| Day 1 Arrive in Kunming in the morning, meet the local guide and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon visit Western Hills, which is 15 km west of Kunming City. The Dragon Gate in the Western Hills is close to the west shore of the Dianchi Lake. It consists of the Sanqing Temple Complex and the Dragon Gate Grotto Complex. The buildings of the Sanqing Taoist Temple are arranged in nine tiers: They are the Lingguan Hall, the Chunyang Pavilion,the Sanqing Hall, the Yuhuang Temple, the Taiqing Palace, the Zhenwu Hall, the Luzu Temple, the Qisheng Temple, Lingxiao Pavilion, the Laojun Pavilion and the Taiji Palace. The Dragon Gate Grotto Complex, on the other hand, includes Lanhaichu, the Ciyun Cave, the Yunhua Cave and the Datian Pavilion. Visit the Bamboo Temple where you can see the sculpture treasure of Orient - 500 colorful clay Buddhas. In the evening have the local flavor -- Mushroom Hot Pot as dinner. | | (L/D) Overnight in Kunming |
| Day 2 After breakfast visit Stone Forest, a typical Karst formation, which covers an area of more than three hundred square kilometers. Scientificresearch has shown that what is now the Stone Forest was 270 million years ago an immense expanse of water with a vast stretch of limestone sediment formed over the years on the seafloor. As a result of the crustal movement, the seabed rose gradually and a large piece of land thus came into being. Exposed to rains and winds, eroded by the elements, the strange-looking limestone ranges were shaped by time. About 200 million years ago numerous stone peaks, pillars, and stalagmites rose abruptly from the ground and towered into the sky, extending now as far as the eye can see, looking like a vast forest of stone, hence the name "the Stone Forest". In the afternoon drive to Jianshui. Visit the 400-year-old Chaoyang Tower which is even 24 years elder than Tian An Men in Beijing.. The small city Jianshui is the cultural center of southern Yunnan province. In the past, the people of this city became very rich due to the natural deposits of tin. So now, you can see many private houses with typical Chinese architecture style in the city. You will have a chance to visit one of them - Zhu Family Garden which is formed by 250 rooms and 42 courtyards, It's even much better than the gardens in Suzhou. You can also visit the second largest Confucian-temple in China. | (B/L/D) Overnight in Jianshuivvvwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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| Day 3 Drive to Yuanyang and experience one of the high points of the trip. Get up early in the morning to see the beautiful cloud sea on the way then the first wonder in the world: endless terraced rice fields on the mountains, made by local Hani people for thousands of years. Then Drive back to Jianshui. | (B/L/D)Overnight in Jianshuivvvwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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| Day 4 After breakfast visit Zhang Family Garden ( Tuanshan Village ), then drive back to Kunming via FuXian Lake which is the second deepest fresh water lake in China, have a fresh fish lunch in local fisherman's house. | (B/L/D) Overnight in Kunmingvvvwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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| Day 5 Morning flight to Dali. Meet the local guide and cruise on Erhai Lake, the largest highland lake next to Dianchi and one of the seven biggest fresh water lakes in China. It means, "sea shaped like an ear" in Chinese. Implying that the lake is ear-shaped and as large as a sea, hence it was so named. The lake covers an area of 250 square kilometers and is located about two kilometers east of Dali. In the afternoon visit Three Pagodas which is known as the Chongsheng Santa and situated on the top of the ruins of Chongsheng Monastery, the Three Pagodas lie one kilometer northwest of Dali and is located on the slope of Mount Cangshan. In the afternoon you could take a pleasant stroll in Dali Old Town which was the capital city of Nanzhao Kingdom 1000 years ago. | (B/L/D)Overnight in Dalivvvwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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| Day 6 In the morning visit Xizhou morning market , Bai nationality Zhoucheng Village, then on the way to Lijiang visit Stone Temple in Shibao Shan Mountain. In the afternoon drive to Lijiang. Meet the local guide and transfer to hotel. | | (B/L/D) Overnight in Lijiang |
| Day 7 After breakfast visit Baisha Naxi Village and Baisha Ancient Mural. Baisha (White Sand) is located in the north of Lijiang. It is named this because of the large amount of white sand on the earth's surface there. According to history Baisha is the earliest place for the settlement of Naxi nationality after they entered Lijiang basin. The present murals are all kept in Dabaoji Palace and Liuli Temple in Baisha. All of the 55 murals were masterpieces in the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644). The biggest one is stored in Dabaoji Palace. In total, there are 100 vivid figures visible in it. Their facial expressions are vivid enough to show their happiness, anger, sadness and joys. All of the Baisha murals are about religion. However their uniqueness comes from the fact that they are the combination of Buddhism, Taoism and Lamaism, which is a very rare phenomenon. In the afternoon visit Black Dragon Pool, somewhat is idiosyncratically known as Black Dragon Pool, the Jade Spring Park to the north of Lijiang derives its name from the waters which sparkle like jade and are as clear as spring water. The entire park is green with grass and shaded by swaying willow trees. Under the Shuocui Bridge, a waterfall creates a constant roar as it cascades downstream. Visit Lijiang Old Town, which is one of the best-preserved ancient towns of the minority ethnic people of China. Lijiang old town belongs to the World Culture Heritage of UNESCO. | | (B/L/D) Overnight in Lijiang |
| Day 8 After breakfast drive to Shangri-la. Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge on the way, which is believed to be one of the deepest gorge in the world. From the top of the gorge you look down the steeply angled ( 70-90 degrees ) mountain sides to the rushing Golden Sands River ( up reach of Yangtze River ) with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters ( about 700 feet ) below. Then drive to Baishui Terrace ( White Water Terrace ) which is also the cradle of the Dongba culture of the Naxi people. It is said that the founding father of Dongba culture settled here to spread his beliefs on his way back from Tibet. In addition, three superb pieces of Dongba literature were found here. These are the "Chongbangtong," a traditional account of the creation of the world; the "Lubanlurao", a detailed description of the long journey of the NaXiancestors when searching for their presenthome; and the "Dongaishuai," an epic of Naxi heroes. Thus, Baishui Terrace is regarded as a sacred site of the Dongba culture. | (B/L/D) Overnight in Guest House ( no star )vvvwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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| Day 9 In the morning visit Baishui Terrace ( White Water Terrace ). Then drive to Shangri-la. Visit Bitahai Lake. As the highest lake in Yunnan Province, Bitahai Lake lies in the east of Shangri-La County of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and is over 3500 meters (about 3828 yards) above sea level. Covering an area of about 159 hectares (around 393 acres) with an average depth of 20 meters (about 22 yards), Bitahai Lake is famous for its limpid water and its beautiful scenery which is set against the mountains and forests surrounding it. | | (B/L/D) Overnight in Shangri-la |
| Day 10 In the morning visit Songzanlin Tibetan Buddhism Monastery, which is 5 km from the seat of Shangri-la County. Construction began in 1679 and was completed in 1681. It is said that the Fifth Dalai Lama chose the site of the monastery through divination and named it "Gedan Songzanlin Monastery". In 1724, during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty, the monastery was renamed the "Guihua Monastery". During its time of greatest prosperity, there were more than 3,000 monks in the temple, now there are still 700 monks inside. Then continue to drive about 2 hours through mountain & Yangzi River to deep mountain for Dong Zhu Lin Monastery, 105 km away from Zhongdian. Dong Zhu Lin Monastery was first built in 1667, the 6th year during the reign of Emperor Kang Xi of Qing Dynasty. It was where the Monlam Festival of the Prayer for the Emperor's birthday was held. The main hall in the center is a four-storey wood and earth structure, surrounded by 82 tall trees. The hall on the 1st floor is for reciting Buddhist scriptures, where enshrines the statues of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Ge-lug-pa sect, together with Damarenqen, one of Tsongkhapa's disciples, and Khedrub Je, the 1st Panchen Lama, and other Buddhist statues of Sakyamuni, and Guanyin, a Bodhisattva. The monastery also enshrines a 6.8 meter high, gildedbronze, statue of seated Buddha of Qiangba (Maitreya), and a 10.5 meter tall statue of Sakyamuni, gifts from the Sera Monastery in Lhasa. The monastery also collects an 8.5 meter long, 5.2 meter wide image of Buddha, which is sunned once a year when the Monlam Festival of Prayer is held. Beside that take photo for the wonder of upper Yangtze River --- The first bend of Golden Sand River ( the upper reach of Yangtze ). Visit Zhongdian local market, strolling in the Zhongdian Old Town and have dinner in the old town. In the evening go to the central square in the old town to enjoy local people nightly dance. | | (B/L/D) Overnight in Shangri-la |
| Day 11 Morning flight from Shangri-la to Kunming, meet the local guide and transfer to the hotel. Free time in the morning. In the afternoon visit Golden Temple, which is located on the top of Mingfeng (Singing Phoenix) Hill and the home of the Taoist Taihe Palace (Hall of Supreme Harmony), the largest copper temple in China. It is also known as the Tongwa Temple (Bronze Tile Temple) and by its popular name, the Golden Temple. Local flavor Crossing Bridge Rice Noodle will bw arranged as lunch. Visit Golden Horse & Green Peacock Archway and walking street. | | (B/L/D) Overnight in Kunming |
| Day 12 After breakfast take flight for leaving. | vvvwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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