10 Days Southwest China Classic Tour with Sichuan and Yunnan

D1 Chengdu Arrival

Pick up service can be arranged at Chengdu train station or Chengdu International Airport, our guide will meet you at the exit with a welcome sign "Chengdu Private Tour". Transfer to your hotel in Chengdu to check in the room.

After a short break in your hotel, our guide will take you to a local restaurant for the hot pot dinner. Hot pot is just another well-known delectable Sichuan cuisine. At the center of your table is a simmering metal pot of stock (spicy or non-spicy), waiting for you to throw in ingredients of your liking: various meats, vegetables, seafood and more.

Then, our guide will take you to Shufeng Yayun Teahouse in Chengdu Culture Park for the Sichuan Opera. Sit back and enjoy a performance packed with wit, humor, lively dialogue, amazing acrobatics, dancing, acting, puppetry and music, all of which celebrate Sichuans creative history in the performing and fine arts. Most acts are derived from Chinese classical novels, legends and folk tales. It features dazzling sets and costumes and is known for two distinct acts: Changing Faces and Rolling Light.

D2 Chengdu

After breakfast, our guide will take you to visit the Renmin Park in Chengdu where you can see how locals spend thier leisure time, strolling in the park, you will see local people drinking tea, playing mahjong or cards, dancing, singing, and playing music.

Next, head to visit the Jinsha Site Runis, which is the museum established in the Jinsha ruins site, and is also a museum to show categories of ancient Shu culture in Sichuan area during Shang and Zhou dynasty.

In the afternoon, take the chance to visit the Wenshu Monastery. It is the best-preserved Buddhist temple in Chengdu. It is the home of the Buddhist Association of Sichuan Province and Chengdu City

The last stop for the tour is Jinli Ancient Street. It is “The First Street of Shu Kingdom”, and it’s a famous snack street in Chengdu. The ambiance was like stepping back into the past, well presented and historically brilliant. Evening stroll is extreme beautiful, and picturesque with the lanterns lit up and the street performances are also wonderful. 

D3 Chengdu

After breakfast, our guide will take you to visit the Dujiangyan Panda Base, the real panda valley in Kung Fu Panda 3. Located at the foot of Mount Qingcheng, this panda base is with picturesque environment filled with bamboo and grass. Have close contact with many giant pandas and red pandas, see them eating bamboo, climbing trees, sitting on the grass, playing together and sleeping, etc. These pandas are as adorable as Po and his fellows in Panda Valley.

In this afternoon, head to Front Mountain of Mount Qingcheng, well known as a birthplace of Taoism. This UNESCO World Heritage site boasts incredibly lush surroundings and secluded tranquility, as well as well-preserved Taoist temples. Hike about half hour to Yuecheng Lake which lying quietly in the middle of the mountain and then take a 5-minute Bayun cableway up to the mountain. Walk to the mountain top and visit the historical Taoist temples along the way, like Shangqing Temple, Laojun Pavilion, experience culture of Taoism and enjoy fresh air and stunning scenery. After learning some Tao on Mount Qingcheng, you can find inner peace here and feel the power Po uses in Kung Fu.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Chengdu.

D4 Chengdu

After breakfast, drive about 2 hours from your hotel to Leshan city to visit the famous UNESCO sites Leshan Giant Buddha. Sitting on the confluence of three rivers in Leshan, the 71-meter-high Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest Maitreya Buddha statue carved out of a cliff in the world. Ancient wisdom and regilious faith of Buddhism created the giant and magnificent cultural treasure, and now is world-known as an amazing UNESCO Natural & Cultural Heritage property in Leshan, nearby Chengdu.

Then, our guide will take you back to Chengdu city to visit the Sichuan Cuisine Museum. is the first museum to display a regional cooking culture in the world where you can learn Sichuan cuisine culture by viewing antiques and relics and using utensil, as well as cook the typical Sichuan dishes on your own to satisfy your taste buds. It will be great fun to play with Chuancais.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Chengdu.

D5 Chengdu--Kunming

Free on your own to explore Chengdu city until transfer to Chengdu airport for your flight to Kunming. Once you arrive, our Kunming local guide will meet you at the exit of the airport, transfer to your hotel in Kunming.

After a short break, our guide will take you to visit the Kunming local Flower & Bird Market. The most attractive shopping market in Kunming. Have a casual stroll along the street and you can see shops and stalls of all sorts, especially those featuring flowers, birds and fish.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Kunming.

