14 Days Yunnan Minority Discovery Tour by Speed Train

We will start the tour form the center of the city - Tiananmen Square. Go north through the square and you will reach the Forbidden City. As the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden structure in the world, it has more than 8,000 pavilions and thousands of historic treasures. Then enjoy the lunch.

In the afternoon, head to visit the royal altar of the Ming and Qing dynasties - the Temple of Heaven.

Get up early to visit Badaling Great Wall. Great Wall is one of the greatest architecture projects in human history. Then visit the Ding Tomb of Ming Tombs, where 13 emperors and their wives of the Ming Dynasty were buried. See the appearance of Bird’s Nest on the way to your hotel at a distance.

Morning drive to Beijing railway station for the high speed train to Kunming G403 (7:05-19:58), be picked up by the guide from Kunming and transferred to your hotel.

Firstly drive about 1.5hr to Jiuxiang Cave which is located 90km far from Kunming. Known as the "museum of karst caves", Jiuxiang boasts more than 100 karst caves and is the largest cave group system in China.

After lunch, further diving 40m to Stone Forest, one of the most important attractions of Yunnan. An old local saying says that "If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time."

After the tour, drive back to Kunming downtown and stroll in the Flower and Bird Market and Nanping Street nearby. Then transfer to the railway station to take the overnight train to Dali.

Early in the morning, arrive at Dali Railway station. Met by the tour guide and start today's tour with the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. After lunch, cruise on Erhai Lake by the small boat to the Jinsuo Islet in the east Erhai Lake.

In the afternoon, head for Xizhou Town to appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste the Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. Then visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people's Tie-dying cloth workshop. At last, visit the Ancient Dali Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the relax time with local people.

In the morning, drive about 2.5hrs from Dali to Shibaoshan mountain. The most prominent sight at ShibaoShan is the Stone Bell Temple with its 139, well preserved stone carvings. Another interesting sight is the 'Suspending Temple', also called the Baoxiang Temple.

After lunch, drive to Shaxi and visit Shaxi Old Town.

This morning, drive 2.5hrs to Visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge(Shangri-La section), the deepest gorge in the world. Afternoon, head for Shangri La, the former Zhongdian which is well known as the paradise destination for every tourist. After arrival, check in your hotel.

Then stroll around Dukezong Ancient Town, an important town of the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet and India. Walk up to the top of Guishan Hill or tortoise Hill, you will see the largest Prayer Wheel of the world and have a panoramic view of shangrila county and Dukezong Ancient Town.

In the morning, visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park, which is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world.

Continue to visit the Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias - 'the little Potala Palace', so named because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere.

After the tour, driver to Lijiang and check in hotel in Lijiang after arrival.

This morning, drive to Jade Dragon Mountain to make your day tour of the mountain. Upon arrival, visit the Glacier Park (3356m) which is 4500m above sea level. See the No. 1 Whitewater Glaciers that was formed 40.000 years ago.

Later watch the outdoor performance “Impression Lijiang” directed by the renowned China director, Zhang Yimou. Finally have a stop at Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M).

Then go to Black Dragon Pool Park, which was built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty. Afterwards stroll at Shuhe Old Town before the evening. Transfer to Lijiang railway station for the overnight train back to Kunming.

Early in the morning, arrive at Kunming railway station. Met by the tour guide and transferred directly to the high speed train station for your train to Shanghai. Upon arrival, picked up by the local guide and transferred to your hotel.

After breakfast, visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The ultra-modern Oriental Pearl TV Tower combines ancient concepts with 21st Century technology, where you can get a bird-eye-view of whole Shanghai city.

Then move to Yuyuan Garden and Yuyuan Market. Yu Yuan Garden(or Yun Garden) is a famous classical garden located in Anren Jie, Shanghai. It abuts the Yuyuan Market.

Afterward, you will stroll on the famous Nanjing Road and the Bund.

After breakfast, we will head to Zhujiajiao Old Town. It will take about 50 minutes. Explore the Zhujiajiao ancient town known as the Venice of Shanghai. There are 36 old bridges and 9 streets built along the rivers. You can enjoy the cruise(paid by yourself) along the narrow lanes of this village.

After lunch, transfer back to Shanghai and enjoy the relax stroll in Xintiandi, a car-free shopping, dining and entertainment area of Shanghai.

Free time before being escorted to the airport for your departure flight. Service ends.