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| OVERVIEW |
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ITINERARY |
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PRICING |
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WHAT'S INCLUDED |
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16 days / 15 nights
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| Day Number of Tour |
| Day No. |
Location |
Program |
B |
L |
D |
| 1 |
Arrive Kunming |
Arrive
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D |
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Arriving in Kunming today, you will be met at the airport and transferred to the Green Lake Hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.
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| 2 |
Kunming |
Yuantong Temple, Flower & Bird Markets, Minority Museum
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B |
L |
D |
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Today's sightseeing begins at Yuantong Temple - the grandest and most active temple in Kunming with a history of more than 1200 years. Having embodied all the essentials of Tang architecture, the temple possesses a style of its own. Continue to the Flower and Bird Market - strolling on the market street, we can see shops and stalls of all sorts, especially those featuring flowers, birds, and fish. Begin learning about Yunnan's minority population at the Minority Museum. Displays focus on 8 specific subjects relating to 26 minority nationalities in Yunnan Province.
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| 3 |
Kunming / Yuanyang |
Spectacular Rice Terraces
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B |
L |
D |
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Depart by road this morning southward toward Yuanyang, the center of many traditional minorities and set in a magnificent landscape of terraced fields. Arriving in Yuanyang, we check-in at the Yun Ti Hotel. Yuanyang is located at 2000 meters above sea level and the mountains here are sculpted with terraced-fields commonly called "the ladder of the sky". Late this afternoon, we drive through some of the most spectacular rice terraces in China. There will be opportunities to stop and take photos of the breathtaking scenery.
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| 4 |
Yuanyang |
Local market, Minority Villages, Rice Terraces
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B |
L |
D |
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Tour the local market in Yuanyang or in a surrounding village (according to the market rotation), where we discover the full traditional costumes the Hani, Yi, Miao and Yao minorities. Spend the day viewing the rice terraces and visiting the villages, with a unique opportunity to approach the villagers and see their special techniques of agriculture.
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| 5 |
Yuanyang / Jianshui |
Twin Dragon Bridge, Family Zhu's Garden, Confucius Temple,
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B |
L |
D |
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Depart this morning by road for Jianshui. Visit the Twin Dragon Bridge built during the Qing Dynasty and the village of Tuanshan where traditional architecture and wood carvings have been left intact. Continue to Jianshui, where we stroll along the colourful streets of the town and the fortified walls near the Muslim quarter. Check into The Family Zhu's Garden Hotel for overnight. This afternoon, explore the hotel precincts - the garden of the Family Zhu, a typical residential structure of southern Yunnan. Learn about the history of the house and garden and the family itself. A visit will also be made this afternoon to the Confucius Temple, set in a magnificent site with its glistening glazed tile roof.
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| 6 |
Jiansuhi / Kunming |
Stone Forest
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B |
L |
D |
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Make an early start this morning for The Stone Forest, located about 100 km from Kunming. Due to a process of weathering and erosion, nature has created an art gallery of stone sculpture here. This typical Karst physiognomy takes the form of a forest of stone pillars and boulders. It is as if the countless stone shapes have sprung from the ground, assuming different shapes as if vying to surpass each other in grandeur and sublime beauty. Some look like sheets or pillars, others resemble swords raised towards the sky while others, standing in pairs, suggest scenes of young lovers overjoyed in reunion or sad at parting or of a mother and child strolling side by side. Continue to Kunming for overnight.
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| 7 |
Kunming / Dali |
Boatride on Erhai Lake, Dali Old Town
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B |
L |
D |
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Transfer to the airport for departure to Dali. Upon arrival, enjoy a boat ride on Erhai Lake. Erhai Lake is one of China's seven largest fresh water lakes. It means, "sea shaped like an ear", in Chinese, implying that the lake is ear shaped and as large as a sea. The lake covers an area of 250 square kilometres and is located about two kilometres east of Dali. It is like a crescent lying between Cangshan Mountain and Dali city as seen from Cangshan Mountain. After lunch, transfer to the Landscape Hotel, with an opportunity to view the Three Pagodas enroute. Later this afternoon, we discover the charming Old Town.
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| 8 |
Dali / Lijiang |
Xizhou & Zhoucheng Villages, Lijiang Old Town, Naxi Musical Concert
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B |
L |
D |
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Depart this morning for the drive to Lijiang. Enroute, we stop to discover the Bai minority villages of Xizhou and Zhoucheng. Located 18 kilometers north of Dali, Xizhou faces Erhai Lake on the east and rests on Cangshan Mountain on the west. It's not only a historically famous city but also a typical commercial center of Bai Nationality. We spend some time exploring the bustling marketplace. In Zhoucheng Village, famous for local handicrafts we visit a temple and a family tie-dye processing workshop. The patterns of hand-made tie-dyed cloth in particular are pure and beautiful. We check-in to the Zen Garden Hotel this afternoon, and take a walk in the Old Town. After dinner, attend a Naxi musical concert.
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| 9 |
Lijiang |
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha Village, Longquan Village
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B |
L |
D |
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Today's excursion is to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. With thirteen peaks, it stands majestically on the east side of the Jinshajiang River. The summit's semblance to a crystalline jade dragon gives the mountain its name. The Yak Meadow section has rich vegetation coverage, featuring a distinct and complete alpine vertical ecosystem from Subtropical Zone to Frigid Zone. We take a gondola up and down the mountain, where the Yi and Zang Minority Ethnic Tribes live. We continue to Baisha Village to see some of the famous temple frescoes and the village of Longquan.
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| 10 |
Lijiang |
Black Dragon Pool, Leisure time to explore the Old Town
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B |
L |
D |
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This morning, visit Black Dragon Pool. North of the Old Town. Black Dragon Park dates back to 1737, and also encompasses the Moon Embracing Pavilion and Dongba Museum. Lijiang is a small old town laced with canals and bridges, and provides many opportunities to observe the Naxi traditional way of life. After lunch, we take another stroll through the Old Town, and the balance of the afternoon is at leisure to relax or explore further.
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| 11 |
Lijiang / Zhongdian |
Shigu Village, First bend of the Yangtze River, Tiger Leaping Gorge
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B |
L |
D |
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With an early start this morning we set off on the Tibet Highway to Zhongdian. Stop and visit Shigu (Stone Drum) village overlooking the First Bend of the Yangtze River. A world famous geological phenomenon, the river was forced to the turn to north because of the Alpine movements which caused changes in the earth's physiognomy. When the river reaches Shigu Township, it makes an abrupt turn and flows further northward, forming the rare V-shape bend. Time permitting we will take a walk through the busy village.
Continue to Tiger Leaping Gorge, named for the legend of a hunted tiger that leapt across the stone abyss to escape. The gorge is among the deepest, most precipitous and most magnificent gorges in the world. The water here makes violent whirlpools and hits the banks so powerfully that soaring breakers are created. The high waves, soaring water and the mountains shrouded with clouds and mist constitute the most magnificent scene of the gorges. Late this afternoon, arriving in Zhongdian we check into the Gyalthang Dzong Hotel.
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| 12 |
Zhongdian |
Ganden Songzanglin Monastery, Old Town, Pudacuo National Park
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B |
L |
D |
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Zhongdian lies at 3,300 meters above sea level. The Tibetan name is Gyalthang, which means "land of limitless bounty". It is a treasure house of bio-diversity, pristine lakes and snow-capped peaks. Visit Ganden Songzanglin Monastery, and a Tibetan family this morning, and take a stroll through the Old Town of Zhongdian before lunch. This afternoon you may choose to rest, or for those with lots of energy, we will visit Pudacuo National Park. The Park is known for its clear water, and the peaceful environment of the area. As the source of the Shuoduogang River, the park is 3705m above sea level and covers an area of 15 square kilometres. The lake abounds in unique species of fish, with double lips and a golden color. Bordering the lake is one of the best grazing fields in Zhongdian. Every spring and summer, herds of cattle and flocks of sheep can be seen grazing here. There are several short hikes we can take in the park, with absolutely stunning views.
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| 13 |
Zhongdian / Kunming / Depart |
Depart - OR - Extend your stay to Xishuangbanna
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B |
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This morning, fly to Kunming, where the tour concludes. Connections can be arranged to other international gateways or extend your trip in China, Hong Kong or Southeast Asia.
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| 13 |
Zhongdian / Kunming / Jinghong |
Xishuangbanna Extension
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L |
D |
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This morning, fly to Kunming, connecting to tropical Jinghong. On arrival, check into the Tai Garden Hotel.
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| 14 |
Jinghong |
Menghai Market, Tea Factory, Bulang Village, Aini Village
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B |
L |
D |
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Depart this morning on a 50km drive through the valley of Liusha River, through lush tropical forest to Menghai. Its daily market is a pleasure for the eyes, where ethnic minorities sell their local products. The small town is in the center of the tea plantations where the famous Pu'er tea is produced. Visit the Tea Factory. After lunch at local restaurant, visit Jingzhen Octagonal pavilion, the most famous architectural site in the region. Its "busu" or "chapter hall", sumptuously decorated, was built in 1701. Destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, it was identically rebuilt at the beginning of the 1980's. Continue to Menghun to visit another minority group - the Bulang, whose ancestors started to domesticate tea for consumption. See their plantation and meet with villagers to learn about their daily life. Stop at an Aini village, a minority known as the Aka in Thailand. Return to Jinghong for dinner at local restaurant.
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| 15 |
Jinghong |
Ganlanba Dai Market & Villages, Tropical Botanical Garden, Jinuo Village
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B |
L |
D |
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This morning we take a scenic drive along the Mekong River for approximately 26 kilometres. Arriving in Ganlanba, stroll in the small local daily Dai market which vividly reflects the local people's life. Continue into countryside area of Ganlanba, passing through villages and farm land, stopping to visit a village for a deeper exploration into Dai culture, religion and authentic life. Drive another 50km to Menglun to visit the Tropical Botanical Garden, established in 1959 under the leadership of the well-known botanist Prof. Cai Xitao. Visitors can view many rare exotic and endangered plant species here; the dragon tree, the maytenwood, and the poisonous upas tree; the thirst-relieving "carriage-pole vine"; the "clock flower" that opens and closes along with the sunrise and sunset; the "dancing grass" that responds to sound; the "king lotus" which can support a seated child on the water; the "mystery fruit" able to turn sour to sweet, then sweet to sour; and the "King of Tea Trees", which is said to be at least 800 years old.
Drive back to Jinghong and visit a village of the Jinuo Minority on the way, the last independent nationality classified by the Chinese Government.
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| 16 |
Jinghong / Kunming / Depart |
Fly to Kunming for International Departure
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B |
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Transfer to the airport this morning for departure. The tour concludes on arrival in Kunming. Connections can be arranged to other international gateways or extend your trip in China, Hong Kong or Southeast Asia.
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