D6 Kunming

After breakfast, drive 85 km to the typical Karst landform-- Stone Forest. Walk into the Greater Stone Forest, marvel at groups of gray-black stone peaks and climb up a pavilion to have a panoramic view of the intricate stone forest. 

It covers an area of 2,670 square kilometers and is divided into several scenic areas with names like Greater Stone Forest, Lesser Stone forest, Outer Stone Forest, Underground Stone Forest, Stone Forest Lake, and Da Dieshui Fall. The Stone Forest was formed by karst two million to thirty mullion years ago. The Forest was contains peaks, pillars, stalagmites, depressions, underground rivers, and caves. The fantastic stone pinnacles rising abruptly from the ground resemble a huge, dense forest. Many of the stone pinnacles are associated with legends. 

In the afternoon, you will be taken to the Golden Temple, located on top of Mingfeng Hill, about 5 miles from the downtown. It is a Taoist temple and the largest copper temple in China. You will climb up on a series of winding stone steps and pass through three heavenly gates and then finally arrive at the Golden Temple. The hillside around the Golden Temple abounds with many sorts of trees and flowers, most of which are Camellias.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Kunming.

D7 Kunming--Dali

After breakfast, transfer to Kunming train station to catch your train to Dali, it takes around 2 hours by "D" train. Once you arrive, our Dali local guide will meet you at the exit of the train station.

You will visit the Three Pagodas and Chongsheng Temple. Built in 10th century in Nanzhao Kingdom, Three Pagodas is made of one big pagoda and two small pagodas forming a symmetric triangle. If you look at it from a distance, the pagodas are like three giant ballpoint pens breaking up the landscape of the never-ending mountains. Here, you’ll get close to look at the pagodas to know more history and stories, visit the royal temple in Dali - Chongsheng Temple, take awesome photos of Three Pagodas and the reflections…

After that, go to have a relaxing boat trip on the vast Erhai Lake with crystal clear water and charming landscape, which is reputed as the “Immaculate Jade between Mountains”. On Erhai Lake cruise, you’ll enjoy the green Cangshan Mountain and Three Pagodas from afar as well as lots of birds and seagulls flying over the lake. Enjoy an excursion to one of the famous islands for an in-depth look at the peaceful Bai fishing village and other sites on island.

The last spot for today is Dali Old Town. Used to be the ancient capital of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms, Dali Old Town is formed in the square-shaped structure, laid out on a typical north-south, east-west axis with five north-south and eight east-west streets. Wander leisurely through the historic streets with weeping willows dancing and colorful flowers blooming in the sunshine.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Dali.

D8 Dali--Lijiang

After breakfast, our guide will take you to visit the Xizhou village which is made by Bai ethnic group. This village is surrounded by Erhai Lake, and it is famous for historic traditional style living quarters clustering around. You will be escorted to visit homes of local peasants. The farmer’s homes are all traditional Chinese rectangular courtyard with a screen wall facing the gate. You are expected to be treated with genuine tea ceremony of local Bai ethnic group along with a song and dance performance. In Xizhou you will visit the home for local residence in Qing Dynasty and taste the local appetizer-Xizhou Pan baked bread too.

After the tour, transfer to Dali train station for your train to Lijiang. It takes around 2.5 hours by "K" trains. Once you arrive in Lijiang train station, our guide will meet you at the exit of the train station and take you to your hotel in Lijiang.

D9 Lijiang

After breakfast, drive about 30KM to visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. You will take the sightseeing bus for a short visiting through the Baishuihe River, take the chairlift up to visit Yak Meadow of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. You will hike around 1 hour in the original forest in Yak Meadow.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy the Impression Lijang Ethnic Show directed in Ganhaizi Meadow. A cultural show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area. The show takes place inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park at 3500m in an outdoor theater specifically designed to showcase the mountain which is used as a backdrop. The production itself was designed by Zhang Yimou, Fan Yue and Wang Chaoge, with a cast of over 500 people and a number of horses.

Continue your tour to the Baisha Old Town, which is an enchanting traditional Yunnan town. Visit Baisha Mural about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Lijiang.

D10 Lijiang Departure

After breakfast, our guide will take you to explore the Lijiang Old Town. It is famed as one of four best-preserved ancient towns along with Langzhong Old Town, Pingyao Old Town. Lijiang Ancient Town was included into UNESCO's World Heritage Lists. With ubiquitous bridges and canals, elegant wooden houses, charming inns and bars, Lijiang Old Town is hailed as the ''Oriental Venice'' and "Suzhou in Highland".

After the tour, transfer to Lijiang train station or Lijiang airport for your next destination.

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharingone standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered All first     admission/entrance fees in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.