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ss-02 Shangri-la & Golden Triangle 1

Day 1: Arrival Kunming D

Arrive in Kunming, meet the local guide and transfer to hotel. After a short rest, we will arrange a welcome dinner for you.

Overnight in Kunming

Day 2: Kunming B/L

After breakfast, we will start out to visit the famous Bamboo Temple which dates back to the Tang dynasty with 500 colorful clay Buddhas. Next comes the Stone Forest, 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

In the morning drive to Dali. On arrival, check-in the hotel for a short rest. Then take a strolling on the Dali Old Town. The history of Dali Old Town can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty when Dali was the capital of Nanzhao Kingdom which is the home to Bai minority. The town, whose format is like a chess board with four gates guarding in the directions of east , south, west and north standing between Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake, a natural configuration that seems specially designed for a good bountiful life.

Overnight in Dali

Day 4: Dali – Shaxi B/L

In the morning visit Xizhou morning market, Bai village Zhoucheng Village, then on drive to Shaxi Old Town, which is located at the foot of Shibao Shan Mountain. Shaxi once played an important role as a bustling trade station on the Tea and Horse Caravan Road, an important branch of the Silk Road. Just over one thousand years ago, this ancient trade route connected Tibet with Eastern China. In exchange for tea from Yunnan, Tibetans traded their famous breed of horse to Song Dynasty officials in eastern China, who were busy defending their territory from invaders from the north. Thus the Tea and Horse Caravan was born. Shaxi became the main trade station along this route. A few years ago a Swiss culture organization invested a project in Shaxi to protect the old town.

Overnight in Shaxi

Day 5: Shaxi – Lijiang B/L

Today drive to Lijiang, and walking in 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 6: 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 7: Lijiang – Shangri-la B/L

Drive to Shangri-la. En route visit Tiger Leaping Gorge on the up reach of Yangtze. Tiger Leaping Gorge, 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. Upon arrival, explore Zhongdian Old Town and enjoy the folk dance on the square by the local Tibetan people.

Overnight in Shangri-la

Day 8: Shangri – la – Kunming B/L

Today our first stop is 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. Drive to Lijiang and take a night sleeper train to Kunming.

Overnight on train

Day 9: Kunming – Jianshui B/L

Drive to Jianshui, visit 400 years 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. Last, stroll in old lanes for the Ancient Water Wells and Bean Curd Workshops.

Overnight in Jianshui

Day 10: Jianshui – Yuanyang B/L

Visit the second largest Confucian-temple in China, then Tuanshan Village, and drive to Yuanyang for the first wonder in the world: Endless Terraced Rice Fields on the mountains, made by local Hani people for thousands of years.

Overnight in Yuanyang

Day 11: Yuanyang – Pu’er B/L

After breakfast, drive to Pu’er via Yuanjiang, on the way view the First Bend of Honghe (Red River).

Overnight in Pu’er

Day 12: Pu’er – Jinghong B/L/D

Drive to Jinghong, tour 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. Then visit Tropical Plant Research Institute, it exerts a strong pull on tourists although it opens to public just a few years. In additional rubber plantation, the institute plants over 1,000 plants with economical or medicinal value. The large variety needs a botanist to figure out what they are. In the plantation, visitors get access to Zhou Enlai Memorial, which was built to commemorate the China's beloved premier's 1961 visit. Farewell dinner will be arranged tonight.

Overnight in Jinghong

Day 13: Jinghong – Mengla B/L

In the morning drive to Ganlanba, a traditional Dai town, where we visit the morning market, Dai water villages, the Burmese Temple and Rubber Orchard. Then drive on to Mengla.

Overnight in Mengla

Day 14: Mengla – Huay Xay – Chiang Khong B/L

Transfer to Huay Xay via Mohan by road, than take ferry to Chiang Khong.

Overnight in Chiang Khong

Day 15: Chiang Khong – Chiang Saen B/L

Today is spent on an excursion to the Golden Triangle area at Chiang Saen, where you will visit the Golden Buddha of Sop Ruak and the new Hall of Opium. His Fascinating museum, sponsored by the royal family of Thailand, gives a deep background on he history and politics of the opium trade and the health effects of opium abuse. Afterwards you will be visiting the Doi Tung Royal Orchid Botanical Gardens, one of the most beautiful botanical gardens of Southeast Aisa.

Overnight in Chiang Saen

Day 16: Chiang Saen – Chiang Rai and departure B

Drive to Chiang Rai. End of service.