10-Day Yunnan Adventure: Kunming, Red Land, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la

Upon arrival Kunming by bullet train/flight, our Chinese-speaking driver picks you up at Kunming station/airport. Transfer to hotel for overnight.

At 8:30 am you will be picked up and drive to Dongchuan Red Land (3-3.5hrs ) which  is a new rising tourist destination near Kunming, loved by photographers and backpackers, and praised as "God's palette". These red lands, extending for nearly 50 kilometers (30 miles), are the most striking and distinctive in the world.  Arrive at Dongchuang, make the tour of Music Hollow(Yuepuao) which is near 'Flower Stone' (Huashitou 花石头 /hwaa-shrr-toe/) village, known as "the best place for photography". Get some sunset and sunset glow photos in Wafang Liangzi, or catch the sunset glow in 'Music Hollow' after the sunset.

And enjoy the sunset of the beautiful red land of Luoxianggou Valley. Surrounded by mountains, Luoxiagou looks like a sunken depression from a distance. Traditional local villages adorn the colorful fields. A great place for photography blockbusters that you should not miss, a telephoto lens is recommended to shoot villages in the distance. Photographers should arrive at Luoxiagou around 4:30 pm. Late afternoon is the best time.

Early in the morning, enjoy the Sunrise of Damakan, a large spread of red fields are in the arms of continuous mountains at the skyline. Due to its local topographical advantage, Damakan is the best site to see a sunrise. In order to get a favorable position for perfect pictures, travelers should get up at 5:00. Leave the hotel at 5:30 and arrive at Damakan within 30 minutes.

Continue to visit Seven-Color Slope(Qicaipo) Near 'Embroidery Garden'. 'Seven-Color Slope' gets its name from seven fields with seven different colors (when the right crops are planted and growing). However, usually travelers are not lucky enough to see the seven colors, so we don't suggest visiting it.

Later move to visit Jinxiuyuan that has a vast expanse of many rolling hills with red fields. A great location for shots of the colorful fields, a traditional village and some trees also offer a vivid countryside picture.

After lunch, drive back to Kunming (3-3.5hrs ) in the late afternoon.

At 08:30 am, meet your tour guide at the hotel and then drive about 85km to the Stone Forest.

In the afternoon, drive back to Kunming and visit Birds and Flowers Market. Then stroll around the Green Lake.

In the evening, take a bullet train to Dali. Meet your local guide and driver, then transfer to hotel for overnight.

In the morning, explore Dali Old Town including the Foreigners' Street, the Ancient City Wall of Dali and The Gate Tower. Then drive to visit Three Pagodas in Chongsheng Monastery. 

Afterwards, drive to Erhai Lake to enjoy the nice view by bike or on foot.

After that, drive to Zhoucheng Village. Pay a visit to local Tie-Dyeing workshop.

In the morning, drive 3 hours to Lijiang. Upon arrival, visit Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Culture Museum. Then enjoy your free time in Lijiang Old Town. 

At 5:00 pm, meet your guide again at Big Waterwheel spot(大水车) in Lijiang Old Town and transfer to hotel. 

In the morning at 09:00 am, visit Baisha Old Town and Baisha Murals. Afterwards, drive to visit Yuhu Village and Former Residence of Joseph Rock.  Please note, you can select Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to visit if you do not want to visit Baisha this morning.

In the afternoon, transfer to visit Shuhe Old Town. 

In the morning, drive to Qiaotou Town. On the way, have a view of the First Bend of Yangtze River from afar and drive to Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge and stop for 5 minutes for photograph.

Then go on driving to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge for hiking (about 3 hours). Hike from a place named “14km” to Tina's Guesthouse.

In the afternoon at 3:30 pm, drive to Shangri-la. Upon arrival, stroll around Dukezong Ancient Town and walk up to the top of Guishan Hill to see the Grand Prayer Wheel and have a panoramic view of Shangri-La city.

Pick you up at the hotel. Then drive to visit Songzanlin Monastery and then pay a visit to a local Tibetan village—Xiaojiezi Village and family around the monastery. In the afternoon, transfer to visit Napahai Lake.

In the late afternoon, drive back to Shangri-La downtown and visit Moonshine Square(in Chinese: 月光广场). 

Transfer you to the Shangri-La Airport as per your flight time, where the wonderful tour concludes.

Please note: Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.