6 Days Yunnan Travel to Kunming, Lijiang and Shangrila

Today you will take the flight to Kunming. When arrival, we will pick you up from the airport and transfer to the hotel check in. The rest of the day you can have a rest at the hotel or enjoy your leisure time in Kunming on your own.

Buffet breakfast at hotel, then drive along the new express way to Stone Forest. Stone Forest is 75 kilometers from Kunming and is accessible by a bus ride of 70 minutes. The Stone forest belongs to the typical Karst geomorphology, it consists of innumerable bizarre-shaped ancient limestone cliffs and peaks created by wind and water erosion some 200 million years ago, and this area is praised as the “First Wonder Under Heaven”. Next we are going to Jiuxiang, is a national geopark. Due to the erosion of the surface water system, the area has formed more than 500 million years ago, multi-layer karst caves, rift canyons, cave.

After breakfast, we will take the fast train to Lijiang and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient city of Lijiang can be traced back to more than 800 years ago. Besides its unique architecture and local ethnic culture, it is also known for its orderly arrangement of bridges and waterways. Walk along the winding cobbled paths — it is said that you won't get lost as long as you follow the water.

What a fantastic day today! In the morning, we will go out early to visit the magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which is the snow mountain closest to the equator of the Northern Hemisphere. Taking 25 minutes' cable car to Glacier Park, you will see the vegetations changes with ascending altitude. Walk along the plank road to reach 4680m and appreciate the fairyland with ice and snow.

In the afternoon drive to Shangri-La

After breakfast, drive to Shangri-La, first visit Songzanlin Monastery, which is one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Yunnan. Here, tranquillity prevails, as its 700 monks and acolytes (often beginning their training at the age of five) go about their daily lives – just as they have done for more than three centuries. Next we will drive to Pudacuo National Park, the first national park in mainland China. In Tibetan language, Pudacuo means reaching the opposite side of the lake by boat under the help of deity. forest, marsh, valley, alpine meadow and so on can be seen in the park. Then travel to the Dukezong Ancient Town, Dukezong Ancient Town is Located on the southeast corner of Shangri-La County in Yunnan province, Dukezong Ancient Town is an ancient Tibetan town with a history of more than 1,300 years. Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and was built for the Tubo Kingdom of the Tang Dynasty. "Dukezong" is a Tibetan pronunciation, meaning "Moonlight City" and "castle built on stone”. Just behind Dukezong is Guishan Park with the world biggest prayer wheel. Climb up to the temple on the top, enjoy the panoramic view of the city. At night, you can join locals dancing in the square.

After breakfast, take the fast train to Kunming and airport transfer  you will say farewell to Yunnan and be transferred to the airport, take the flight back to your home. It has been a great holiday and we look forward to seeing you another China tour.