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8-Day Kunming-Xishuangbanna-Dali-Lijiang tour map tours photo

8-Day Kunming-Xishuangbanna-Dali-Lijiang tour

Tour Code:TE-YNE-0801
Start in:Kunming
End in: Kunming
Destinations:Kunming → Xishuangbanna → Dali → Lijiang
Day 1  Arrivai Kunming
Upon arrival at the Kunming International Airport, our local guide will meet us. And then we will be transferred to our hotel. Though being the capital of Yunnan with a population of 4.55 million, Kunming remains an ideal, laid-back place for us to relax ourselves. We will visit the landmark of Kunming-the Golden Horse and Phoenix Archway, which is located at the corner of Sanshi Road and Jinbi road. The archway is 12 meters in height, and 18 meters in width. It is a typical architecture of traditional Kunming style. To the north, there is an archway called Zhong'ai Archway. They all are one group of the most important places of interest in Kunming. And then, we will take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of teahouses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings.
Breakfast:ExcludedLunch:ExcludedDinner:ExcludedLodging:Kunming
Day 2  Kunming-Stone Forest-Jinghong
We will drive 86 km to the Stone Forest. There is a local saying: 'It is a waste of time not to visit the Stone Forest while visiting Kunming', which vividly expresses the deep love of the local people toward this world wonder. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder. There, we will visit a local village where Sani people inhabit. After dinner, we'll take an evening flight to Jinghong (which means 'the City of Dawn' in the Dai language), the capital city of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, located in the southernmost tip of Yunnan Province, is a humid tropical area on the border of Myanmar and Laos. Xishuangbanna is home to the ethnic Dai people as well as the golden peacock, the emblem of Yunnan Province. Xishuangbanna is inhabited by a number of ethnic groups, of which the ethnic Dai nationality has the largest population. Visitors will be fascinated by their special customs, festival activities, architectural styles, and garden-like villages.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:ExcludedLodging:Jinghong
Day 3  Jinghong-Botanical Garden-Olive Plain
In this morning, we'll travel by road to Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden and take a stop at the Olive Plain (ganlan ba). The Olive Plain is 40 KM down the Lancang River (the upriver of the Mekong) south of the Jinghong County Town. Local Dai people call the Olive Plain the 'peacock's tail ', meaning the most beautiful part of Xishuangbanna.'It's a natural park with crystal clear river waters and luxuriant forests dotted with ancient temples and the bamboo houses of the Dai people. The Topical Botanical Garden is one of the major attractions in Xishuangbanna. Situated on Hulu Island, the garden contains 3,000 different types of plant. The environment here is spectacular, surrounded by rivers and mountains and containing a wealth of rare and unusual plants, trees and flowers. On the way back, we'll pay a visit to Dais' Garden and join in the water-splashing game.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:ExcludedLodging:Jinghong
Day 4  Jinghong-Wild Elephant Valley-Dali
We'll drive around 50 KM to visit the Wild Elephant Valley (yexiang gu) in the morning. To the Dai people, the elephant is the symbol of good luck, might and longevity. The native Chinese elephant lives in the equatorial forest of Xishuangbanna. The Wild Elephant Valley is the place where elephants roam most freely, and are most often seen. The Wild Elephant Valley is an excellent place to see elephants in their natural state. It has become the most popular tourist site in Xishuangbanna. In the Wild Elephant Valley, the passenger cableway over the forest, (2,063 meters in length), sends tourists to the main scenic spot in which the wild elephants live. Here, all around us, we can drink in the beauty of the rain forest scenery. When the wild elephants appear, we can walk about on the overhead corridor and watch the elephants bathing, playing water games and looking for food. We'll take a flight to Dali after returning to Jinghong in the afternoon.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:ExcludedLodging:Dali
Day 5  Dali sightseeing
