Ethnic Culture Experience

When your flight arrives at Dali Airport today, you will find our guide waiting for you outside the arrival hall, holding a welcome banner which reads your name and TravelChinaGuide. We will take you to downtown Dali to check in at the hotel that we have reserved for you. Have a good rest to prepare for your following tour.

Dali Ancient Town is our first stop today to let you take in Dali’s essence. In this town, ancient and modern Chinese and Western elements coexist in harmony. If you like, we will lead you to climb to the second floor of landmark Wuhua Tower, which magnificently sits in the central town, to discover the wonderful scene of Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake in full view. Enter the Confucius Temple to see the memorial tablets dedicated to 42 ancient saints such as Confucius and Mencius. You will also pass the only Catholic Church in the world that enjoys Chinese traditional architecture with Bai ethnic flavors. A variety of curious stalls with services of Chinese fortune-telling, western tarot reading and traditional Chinese medicine pulse diagnosis and more will dazzle you on the People's Road. Distinctive souvenirs like tie-dye bags and mushroom fridge magnets can also be found here, and pick just one or two if you like as you still have chance to catch later in this trip.

Next on our itinerary is the Three Pagodas. You will see a towering pagoda in the middle with typical Tang Dynasty (618-907) architecture and two small that date back to the Song Dynasty (960-1127). These three pagodas still stand intact after 33 earthquakes throughout history, even if they were built without foundation! After the visit, you will be taken around the Ecological Corridor of the Erhai Lake to enjoy stunning azure lake water and its surrounding sceneries including traditional Bai ethnic buildings. Several popular cycling routes along the Erhai Lake are also available for you, and if you are interested, our guide is willing to give you some advice and help you rent a bike at your own expense. After that, let’s go back to the hotel.

► Dinner Suggestion (at your own expense):
Still want to enrich your Bai cultural experience? Then go to Plum and Well Restaurant (Dali Ancient Town branch) for your dinner. The restaurant has been in Dali for more than 30 years, mainly serving Bai-flavored cuisine, and most of the authentic recipes have been passed down from generation to generation. It is a quaint traditional Bai courtyard house with a history of 100 years, in which you can see traces of history everywhere. There is a plum tree from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and an old well complementing each other, and the waiters here are all wearing Bai traditional outfits. Enjoying food in such an atmosphere is really an enjoyment.
Average cost per person: CNY 100 / USD 14
Address: No. 130, Renmin Road, Dali

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Today, you will be taken to another attractive city in Yunnan, Lijiang. En route, stop at a local market in Xizhou, where you will have an interesting culinary experience of making Xizhou Baba, a specialty snack of the Bai people. Learn to knead small doughs with other ingredients such as diced meat or brown sugar, and then bake them in a pan. In about ten minutes, you can taste the yummy pastry made by your own. Then, continue to visit a grand mansion, Yan’s Compound. This residence-turned museum displays not only typical Bai-style traditional architecture, but also marble ornaments exquisitely carved with vivid auspicious animals such as kirin and elephants, which will make you wonder at the craftsmanship and wisdom of Bai people.

Upon arrival in Lijiang, check in at the hotel and have a short break. After that, head to the Square Street in Lijiang Old Town to make merry. Square Street is the heart of the town, with alleys extending in all directions and various restaurants and bars making it the liveliest place in the town. Many buildings here are the heritage of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911), and with red lanterns, the whole scene would take you back in time. When it’s late, you can leave with your guide or choose to roam here on your own until dark. Imagine those lanterns lit and reflected in canals that spread all over the town - a view you won’t want to miss. There is also a bonfire party at 7 pm., where you can sing and dance to indigenous music with the local Naxi people and travelers from all over the world.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

As Lijiang’s most representative natural scenery, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is of course on our agenda. After breakfast, you will be accompanied by our guide to see the most sublime sides of this mountain, which is sacred in the hearts of the Naxi people. We will first take you to the Ganhaizi Meadow, where you’ll be captivated by the endless expanse of green and breathtaking panoramic views of the Snow Mountain. Reach further inside to discover the aquamarine Baishui River sandwiched in a valley, fed by meltwater from the glacier and snow fields at the top of the mountain. Then take a ropeway uphill to the Spruce Plateau, the most romantic spot here and you may see many couples taking wedding photos.

