West Yunnan Tour

Romantic Dali welcomes you! Upon your arrival at the airport or the train station, you will be greeted by our guide with a sign bearing your name on it at the exit. To leave enough time for the following arrangement today, we recommend that you arrive early in the morning. After picking you up, the guide will first transfer you to the hotel for check-in and drop off your luggage.

Then, in the company of our guide, take your time to explore Dali Ancient City, which is the birthplace of Bai culture, with civil dwellings mainly in the distinct Bai ethnic architectural style. The first thing that comes into view is the towering ancient city walls built in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), with brick and stone interlaced so exquisitely that it attracts many people to take wedding photos here. Stroll along City’s central axis, flagstone-paved Foreigners’ Street, and you will be dazzled by quite a few small stores selling local handicrafts, cafes and bookstores with a strong ambiance of literature and art. On the way, pay a visit to Wuhua Tower, which is not only a landmark of the city, but also an important place to discover Dali’s history and culture. In the Temple of Guan Yu, you can also witness the making process of the famous Three-course tea of the Bai people and enjoy its unique tea aroma. Afterwards, go back to the hotel.

► Dinner Suggestion (at your own expense):
Right in the heart of Dali Ancient City, there is a Chimido Farm Restaurant that should be your first choice for dining. It is Dali’s first restaurant to practice the healthy life concept of “farm to table”, that is, almost all of the ingredients on its menu are sourced from its own farm, and all dishes’ cooking processes are heavy on original flavor rather than seasonings. And the menu will be adjusted according to the season to ensure that you can eat the freshest organic food. In addition, if you are lucky enough, you can also enjoy an occasional open-air fair in its courtyard. Home-baked cakes and breads, hand-made knickknacks and second-hand items from nearby artisans will surprise you. There are also musical performances and themed parties sometimes. Overall, you will definitely have a delightful dining experience in this nice restaurant.
Average Cost per Person: CNY 100 / USD 14
Address: 204 Yeyu Road, Dali Ancient City

Accommodation: Dali Iridescent Clouds Hotel

If Dali Ancient City is the precipitation of history, then Erhai Lake is the gift of nature. Today, rent a bicycle at your own expense and ride along the Ecological Corridor of Erhai Lake to get a taste of its charm. It is sometimes quiet like a mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds and the lofty Cangshan Mountain; sometimes shimmering, as if countless gems “jumping” on the Lake. Along the way, you will pass several observation decks, each of which is perfect for taking satisfying photos. Stop every now and then to record this tranquility and beauty.

After that, enjoy a private transfer to Tengchong, which takes approximately 4.5 hours. Tengchong has had volcanic eruptions from more than 3 million years ago to 3,000 years ago and is the world’s rare and most typical volcanic geothermal coexisting area. Ranked one of the four major volcanic groups in China, it is known as the “Natural Volcanic Geology Museum”. After arrival, the guide will assist you to check into the hotel. Have a good rest for tomorrow’s itinerary.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Guanfang Hotel

Start today with a sightseeing of Dieshuihe Waterfall, also known as “Dragon Cave Curtain”, which is the only volcano barrier waterfall in China and one of the 12 great landscapes in Tengchong. It is a magnificent sight formed when the water of the Dayingjing River splashes down from a height of 46 meters (150 feet), just like the Milky Way pouring down, like snow blowing or clouds floating. Under the sunlight, it often shows an intoxicating rainbow as well. Accompanied by our guide, you can climb up to the viewing tower on the opposite mountain to enjoy the splendid panorama of the waterfall. Then continue the visit to Tengchong Hot Sea, a natural spa paradise. There are 64 geothermic active areas and 80 hot spring groups, 10 of which have the highest water temperature of more than 96 degrees Celsius, shrouding the whole area in the white steaming mist. Expect to see the most typical Big Boiling Pot, a spring with a diameter of more than 6 meters (20 feet), surrounded by a fence decorated with animal images of the Chinese zodiac for the safety of tourists. Here, discover some mysterious legends behind those springs from our guide. If you plan to enjoy the hot springs for an extra fee, you can ask the guide to leave some time for you, and prepare your swimsuit and towel in advance.

Afterwards, we will drive you to Heshun Ancient Town, an important stop on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road and the Southwest Silk Road. Heshun has been a cultural town and a famous hometown of overseas Chinese since ancient times. For more than 600 years, the cultures of the central plain, Western countries, Nanzhao, and frontier areas have blended and collided here, forming the unique culture of Heshun. The buildings here are built around the mountains. All over the town, you will find several ancestral halls, memorial archways and ancient houses from the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911). As you stroll down the alleys, also take your steps deep into Wenchang Palace, Wanlouzi Folk House Museum, Liu Family Courtyard… Then, our guide will transfer you back to the hotel.

