Stone Forest, Kunming

Day 01Arrive in Kunming

Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Kunming Airport and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city.

Hotel: Kunming Hotel (4 star)

Day 02Kunming

You will have the whole day visit the Yunnan Stone Forest and the Golden Temple.(B+L)

Descriptions:
Stone Forest- Being crowned as "the essence of Karst landforms in the world" and "one of the eight natural wonders on earth", Lunan Stone Forest Scenic Area has evolved since 2.7 hundred million years ago and wildly distributed for 1100 square kilometers with numerous stone peaks, stone stele, stalagmites and etc. Particularly, the Stone Forest displays a rare geologic vestige that covers various kinds of Karst landscapes world wide. Besides, the rich Yi ethnic culture is an additional highlight in the scenic area.

Day 03Kunming - Jinghong in Xishuangbanna

Visit the Dragon Gate and Huating Temple on the West Hills. After lunch, visit Kunming Minorities Museum. Take an afternoon flight to Jinhong in Xishuangbanna and transfer to the hotel.(B+L)

Hotel: Dai Garden Hotel (4 star)

Descriptions: Dragon Gate - Built in Qing Dynasty, the Dragon Gate along the rocky cliffs of the main peak of West Hills is the largest and most magnificent Taosim Grottoes in Yunnan. Starting from the Sanqing Pavilions in the north to the Datian Pavillions in the south, Dragon Gate extends to 66.5 meters with 22 Taoist god images, 28 animal figures of auspicious symbol and many other statues. Standing at the Dragon Gate on the mountain top, you could enjoy the lovely unobstructed view of entire Dianchi.

A local market

Day 04Jinghong in Xishuangbanna

Drive to Menglun along the Mekong River to the Tropical Botanical Garden. On the way, visit the local market, minority family and temple in Ganlanba. You could also enjoy the water splashing in the afternoon.(B+L)

Descriptions: Tropical Botanical Garden -If one describes Xishuangbanna to an evergreen boundless forest, then the Tropical Botanical Garden would be the soul of it. The Garden concentrates the most typical rare plants of tropical rainforest, some of which could be hardly found in elsewhere. You will wonder at the exotic flowers and herbs, rare species when getting into this plant kingdom in miniature.

Day 05Jinghong in Xishuangbanna

Transfer to Menghai in the moring to visit the Octagonal Pavilion, the Aini Village, the Tea Plantation. Return to Jinghong in the afternoon and visit the Manting Park.(B+L)

Descriptions: Octagonal Pavilion -Harmoniously combined with Southeast style and ancient Chinese style in architecture, the Octagonal Pavilion was built in the honor of Sakymuni by the local Dai people. Tradition has it that the Dai Buddhists usually have meetings and some important religious activities here. For another, the Dai villages boarding the Octagonal Pavilion also lend glamour to the spot.

A traditional way of making furniture

Day 06Jinghong - Simao

Drive to Sanchahe Nature Reserve to visit the Wild Elephant Valley. After that, transfer to Simao via Dadugang Tea Farm.(B+L)

Hotel: Saint Andy Hotel (4 star)

Descriptions:
Wild Elephant Valley - With elephants herding and moving in companies, the Wild Elephant Valley is the single region where one could observe wild Asian elephants safely in China. Aside from the tropical rainforest landscape, tourist could watch the trained elephants perform dancing, greeting, massaging and so on, which is really an amusing and delightful experience.

Day 07Simao - Jianshui

Transfer to Jianshui and check in the hotel. The transfer takes about 7-8 hours. You could enjoy the countryside landscape along the way.(B+L)

Hotel: Chang Yuan Hotel (3 star)

Descriptions:
Jianshui Old Town - Over the last 12 centuries, Jianshuo Old Town preserves more than 50 ancient constructions and folk houses after experiencing many ups and downs. Naturally, it wins the fame "the Museum of Ancient Constructions". Rambling around the tranquil old town, one could easily discover its unique lingering charm.

Terraced Fields in Yuanyang

Day 08Jianshui

Full day visit to the Zhu Family Garden, the Confucius Temple, the Zhang Family Garden, the double Dragon Bridge and Jianshui Old Town.(B+L)

Descriptions:
Zhu Family Garden - This grand complex features in fancy blend of garden architecture and dwelling house. The exquisite courtyards, antique furniture, austere ancestral hall and everything in the Garden bear silent witness to the rich life that its former host had been led. Besides, those delicate wood carvings and stone sculptures in Zhu Family Garden are not allowed to go unmarked by any tourist.

Day 09Jianshui - Yuanyang

Drive to Yuanyang and check in the hotel. Visit the Qingkou Hani Minority Village and the Terraced Fields.(B+L)

Hotel: Yunti Hotel (3 star)

Descriptions: Qingkou Hani Minority Village -Half-way down the hill, Qingkou Hani Minority Village has a strong flavor of primeval country life. When seen from afar, the peculiar mushroom-shaped houses dot the village fields just like a scene in the fairy-tale world. Forest, streams, village and terraced fields are the most cherished properties by the Hani People, who has created out a sound ecosystem with their laborious hands.

A local village in Yuanyang

Day 10Yuanyang

Visit the local market in the morning. Drive to Duoyishu for local Village and Terraced Fields. Then drive to the Terraced Fields in Laohuzui (Tiger's Mouth)(B+L)

Descriptions: Yuanyang Local Market - Having minorities of Hani, Yi, Dai, Miao, Yao and Zhuang people residing in this wonderful land, the social attractions are as fetching as the striking natural attractions in Yuanyang. Local market nearby is a brilliant scenery in Yuanyang, especially the Laomung Market on Sunday, when the minorities flock in from all quarters by wearing their individual colorful costumes and dresses. The narrow streets are full of the assorted vending booths, which features the folk custom all in it.   
 
Yuanyang Terraced Fields - Yuanyang owns the world's largest and most imposing Terraced Fields, which have been cultivated by the Hani people since one thousand years ago. Varying with time, weather and season, the charming scenery has been long a hot spot for many photographers or amateurs. At sunrise, it is fantastic to watch the Doyishu Terraced Fields that are being folded in morning mist. At sunset, it is ideal to view the Terraced Fields in Laohuzui (Tiger's Month) that are sparkling with color in the flickering sunlight.

Day 11Yuanyang - Hekou Exit

Drive to Hekou to reach Vietnam.(B)

B-- Breakfast     L-- Lunch     D-- Dinner