multiple levels of landscapes, including subtropical, temperate, and frigid zones. At the foot of the mountain, Gan Haizi is a vast pasture where, during spring and summer, gentian and rhododendrons bloom on the meadows, providing a clear view of the Yulong peaks in the distance. The Spruce Flat, at an altitude of over 3200 meters, is a sacred place for Naxi youth. It is a serene meadow surrounded by ancient trees and dense vines, creating a tranquil environment. Below the thirteen peaks of Yulong, there are 19 modern maritime glaciers that appear like waterfalls hanging from the steep slopes when viewed from a distance, shimmering in the sunlight. Visitors can take the cable car to reach an altitude of 4506 meters and get a close-up view of the glaciers and the majestic main peak along the mountain pathway.

Blue Moon Valley is located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang. It is formed by the melted water of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain flowing through the White Water River. The pool water is crystal clear, displaying a fantastical blue color that is truly eye-catching. Blue Moon Valley features four lakes with different colors: "Jade Liquid" Lake, "Mirror Pool" Lake, "Blue Moon" Lake, and "Listening to the Waves" Lake, along with many small waterfalls scattered throughout, making it a stunning spot for photography.

Take a bus back to Kunming in the afternoon, and check into the hotel to rest upon arrival.

DAY6 Full day of free activities. The driver will take you to the airport according to your flight schedule — return to your warm home, bringing sweet memories to conclude a pleasant journey.