Dali, a historically and culturally famous city of China, is renowned for her historical interest. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, it was the capital of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms, the political, economic and cultural center of Yunnan, an important gateway of cultural exchange and trading with southeastern Asian countries, and an important pass of the ancient 'Silk Route of the South'. It has long enjoyed the reputation of 'a land of literature'. We'll travel in the Erhai Lake by boat and visit Jinsuo Island. After landing, we will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style architecture, taste their fragrant three-course tea and explore their distinctive culture. And then, we will visit the Three-pagoda in Chongsheng temple, which is a typical historical symbol of Yunnan. It is also one of the oldest sublime architecture in South China. At last, we will visit the Old Dali Town, which is located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. The Old Dali Town was built in the reign of Emperor Hongwu of Ming Dynasty (1382 AD), and it is one of the National Historic and Cultural Cities. On the east, it faces Erhai Lake, back on Cangshan Mountain. The city tower is a grand historical architecture. There is a road going through the town, on each side of which people are selling marble products, Dali blue dyed cloth, grass handicraft products etc, and some special Dali flavor food as well.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:ExcludedLodging:Dali
Day 6  Dali-Lijiang
In the morning, we'll embark on a scenic drive with Mt. Cangshan on one side and the Erhai Lake on the other, driving to Lijiang ('Beautiful River', a name given by Kublai Khan in 1254.) We'll head for the scenic Black Dragon Pool to explore the rich Naxi minority culture. Once passing the Waterwheel at the entrance of the Old Lijiang Town, we will find ourselves transported into a world of narrow cobblestone streets bordering canals of crystal clear freshly melted snow. It has kept unchanged since the Ming Dynasty (A.D.1368-1644) when the town was founded. Lijiang, possibly the best-preserved old town in China, is one of the last places in this country where we can witness and experience a historical, traditional, ancient urban culture. Remarkably, the old houses with stone foundations, plastered whitewashed brick walls, red wooden doors, shutters and balconies, and sloping tiled roofs, survived a recent earthquake without much damage, while the new concrete buildings were flattened. The canals are lined with weeping willows and decorative arched bridges linking one alley to the next. And then, we'll visit the Wangu Pavilion where we can enjoy a bird's eye view of the Old Lijiang Town. After dinner, we will attend the concert of the ancient Naxi music in the evening.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:ExcludedLodging:Lijiang
Day 7  Lijiang sightseeing
We'll visit Ganhaizi Meadow, Baishui River; visit the Maoniu Meadow (Yak Meadow) in the Yulong Snow Mountain by chairlift. The much famed mountain is situated some 15km north of Lijiang County, located in the southern section of the Hengduan (transversely faulted) Mountain ranges. With thirteen peaks resembling jade pillars holding the sky, it stands majestically on the east side of the Jinshajiang River. The main peak, Mount Fan (Shanzidou), is 5,596 m. above sea level, and is annually snowcapped. The summit's semblance to a crystalline jade dragon gives the mountain its name. Access to the top of the mountain is provided by a cableway from the foot of the mountain to the Maoniu Meadow. In the afternoon, we'll stroll through Baisha Village, which is an enchanting traditional Yunnan village, and we'll drive to visit Yufeng Lamasery. And then, we'll visit the Former Residence of Joseph Rock, famous botanist and expert on Naxi culture. At last, we'll head for Huangshan Village where traditional Naxi people inhabit and we'll take our dinner of local flavor at a Naxi home there.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Lijiang
Day 8  Lijiang-Kunming
We'll take a morning flight to return to Kunming. We'll spend some time exploring the bustling Flower and Bird Market before our farewell.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:ExcludedDinner:ExcludedLodging:Excluded

Private Tour Prices ( Based on per person and shown in US dollars ) 

Group size
Season
2-4 Travelers 5-9 Travelers 10 Travelers &above Children price Single supplyment
 Mar.2008-May.2008 1429 1367 1241 -- 261
 Jun.2008-Oct.2008 1748 1570 1362 -- 300
 Nov.2008-Feb.2009 1412 1350 1224 -- 250
Remark : The above prices will daily float with the USD-RMB exchange rate, all the prices will be confirmed by the exchange rate on the day when you book this tour.
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