9 Days Guilin and Yunnan Tour with Nature & Minority Culture

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Guilin

   Welcome to Guilin for our carefully designed 9 days Guilin and Yunnan tour! Upon arrival, a local private driver will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel in Guilin downtown. The rest of the day is for you to explore the city at your own pace.

   Optional activity in the evening (at your own expense): You are recommended to take the Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruise to admire the landscapes of Guilin, adorned with colorful lights.

   You can also ask your guide for more evening activities.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Guilin

2. Day 2: Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo
   Enjoy a Leisurely Li River Cruise, Go Sightseeing the Ten-mile Gallery

   After breakfast at your hotel, start your guided Guilin tour with a Li River cruise from Mopanshan Pier. A great way to experience the scenery between Guilin and Yangshuo, the Li River Cruise allows visitors to leisurely enjoy the karst mountains and vivid countryside life along the way.

   During the 4-5 hours cruise, pass by some natural wonders, including the Elephant Trunk Hill, Nine Horse Fresco Hill, and the Yellow Cloth Shoal that is depicted on the back of the 20 RMB note. Lunch is included in the cruise.

   

   Upon arrival at Yangshuo, your guide and driver will transfer you to the hotel and help you to check in. Have a short break at your hotel before heading to the Ten-mile Gallery for sightseeing. The area got its name for the mountains, waters, and picturesque rural scenes unfolding like natural paintings along its nearly ten-mile route. You can opt for a sightseeing bus, bicycle, or electric scooter to admire some of the most typical karst in Guilin.

   The most iconic one in this scenic area should be Moon Hill, a 380-meter-high peak with a massive natural arch below its summit. To ascend the hill through an 800-step path, you'll enjoy a panoramic view of Yangshuo and take some great photos.

   

   After the sightseeing, get back to Yangshuo and enjoy your leisure time at the famous West Street. As the oldest and most bustling street in Yangshuo, Yangshuo West Street is lined with countless traditional buildings, shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, etc. It will not disappoint you whether you prefer a vibrant culinary experience or a culture and history exploration.

   Optional Activity in the evening: You can pay extra to appreciate the Impression Liu Sanjie, an outdoor show directed by renowned Chinese director Zhang Yimou, against the backdrop of Li River and the karst mountains.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Yangshuo

3. Day 3: Yangshuo Yulong River Tour, Back to Guilin
   Explore the Yulong River by Bamboo Rafting or Cycling

   After breakfast, follow your guide to the Yulong River. About 43.5 kilometers long, Yulong River is a tributary of the Li River featuring clear waters, idyllic landscapes on both riverbanks, picturesque karst mountains, and many outdoor activity opportunities.

   

   Bamboo rafting is one of the most preferred ways for most visitors to experience the beautiful sceneries along the Yulong River. Based on your preference, you can also explore the surrounding areas by cycling. You are flexible to visit local villages along the way.

   After the time at Yulong River, be escorted back to Guilin.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Guilin

4. Day 4: Guilin to Lijiang Tour by Flight
   Experience Naxi Dongba Culture in Lijiang Ancient Town

   Say goodbye to Guilin after breakfast. Your driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Lijiang. Upon arrival, the local guide in Lijiang will meet you at the arrival hall and escort you to your hotel in Lijiang Ancient Town. After a short break, start your exploration of Lijiang Ancient Town.

   A UNESCO-listed site with rich ethnic and cultural heritage, Lijiang Ancient Town attracts worldwide tourists with its well-preserved ancient buildings, authentic Naxi Dongba culture, and diverse folk activities and traditional crafts.

   You'll visit the Mufu Palace, the former residence of the ancient Lijiang chieftain, featuring a grand architectural complex blending architectural styles of the Naxi, Han, Bai, and other ethnic groups.

   Also, stroll around Sifang Street Square, a top thing to do when traveling to Lijiang. Once the cultural and commercial center of Lijiang, the square is still a vibrant place to encounter locals' daily activities and festival celebrations.