Afterwards, we will transfer you to the Baisha Village, the first gathering place of Naxi People in Lijiang, to appreciate 600-year-old-plus Baisha Murals. Here, many residential houses, temples, and palaces in the village have murals painted on the walls, and one of the sites your guide will take you to check out is the famous Dading Pavilion from the Ming Dynasty. The murals combine the art of Han, Tibet and Naxi peoples and portray the religious stories of Taoism and Tibetan Buddhism, which embodies the Naxi people's open attitude towards religious integration. Then, a local Naxi family visit will help you further understand the Naxi culture. Maybe learn a few words of Dongba language from the host, who might also provide a chance for you to try on their traditional attire. Finally, we will take you back to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

After breakfast, we will drive you to another popular destination in Yunnan - Shangri-La. On the way, we will stop to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is famous for its steepness and is one of the deepest of its kind in China. Here, billowing waves and howling water will strike you to the core. What’s more, its hiking routes are highly sought after by outdoor backpackers from home and abroad. Then, when passing through the Stone Drum Town, appreciate the First Bend of the Yangtze River, a spectacular U-shaped bend formed by the River rushing from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau via this town to central plains, which kicked off the development of Yangtze civilization. After arriving at Shangri-La, check in at the local hotel and have a good rest.

► Dinner Suggestion (at your own expense):
Lying next to Tibet, Shangri-La provides you opportunities to try authentic Tibetan food! Dagemam Tibetan Meal Restaurant is located right in the Dukezong Old Town and is run by local Tibetans. The interior is full of Tibetan flavor, and the colorful tapestries and tables will make you feel like being in a real Tibetan home. Tibetan food is mainly made of meat such as beef, mutton, pork and chicken, complemented by vegetables like potatoes and radishes, with staples like barley noodles or rice. With the integration of ethnic groups, it has also undergone some improvements to better suit the tastes of modern people, and is now favored by tourists from home and abroad.  After meal, it’s also good to take a stroll around the town to admire those Tibetan buildings - they are the best-preserved and largest group of Tibetan architecture in China - and encounter local residents in traditional Tibetan dress dancing in Guozhuang folk dance on the Square Street. There are also some handicrafts reflecting the crafting talent of the Tibetan people.
Average cost per person:  CNY 50 / USD 6
Address: No. 4, Dianraca, Square Street, Dukezong Old Town, Shangri-La

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

In the morning, we will guide you to visit Yunnan’s largest Tibetan Buddhist temple, Songzanlin Monastery, which is also known as the “Little Potala Palace” because of its architectural appearance. This magnificent building is also a treasure trove of lots of cultural relics and Buddhist artworks, such as gilded Shakyamuni Buddha statues, palm-leaf scriptures and exquisite gold or silver incense burners. Afterwards, head to Potatso National Park to see serene lakes, lush virgin forests, snow-capped mountains, as well as yaks, sheep and horses leisurely grazing on vast meadows. Stroll along the wooden boardwalk by the Shudu Lake and encounter some squirrels running around. Then continue our trip for a Tibetan family visit to learn about their daily nomadic life and taste their specialty Butter Tea with the host. Butter Tea is a favorite of Tibetans as it has many functions, such as dispelling coldness, remove greasiness and relieving fatigue. After that, you will be transferred to the hotel for rest.

Meals: Western Buffet breakfast

Today, your 7 days private Yunnan tour of Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-la will come to an end. Be sure to pack up all your personal belongings and get ready to say goodbye to picturesque Yunnan. Our driver will escort you to the airport according to your departure flight time. Wish you a pleasant trip back home! 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast