MC-21 Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Kunming-Jianshui-Yuanyang-Jiangcheng-Menglun-Jinghong-Chiang Saen (14D13N)

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming airport, meet the local guide and transfer the hotel. After short break go to visit the Bamboo Temple where you can see "the sculpture treasure of Orient" - 500 colorful clay Buddhas. In the evening have the local flavor - Mushroom Hot Pot as dinner.

Day 2 Take morning flight to Dali, upon arrival, transfer to visit Weishan Old City in Weishan County ( 70KM ) , which has earned the name of " best reserved and not much traveled old town in Yunnan". Weishan is a city with a rich history reaching back 1300 years. Nearby Dali, 70 kilometers away, is often known as the seat of the Nanzhao empire, a semi-independent kingdom that arose in this region during the Tang Dynasty of the 7th century, but that kingdom was actually founded in Weishan. Here the minority cultures of the Bai, Yi and Hui meet in the most culturally and environmentally diverse corner of China. In the late afternoon back to take a pleasant stroll in Dali Old Town, which was the capital city of Nanzhao Kingdom 1000 years ago. 

Day 3 In the morning visit Xizhou Morning Market, Bai Nationality Zhoucheng Village. Then go to Stone Temple in Shibao Shan Mountain ( 81KM ). The Shibao Shan rock carvings are over 1300 years old and evidence of the spread of Mahayana Buddhism into Yunnan from Tibet. Representations of the bodhisattva Guanyin and other Buddhist images are carved into the rocky mountainside. Spend your time at the grottoes or just hike around the temples through the lush forest. Then go to visit Shaxi Old Town which is located at the foot of Shibao Shan Mountain. Shaxi once played an important role as a bustling trade station on the Tea and Horse Caravan Road, an important branch of the Silk Road. Just over one thousand years ago, this ancient trade route connected Tibet with Eastern China. In exchange for teas from Yunnan, Tibetans traded their famous breed of horse to Song Dynasty officials in eastern China, who were busy defending their territory from invaders from the north. Thus the Tea and Horse Caravan was born. Shaxi became the main trade station along this route. A few years ago a Swiss culture organization invested a project in Shaxi to protect the old town.

Day 4 Morning drive to Lijiang ( 101KM ). In the afternoon visit Lijiang Old Town, which is one of the best-preserved ancient towns of the minority ethnic people of China. Lijiang old town belongs to the World Culture Heritage of UNESCO.

Day 5 Today go to visit Baoshan Stone Town which located in the north of Lijiang ( 84KM by bus, one hour on foot ), which has existed for thousands of years from the day when it was built. Boshan is a huge stone town. This stone town lies in the Jinshajiang River ( up reach of Yangtze ) valley northeast of Jade Dragon Mountain. It is not a castle made of stones but a town built on a gigantic rock. The people built their houses according to the things that they can use around them. Some people use stones to make columns, desks and tables, and some water vats, stone kitchen range and even bed. All these stones are polished smoothly. They record life Naxi people year by year. Touching the stones we can feel that our ancestors are living around us. The most amazing thing in town is the independent irrigating system that the villagers use for each track of field without affect those of others', which shows us the admirable wisdom of the Naxi people. In the late of afternoon back the Lijiang and today will be a little bit tired.

Day 6 Morning go to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge ( 90KM ), which is believed to be the deepest gorge in the world. From the top of the gorge you look down the steeply angled (70-90 degrees) mountain sides to the rushing Golden Sands River (Jingshajiang River – up reach of Yangtze ) with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters (about 700 feet) below. In the afternoon drive back to Lijiang to take flight back to Kunming.

Day 7 Visiting Stone Forest ( 82KM ), 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 crystal 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".  The local flavor Yiliang Roast Duck will be arranged as lunch.

Day 8 In the morning drive to Jiangshui ( 200KM ), pass by Fuxianhu Lake which is second deepest fresh water lake in China. When arrive in Jianshui, visit the 400 years old Chaoyang Tower which is even 24 years elder than Tian An Men in Beijing. 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. 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 much better than the gardens in Suzhou. You can also visit the second largest Confucian-temple in China. Then visit Zhang Family Garden ( Tuanshan Village ), in which you can see many old traditional Chinese houses still inhabited by Chinese families.

Day 9 One day tour to Yuanyang  ( 164KM ) and experience one of the high points of the trip - the first wonder in the world: Endless Terraced Rice Fields on the mountains, made by local Hani people for thousands of years. Then drive back Yuanyang town to overnight.

Day 10 Get up early in the morning to see the beautiful cloud sea on the way and drive to Jiangcheng ( 304KM from ) via Luchun county ( 155KM ), on the way you can see Endless Green Tea Gardens on both side of the road. It is regarded as "the No. 1 tea garden in Yunnan Province".

Day 11 Continue to drive to Menglun ( 182KM ) where our next destination will be the biggest Botanic Garden in China. Enjoy the evergreen sub-tropical raining forests on the way. Tonight stayed in Botanic Garden, it will be a very peaceful night in the garden.

Day 12 After visiting Botanic Garden drive to Jinghong. Visit Ganlanba, Rubber Garden, Burnese Temple, Water Dai Village, and local market on the way. Tonight have dinner " Dai people's BBQ".

Day 13 Morning visit Wild Elephant Valley (natural reserve area). Walk through the forest and then take cable car getting through the jungle. In the afternoon ( about 15:00 ) leave for immigration and embark deluxe Chinese speedboat to begin to cruise on Mekong River. Cruise to Guanlei where will stay tonight in an economic hotel.