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ss-01 Shangri-la & Golden Triangle 2

Day 1: Arrival Kunming D

Arrive in Kunming nicknamed as Spring City, transfer to hotel and welcome dinner will be served tonight.

Overnight in Kunming

Day 2: Kunming B/L

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.

Overnight in Kunming

Day 3: Kunming – Dali B/L

Drive 4 hours to Dali, check in the hotel when arrival. Afternoon take a pleasant stroll in Dali Old Town which was the capital city of Nanzhao Kingdom 1000 years ago. Dali Old Town is a truly beautiful stting. The city is the home of the Bai ethnic minority and its ancient quarter still retains its old world charm with narrow cobbled streets and traditional stone architecture within original city walls. Dali is an ancient but pleasant town with well-preserved traditional houses of the Bai ethnic minority. The ancient streets are an ideal place for a gentle walk. Walking in the city, you will enjoy the minority flavored historical relics, ancient buildings and rich minority customs.

Overnight in Dali

Day 4: Dali – Shangri-la B/L

In the morning visit Xizhou (the largest Bai village) Morning Market. Also visit Zhoucheng Village, well-known for tie-dye craftsmanship, where you can observe how Bai people make tie-dye products at home. Then drive to Shangri-la, 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. Upon arrival, check in the hotel.

Overnight in Shangri-la

Day 5: Shangri-la B/L

In the morning take a visit to 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. Next go to 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. Then you will have a Tibetan Family visit. In the evening visit Zhongdian old town with Tibetan old streets and houses and enjoy the local people dancing performed by Tibetan people in the middle square of old town.

Overnight in Shangri-la

Day 6: Shangri-la – Lijiang B/L

Drive to Lijiang, en route walk in ancient Shigu Town and see the First Bend of Yangtze. After arrival, check in the hotel. After arrival visit Lijiang Old Town, a lovely traditional town with beautiful wooden houses and crisscrossed with streams of mountain water. Lijiang is one of the best preserved ancient towns in China and is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Overnight in Lijiang

Day 7: Lijiang B/L

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.

Overnight in Lijiang

Day 8: Lijiang – Jinghong B/L

Free until fly to Jinghong.

Overnight in Jinghong

Day 9: Jinghong – Mengla B/L

In the morning go to visit Ganlanba Morning Market, Water Dai Village, Burmese Temple and Rubber Garden. Then drive to Mengla, en rout visit Menglun Tropical Botanic Garden. Yunnan is known as the “Kingdom of Plants”, and this garden is called the “Green Gem on the Crown of the Plant Kingdom” since it is the birthplace of conservation activities in Xishuangbanna. The garden is the largest tropical botanical garden in China. It covers an area of 900 hectares, and more than 6,000 species of tropical plants from home and aboard can be found here.

Overnight in Mengla

Option:rrrwww.Chinakindnesstour.com

Day 09: Jinghong – Guanlei B/Lrrrwww.Chinakindnesstour.com

In the morning go to visit Ganlanba Morning Market, Water Dai Village, Burmese Temple and Rubber Garden. After lunch you will visit Mengle Great Buddha Temple was built to memorize a beautiful Dai Minority queen who was a pious Buddhist during Ming dynasty (1368-1644), which was destroyed during a war in 1848 and what we see today was rebuilt in 2007. Notable for its peculiar shape which resembles a sitting Buddha, Mengle Great Buddha Temple, the largest Theravada Buddhist temple in China, is the most sacred and important religion site of Dai people. rrrwww.Chinakindnesstour.com

Then transfer to Jinghong port at around 3 pm to get on board of speedboat Mekong River No. 2 or No. 3, take 2 hours downstream cruise along Mekong to Guanlei port, the port for cargo and passengers boats.rrrwww.Chinakindnesstour.com

Overnight in Guanleirrrwww.Chinakindnesstour.com

Day 10: Mengla – Mohan – Huay Xai – Chiang Khong of Thailand - Embarkation B/L/D

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Morning take bus from Mengla to Mohan port where you will leave, enter Laos then get the arrival visa at Moding, continue to drive 5-6 hours to Huay Xai (on the way have a lunch stop), ferry cross the Mekong to enter Chiang Khong of Thailand, embark on the Mekong Explorer/Mekong Sun, the comfortable Laotain Cruise ship. Settle into your comfortable cabin and unpack for an eight-day cruise. Tonight you can enjoy the spacious decks, lounge on board and attend your evening welcome reception. rrrwww.Chinakindnesstour.com

Option: rrrwww.Chinakindnesstour.com

Day 10: Guanlei – Mekong Cruise – Golden Triangle – Embarkation B/L/Drrrwww.Chinakindnesstour.com

Cruise to Chiang Saen of Thailand (Golden Triangle), on the way stop and visit Pukang Laotian Village (Laos) and Burmese Pagoda Forest (Myanmar, if situation allows), in the evening arrival Golden Triangle – Chiang Saen port. Upon arrival, embark on the Mekong Explorer/Mekong Sun, the comfortable Laotain Cruise ship. Settle into your comfortable cabin and unpack for an eight-day cruise. Tonight you can enjoy the spacious decks, lounge on board and attend your evening welcome reception.rrrwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
rrrwww.Chinakindnesstour.com