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Arrive in Kunming. Pick up and transfer to hotel and welcome dinner will be arranged tonight. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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Morning visit the Bamboo Temple called “the Sculpture Treasure of Oriental”. Next comes the Stone Forest which is one of the top wonders in China. Stone Forest is a typical karst formation, the Stone Forest covers an area of more than three hundred square kilometers. Scientific research 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". The Heisongyan Scenic Spot (also named as the Naigu Stone Forest) is 8 kilometers from the Scenic Spot of Stone Forest. This area is the major sightseeing area of dark stones which mainly composes of stone pillars, stone pagodas and stone castles. All of these towering stones are displaying a grand view over magical sceneries. Take a night soft sleep train to Lijiang. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Pick up and visit Dongba Culture Museum. The Dongba are the shaman of the Naxi people and are referred to for all aspects of Naxi life whether marriage, the site of a new house, opening a business, or health matters. The Dongba priests are the only people able to use the unique pictoglyph language which is the only pictoglyph language still in use today. Then Black Dragon Pool, whose 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 Suocui Bridge, a waterfall creates a constant roar as it cascades downstream. In the afternoon take a visit to Baisha Naxi Village. Baisha (White Sand) is located in the north of Lijiang. It is named this because of the large amount of white sand on the earths surface there. According to history Baisha is the earliest place for the settlement of Naxi nationality after they entered Lijiang basin. Last visit Shuhe Old Town. Shuhe, also "Shaowu" in Naxi language, means "the village at the foot of the high hill". In the past, there behind the village was a high hill named Jubao Hill, so people named the village after the hill. Generation after generation, the village gets its present name. The Ancient Town of Shuhe is located 4 kilometers to the northwest of the Ancient City of Lijiang. Its central part covers an area of about 5 square kilometers. In 1997, the Ancient Town of Shuhe was ranked as an important part of the Ancient City of Lijiang. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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Free day for your leisure. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Drive to Shangri-la, on the way visit the visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge en route, which is believed to be 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 (Jingsha) River with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters (about 700 feet) below. Walk in ancient Shigu Town and see the First Bend of Yangtze. After arrival, check in the hotel. In the evening visit Zhongdian Old Town with Tibetan old streets and houses and enjoy the local Tibetan people dancing in the middle square of old town. Then have a far-view of Giant Prayer Wheel, made of copper, weighs 60 tons with a height of 21 meters. At night the Giant Prayer Wheel glittering by itself because of lamplight. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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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. Later, we go to the local market before we make a family visit and have lunch at the family. In the afternoon, you will visit Giant Prayer Wheel. Climb a small hill to take a closer look at the giant prayer wheel which reputed to be the largest in the world. You can turn the wheel and you also can get blessings from the monk in the temple next to it. Admiring the view of the town from the top of the hill is quite good experience. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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In the morning we drive through the high mountain country of the eastern Himalayas all the way to Xiangcheng which is in Sichuan Province. It lies in the ancient Tibetan province of Kham in what was previously eastern Tibet. This beautiful countryside is dotted with Tibetan villages and temples. The town is a pleasant place to linger or to serve as a starting point for excursions into the surrounding mountain areas. Upon arrival in Xiangcheng, we visit Sangpi Temple on the way. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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We continually drive to Daocheng, which is located on the southeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the east of the Hengduan Mountains, is a county on the southwestern border of Sichuan. It covers 7323 square kilometers and its 30000 inhabitants are mainly Tibetan people. Keep drive to village Riwa, the gateway of Yading Nature Reserve. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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In the early morning we drive to the Yading Nature Reserve, highlight of this journey, the home of three sacred Tibetan mountains - Chenresig (Avalokitesvara, 6032 m), Jambeyang (Manjusri, 5958 m), and Chanadorje (Vajrapani, 5958 m). Tibetan Buddhists believe that making a kora (pilgrimage) around these mountains brings great merit, and that the three mountains represent compassion, wisdom and energy - attributes one must cultivate on the path to enlightenment. Today we'll pass piles of mani stones by the side of the pathway and at the base of the Reserve there are stunning views. We'll also visit Tshonggo Gonpa (Chonggu Si in Chinese) - a small Tibetan temple, which Joseph Rock nicknamed 'Bandit Monastery.' (Joseph Rock, an US botanist and explorer, conducted extensive explorations of northwest China and Tibet for Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology and National Geographic from mid 1920’s until the revolution). We will continue our hike to the foot of Mt Chenresig, where we'll ascend a small but steep hill to view a beautiful mountaintop emerald green lake. Local lore has it that this magical lake can reveal your future if you spend a few moments in quiet contemplation by its side. If it’s physical and temporal possible we will continue to traverse a beautiful wooded pathway leading to a valley set at the foot of the spectacular Mt. Chanadorje and hike to the Luorong Meadow and to the foot of Jambeyang. Late in the afternoon we'll return to entrance of Yading and drive back to Riwa Village. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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In the early morning drive via Daocheng to Litang. At an altitude of just over 4014 m, Litang is one of the highest towns in the world (Lhasa is 3700 m). Situated high on a grassy plateau, Litang has the feel of a rough and tumble Wild West town. Khampas – dressed in yak skin coats, bedecked in colorful necklaces and hair ornaments, long daggers hanging from their belts – from the surrounding areas amble into town to stock up on food and supplies, play pool on the streets and hang out in the local teahouses. This small town is great for people watching and just strolling around. Visit Litang Temple. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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After breakfast we drive via Xinduqiao and over the Zheduo Pass (4298 m) to Kangding – the capital city of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the afternoon. Kangding is a busy commercial city serving the needs of Chinese and Tibetan merchants. Along the way we can appreciate the idyllic scenery and visit the local people. After dinner, enjoy the hot springs at Erdaoqiao (paid by yourself). jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Drive to Luding which is located halfway between Moxi (Hailuogou) and Kangding. A major traffic junction between western Sichuan and Chengdu, Luding is a small, bustling town with little to see in the town itself. Visit the Luding Iron – chain Bridge. In the past this was a flash point in the civil war. We drive through the Erlangshan pass on our way to Chengdu the capital of Sichuan province. Chengdu is also one of the most important economic centers, transportation and communication hubs in Southwest China. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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Visit the Giant Panda Breeding & Research Base, located just 10 km (6 miles) away from downtown Chengdu, the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center has been created to replicate the natural panda habitat in order that they might have the best possible environment for breeding. We then drive to visit the Historic Irrigation System in Dujiangyan. Construction of the Dujianyang Irrigation System began in the 3rd century BC and is an ancient marvel. It continues to control the waters of the Minjiang River and distribute it to the fertile farmland of the Chengdu plains. It is 56 kilometers (34.8 miles) west of Chengdu at Dujiangyan city lying in the middle reach of the Minjiang River, which is the longest tributary of Yangtze River. And then drive back to Chengdu. Enjoy farewell dinner in the evening. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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Free day for your leisure. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Leave for home. End of service. jjjwww.Chinakindnesstour.com