7 Days Yunnan Soul Purification Tour with Kunming Lijiang and Shangri-la

Day 1 Kunming Arrival

Our Kunming private tour guide will pick up from the airport holding with a welcome signal "Kunming Private Tour" .  Then transfer to your hotel.

Relax during the remainder of the day. In the evening you can go to the local market to experience the local life, and taste delicious Kunming cuisine.

Day 2 Kunming

In the morning, 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. (Lunch is include)

After 3-4 hours sightseeing, drive back to your hotel in Kunming downtown.

Day 3 Kunming-Lijiang

After breakfast, you will be taken to Yuhu Naxi minority Village that is located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.  The Yuhu Naxi minority village is one of the few traditional villages at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Located 15 km away from Lijiang, this small village can reflect the culture and traditions of its people. Here the houses are built with processed stone and mud locally called monkey head. The street is bordered by house gates carved with simplicity. Everything here reveals the peaceful and original life of the Naxi people. The open-minded Naxi people will happily welcome foreigners to their village.

Then ride a horse to the hillside, trek to the top of the hill. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a sanctuary for rare animals and wild plants. One fourth of all plant species in China can be found here and 20 primeval forest communities shelter a big family of 400 types of trees and 30 kinds of animals which are protected by the state. (Lunch is include)

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain now is a famous scenic spot for sightseeing, mountaineering, skiing, exploration, scientific research and taking holiday. Besides, widespread legends and myths of the Naxi ethnic minority and the unclimbed Shanzidou are all important attractive spots for those who come to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Drive back to your hotel.

Day 4 Lijiang

In the morning, first transfer you to visit the Lijiang Ancient Town.  It is located on the outskirts of the present-day city of Lijiang, Yunnan Province. The old, original village is built around the concept of a network of canals that were intended to provide water to each and every household. The source of the water is Black Dragon Pool, a natural spring from which arises 3 small rivers, denoted simply as the East, West, and Middle rivers.

Then pay a visit to Black Dragon Pool, enjoy the wonderful reflection view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the pool.

Your lunch will be arranged at the local restaurant popular with the local people to stay away from the tourists' meals.

In the afternoon, move on to the Dongba Culture Museum. Dongba Culture Museum is a museum in Lijiang City, which deals with the Dongba culture of the Naxi (Nakhi) people. The Dongba culture is a most inclusive term referring mainly to the language and scriptures. The museum has more than 10000 Dongba cultural relics and various other historical relics and offers the "Dongba Culture Exhibition". 

Drive back to your hotel.

Day 5 Lijiang-Shangri-la

After breakfast, drive about 45 kilometers to view the First Bend of Yangtze River, an extraordinary turn nearly about 180 degrees with beautiful and marvelous views like a wonderful landscape painting unfolding before you. 

Then transfer to visit the one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyons in the world - Tiger Leaping Gorge. It measures 16 kilometers in length and is a giddy gorge of 3900m meters from the waters of Jinsha River to Haba Snow Mountain and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. You’ll walk about 1,000 stairs along the plank road from the entrance to the Tiger Leaping Rock. Take a moment to enjoy the magnificent gorge view and rolling waves. 

After the tour, drive to Shangri-la. Stay overnight in Shangri-la.

Day 6 Shangri-la

In the morning, first drive to visit the Songzanlin Lamasery, it is the largest Tibetan Monastery in Yunnan, built during the Qing Dynasty and established by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1679and also one of the 13 famous Lamaist monasteries in Tibetan regions. The lamasery is built on the slope. It extends from the foot to the top of a mountain, with an imposing and elegant shape. It takes the pattern of the Potala Palace in Lhasa and hence has another name “Small Potala Palace”.

Your lunch will be arranged at the local restaurant popular with the local people to stay away from the tourists' meals.

After lunch, head to visit the Potatso National Park. Potatso National Park is located in Shangri-La County. The park was announced on June 25, 2007, and is notable as the first national park in China to meet International Union for Conservation of Nature standards. It incorporates the Bita Lake Nature Reserve and the Duhu Scenic Area in the Hongshan region. As such they are part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas World Heritage Site.

Your trekking tour in Potatso National Park include the following attractions (Lunch is include):

Bitahai Lake: The lake is a well-known freshwater lake at an elevation of 3540 meters in western Yunnan, and is 41 meters at its deepest point. Horses are also available if you prefer riding to walking. "Bita" in Tibetan also refers to a place where lots of oak trees are growing. In the centre of the lake, a small wooded island is made the shelter for many rare species of birds. If you are lucky enough to be in the non-windy day, the rosy clouds, the snow-capped mountains and the nearby forests are all mirrored in the lake. 

Shudu Lake: The lake is located 43km to the northeast of Shangri-La City. Shudu Lake is 3705 meters above sea level and is one of the biggest lakes in Diqing Prefecture. Now it has been turned into a highland pasture resort. The lake is shallow enough to be called interestingly "a place where one can fish with a wooden stick". The lake water is so clear that you can see the fish swimming around. One special fish in the lake is called the cracked-stomach fish for the crack line strangely running across its stomach. 

After the trekking tour, drive back to your hotel in Shangri-la downtown.

Day 7 Shangri-la-Kunming

In the morning, first enjoy a tour to 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.

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.

Transfer you to the Kunming airport. Our service ends.

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.