9 Days Yunnan Muslim Tour to Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La
Besides the alluring natural scenery and profound ethnic culture, Yunnan also provide you something about Muslim. The highlights of this Muslin tour is the famous Dong Lianhua Village and Donglianhua Mosque. Dong Lianhua Village located in Weishan County is one of the most obviously Muslim areas in China and Donglianhua Mosque is one of the 22 Mosques collected in Weishan County.
Highlights:
- Experience Muslin culture and explore the ethnic groups in Yunnan.
- Enjoy the natural beauty along the way.
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Kunming Arrival
- Day 2: Kunming
- Day 3: Kunming – Dali
- Day 4: Dali
- Day 5: Dali – Lijiang
- Day 6: Lijiang
- Day 7: Lijiang – Shangrila
- Day 8: Shangrila
- Day 9: Shangrila Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Kunming Arrival
Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals:
Airport-Hotel transfer. Then explore this city on your own.
Day 2 Kunming
Sightseeing and Activities: Stone Forest, Nancheng Mosque, The Green Lake, The Flowers and Birds Market
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Breakfast at hotel, our tour guide and drive will pick you up from your hotel and then drive about 85km to the Stone Forest, a notable set of limestone formations and two parts of which have been UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the South China Karst. Besides, Stone Forest is also famous for the ethnic culture of the Sani People (a branch of the Yi ethnicminority).
After the visit, drive back to Kunming and visit Nancheng Mosque, the largest mosque in Kunming first constructed during the Tang Dynasty. Then move on to Flowers and Birds Market and Green Lake Park, strolling around the lake, watching locals do dancing and making music.
Day 3 Kunming – Dali
Sightseeing and Activities: Donglianhua Village, Donglianhua Mosque, Weishan Old Town, Weishan Confucius Temple
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today take the speed train to Dali. Upon arrival, drive to visit Donglianhua Village, one of the most obviously Muslim areas in China and Donglianhua Mosque, one of the 22 Mosques collected in Weishan County. Then continue the tour to Weishan Old Town and Weishan Confucius Temple. Weishan Old Town is the cradle of Nanzhao kingdom.
Day 4 Dali
Sightseeing and Activities: Dali Old Town, The Ancient City Wall, Erhai Lake Cruise, Three Pagodas Temple
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today explore Dali Old Town including the Foreigner Street, the Ancient City Wall of Dali and The Gate Tower. Wander around the streets to experience the local culture. Located between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, Dali Old Town is a historic town with rich culture, which attracts many visitors every year. Then take a cruise on Erhai Lake and visit Three Pagodas in Chongsheng Monastery – a symbol of the Dali City.
Day 5 Dali – Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities: Xizhou Old Town, Zhoucheng Village, Black Dragon Pool, Dongba Culture Museum, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, drive about 3-4 hours to Lijiang. On the way, pay a visit to the Bai Minority Traditional Houses in Xizhou, which is the place where the best and most of Bai Minority Traditional Houses are preserved. Then move on to Zhoucheng nearby and visit the traditional hand-made Tie Dyeing.
Upon Lijiang arrival, head to visit Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Culture Museum, then walk along the river to Lijiang Old Town. With a history of more than 800 years, Lijiang Old Town was listed as the World Cultural Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1997. Black Dragon Pool offers a spectacular view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and also is home to the Dongba Culture Museum.
Day 6 Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Impression Lijiang Show, Baisha Old Town, Baisha Murals
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, drive to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. About 15 kilometers from Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the southernmost snowcapped mountain in the Northern Hemisphere. Upon arrival, visit the scenic spots of Ganhaizi Meadow, White Water River and the famous Yak Meadow.
After lunch, enjoy the Impression Lijang Ethnic Show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area directed in Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M). Later stroll through an enchanting traditional Yunnan old town – Baisha Old Town and visit Baisha Mural – one part of Lijiang World Cultural Heritage.
Day 7 Lijiang – Shangrila
Sightseeing and Activities: the First Bend of Yangtze River, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Ancient Town, Guishan Hill, Grand Prayer Wheel
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Breakfast at hotel and drive to Shangri-La city. Shangri-La is a great place to experience the spectacular landscape and profound Tibetan culture.
On the way, we will have a distant view of the First Bend of Yangtze River, and continue the trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is one of the deepest gorges in the world. Then drive about 2 hours to Shangri-La. Upon arrival, check in hotel.
Later, stroll around Dukezong Ancient Town, a famous stop on the antient Tea-horse Trade Caravand. Then walk up to the top of Guishan Hill and see the largest Prayer Wheel of the world – Grand Prayer Wheel, where we can also have a panoramic view of Shangri-La city and Dukezong Ancient Town.
After the tour, back to hotel and have a good rest.
Day 8 Shangrila
Sightseeing and Activities: Songzanlin Temple, Pudacuo National Park, a local Tibetan family visit
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, visit Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Monastery), reputed as the “Little Potala Palace”. Established by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1679, the monastery belongs to Gelug sect of Buddhism, and it is also the largest Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province with around 600 monks.
Then, drive to the first national park in China – Pudacuo National Park which is mainly comprised of Shudu Lake, Militang Grassland, Bita Lake. Shudu Lake is a famous pasture, herds of yak and goat grazing beside the lake. Militang Grassland is located between Shudu Lake and Bita Lake with lush grass in meadow. Bitahai Lake, regarded as a pearl of the Plateau, is an intact natural attraction with outstanding landscapes.
After the merry time in the park, pay a visit to a local Tibetan family to experience the highly-praised hospitality of Tibetan people and taste some special Tibetan snacks and butter tea.
Day 9 Shangri-La Departure
Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast
Explore this city at leisure until being escorted to the airport for your departure flight. Service ends.
Service Included:
- Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
- Meals as listed in the itinerary;
- Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
- Private English-speaking tour guide;
- Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
- Service charge & government taxes;
- Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
- Domestic train tickets of soft sleeper.
Service Excluded:
- Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
- Chinese visa fees;
- Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
- Single room supplement;
- Tips to guides and drivers;
- Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
- Personal travel accident insurance;
- All optional programs.
The Hui Nationality had very first lived in Yunnan since the Tang Dynasty; and at that time, they had built mosques. A large number of the Hui people moved into Yunnan during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. During the early Qing Dynasty, Yunnan has nearly 800000 Hui population, becoming China second largest Hui ethnic community after northwest region of China. According to the sixthcensus statistics in 2010, Yunnan province has 698265 Hui population, which are distributed around the whole province. It has a population of 1.09 million muslim in Yunnan and has more than 867 mosques.