| Day 1 |
Xi Shuang Banna |
(…/…/D) |
| • |
Meet your guide at the airport or your hotel in Jinghong, Xi Shuang Banna prefecture, the gateway to the tropical region of China. |
| • |
If time permits, first visit of the nationality park in Jinghong. |
| • |
Dinner at local restaurant and overnight. |
| Day2 |
Xi Shuang Banna - Meng Hai |
(B/L/D) |
| • |
Drive 50km through the valley of Liusha River through lush tropical forest to Meng Hai. |
| • |
Its daily market is a pleasure for the eyes, where ethnic minorities people sell their local products. |
| • |
The small town is in the center of the tea plantations where the famous Pu'er tea is produced. |
| • |
Visit the Tea Factory. |
| • |
After lunch at local restaurant, visit Jingzhen Octogonal pavilion, the most famous architectural site in the region. Its "busu" or "chapter hall", sumptuously decorated, was built in 1701. Destroyed during the cultural revolution, its was identically rebuilt at the beginning of the 1980's. |
| • |
If time permits, you will also visit villages of Balang and Wa Minorities in Menghun and a Aini village on the back to Jinghong. |
| • |
Dinner at local restaurant and overnight. |
| Day3 |
Xi Shuang Banna - Galanba - Meng Lun |
(B/L/D) |
| • |
Enjoy tropical view along the Mekong River, see local market in Ganlanba. |
| • |
Visit typical Dai villages with their houses build on stilts, worship Buddha in their Hynayana temple, observe true life of these minority farmers. |
| • |
On the way from Xi shaung Banna to Meng Lun, visit another ethnic minority group living in Xishuangbanna - Aini, known as Aka in the North of Thailand. |
| • |
See Meng Lun tropical botanical garden, hosting the largest variety of Tropical plants growing in Xi Shaung Banna. |
| • |
Stay at Meng Lun Tropical Botanical Garden Hotel ** |
| Day4 |
Meng Lun - Meng Vang - Xi Shuang Banna |
(B/L/D) |
| • |
Visit Jinuo Minority people, which was the last nationality acknowledged by Chinese Government. |
| • |
Jinuo minority is reputed for long history of planting, producing and con suming tea. |
| • |
Near their village, we will take a look at their ancient tea plantation aged over 200 years and which tea trees are still producing buds. |
| • |
Near Mengyang, visit villages of Han Dai and Colorful - waist Dai, which are two branches of traditional Dai People, but with different dialects, costumes, traditions and architectural style. |
| • |
Drive back to Jinghong and visit Dai Family pottery workshop in Mange village. |
| • |
Dinner and overnight. |
| Day5 |
Lijiang - Kunming |
(B/L/D) |
| • |
Morning transfer to the airport for flight to Kunming. |
| • |
On arrival, drive to the Stone Forest, consisting of ancient limestone cliffs and peaks eroded by wind and water over 200 million years. |
| • |
Its area is the home of the Xani minority. |
| • |
On your way back to Kunming, stop at the Golden temple. |
| • |
In the evening, dinner of Yunnan specialties followed by a cultural show and overnight. |
| Day6 |
Kunming - Lijiang |
(B/L/D) |
| • |
Fly to Lijiang in the morning. Lijiang is the center of the Naxi people, a relatively small minority group with a rich culture. |
| • |
The Old Town is an intimate mountain town made of stone and tiles, laced with swift canals. |
| • |
In 1997, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. |
| • |
In the morning, excursion to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with a chair lift ride to have a closer look at it. |
| • |
On the way, visit Baisha village, once the capital of the Naxi Kingdom, famous for its Buddhist frescoes. |
| • |
Take a walk to the Black Dragon Pond to have a look at the renowned Moon Embracing Pavilion and the Dongba Museum, sanctuary of the Naxi ancient culture and overnight. |
| Day7 |
Lijiang |
(B/L/D) |
| • |
Full day excursion north of Lijiang on the Tibetan Highway to discover more of the nature in the area. |
| • |
Road to Shigu (The Stone Drum) overlooking the First bent of the Yangzi River. |
| • |
The river performs there a 180 - degree round about and runs parallel to itself in the midst of a breathtaking landscape. |
| • |
Then proceed to the Tiger Leaping Gorge, so narrow here, legend tells us, that a hunted tiger escaped in one jump over the gorge. |
| • |
You will enter the gorge before taking a path down to the Golden Sands River, name of the upper course of the Yangzi River. |
| • |
Drive back to Lijiang at the end of the afternoon. |
| • |
Dinner at local restaurant in the old town followed by a Naxi music concert. |
| Day8 |
Lijiang - Kunming - Departure |
(B/L/…) |
| • |
Morning flight to Kunming. |
| • |
Visit Yunnan Minority museum to obtain the general idea of 26 minorities in Yunnan province with their tools to work and costume to wear. |
| • |
Take a leisure time in Haigeng park for its charming and quite environment. |
| • |
Lunch at Dianchi Hot Spring Hotel. |
| • |
Transfer to airport for departure. |
