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For those with time and want it all (yes!), this is the ultimate way to experience the best that Lijiang has to offer! From having your own time (and of course provided with our very own hand-drawn maps) to explore the UNESCO sites of Dayan, Shuhe and Baisha, to fully-guided trips to the classic attractions such as Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lashi Lake Wetland Reserve, Shangri-La, Dali and even visiting off-the-beaten-path treasures such as Shaxi Old Town, Tacheng Yunnan Monkey Reserve and Xizhou, this trip covers everything from great scenery, fascinating cultures and nature to trekking, horse riding and handicraft making. A trip not to be missed!

Day 1: Arrival in Lijiang (Shuhe Old Town)

According to the Flight number arrange the Airport pickup.  Explore 1000-year-old Shuhe Old Town using hand-drawn map. Stay one night at The Bivou.


Day 2: 1-day Self-Guided trip to Dayan Old Town, Black Dragon Pool and Zhongyi Market

1-day self-guided exploration of Lijiang’s 800-year old Dayan Old Town using our unique Bivou hand-drawn Explorer map. Alternatively, enjoy a half-day Guided tour of Lijiang Old Town and Market. Stay one night at The Bivou.

Day 3: 1-day Guided trip to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

We will leave the hotel at 8:30am, driving for around 40-45 minutes to reach Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Park.  Once we arrive, depending on the ticket timings, we will take an internal shuttle bus to reach the cable car station, where we can take a 2km long cable car for about 30mins to reach the first attraction, Glacier Park, at 4506 metres.  JDSM itself stands at 5596 metres and consists of 13 peaks.  It has the southernmost glacier in the northern Hemisphere.  Once you get up, there are stairs for you to climb to reach a higher peak at an altitude of 4,680 meters (15,354 feet). This short climb is difficult, but you will be rewarded by the beautiful panoramic view. After about an hour or so of enjoying the view, we will descend to watch famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s outdoor performance  Impression  Lijiang (around  1 hour), with a cast of over 500 amateur actors.    We will end the visit with a trip to see the turquoise crystal clear waters of Blue Moon Valley before leaving the park.   From there, it is another 30 minutes drive to get to Baisha Village where we will have a late lunch and if you like, visit the fascinating Baisha Naxi Embroidery School. At around 4pm, we will drive back to the hotel where the trip will end.

Stay one night at The Bivou.

Day 4: 1-day Lashi Lake Ancient Tea Horse Trail, Tibetan Temple & Farmhouse Visit

We can leave the hotel at between 9 to 9:30am. Lashi Lake National Wetlands Park offers a great day out for groups of friends, couples or families. We  begin with a visit to one of the  five most important Tibetan monasteries in Lijiang, Zhiyun Temple.   Next, we will have an experience of the historic Tea Horse Road on horseback, riding through pine forests and along ancient paths.  We will also see a slice of Naxi village life, such as farmers at work, huge buffaloes up close, little children playing and carpenters restoring old Naxi homes.   At the top of the hill, enjoy the gorgeous view of Lashi Lake, where between the months of November and March, thousands of migratory birds arrive from Siberia to overwinter.  Thereafter, enjoy a Naxi lunch at a traditional Naxi farmhouse.  Return to the hotel around 3-4pm.

Stay one night at The Bivou.

Day 5:  Lijiang- Shigu – Liming – Tacheng

You will begin with a visit to Stone Drum (Shigu) Town, known for its famous view of the First Bend of the Yangtze  River, authentic  market day, old chain  bridge and The  Red Army  Long  March  Memorial,  before reaching Liming. At Liming, part of the Laojunshan National Geological Park, you will climb up to Thousand Tortoise Hill to enjoy one of China’s most stunning collection of red sandstone formations, as well as have a chance to interact with locals at Lisu Minority villages in the Liming Valley as well as have a lunch with a Lisu family. Finally you will go and stay overnight at Yunnan snub-nosed monkey expert hotel at Tacheng.

