8 Days of Kunming - Shangri-la - Haba Village - Dark Lake - Sanchahe Ranch - Peace Bridge - Lijiang - Kunming

On the first day, take a minibus from Kunming Nanyao Bus Station (Add: No. 60, Beijing Road, Kunming) to the Stone Forest. It is about 70km (43.5 miles) away from Kunming and the driving takes about 2 hours. When you are back to Kunming, you are suggested to visit the Green Lake Park. It is the most beautiful park in Kunming and opposite to the Yunnan Univesity. You can take bus No. 1 to get off at Yunnan University, take bus No. 101 to get off at Green Lake, or take bus No. 5, 23, 4 to get off at Small West Gate and walk to the park. You can stay overnight at Yuntel Inns (Chuanjin Road Kunming; Add: No. 1, Chuanjin Road, Panlong District, Kunming; Tel: 0871-6370496). The hotel is near to the Green Lake Park.

On the second day, take the shuttle bus or bus No. 52, 67, 78 and 103 to Kunming airport. The driving takes about 20 minutes. Take flight to Shangri-la. In Shangri-la, take bus No. 3 to the Grand Gedan Songzanlin Tibetan Lama Temple. It is reputed as "the small Potala Palace". Afterwards, stroll in the ancient town of Shangri-la. Pay a visit to the Tibetan Law Court and Guishan Temple where you can see the biggest rotating scripture column in the world. You can stay overnight at the local hostel in the ancient town.

On the third day, take bus for about 3 hours to White Water Terrace and have a visit there. After lunch, head for Haba Village by bus. You can get off at the belvedere of Haba Snow Mountain and overlook the beautiful landscape of the mountain. Then hike along the road for nearly one hour to Haba Village. Stay overnight night at the local hostel.

On the fourth day, trek to Dark Lake inside the Haba Mountain. Enjoy the sun-rise of Haba Snow Mountain. Visit Lanjiacun Muslim Villages, Shajiacun Yi Ethnic Group Villages, Shibang Lake, the Flower of Poplar Forest, the Xiaojianshan Pasture and the Virgin Forest of Brown Trunk Rhododendron. You could also see the thousands years alpine birch, the forest of skyscraping roburs,the waterfalls, the Yellow Lake, the main peak of Haba Mountain and the mysterious Dark Lake with many alpine flowers around it. The total hiking time today is 5 to 6 hours, and the altitude is from 2750m to 3600m. Stay in the camp near the lake.

On the fifth day, trek to Sanchahe Ranch. En route, enjoy the sun-rise of Haba Snow Mountain, the views of Dark Lake in the morning, the alpine flowers, and overlook the Tianbao Snow Mountain. Hike across Nili Mountain Pass. Enjoy the highest peak of Haba Mountain, the Three Swordsman Sacred Peak, the Shuicaoba Ranch, the views of Yi and Lisu Ethnic Groups and the sun-set of the Snow Mountains. Stay overnight in the camp or in the tent of local herdsman. Today, you will hike across the highest altitude which is 4325m of the whole trip. The hiking time is 6 to 8 hours.

On the sixth day, go on hiking for about 6 hours to Peace Bridge. En route, visit Yi and Lisu Ethnic Group Villages. Upon arrival at Peace Bridge, drive for about 100km to Lijiang. Stay overnight at a local guest house.

On the seventh day, take bus No. 6 to visit the Baisha Village, a local Naxi family, the Baisha Murals and the Rock Joseph's Former Residence in Yuhu Village. Return to Kunming.

On the eighth day, leave Kunming according to your own schedule.