8 Days exploration of Yunnan ethnic minorities culture

Welcome to Dali, a city mainly inhabited by Bai ethnic group. After landing, a warm welcome from our guide awaits you at the arrival hall. Along with the driver, the guide will escort you to the hotel and help with the check-in. Take some time to walk around the ancient city for the rest of the day.

Meals: No meal, advice freely available

• Hotels: Hilton Dali Resort & SPA, The Linden Centre

dali

Your first stop is Dali Ancient City, which is said to be the gateway to the Silk Road in Southwest China. Climb up to the ancient City Wall and look around, and you will get a whole view of the ancient city and the surrounding areas.

Next head to the ‘mother lake’ of Dali people, Erhai Lake. With crystal clear water and the charming landscape, it is quite enjoyable to take a boat cruise in the lake.

In the afternoon, go explore the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, visible from miles away, is a landmark of Dali. They are in an arrangement the shape of an equilateral triangle.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Three Pagodas

In the morning, visit ‘the hometown of Tie-dyeing’, Zhoucheng Town. Here you can see the typical Bai folk dwellings constructed in the form of enclosed courtyards with "a reflecting wall while the other three serve as living spaces ". After the visit, try your hands at Tie-dyeing. Create your own work with the guidance of the master.

After lunch, drive to Xizhou, where you will take a carriage for about an hour to explore Xizhou town as well as part of Erhai Lake. Did you try the famous flower cake in Yunnan during the tour before? If not, do not worry. Today, you will have a chance to learn to make this famous snack in Yunnan. Make some more to bring home as gift for your friends and family if you like.

After that, your driver will transfer you directly from Dali to Lijiang.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Aman Hotel Dayan, InterContinental Resort Lijiang Ancient Town, Lijiang Ivy Garden Resort

Tie dyeing

After breakfast, take a leisure walk through Lijiang ancient town, which reveals its simple, elegant, old houses with stone foundations, brick walls, sloping roofs and red doors. Adding to the charm of the narrow cobblestone streets is a network of canals.

Later, you will head to one of the parts of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yak Meadow, which got its name because the local people like to pasture their Yak here.

Before coming back to the ancient town, you will learn to make Dongba photo frame at Yushui Village. Dongba culture is one of the important contents of Naxi ancient culture.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Firstly, you will have the chance to integrate into local life of Naxi people by visiting a local Naxi family. During the visit, you will see their house, learn to write their special language, watch them cooking meal for you, and get to know their life stories. Enjoy the local specialties for lunch in the local family.

You will have a visual feast by viewing the lively murals at Baisha Ancient Town at the end of the tour.

You may see the Impression Show of Lijiang (optional) here if you like. It is a magnificent outdoor singing and dancing performance demonstrating the tradition and lifestyle of the local ethnic people.

• Optional activity: Impression Lijiang Show
  Notes:
  • Do not do violent exercises in the high land to avoid the altitude sickness.
  • Prepare a jacket even though during the summer time as the temperature difference between day and night is very big.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Baisha Murals

Today, you will go to Shangri-La. On the way to Shangri-La, you will feel the breath-taking magnificence of the Tiger Leaping Gorge Upper Section, a world famous Grand Canyon with steepness and grandeur. Running from the north of China to the south, the Jinsha River turns to the northeast here in Shigu Town, hence the name “First Bend of the Yangtze River".

After the tour, the Shangri-La guide will escort you to the hotel for check-in.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Songtsam Linka Shangri-La, Songtsam Shangri-La (Lvgu) Lodge

Tiger Leaping Gorge

In the morning, visit a natural park, Pudacuo National Park, which includes Bita and Shudu Lake. Hike in the small trails through the forest and breathe in the oxygen offered by this amazing forest park.

Afterwards, pay a visit to a local Tibetan family, where you will learn to make buttered tea and Zanba (a special snack and also a traditional staple food of Tibetan herdsmen).

After lunch, visit the nearby Songzanlin Monastery, called ‘the Little Potala Palace’. Here you can see many religious items and precious Tibetan Buddhist cultural relics, such as gilded statues of Sakyamuni, palm-leaf scripts, thangka (religious tapestries), and golden lamps.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Pudacuo National Park

Wander in Zhongdian Ancient Town and local market, where you will have a closer view of the local life and how people trade. 

After lunch, say goodbye to your guide and driver at the airport.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Zhongdian Ancient Town