► Dinner Suggestion (at your own expense):
Before being escorted back to the hotel, it is recommended that you enjoy a delicious meal in the rather popular Jilaoban Fireplace in the Town, and our guide will be glad to help you locate it. This is a barbecue restaurant, which is characterized by the use of volcanic rocks as cooking utensils. As it has many small holes and contains a variety of minerals, it is smoke free and healthy when barbecued. A whole slab of volcanic rock is carved into the shape of a 40-centimeter square inkstone, heated, covered with BBQ paper, brushed with a thin layer of oil, and then meat and vegetables can be put on it. Rest assured that the ingredients you will eat are fresh and all meats are well seasoned here. Yunnan’s local specialty, Baojiang tofu, is highly recommended. After grilling, its skin tastes very tenacious, while the inside is still tender slurry.
Average Cost per Person: CNY 70 / USD 10
Address: middle section of Lijia Alley, Shizilu Village, Heshun Town, Tengchong

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Guanfang Hotel

This morning, embark on a fairyland journey to Yunfeng Mountain. It is a famous Taoist mountain in Yunnan, with an elevation of about 3,000 meters (9,842 feet), standing like an upright bamboo shoot from a distance. At the foot of it, you will be welcomed by dense villages and luxuriant bamboo trees. The roadside vegetable gardens surrounded by bamboo fences and the rice fields full of water show a strong flavor of the local Dai villages. Further ahead, the stunning views of Yunfeng will appear in front of your eyes. It is so named because there are often clouds and mist wreathed the mountainside. At the summit, appreciate the Yunfeng Temple built in the Ming Dynasty, which is composed of several quaint halls and pavilions with cornices and warped eaves. To make it less strenuous for you, we provide you with a round-trip cable car up and down the mountain.

In the afternoon, make our way to Ginkgo Village. As a primitive village with more than 30,000 ginkgo trees, it has become a popular tourist and photography spot in Tengchong, especially in late autumn from late October to December. Into the village, you will see the low walls of each house's yard were built out of volcanic stones and ginkgo trees were planted in front of and behind them. People and trees thrive together, forming an intoxicating beauty of "village in the forest, trees in the home, and people in the painting". In addition, you can admire a variety of folk handicrafts here, including the shadow puppets, paper umbrellas, and Jiangdong Embroidery. After the visit, our guide will escort you to the hotel.

► Local Delicacy Recommendation (at your own expense):
Dajiujia, a kind of fried rice cake slices, is a traditional snack in Tengchong and one of Yunnan’s ten classic dishes. After the rice is washed, soaked, steamed, mashed and kneaded, the ingredient of this dish, Erkuai, is made. Cut into triangular-shaped slices and stir-fried with eggs, tomatoes and scallions, and you will get this delicacy. Its history can be dated back to 1658, when the last Emperor Yongli of the Ming Dynasty fled to western Yunnan after the dynasty’s fall and entered into a peasant’s home due to excessive hunger. The kind owner cooked him a dish with the only ingredients, and he was deeply moved and said “It saved Zhen’s life” (Chinese ancient emperors used “Zhen” to refer to “me”). Only then did the peasant realize that the comer was the emperor. Since then, Dajiujia has become popular in Tengchong. It can be easily found in most eateries or roadside stalls, costing about CNY 20 - 30 (USD 3 - 4) per person.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Guanfang Hotel

97 volcanic mountains, well-preserved volcanic cones, caves, lava stones, and volcanic lakes in Tengchong Volcanic Geothermal National Geopark awaits your exploration. After entering the park, you will first see the Volcanic Geology Museum on the right, where you can get a knowledge of its formation and structure. Further inside, the well-known Dakong Hill and Xiaokong Hill will appear. These two are only a few hundred meters apart, and if view down from the air, they look like a dragon with open eyes lying down. Walking along the main road to the foot of Dakong Hill and then climbing more than 600 steps to the top, you will find that there seems to be no trace of it once “fire”. Almost all around the hill are covered by lush woods, and the crater is also full of green bushes scattered with several blackened stumps, making you can’t see the bottom. Then, go with our guide to behold more wonders. If you are interested, take an exciting hot air balloon ride at your own expense.

Next, let’s head to Beihai Wetland Park. As the only national wetland reserve in southwest China, it features the dammed lake scenery formed by the Quaternary volcanic eruption rock flow blocked the Dayingjiang River valley. Surrounded by mountains, the wetland has a peaceful water landscape decorated with floating plants, like a gorgeous carpet. When the wind blows, the water grasses wave gently, as if they are performing an elegant water ballet. From time to time, flocks of waterfowls pass by, whose ringing voice breaks the quiet, adding endless vitality to this area.

► Travel Tip: In order not to get your clothes wet, you’d better prepare slippers, shorts and a towel for yourself. Also, you can rent a pair of rain shoes in the park.

Now, bid farewell to your 5 days west Yunnan tour from Dali to Tengchong. Our guide will escort you to the airport for your onward journey. Since we don’t want you to make hasty visits today, you are advised to book a flight after 5 pm. We are always at your service if you want to extend the tour to other destinations. Wish you a pleasant voyage!

Meals: Breakfast