3-Day Private In-Depth Yunnan Discovery: Kunming, Dali and Lijiang

Meet your private guide in hotel's lobby in Kunming, heading directly to Yunnan Stone Forest Geological Park which takes about 1.5 hours. On the way, your tour guide will explain the related stories, feel free to ask questions if you have. Yunnan Stone Forest Geological Park Kunming Stone Forest is a spectacular set of limestone groups and the representative of south China’s karst landscape. Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), It is considered as the 'First Wonder of the World'. Approximately 270 million years ago - during the carboniferous period of the Paleozoic era - the region was a vast expanse of sea. Over time, the movements of the lithosphere gradually caused a retreat of the waters and the rise of the limestone landscape. Due to constant erosion by the elements, the area finally developed into the present-day appearance. The whole park is a huge natural treasure gallery, upon arrival, follow your tour guide to use your imagination to discover the park, your tour guide will tell many legendary stories along the way, and show you the best location for photos. You will spend 2-3 hours to visit the Big Stone Forest Area and the Small Stone Forest Area.

Enjoy a typical Yunnan style lunch in the local restaurant. Then heading to Jiuxiang Scenic Region.(50 minutes). Jiuxiang Scenic Region is known as the Museum of Karst Caves, is a cluster of hundreds of karst caves, forming the largest such complex in China. Here, you will not only enjoy beautiful landscapes but also be amazed by the custom and culture of the Yi and Hui minorities. Jackie Chan's movie "The Myth" took this special landscape as a backdrop. Upon arrival, follow your tour guide to take the sightseeing elevator with a fall of 53 meters (174 feet) down to Green Shady Valley. Green Shady Valley, also known as Lover Valley, used to be the place where boys and girls sang love songs to each other. Taking a boat through the narrow gorge, you can appreciate differently shaped limestone formations covered with lush plants on both sides of the river. Next, walking pass through The Grand Underground Valley to the Grand Lion Hall, which is the Fairy Palace of Jiuxiang Scenic Region. Here you will find different-shaped stalactites and stalagmites, highlighted with colored lights, they are bright and mysterious. Pass through Diehong Bridge, you will enter Lying Dragon Cave where you can find Two huge waterfalls. Get ready your camera for photos. Then, you will visit Yi Minority Village where young people perform traditional minority dances for you. Your last stop is Bat Cave where remains a stone ‘forest’ hanging upside down from the top of the cave. The stone forest is characterized by its great and irregular inclination. At the end of the path, take the chairlift to the exit.

Then you will be transferred back to railway station for the 2 hour bullet train ride to Dali( You will take the train on your own). Upon arrival, your driver will hold your name sign waiting for you at the exit of the arrival hall. you will be transferred to your hotel in Dali.

Meet your tour guide in the lobby of your Kunming hotel. Then heading directly to Dali Chongsheng Three Pagodas. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple is a 1,800 years old national treasure under preservation. It is also a record of the development of Buddhism in the area. They are standing at the east foot of the tenth peak of the massive Mt. Cangshan and facing the west shore of the Erhai Lake. Upon arrival, stroll around the temple and courtyards with your tour guide, admire over 1000 years old pagoda, get to know its history, culture, religion and art.

Continue to Dali Ancient Town. Spend some leisure time to stroll around the ancient town, enjoy its grand city wall, traditional Bai ethnic minority folk houses and marvelous scenery. You will enjoy lunch in one of the restaurant here. Dali ancient town was a gateway to the Silk Road in Southwest China, and also served as a seat of government and a major military barracks for Yunnan Province in ancient times.

Then, continue to Erhai Lake. Erhai Lake is the largest highland lake and one of the seven biggest fresh water lakes in China. It means, 'sea shaped like an ear', in Chinese.

Take the boat cruise Erhai Lake, then visit Golden Shuttle Island (Jinsuo Dao), and the nearby fishing community of Bai Minority, get to know Bai Minority's culture and lifestyle.

After the tour finished, you will heading directly to Lijiang Old Town which takes about 2 hours, sit back and enjoy the sceneries along the way.

Meet your private guide in hotel's lobby in Lijiang, heading directly to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain which takes about 1 hour. Sit back and enjoy the sceneries along the way. Consisting of 13 peaks, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Looking from Lijiang Old Town, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Get the information and learn its legendary stories from your tour guide. Upon arrival, take the convenient cable car to the scenic viewing point (4506 meters), marvel at the spectacular glacier and mountain views. You can choose to hike up to 4680 meters by wooden stairs. When you are ready to leave, descend by cable car.

Enjoy lunch in the local restaurant, then enjoy amazing Lijiang Impressions Show. The show is performed in daytime, using the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as its stage background. More than 100 horses and 500 non-professional peasant actors with dark skin who are from 16 local villages and over 10 ethnic minorities give their best performance. They use unique movements and original songs to exemplify their culture, history and customs. When make booking you can choose you preferred tickets for the show

Next, heading directly to Old town of Lijiang. The Old Town of Lijiang is a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture, the town was first built in the late Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), it has a history of more than 800 years. As a result of the combination of the multinational culture and the progress of Naxi ethnic minority, the buildings here incorporate the best parts of the architectural traits of Han, Bai, and Tibet into a unique Naxi style.

Next, you will visit the Mufu Palace. The top ruler of Naxi minority Mu Family had been in Lijiang since Yuan Dynasty to Qing Dynasty, totally 470 years with 22 generation rulers. The present Mufu Palace is a representative of ancient central China architectural style in Ming Dynasty. While it also keeps the characters of Tang and Song Dynasties. And inside it, the details show the minority features of Bai and Naxi groups. Besides architecture value, it also can be an outstanding plants museum with ancient trees and extraordinary plants. The garden in a style mixed with imperial one and Suzhou’s style. Explore the palace and get to now its history and stories from your tour guide. After the tour, you can choose to end your tour in Lijiang or Return Kunming by bullet train.