How to Enjoy Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang: The Most Popular Yunnan Route for First-Timers?

Various places → Kunming → Check in Kunming

Professional airport pickup. Arrive in Kunming, a nationally renowned historical and cultural city known as the 'Spring City' for its pleasant climate—no severe heat in summer, no bitter cold in winter. The pickup team arranges hotel check-in. After a brief rest, you can taste local Kunming snacks on your own. Then visit Dianchi Lake, Golden Horse and Jade Rooster, Xishan, and Lanping Street to see the old Kunming.

Kunming → Stone Forest Geopark → Wild Mushroom Hotpot → Check in Chuxiong

After breakfast, gather at 8:00 in the lobby and depart for the Stone Forest. Visit the famous AAAAA-rated [Stone Forest National Geopark] known as the 'First Wonder of the World' (120 minutes). The large and small stone forests feature towering peaks and layered green. The rugged stone scenery amazes with nature's craftsmanship. Even more magical, standing before the Echo Stone and tapping the rock wall produces clear, rolling echoes. The beautiful legend of 'Ashima' tells the eternal love story of a Yi woman, stirring emotions.

After lunch, head to Chuxiong, tasting Yunnan Pu'er tea en route, watching elegant tea art performances, learning professional Pu'er tea brewing techniques, and gaining practical health tea knowledge (90 minutes).

... Next, head to Chuxiong, where hundreds of wild mushrooms from deep mountains are world-famous. Enjoy [Wild Mushroom Hotpot]. Dear guests, we wholeheartedly present you with Yunnan's most distinctive cuisine.

After dinner, check in to Chuxiong hotel. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Chuxiong → Erhai Lake Cruise → Convertible Jeep Photoshoot → Internet-famous Photoshoot Spot: Sky Mirror → Check in Dali or Lijiang

After breakfast, we take a bus from Chuxiong to Dali, then visit [Dali Ancient City], one of China's first historical and cultural cities. Stroll along [Foreigner Street] (about 90 minutes), famous among expats. During this time, you can wander the ancient stone streets. Experience the Erhai Lake scenery up close, enjoy the beautiful lake and the 19 peaks of Cangshan Mountain, captivating countless visitors. After lunch, take a [Erhai Lake Cruise] for about 40 minutes, viewing the natural scenery of Cangshan and Erhai. Observe Cangshan's 'Xiaoyi Huaping, Cangshan Chunlei, Yunheng Yudai, Fengyan Shenghui, Bishui Diedang, Yuju Fuyun, Xipu Wanshi, Jinxia Xizhao' and Erhai's 'Jinsuo Yanyun, Haijing Kaitian, Lan'ai Putuo, Cangbo Yuzhou, Haige Fengtao, Haishui Qiuse, Erhai Yingyue' — intoxicating you with the landscape, pleasing the eye and refreshing the mind.

Take a [Convertible Jeep Photoshoot] — no matter how old we get, we never forget our youth. The experiences of youth are etched in our hearts, making us nostalgic. Create another unforgettable memory with your friends, experience something special again. Every photo is a specimen of time. During this trip, the jeep tour allows photography throughout, freezing your most memorable moments! Let this youthful journey become a lifetime memory (4 persons per car, about 1 hour). The highlight — [Internet-famous Photoshoot Spot: Sky Mirror]. Dali's sky is clear and bright, with drifting clouds like cotton candy. Under the clear sky, embrace the blue sky and white clouds, incredibly beautiful. Stand in the picturesque Sky Mirror, take an artistic photo of yourself. No need for filters, DSLR, or phone — you can still capture stunning pictures to explode your social media feed!

After dinner, check in to the hotel.

Yunnan Cultural Exhibition Center → Glacier Park Cable Car → Blue Moon Valley → Lijiang Old Town, Sifang Street → Check in Lijiang

After breakfast, visit Yunnan ethnic intangible cultural heritage projects. Experience breathtaking handicrafts and learn about the heritage of jadeite, the 'king of jade'. Jadeite light, eastern glow. Beautiful jade brings auspiciousness and lifelong luck. Jadeite hides within rough jade pebbles but flows with the most serene, gentle beauty — subtle, deep, eternal...! Jadeite, honored as the 'crown of gemstones', carries forward thousands of years of profound jade culture, expressing a unique Eastern emotion. Then learn about the long history of Yunnan silver culture. (Approximately 240 minutes)

After lunch, visit [Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Area] known as the 'Switzerland of the East' (Ganhaizi, Baishui River, take the glacier cable car to its main peak Shanzifeng, the sacred mountain for the Naxi people and all ethnic groups in Lijiang). The altitude there is 4506 meters, the cable car is 2914 meters long with a vertical drop of 1150 meters, one of the highest tourist cable cars in China. Yulong Snow Mountain is the closest snow mountain group to the equator, the incarnation of the three gods.

Take the [Glacier Cable Car] to explore Yulong Snow Mountain, starting from the meadow at 3000 meters altitude, passing through tall pine and fir forests, overlooking the Naxi sacred mountain, and admiring the magnificent Yulong Snow Mountain. (During peak season or if the large cable car ticket quota is limited, our agency reserves the right to change to the small cable car and refund the difference.)

Then arrive at the photography paradise [Blue Moon Valley], formerly known as 'Baishui River'. On sunny days, the water is blue, and the valley is crescent-shaped, looking like a blue moon inlaid at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain, hence its name. The name Baishui River comes from the white mud at the bottom, turning white when it rains. (Excluding eco-friendly vehicles.)

Complimentary [Lishui Jinsha] song and dance performance, a dance poetry painting show that brings together the unique northwestern Yunnan plateau ethnic culture nurtured by Lijiang's extraordinary landscapes.

In the evening, freely explore [Lijiang Old Town, Sifang Street] according to your preference. The ancient city's bluestone ground glistens, with the hoof prints of ancient horse caravans still visible. Nestled against the snow mountain, small bridges and flowing water evoke the scenery of Jiangnan. Experience the simple ethnic culture in the old town, enjoy the leisurely atmosphere of small bridges and flowing water, and feel Lijiang's bar culture. (The old town is free activity; pay attention to safety. The guide does not accompany. Return to the hotel on your own.)

Yunnan Cultural Center → Shuhe Ancient Town → Lashi Lake → Sleeper train back to Kunming / Bus back to Kunming

After breakfast, go to the cultural exhibition center (approximately 120 minutes), then visit [Shuhe Ancient Town]. Shuhe is a well-preserved important town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, a living specimen of the Naxi ancestors' transition from agricultural to commercial civilization, and a model of town construction formed by openness and caravan activities. Enjoy lunch with [Naxi Chicken Hotpot]. Then visit [Lashi Lake Tea Horse Road]. This is the home of migratory birds, with abundant water and grass and beautiful lake scenery, known as the cradle of life. It is a base for The Nature Conservancy and a filming location for 'One Meter Sunshine' and 'Mu Mansion Storm'. Ride on horseback to wander the beautiful paradise of Lashi Lake (horseback riding not included). Take photos freely. Then take a bus back to Kunming (or sleeper train back to Kunming).

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