Wonderful Yunnan Itinerary

Wonderful Yunnan
Duration: 6 days
Highlights: Lijiang, Zhongdian, Ringha, Kunming and Shanghai.
This itinerary is ideal for a first time visitor to China and introduces the fascinating Yunnan Province, including sightseeing around the mighty Yangzi River.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Lijiang
Upon arrival at the airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Banyan Tree Resort, Lijiang
Day 2 - Lijiang
Enjoy two full days of sightseeing.
Located 11 kilometres northwest of Lijiang on the lower slopes of the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the Jade Summit Temple commands a magnificent situation
overlooking the vast sweep of the Baishan Plain.
Afterwards, explore the Baisha Village beyond the market stalls and the fascinating Baisha Murals. Get to know the colourful characteristics of Lijiang through the wondrous
Naxi culture. Then proceed to Longquan Village – a traditional, rural Naxi village that has enjoyed a history of over 800 years – a wonderful setting for photography and
taking in the charms of the countryside.
Enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The best way to experience the charm of the Old Town is to get out and walk the
labyrinth of alleys.
Visit the lovely Heilongtan Park and Dongba Museum, a fine facility that exhibits some fascinating examples of Naxi religious traditions as well as a series of old photographs
of Lijiang’s Old Town. You will also visit the rural village of Lai Shi Hai.
Enjoy a Naxi Ancient Music Ensemble Performance of ancient Chinese court music and Naxi (and other minority) folk songs, as performed by the Naxi Ancient Music
Orchestra, conducted by Xuan Ke a colourful individual who is credited with reviving ancient musical traditions.
Overnight: Banyan Tree Resort, Lijiang
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Day 3 - Lijiang
As above.
Overnight: Banyan Tree Resort, Lijiang
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Day 4 - Lijiang - Zhongdian - Ringha
This morning, you will be transferred overland to Zhongdian with sightseeing en route. Travelling north from Lijiang to the Deqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, visitors
should take the time to stop and experience the scenic splendour of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. After the Three Gorges of the Yangzi River in Hubei and Sichuan provinces,
this is the most famous natural scenic highlight along the course of the Yangzi River. Then on to the First Bend in the Yangzi River – a natural landmark where the mighty
Yangzi flows south out of Tibet and turns northward into Sichuan province.
Approximately five minutes beyond the First Bend of the Yangzi River is the charming village of Shigu (Stone Drum), a typical Naxi village with cut stone block alleys fronted
by daub and timber houses. Naxi women set quietly about their tasks dressed in blue tunics and draped with their sheepskin cloaks.
Following your sightseeing, you will continue your journey to Ringha.
Overnight: Banyan Tree Resort, Ringha
Meal Plan: B,L
Day 5 - Ringha - Zhongdian - Ringha
Begin your morning with a visit to the Napa Hai Nature Reserve. This beautiful area is a lake from July to September and an enormous meadow during the rest of the year. It
is the largest grassland in Zhongdian, surrounded by mountains on three sides.
Proceed to the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, the Songzhanling Monastery, which is perhaps the most effective barometre of change in the region.
In the afternoon, you will visit Ringha Village, a pristine Khamph Tibetan village. Ringha is a distant and secluded hideaway of great beauty and peacefulness, where
harmony reigns, the gods walk among the people, and man and nature embrace. Take a walk around the Old Town, and explore the local market.
Overnight: Banyan Tree Resort, Ringha
Meal Plan: B,L
Day 6 - Ringha - Zhongdian - Kunming - Shanghai
This morning, you will be transferred to Zhongdian Airport for your flight to Kunming.
Upon arrival, commence a brief city sightseeing in Kunming before having lunch at a local restaurant.
You will then be transferred back to the airport for your flight to Shanghai.
Overnight: Four Seasons, Shanghai
Meal Plan: B,L
Day 7 - Shanghai
Enjoy a half day city tour, and get to know the city labelled the “Paris of the East”. Take a walk through Shanghai’s Old Town, which refers to the original Chinese city that
flourished in the Ming dynasty.
Later stroll through Shanghai’s old Chinese quarter to the lovely Yu Yuan garden, a 16th century Ming Dynasty private garden and residence. Proceed to The Bund, to see
the contrast between the old and new Shanghai.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: Four Seasons, Shanghai
Meal Plan: B,L
Day 8 - Depart Shanghai
You will be transferred to the train station for your Maglev train to Pudong airport to catch your onward flight home.
Meal Plan: B