8-Day Ultimate Yunnan Tour: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang & Shangri-La

Drive 86 km to the famous Stone Forest, a must-see attraction in Yunnan. As the local saying goes, "If you visit Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, your trip is incomplete." After lunch, return to Kunming to explore the peaceful Green Lake. Then enjoy a leisurely 20-minute walk to the vibrant Flowers and Birds Market in the city center.

• Yunnna Stone Forest
• Dounan Flowers Market

Start your day early and transfer to the train station. Take the high-speed train from Kunming to Dali. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and visit the Three Pagodas at Chongsheng Monastery. These pagodas, over 1,800 years old, stand in a symmetrical triangle at the foot of Cangshan Mountain, overlooking Erhai Lake. Next, enjoy a boat cruise on Erhai Lake to Jinsuo Islet on the eastern shore. Home to around 200 Bai ethnic families, the island offers beautiful views of Cangshan Mountain, the Three Pagodas from afar, and flocks of birds soaring above the lake. In the late afternoon, take a leisurely walk through Dali Old Town, exploring Foreigner’s Street and the ancient city wall.

• Dali Old Town
• Erhai Lake
• Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery

In the morning, visit Xizhou Town to admire traditional Bai-style courtyards, savor the fragrant Three-Course Tea, and explore the unique Bai culture. Next, transfer to Zhoucheng Village to visit a Bai tie-dye workshop, where you can pick up special ethnic-style souvenirs. After lunch, drive to Lijiang. Spend time relaxing in Lijiang Old Town, a well-preserved city rich in Naxi culture. Nestled at 2,400 meters above sea level, it is surrounded by Lion Mountain to the west, Elephant and Golden Row Mountains to the north, fertile fields to the southeast, and clear streams flowing through. The old town’s layout resembles a large jade ink slab, earning it the nickname “Town of the Big Ink Slab” (Dayanzhen).

• Xizhou Town
• Zhoucheng Village
• Lijiang Old Town

Drive about 30 km to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area. Begin your visit at Ganhaizi Meadow (3,100 meters above sea level), then take a sightseeing bus along the Baishuihe River. Next, ride the cable car up to Spruce Meadow and enjoy a 30-minute hike through the forest. Afterward, take a battery-powered cart to Blue Moon Valley.   After lunch, experience the spectacular Impression Lijiang ethnic show, directed by Zhang Yimou, held right here at Ganhaizi Meadow, high above the sea level.   Later, explore Baisha Old Town, a charming traditional Naxi village. Don’t miss the Baisha Murals, dating back around 600 years, which are part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage since 1997.

• Baisha Old Town
• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
• Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show

Depart from Lijiang and drive about 60 km to the First Bend of the Yangtze River, where the river makes a dramatic turn amidst stunning gorge scenery. Visit the historic Iron Chain Bridge and the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in Shigu Old Town. This small town, named after a large stone drum-shaped marble tablet, offers picturesque views of wheat fields and traditional haystacks in the surrounding valley. Continue to the awe-inspiring Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world. Here, the Yangtze River—known locally as the Jinsha River—rushes through 34 wild rapids. Legend has it a tiger once leapt across the narrowest part, giving the gorge its name. As you journey onward, the landscape begins to shift. Enter the Tibetan cultural region, where barley fields, grazing yaks, and prayer flags welcome you into a new world. Arrive in Shangri-La and take a leisurely walk through Dukezong Ancient Town, an important hub on the ancient Tea-Horse Road connecting Yunnan, Tibet, and India. Climb to the top of Guishan Hill (Tortoise Hill) to spin the world’s largest prayer wheel and take in a panoramic view of Shangri-La and the timeless beauty of Dukezong.

• First Bend of the Yangtze River
• Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Dukezong Ancient Town

Start your day with a visit to Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. Often called the “Little Potala Palace,” the monastery features traditional Tibetan architecture and a serene, spiritual atmosphere.   Next, visit a local Tibetan family and enjoy a unique yak butter lunch, offering a warm and authentic cultural experience.   In the afternoon, explore the peaceful Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park. This park lies in one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. Though it covers only 0.7% of China’s land area, it is home to over 20% of the country’s plant species, around one-third of its mammals and birds, and nearly 100 endangered species.

• Songzanlin Monastery
• Pudacuo National Park
• Tibetan Family

After breakfast, your guide and driver will escort you to Shangri-La Airport for your departure. Safe travels and farewell to the enchanting land of Yunnan.

• Finish tour