Wonders of Yunnan: 5 Days Kunming & Dali Highlights Exploration Tour

Day 1 Kunming Arrival

Pick up service is arranged at Kunming train station or Kunming airport, our guide will meet you at the exit with a welcome sign " Kunming Private Tour". Transfer to Kunming city and starts your tour.

Firstly, you will visit the Green Lake Park, it is one of Seattle's most beloved parks. Its expanse of water and green space in the center of a dense urban neighborhood draws thousands of people daily from all over the city. The park consists of a group of 4 small sub-lakes linked by bridges in the traditional style. The lake was originally a water reservoir for the city.

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

Day 2 Kunming

After breakfast, our guide will take you to visit the Western Hills which is called “Sleeping Beauty Hills”, looking like a beautiful young lady lying beside Dian Lake. It will be a perfectly lovely trip to walk in this long wedge of parkland and explore the famous temples (Huating Temple and Taihua Temple included) and other cultural relics. 

There is a saying: If you do not visit Western Hill, you haven't visited Kunming; if you do not come to Dragon Gate, you haven't been to Western Hills. Make some effort to climb up to magic Dragon Gate where you’ll appreciate the panoramic view of Dian Lake as well as see a group of grottoes and sculptures.

Your lunch will be arranged at the local restaurant popular with the local people to stay away from the tourists' meals. (At your own expense or ask your guide to recommend some other restaurants if you have special dietary needs.)

Then, continue your trip to Yunnan Nationalities Museum, the largest minority museum in China. You’ll lift the mysterious veil of China’s 52 ethnic groups and learn through many interesting exhibits like ethnic clothing, textiles, musical instruments, folk masks, folk arts and folk pottery, literature and so on.

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

Day 3 Kunming--Dali

After breakfast, drive about 1.5 hours from your Kunming hotel to visit the famous tourist sites Stone Forest in Kunming. A local saying states: "A visit to Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest is not completed". Stituated close to the bustling city of Kunming, it is a famous scenic area boasting an array of captivating limestone formations. Walking through the site, visitors marvel at the natural stone masterpieces and are bewitched by the intricate formations. The magnificent, strange and steep landscape creates countless labyrinthine vista.

In the afternoon, head to Jiuxiang Scenic Resort: Known as the "museum of karst caves", Jiuxiang boasts more than 100 karst caves and is the largest cave group system in China. The cave formations are very varied and the rivers, waterfalls, and natural rock bridges are very enchanting. The local saying goes, "If one spent his entire life counting the caves in Jiuxiang he may not finish the job". 

After the tour, transfer to Kunming train station to catch your train to Dali. Once you arrive, our local guide will meet you at the exit of train station and take you to your hotel in Dali.

D5 Dali

After breakfast, 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.

D5 Dali Departure

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 next destination.

Price Per Person in US Dollars