Day 6:  Tacheng -Nixi Pottery – Songzanlin Monastery

On the second day begins with a visit to see one of nature’s most endangered monkeys, the Yunnan Snub- nosed monkey up close, before visiting a Tibetan village located in Tacheng where you will have lunch. Then drive 2 hours to the Nixi Pottery Village to visit a local Tibetan home and watch how to make Nixi pottery. Finally we will drive 45 minutes to the Songzanlin Monastery. Overnight in Shangri-La old town.

Day 7 Baiji Temple – Napa Lake – First Bend of the Yangtze River – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Lijiang

Leave the hotel at 9:00am, take around 40 minutes walk in the Baiji Temple and then go to visit the quiet Napa Wetland and Yila Grassland. Here we can find livestock such as yaks, horses,the regional black pigs, goats and sheep. We will then leave Shangri-La, taking about 2 hours to reach Shigu (Stone Drum Village) for a visit.   We will climb a short hill to see the famous First Bend of the Yangtze River, a dramatic V-shaped bend of the Yangtze and, if time permits, make a trip to see the majestic Tiger Leaping Gorge (Upper or Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge) before finally taking another 1.5 hours to drive back to Lijiang.
Stay one night at The Bivou.

Day 8: Lijiang -Shibao Mountain – Shaxi Old Town

We will begin at 8:00am.  It takes 1.5 hours to reach Shibaoshan, which is a stunning and important complex of old temples and ancient Buddhist grottoes set in a rocky landscape. After a shuttle bus ride from the main entrance, we begin climbing some stone steps before reaching Baoxiang Temple, a Yuan dynasty Buddhist temple built directly onto the rocky hillside. There are more than 200 mischievous monkeys living around the temple. From here, we will go on to visit the other important site, Shizhong Temple, before heading to Shaxi Old Town where we will have lunch with a local Bai minority family.   After lunch, we will visit the local markets, the old bridge, the surrounding farmlands, and also Shaxi’s Main Town Square which seems to be trapped in time. Overnight in Shaxi.

Day 9: Shaxi – Three Pagodas Temple – Cangshan Mountain – Dali Ancient Town

Drive for around 1.5 hours to reach Dali. Our first stop is the postcard scenic Three Pagodas Temple where we can stop for some pictures. Then we will take another 15 mins to drive to the foothills of Cangshan Mountain where we will take a cable car up to Zhonghe temple for a visit and have lunch.  After lunch, we will start hiking around 2-3 hours along Cangshan Mountain where you can have a beautiful view of streams and waterfalls, and a panoramic view of Erhai Lake and Dali ancient town.  After the hike, we will drive to Dali Ancient town and stay overnight in a Bai minority style hotel.   In the evening, you can explore around the town on your own, visiting some of the quiet bars playing independent music.

Day 10: Dali Ancient Town – Erhai Lake – Xizhou Old Town – Lijiang

After breakfast, we will go for a quick visit to Dali museum and then visit some historic buildings in Dali Ancient Town.  We will then take a horse-drawn carriage to enjoy a relaxing tour along the lake shore of Erhai and through a Bai minority village and rice fields.   Thereafter, we will drive to Xizhou Old Town, well-known for its impressive collection of nationally and provincially protected old buildings. We will also have a  chance to visit a local Bai family to enjoy the famous Three Course Tea Ceremony, listen to Bai music and folk songs and watch their dances.  Alternatively, experience local crafts first-hand at the tie dye, woodblock print or goats’ wool felt shop.    Finally drive for around 2.5 hours back to Lijiang where the trip ends.
Stay one night at The Bivou.

Day 11: Depart Lijiang

According to the Flight number arrange the airport drop-off.

Includes:

  • 6 nights’ accommodation in a Farm/Garden Yard Twin/Double Room at the Bivou, including breakfast for 2
  • 2-way Lijiang Sanyi Airport Transfer
  • All above tours including the tickets, transportation, English speaking guide, breakfasts and accommodation.