Essence of Kunming & Lijiang

Welcome to the beautiful "Spring City", Kunming! After landing at the Kunming Airport, you will be picked up by your tour guide and driver on time, and then they will drive you for 40 minutes to the hotel. On the way, the guide will brief you on this Kunming to Lijiang itinerary of the following days.

After taking a short break, you will be guided to the first stop - the Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market, where you can appreciate not only plants, fish and birds (try to spot native species!), but also collectible jade, jewelry and ethnic tie-dye or batik clothing. You will browse hundreds of stands that are welcoming countless locals and tourists, making this place colorful and lively. Next, visit the Green Lake Park that resembles "an emerald inlaid in Kunming City ". There are two weeping willow-lined causeways that divide the park into four main areas and a mid-lake pavilion at the intersection, which beckons for a visit. The air here is fresh for you to breathe and fish are roaming in lake to admire. Finally, you will be taken back to the hotel for a good rest.

► Dinner Suggestion:
If you prefer to have dinner before heading back to the hotel, we recommend Xiao Ji Po No.8 (Wenlin Street branch), located in a quiet alley near Green Lake Park with refreshing greenery in its yard, and interestingly, its name comes from its original address. Yiliang (a county in Kunming city) Roast Duck is a must-order signature dish. When it comes to Roast Duck, people always think of Peking Duck at first. In fact, Roast Duck is also a delicacy that cannot be missed in Yunnan. Yiliang Roast Duck originated in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and developed and formed its own unique taste since a royal chef settled in Yiliang and started a roast duck business. If you have tasted Peking Duck, you can compare the two to see which one you like better. The per capita cost in this well-decorated restaurant is about CNY 70 / USD 9.

In the morning, you will mingle with locals on a tour to the Zhuanxin Farmers' Market. It is the most popular bazaar for the local people, with more than 600 stalls offering a rich and comprehensive variety of food ingredients and snacks along narrow alleys, where you can feel an exuberance. If you are going to hunt some food, never be shy to bargain over the price as it is an old tradition in this market.

The afternoon will be highlighted by a visit to the Stone Forest. As one of the top scenic spots in Kunming, the Stone Forest possesses amazing natural wonders, boasting towering karst limestone formations, waterfalls, underground rivers and caves. Of course, those stone formations are the crowning glory! Intriguingly, you will find many of them in curious natural shapes such as screen, sword or two birds feeding beak to beak, and they have been given vivid names accordingly. Besides, as Stone Forest is an important gathering place of the Yi people in Yunnan, some names of various stones on this land are closely connected with their myths, legends and history, such as the most famous Ashima, which refers to a brave girl in Yi folklore. Ashima was in love with Ahei, but was abducted by a vicious power. Although she was rescued by Ahei, she was then swept away by a flood when they fled together and eventually turned into a stone statue to protect herself. And you will learn more from our guide all the way. After the tour, a private ride will take you back to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Your guide will see you off at Kunming Railway Station for a morning bullet train ride to Lijiang, which takes around 3 hours. Once you arrive in Lijiang, your local guide will pick you up at the exit of the station and take you to today’s first destination, the Black Dragon Pool Park, a poetic landscaped garden with a group of ancient buildings mainly from the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911). It is also a perfect site to appreciate the lake-reflected Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which sits peacefully in the distance. We will also take you to visit the worthwhile Dongba Culture Museum inside the scenic area. Look into Naxi culture from some of more than 12,000 cultural relics, including precious scriptures, paintings and sacrificial vessels of the Naxi people, which the museum boasts!

Finally, your guide will help you check into a well-selected hotel in Lijiang Old Town. The Lijiang Old Town, 800 years old, prides itself on being one of Lijiang’s three World Heritages. Unlike other ancient towns, Lijiang Old Town has never built a city wall to defend itself as it occupies an advantaged geographical location. We will pass under weeping willows and along the canal in front of traditional buildings first to reach the 500-year-old Mu’s Residence. It was once the official mansion of a local ruler, and is known as the Forbidden City of Lijiang because its layout is very similar to the imperial palace in Beijing. Now it is a must-visit for anyone who want to learn more about the Naxi culture. Out of the mansion, we will head to the center of the town, the Square Street, for you to have a relaxing stroll on your own. There are a dazzling array of street markets, bars, and handcraft workshops, rich in ethnic and cultural elements that you will feast your eyes on.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

As you are going to hike a lot today, you're suggested to have a big breakfast. Then a comfortable ride will take you to the Shigu Town to admire the First Bend of the Yangtze River. You will not only marvel at what a natural masterpiece it is, but also see why it was fought over as a military strategic location since the Three Kingdoms (220-280) in Chinese history - the mild currents make it convenient for war supplies transportation and a broad view for monitoring enemy moves. In addition, the thrilling iron chain bridge will enable you to sense the air of gunpowder left from the past wars.

Then in the early afternoon, we will make our way to the Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is referred to as China’s “Grand Canyon" by National Geographic. The Tiger Leaping Gorge is comprised of the upper, middle and lower gorges. There is a huge tiger statue in the upper gorge, reminiscent of the legend of a tiger leaping across the gorge via the boulder in the middle of the river, which roars forward through the gorge, smashing shores on the way. Your guide will take you to vantage points to appreciate the landscape. Finally, we will return to the hotel. Have a good sleep tonight and get ready for the next day's excursions.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

For an in-depth exploration of Lijiang, this morning we will head for the Baisha Village, the original dwelling place of the Naxi minority. First have a leisurely family visit to a local's residence for a better understanding of their ethnic culture, and then admire the renowned Baisha Murals under your guide's company. You will see some original murals from the Ming Dynasty and some repainted during the Qing Dynasty, which blend Han, Tibetan and Naxi arts to depict both Naxi People’s life stories and religious images of Tibetan Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism.

Your 5 days Yunnan tour package to Kunming and Lijiang will end here. Your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport according to your flight departure schedule and say goodbye to you. We sincerely hope you have had a great time with us.

If you want to extend your tour to other destinations, we are happy to tailor-make an itinerary according to your requirements. Please feel free to contact us at any time you need.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast