9-Day Private Tour from Kunming to Shangri-La

At 09:00, you will be picked up by your tour guide from the lobby of your hotel in Kunming downtown. Then, you will be driven from Kunming to Dongchuan Red Land (3 to 3.5-hours, 150KM), a new rising tourist destination near Kunming.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Kunming Railway Station to catch a 2-hour bullet train to Dali, the next destination of your 9 days Yunnan itinerary.

Upon arrival, your Dali guide will hold a sign with your name on to meet you at the train exit. Then, he/she will send you to the hotel and help you check-in.

After a short break, you will be escorted to travel around the Dali Ancient City, where you can get in touch with local Bai ethnic minority's daily life. Moreover, you can watch traditional folk houses of local ethnic minorities and appreciate the splendid scenery there.

Afterwards, take the private car to Three pagodas which is facing the Erhai Lake in the front, the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple of Dali constitutes a situation of tripartite confrontation with a large pagoda and two small ones. As one of the oldest and most magnificent architectures standing gracefully and forcefully in South China, it is a famed place of interest, a symbol of ancient history and culture of Yunnan Province. Built amid previous Chongsheng Temple by Nanzhao Kingdom, a local regime of Tang Dynasty (618-907), the three pagodas was named after the temple. Though the temple was damaged in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the three pagodas were reserved after numerous natural disasters and manmade incidents. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple was designated as an important heritage site protected under the state in 1961 and inscribed as AAAAA grade scenic area in 2011.

Today, we will drive for around 3-4 hours to extend your 9 days Yunnan itinerary to Lijiang. On the way, we will first pass by the Xizhou Ancient Town, and visit the most representative dwelling of Bai ethnic minority - Yan’s Compound. Then, approach Zhoucheng where you will be encouraged to try your hand at the Tie-dyeing, which is a traditional manual skill for printing or coloring cloth.

Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at 09:00am and transfer to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and need 50 minutes driving, 25km.

Today, you may visit the Snow Mountain with the cale car to Spruce Meado first or visit White Water River first, But it really depends of the Impression Lijiang Show, because the show time will depend on daily number of visitors from 11:00am--15:00pm and the show lasts for 60 minutes. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is very easy to visit via a system of cable cars which take visitors to different parts of the mountain. The 13 peaks, home to several glaciers, are covered in snow all year round. Different altitudes give rise to changing landscapes with peaceful meadows giving way to snow-covered paths and glaciers. We choose to Spruce Meado with the cable car due to with the lower altitude(3300M) and less people than the way to Glacier Park and also with the nice view.

Next, go to Lijiang Impression show. The show is outdoor performance, including traditional songs and dance by local ethnic people selected from the villages around Lijiang, is held at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, just out of the main building, at pre-determined times.

Afterwards, take the private car to White Water River(Blue Moon Valley). The Blue Moon Valley actually is an extremely blue river meandering through a lush valley of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Seen from a distance, it resembles a blue crescent moon inlaid at the foot of the mountain. That's how the place got its beautiful name! However, blue is not the only colour of the river. If it rains, the white mud and limestone rubble at the riverbed will be swirled up, making the water as white as milk. Therefore, local Naxi people name it White Water River (Baishui River).

After the lunch, take the private car to Black Gragon Pond Park. At this park, you can take the panorama view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang Ancient Town. This park is the landmark of Lijiang. The pool is listed in the Collections of Famous Pools of China because of its exquisite beauty. Its surroundings are all green with grass and shaded by swaying willow trees. In its waters, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is reflected. At the far side of the pool, there are renovated buildings used for art exhibition such as the Moon-Embracing Pavilion with its own white marble bridge across the water, and the Five-Phoenix Temple built during the Ming Dynasty.

In the morning at 9am, your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer to the Tiger Leaping Gorge and need 2hrs driving, 80km.

Today, you will visit the first section of the Gorge which is nearby Lijiang area. The Tiger Leaping Gorge, with its glorious view of the rapids, torrential current of the Jinsha River, was created through constant erosion by the waters between the Jade Dragon Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain. About 16 kilometres long, the gorge drops is around 300 metres in a series of 18 rapids. The water surface is about 1,800 metres above sea level and the Snow Mountains on both sides soar as high as 5,600 metres.

In the morning, your guide will meet you at 9am and today will have a full day tour tour at Shangri-La city area.

You first will visit Ganden Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan province. It has another alias - 'the little Potala Palace.' Built in 1679, it is located in the capital of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and is the most important monastery in southwest China.

Next, go to the Napa hai lake, The largest grassland in Shangri-la. Napahai is located in the northwest of Shangri-la County, 8 km away from the county, is a seasonal mountain lake, and also one of the few the thermal alpine swamp and swamp meadow in Yunnan province.

In fact, the Napahai Lake and Yila Grassland will be the same place. During Winter and spring seasons, Napa Lake surface is shrinking, becomes large swamp meadow—Yila Prairie, which is the largest spring pasture in Yunnan province.

And then, you will back to the center and visit the Dukezong Ancient Town, an important town of the Ancient Tea horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet and India. The Dukezong's authentic Tibetan dwellings, gilded prayer halls and pagodas, and lanterns of various shapes lighting the way along narrow, winding lanes are permeated with the grace and mystique of antiquity that enchants visitors the moment they set foot in it.

Today, just the rest day and just offer the private transfer to the Shangri-La airport.