MC-20 Hekou-Yuanyang-Jianshui-Kunming ( Stone Forest )-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la- Lijiang-Jinghong-Chiangsaen (by speed boat 15D14N)

Day 1 In the early morning get through the border and customs check from Vietnam ( Sapa ) and arrive in Hekou, the border city and port between China and Vietnam. Meet the guide and drive via Pingbian, Gejiu to Yuanyang. On the way, besides enjoying the sub-tropical scenery and the Miao people, you can have a look at the famous narrow gauge railway connecting Kunming and Hanoi, which was built by French 100 years ago. You also can visit the small old French style railway station if time is enough. When arrive in Yunyang in the late afternoon, go the visit the first wonder in the world: Endless Terraces Rice Fields on the mountains, made by local Hani People for thousands of years.

 
(L/D) Overnight in Yuanyang

Day 2 In the morning optional dawn visit to Terraces Rice Fields. Then visit local morning market. Then drive to Jianshui. Visit 400 years old Chaoyang Tower which is even 24 years elder than Tian An Men in Beijing. You can also visit the second largest Confucian-temple in China. The small city Jianshui is the cultural center of southern Yunnan province. In the past, the people of this city became very rich due to the natural deposits of tin. So now, you can see many private houses with typical Chinese architecture style in the city. In the evening you will have a chance to visit one of them – Zhu Family Garden which is formed by 250 rooms and 42 courtyards. It's even better than the gardens in Suzhou. You can have a beer at Zhu Family Garden.
                                            

 
(B/L/D) Overnight in Jianshui

Day 3 After breakfast visit Zhang Family Garden ( Tuanshan Village ), then drive to Kunming via Fuxian Lake which is the second deepest fresh water lake in China, have a fresh fish lunch in local fisherman's house.

 
(B/L) Overnight in Kunming

Day 4 Free in the morning. Bamboo Temple ( where you can see "the sculpture treasure of Orient" - 500 colorful clay Buddhas ) as the morning optional tour. In the afternoon go to visit the Stone Forest, a typical Karst formation, which covers an area of more than three hundred square kilometers. Scientific research has shown that what is now the Stone Forest was 270 million years ago an immense expanse of water with a vast stretch of limestone sediment formed over the years on the seafloor. As a result of the crustal movement, the seabed rose gradually and a large piece of land thus came into being. Exposed to rains and winds, eroded by the elements, the strange-looking limestone ranges were shaped by time. About 200 million years ago numerous stone peaks, pillars, and stalagmites rose abruptly from the ground and towered into the sky, extending now as far as the eye can see, looking like a vast forest of stone, hence the name "the Stone Forest".

 
(B/L/D) Overnight in Kunming

Day 5 In the morning drive to Dali, visit the Weishan Old Town on the way.Weishan Old Town, one of the eldest town in Yunnan and China which is well preserved. Then continue to drive to Dali.

 
(B/L/D) Overnight in Dali

Day 6 Free day in Dali. The optional tour on Erhai Lake ( boat trip ).

 
(B) Overnight in Dali

Day 7 In the morning visit Xizhou morning market. Then drive to Lijiang, visit Stone Temple in Shibao Shan Mountain ( in Jianchuan ) on the way. Upon arrival, check in the hotel.

 
(B/L/D) Overnight in Lijiang
Day 8 Free day in Lijiang.  
(B) Overnight in Lijiang

Day 9 In the morning drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge. One day hike in the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

 
(B/L/D) Overnight in Guest House at Walnut Garden Village

Day 11 Today drive along Yunnan-Tibet Road to visit Dongzhulin Monastery which is located in deep mountains, 95 km away from Zhongdian. Dong Zhu Lin Monastery was first built in 1667, the 6th year during the reign of Emperor Kang Xi of Qing Dynasty. It was where the Monlam Festival of the Prayer for the Emperor's birthday was held. The main hall in the center is a four-story wood and earth structure, surrounded by 82 tall trees. The hall on the 1st floor is for reciting Buddhist scriptures, where enshrines the statues of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Ge-lug-pa sect, together with Damarenqen, one of Tsongkhapa's disciples, and Khedrub Je, the 1st Panchen Lama, and other Buddhist statues of Sakyamuni, and Guanyin, a Bodhisattva. The monastery also enshrines a 6.8 meter high, gilded bronze, statue of seated Buddha of Qiangba (Maitreya), and a10.5 meter tall statue of Sakyamuni, gifts from the Sera Monastery in Lhasa. The monastery also collects an 8.5 meter long, 5.2 meter wide image of Buddha, which is sunned once a year when the Monlam Festival of Prayer is held. It is unique with many thangka, Tibetan Buddhist Scriptures, four mandalas and stupas. The most unusual thing is the real body of the fifth Zhatang living Buddha which is over 100 year but still reserved very well in the monastery. Beside that have a photo stop for the wonder of upper Yangtze River – The First Bend of Golden Sand River ( the upper reach of Yangtze ) and enjoy the scenery along the river. Then continue drive to Baimang Snow Mountain Pass which is the National Nature Reserve Area, 4250 meters above sea level. In the evening visit Zhongdian old town with Tibetan old streets and houses and enjoy the local people dancing performed by Tibetan people in the middle square of old town.
(B/L/D) Overnight in Shangri-la

 

Day 12 Free in the morning. In the afternoon drive to Lijiang. In the evening take flight MU5995 ( 1920/2020 ) from Dali to inghong. Upon arrival, meet the local guide and check in the hotel.

 
(B/L/D) Overnight in Jinghong

Day 13 Today go to visit Ganlanba morning market, Water Dai Village,Burmese temple, rubber garden, Botanic Garden ( the biggest one in China ). In the evening enjoy the Dai BBQ as dinner.

 
(B/L/D) Overnight in Jinghong

Day 14 Today hike in the Aini & Jinuo Villages.                                           

 
(B/L/D) Overnight in Jinghong
Day 15 In the morning get on speed boat at Jinghong port ( 08:00 ). Begin to cruise on Mekong River, in the evening ( 18:00 )arrive in Chiang Saen. End of service.                          (B/L)
 

Shangri-la travel

Jianshui travel

Dali travel

Jinghong travel

Lijiang travel

Quotation  (USDp/p ) Budget Standard Luxury  
 ( USD p/p )
2 – 5 pax 2499 2649 2829  
6 – 9 pax 1669 1809 1989  
Single Room Supplement 356 478 598
10 pax 1255 1346 1548  
Single Room Supplement 298 396 506
INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE
* One domestic flight with tax in the economic class (Lijiang/Jinghong )
* 3* hotel ( budget ), 4* hotel ( standard ) or 5* hotel ( luxury ), twin-bedded room
 with private shower and WC ( public bathroom in Tiger Leaping Gorge )
* Daily normal meals in the local restaurant out of hotel ( as detailed in the tour
 description )
* English speaking local guide
* Admission charges where applicable as shown in the tour description
* Private transportation in the program
* Service charges for baggage handling at hotel, airport, port
* The speedboat ticket on Mekong from Jinghong to Chiang Saen
* Domestic travel insurance
NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE
* All the optional tours
* International flight and tax
* Personal consumption
* Visa fee
* Tips for driver, guide and porter
Optional Tours: Terrace Rice Fields on Day 02: 32USD p/p
Bamboo Temple on Day 04: 22USD p/p
Boat trip on Erhai Lake on Day 06: 45USD p/p
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