9 days Ancient Town Tour

Day 1 · Arrive in Dali

1. 1

   Dali Ancient

   one hour Admission included

   Arrive at the airport or railway station where a guide holding a nameplate will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel by private car (The hotel will be after 14:00). You will visit Dali Old Town,where once the seat of the imperial capital of Nanzhao and Dali. As a national-level scenic area, it is one must destinations to Yunnan. Besides you can visit a small Cathelic church with ethnic architecture style inside the ancient town.

Welcome dinner

Overnight at Dali Yanyuan Mountain Retreat

Day 2 · Dali - Xizhou - Weishan

1. 1

   Xizhou Town

   one hour

   Your driver will pick you up at the hotel at 09:00 and drive you to the Xizhou Morning Market (19 km, about 30 minutes). Xizhou is famous for its old and well-preserved folk houses of Bai culture. It's not only a historical city but also a typical commercial center of Bai Ethnic Nationality. Here, the lively Morning Market is a wonderful place to understand the daily life of the Bai who still live in traditional ways and fish, meat, vegetables, fruits, spices, and local handicrafts are sold in the market.

2. 2

   Donglianhua Village

   one hour Admission included

   Then transfer to Weishan (90km, about 2 hours). On the way, you will visit Donglianhua village, it’s a Hui minority settlement. You can visit the Tea and Horse Museum and a local mosque.

3. 3

   Weishan Ancient City

   one hour

   After arrived in Weishan, enjoy the rest of the time to leisurely wander through Weishan Old Town, explore the wooden houses, small stalls, and the museum with unique artifacts.

Overnight at Weishan Laoguan Guesthouse

Day 3 · Weishan - Nuodeng

1. 1

   Weibaoshan Taoistes

   3 hours Admission included

   In the morning, we will drive approximately 30 minutes to Weibaoshan Mountain. As one of the 13 famous Taoist mountains in China, 22 Taoist temples built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties were all over and have unique architectural art. And among them, the most famous and significant are Wenchang Palace and Changchun Cave.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   one hour

   Then transfer to Nuodeng (220km, about 4 hours)for sightseeing. "Praised as the "Millennium Bai Village", Nuodeng is a famous historic and cultural village of Yunnan province. Located in a mountainous area, it is far away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. It is the true place with the original flavor of life. Except for the profound history, Nuodeng is the important place of Ancient Tea and Horse Road.

Dinner at the local villagers' house

Overnight at Nuodeng Fujia Liufang Guesthouse

Day 4 · Nuodeng - Shaxi

1. 1

   Stop 1

   one hour

   In the morning, you can wander in the Nuodeng Ancient village and admire the ancient buildings and cultural relics of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

2. 2

   Yunnan Shaxi Ancient Town

   2 hours

   Your driver will pick you up at the hotel at 10:00 and take you to Shaxi (210km, about 4-5 hours). On the way, you will meet some ancient Bridges.

   After arrived at Shaxi, you can walk around the old town, the Shaxi River, Xingjiao Temple, stage in the square, and some ancient courtyards of local people. Shaxi used to be an important Courier station on the Ancient Tea and Horse Road. With the decline of this road, it was gradually forgotten. Because of this, it has become the only surviving market on the Ancient Tea and Horse Road.

Overnight at Shaxi Aoding Courtyard Hotel

Day 5 · Shaxi

1. 1

   Shibaoshan Town

   3 hours Admission included

   In the morning, you can take a magical walk between Shibaoshan Caves and Baoxiang Temple, which hangs on the cliff and magnificent colorful Buddha statues are kept inside. After the visit, you can hike from Shibaoshan Caves to Shadengqing Valley (2 hours), then drive to Shaxi (15 minutes). Alternatively, you can take the shuttle bus to return to the parking lot to meet your driver. The hiking path from Shibaoshan Cave to Shaxi Village is beautiful and relatively easy, but it is not recommended for those with knee problems as the path consists of steep stairs.

2. 2

   Yunnan Shaxi Ancient Town

   one hour Admission included

   In the afternoon, you can explore the countryside surrounding Shaxi village by bike or ride a horse.

Overnight at Shaxi Aoding Courtyard Hotel

Day 6 · Shaxi – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-la

1. 1

   Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia)

   2 hours Admission included

   Your driver will pick up at your hotel at 09:00 and take you to Tiger Leaping Gorge (120 km, about 2 hours 30 minutes).

   Here, you will visit the breathtaking Tiger Leaping Gorge, a scenic canyon on the Jinsha River, a primary tributary of the upper Yangtze River which sweeps between Mount Yulong (5596m’s altitude) and Mount Haba (5396m’s altitude). You can admire the impressive landscape above the roaring waters of the Jinsha River

   Hutiao Rock View: If you would like to journey deeper into the gorge for the view from Hutiao Rock, there is a path that leads closer to the Yangtze River. From here, you can enjoy a splendid panoramic view. The hike down takes about 30 minutes, and then the hike up takes about 40 minutes. Please be aware there are a lot of stairs leading to and from the gorge. Your driver will wait for you in the car park.

2. 2

   Shangri-La County

   one hour

   From Tiger Leaping Gorge, your driver will take you to Shangri-la (100 km, about 2 hours 30 minutes). Upon arrival, you can stroll through Shangri-la Old Town and visit Guishan Temple, home to a massive prayer wheel.

   In the evening, you can watch or, for the more daring, participate in the Old Town’s spontaneous Tibetan dances.

Special Tibetan dinner in an excellent restaurant in the Old Town

Shangri-La Karma Café Lodge (a small, charming hotel, located in the Old Town)

Day 7 · Shangri-la – Lijiang

1. 1

   Stop 1

   2 hours Admission included

   Your driver will pick up at your hotel at 09:00 and take you to visit a local Tibetan market.

   Afterward, you will visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan, nicknamed" Little Potala‘’.

2. 2

   Shuhe Ancient Town

   Passing by

   After Shangrila, you will journey to Lijiang (180 km, about 4-5 hours).

Lijiang E-outfitting Boutique Hotel

Day 8 · Lijiang

1. 1

   Dayan Naxi Ancient Concert

   3 hours Admission included

   Your driver will pick up at your hotel at 09:00 and take you to Lijiang Ancient Town where you can explore before the crowds arrive. Later you will visit the Black Dragon Pool to enjoy the beautiful scenery, watch or join the local square dancing if you have an interest, and visit the Dongba Museum to know the rich Naxi minority culture. Then, you will visit the Zhongyi Market.

2. 2

   Lijiang Mural in Baisha Village

   2 hours

   Afterward, take a visit to authentic Jade Lake (Yuhu) Village: from here, you can enjoy a fantastic view over the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

   In the end, you will visit Naxi Baisha village and Shuhe village.

Lijiang E-outfitting Boutique Hotel

Day 9 · Lijiang – departure

1. 1

   Lijiang

   Passing by

   Your driver will pick up at your hotel and take you to Lijiang airport or to the railway station. Depart from Lijiang.