Yiren Ancient Town
Yiren Ancient Town in Chuxiong is entered through a twin-tower archway, with lanes hung full of red lanterns. The second night is spent in this area.
Departing Kunming · 8 Days / 7 Nights Private Charter
Kunming, Dali, Shaxi & Lijiang 8-Day Tour
8 days / 7 nights | Yiren Ancient Town, Erhai Lake and Shaxi, Blue Moon Valley below Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the Western Hills of Kunming to finish.
Overview
Tour Overview
After pickup at Changshui Airport the first night is in Kunming. Day two takes in Kunming Old Street, the Yunnan Provincial Museum and the Laoyuhe Wetland, reaching Chuxiong by evening for a night at Yiren Ancient Town. Day three enters Dali for the Erhai Ecological Corridor, Lixiangbang, the Ancient Tea Horse Road at Fengyangyi and Dali Ancient Town. Day four goes by way of Xizhou to Shaxi, then on into Lijiang.
Day five is spent at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: the Spruce Meadow cable car, Blue Moon Valley and Baisha. Day six covers Black Dragon Pool and Lijiang Old Town before the afternoon drive back to Dali. Day seven returns to Kunming for the Dragon Gate at Western Hills and Daguan Pavilion, with Nanqiang Street to browse in the evening. On day eight you see the Golden Horse and Jade Rooster Archways before the airport transfer. Admission, cable cars and shows are quoted separately.
Highlights
Highlights
- Kunming Old Street keeps its Qing-dynasty and Republican-era lanes; at the Laoyuhe Wetland you can paddle through a flooded forest, boat departures depending on the day.
- A night in Chuxiong to see the archways and lanterns of Yiren Ancient Town. Bonfires and song-and-dance shows are not guaranteed; if there is a performance it is arranged separately.
- Dali includes Erhai Lake, the white-walled slopes of Lixiangbang, the flagstone old road at Fengyangyi, the ancient town and the Bai houses of Xizhou.
- Shaxi for Sideng Street, the ancient opera stage and Yujin Bridge, then on to Lijiang. A long driving day.
- Spruce Meadow lies above 3,000 metres. If the cable car is suspended we do not switch to another cable car; the time goes to Blue Moon Valley and Baisha instead.
- Show tickets are quoted separately. If there is no performance you stay in the old town or Blue Moon Valley rather than looking for a substitute show.
Itinerary
Day by Day
DAY1
Kunming Changshui Airport pickup
Your driver meets you at Changshui Airport and takes you to your hotel in Kunming. If the flight arrives in the evening you simply rest, with no night sightseeing. Please let us have your flight number and the number of bags.
Meals Dinner: at your own expense Stay Kunming city centre, 4-star or 5-star hotel or similar
DAY2
Kunming Old Street · Yunnan Provincial Museum · Laoyuhe Wetland → Chuxiong
The morning is a walk through Kunming Old Street around Guanghua Street and Jingxing Street, with gatehouses from the Qing dynasty and the Republican era. The Yunnan Provincial Museum, subject to opening and booking, shows the province's cultural relics. In the afternoon you reach the Laoyuhe Wetland on the east shore of Dianchi Lake, where boats paddle through the flooded woodland; departures depend on the day and the water level. Towards evening it is about a two-hour drive to Chuxiong, staying near Yiren Ancient Town. If the town has a song-and-dance show in the evening, whether to see it is up to you; it is not part of the itinerary.
Meals Breakfast: at the hotel | Lunch: at your own expense | Dinner: at your own expense Stay Chuxiong, 4-star or similar ancient-town hotel
DAY3
Erhai Ecological Corridor · Lixiangbang · Ancient Tea Horse Road · Dali Ancient Town
Leaving Chuxiong in the morning, it is about two and a half hours' drive to Dali. You walk a stretch of the Erhai Ecological Corridor along the lake. Lixiangbang is a hillside of white walls and ramps looking out over Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake; the one-way electric cart depends on operations. Fengyangyi still has a flagstone section of the Ancient Tea Horse Road and stone-walled Bai houses. Towards evening you enter Dali Ancient Town and Foreigner Street, where Bai courtyards and wooden lattice windows survive.
Meals Breakfast: at the hotel | Lunch: at your own expense | Dinner: at your own expense Stay Near Dali Ancient Town, 4-star or boutique equivalent
DAY4
Xizhou · Shaxi Ancient Town → Lijiang
The morning is in Xizhou for its Bai houses and corner towers, with the colours of the fields changing by season. If there is a Three-Course Tea performance the ticket is quoted separately; if there is no show you simply move on. After midday you reach Shaxi for Sideng Street, the ancient opera stage and Yujin Bridge over the Heihui River. This is a long drive, so you arrive in Lijiang towards evening and check in to rest.
