Discovering "Xanadu" Southeast Yunnan Tour (11 nights/12 days)
Destination included: Kunming, Luoping, Puzhehei, Guang'nan, Yanshan, Yuanyang and Jianshui.
Attractions features: picturesque waterfalls and terraced fields; getaway atmosphere; beautiful terrain, etc.
Day 01: arrive in Kunming, which is reputed as "Spring City" because of the pleasant climate all year round and big variety of flowers, city tour, visit the East and West Temple Pagodas which were built during the 9th century, Golden Horse and Jade Rooster Archways which are among the landmarks of Kunming city, Flower & Bird Market and Nanping Pedestrian Commercial Street. (O/N: 4-star hotel in Kunming)
Day 02: drive to Luoping (3 hrs) which is known for its rape flowers, every spring, a rape flower festival is held there, en route, visit Stone Forest (90 km, 1.5 hrs) which is a world natural heritage site and world geological park with amazing karst limestone landform, in the meantime, meet the local Yi ethnic minority people there. (O/N: 2-star hotel in Luoping)
Day 03: visit the picturesque Duoyi River which is 12 kilometers long with waterfalls at different levels where you can also have a glimps of the watermills that shows how the ancient people made use of the natural water resources, on the way, stop off at Hundred - Thousand Mountains to enjoy a breathtaking view of the mountain group in the distance, then visit Jiulong Waterfalls (Nine - Dragon Waterfalls) which is a cluster of spectacular waterfalls formed on Jiulong River and its greatest waterfall has a drop of 56 meters with width of 112 meters, on the way back, stop off at Jinjicun (Golden Rooster Village) and ascend Jinjiling (Golden Rooster Ridge) to overlook the area which is dotted with villages and numerous hills. (O/N: 2-star hotel in Luoping)
Day 04: drive to Puzhehei (3.5 hrs), visit Yi ethnic minority villages, lakes and caves. (O/N: 3-star hotel in Puzhehei)
Day 05: drive to Guang'nan (4 hrs), visit Nianhu Lake Park and Bronze Drum Square. (O/N: 2-star hotel in Guang'nan)
Day 06: visit Bamei Village which is reputed as "Xanadu" or "Arcadia" and it only can be reached by boat, enjoy picturesque sceneries and experience local ethnic customs, then drive to Yanshan. (O/N: 2-star hotel in Guang'nan)
Day 07: drive to Yuanyang (6 hrs) which is one of the favorite destinations for photographers, on arrival in Yuanyang, visit Quanfuzhuang Terraced Fields before check into guesthouse. (O/N: guesthouse in Sheng Village)
Day 08: early in the morning, visit Duoyishu Terraced Fields which is the best place to watch sunrise, after that, return to guesthouse for breakfast, then you can visit terraced fields around Sheng Village; in the afternoon, visit Bada Terraced Fields, Qingkou Hani Nationality Village where you can find Hani people's houses with their roofs in the shape of mushrooms and Tiger Mouth Terraced Fields which is the most spectacular place to watch sunset. (O/N: guesthouse in Sheng Village)
Day 09: drive to Jianshui (3 hrs), visit Swift Cave which is a karst cave and is frequented by swifts every summer, hence the name, watch local masters climbing the cliffs bare-handedly for the purpose of picking the swift's nests, meanwhile, you can taste the swift's nest which is a local delicacy there. (O/N: 3-star hotel in Jianshui)
Day 10: after breakfast, visit Zhu's Family Garden, City Gate and Confucius Temple which is the second largest of its kind in China; after lunch, drive to Tuanshan Village, take a walk around the village and visit Zhang's Family Garden there, on the way back, visit Double-Dragon Bridge. (O/N: 3-star hotel in Jianshui)
Day 11: drive to Kunming (3 hrs), en route, after arrival, visit Western Hills which is a forest park and as the outline of the hills looks like a lady lying down and trailing her hair in Dianchi Lake, it is nicknamed "Sleeping Beauty", ascending the hills, you can pay pilgrimages to Taoist gods and Buddhas and have a bird's eye view of Kunming city and the lake. (O/N: 4-star hotel in Kunming)
Day 12: visit Golden Temple which is a Taoist temple and is famous for a 250-ton bronze temple (the heaviest in China) and a 14-ton bronze bell (the third heaviest in China), on the bell tower there, you can also overlook Kunming city and see "Sleeping Beauty" clearly in the distance, then depart
Quotation: US$1,370 per person (2 persons)
Tour Inclusions:
1. Entrance fees to scenic spots
2. Twin room based on double occupancy in hotels specified in the itinerary
3. Breakfasts, Chinese food for involved lunches and dinners
4. Air-conditioned vehicle
5. English-speaking guide
Tour Exclusions:
1. Visa fees
2. International or domestic air tickets for flights to and from Yunnan
3. Excess baggage charges
4. Tips and personal expenses
5. Single room supplement
7. Travel insurance