Meals Breakfast: at the hotel | Lunch: at your own expense | Dinner: at your own expense Stay Near Lijiang Old Town, 4-star or boutique equivalent
DAY5
Spruce Meadow · Blue Moon Valley · Baisha
In the morning you head to the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cable car takes you up to Spruce Meadow, a grassy clearing among spruce trees, with the main peak Shanzidou visible in good weather. The altitude is above 3,000 metres, so the stop is shortened if anyone feels the altitude. If the cable car is suspended or under maintenance we do not switch to another line; the time goes to Blue Moon Valley instead. The valley's water is a blue-green, and the electric cart inside the scenic area is quoted separately. The Baishui River is snowmelt from the mountain, which bleaches the stones of its bed white. In the afternoon you visit Baisha Ancient Town, whose streets are quieter than the old town's.
Meals Breakfast: at the hotel | Lunch: at your own expense | Dinner: at your own expense Stay Near Lijiang Old Town, 4-star or boutique equivalent
DAY6
Black Dragon Pool · Lijiang Old Town → Dali
The morning starts at Black Dragon Pool, whose clear water reflects Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in fine weather. You then walk Lijiang Old Town and Sifang Street. Afternoon tea and performances are not included. After midday you set off back to Dali, a drive of about two and a half to three hours, for the night in Dali.
Meals Breakfast: at the hotel | Lunch: at your own expense | Dinner: at your own expense Stay Near Dali Ancient Town, 4-star or boutique equivalent
DAY7
Dragon Gate at Western Hills · Daguan Pavilion → Kunming
Leaving Dali in the morning, it is about four hours' drive back to Kunming. The afternoon is given to the Dragon Gate at Western Hills, on the west shore of Dianchi Lake, by cable car or on foot depending on your energy. Daguan Pavilion stands in Daguan Park, looking across this side of Dianchi Lake. If you still have the energy in the evening, the Nanqiang Street night market is yours to browse for snacks; no set meal is arranged.
Meals Breakfast: at the hotel | Lunch: at your own expense | Dinner: at your own expense Stay Kunming city centre, 4-star or 5-star hotel or similar
DAY8
Golden Horse and Jade Rooster Archways → Airport transfer
Timed back from your return flight. The Golden Horse and Jade Rooster Archways stand at the junction of Sanshi Street and Jinbi Road; you see the archways and the streets around them, then transfer to Changshui Airport.
Meals Breakfast: at the hotel
Inclusions
What's Included
Quoted per trip. Tell us your dates and group size and a travel consultant will send a tailored quote within 24 hours.
Included
- Private vehicle and professional driver throughout (licensed commercial vehicles)
- Kunming airport transfers, fuel, tolls, parking and the driver-guide's meals and lodging
- 7 nights' accommodation as listed (twin share; single rooms quoted separately)
- Daily breakfast
Not Included
- International flights to and from Kunming
- Attraction admission, cable cars, electric carts, boat rides and shows
- Lunches and dinners
- Child safety seats (charged per seat per day; please tell us when booking)
- Driver-guide gratuities (a daily amount per person is suggested) and personal expenses
The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain cable car and show times depend on operations on the day. The final plan for the high-altitude sections is confirmed by your travel consultant.
Ready to plan this route?
Stops
Featured Stops
Lixiangbang
White walls and ramps face Erhai Lake, with Cangshan Mountain behind. In clear weather the snow line stands out sharply. The electric cart counts as a one-way shuttle only, depending on operations on the day.
Erhai Lake
A calm lake with pavilions along the shore. The ecological corridor follows the lake; you walk a stretch and stop, rather than going all the way round.
Dali Ancient Town
The old town's streets face Cangshan Mountain. Gate towers, tiled roofs and evening clouds are the images you see most often here.
Old Town Shophouses
Carved wooden doors and shopfronts line the streets. Foreigner Street is a small east-west lane where Bai courtyards still survive.
Around Xizhou
Village houses of grey tile and earthen walls with fields alongside. The colour of the fields changes with the season; no particular bloom is guaranteed.
Shaxi Ancient Opera Stage
The timber opera stage beside Sideng Street rises in tiers of flying eaves. Yujin Bridge crosses the Heihui River; after the street and the bridge you continue to Lijiang.
Blue Moon Valley
Blue-green water edged by pine forest. Electric carts run inside the scenic area at an extra charge. If the cable car is suspended, this section can still go ahead.
Lijiang Old Town
Sifang Street is the small square at the heart of the old town, with lanes radiating from it. The night scene is only yours if you stay in Lijiang; the itinerary leaves on the afternoon of day six.
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Share your travel dates, group size and hotel preferences. A travel consultant confirms the itinerary and sends a quote.