   Get back to your hotel after the visit. You can also ask your guide for some local snacks and recommended evening activities.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation:  in Lijiang Ancient Town

   

5. Day 5: Lijiang Exploration Tour
   Appreciate the Baisha Mural Paintings, Stroll around Shuhe Ancient Town

   After breakfast, meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby. Then, take your Lijiang trip to Yuhu Village about 18 km away from Lijiang City. With the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as its backdrop, Yuhu Village will entertain you with traditional stone houses, pristine natural landscapes, and unique Naxi culture.

   

   After that, continue your trip to Baisha Village to appreciate the Baisha Mural Paintings from the Ming Dynasty. An example of the coexistence of multiple cultures in Lijiang, Baisha Murals will introduce you to the fusion of culture and religious art of the Naxi, Tibetan, Han, and other ethnic groups in this area.

   

   Continue to visit the Shuhe Ancient Town, a well-preserved trading town along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Here you can either stroll through the stone-paved streets to feel the rich Naxi culture elements and rustic atmosphere or enjoy a quiet moment in an old workshop or teahouse.

   Visit the Dongba Culture Museum to learn about Naxi culture, including Dongba pictographic documents, paintings, clothing, and more. End the day at Black Dragon Pool Park for views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

   Get back to your hotel after today's visit.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Lijiang

6. Day 6: Lijiang to Shangri-La Tour
   Hike the Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge for 2.5 Hours

   After breakfast, check out your hotel in Lijiang and begin your trip to Shangri-La. The first stop today is the First Bend of the Yangtze River. The Yangtze River (called Jinsha River locally) makes a dramatic "V"-shaped turn in this region, forming such an awe-inspiring sight that attracts both photographers and nature enthusiasts. You can take some great photos from certain viewing platforms.

   

   Near the First Bend of the Yangtze River is one of the best hiking paradise in the world - Tiger Leaping Gorge. You’ll have about 2.5 hours to hike the upper Tiger Leaping Gorge and experience some highlights in this section. Hiking along the winding mountain trail, you'll pass through several local ethnic villages and catch the stunning views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain.

   After the hike, continue your drive to Shangri-La and check into your hotel after arrival.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Shangri-La

   

7. Day 7: Shangri-La Full Day Tour
   Glimpse the Tibetan Culture Through A Local Tibetan Family and Monastery

   After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, start your Yunnan tour in Shangri-La with a visit to the Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastic complex in Yunnan. Emulating the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the layout of the main structures of the monastery also ascend the mountain in tiers, thus is widely called the "Little Potala Palace". Here you can admire the intricate golden roofs, visit the prayer halls, and marvel at the pagodas.

   

   Followed by a visit to Potatso National Park, where you can enjoy diverse untouched natural landscapes, including forest streams, expansive meadows, clear Bita Lake and Shudu Lake, deep gorges, and various wildlife.

   After that, follow your guide to visit a local Tibetan family. The hospitable host will entertain you with their homemade snacks, like butter tea, yak cheese, and barley wine. This is a rare chance to look into local Tibetan's daily life and activities.

   Return to your hotel after the visit.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Shangri-La

   

8. Day 8: Shangri-La to Kunming Tour by Flight
   Catch a Stunning Panoramic View of Dianchi Lake from Western Hills

   After breakfast, be escorted to the airport for your flight to Kunming. Upon arrival at Kunming, your local guide and driver will welcome you and take you to your hotel in the downtown area.

   Head to Western Hills in the afternoon. Adjacent to the western shore of Dianchi Lake, the Western Hills offers a stunning panoramic view of Dianchi Lake and a wealth of ancient temples. You can reach the summit by cable car and visit Dragon Gate. A top highlight on the Western Hills, the Dragon Gate grottoes features cliffside pathways, stone chambers, and exquisite stone carvings and inscriptions.

   Get back to your hotel in Kunming city center after the visit.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Kunming

   

9. Day 9: Stone Forest Tour, Kunming Departure
   Marvel at the Spectacular Karst Landscape at Stone Forest

   Discover the two best highlights of Kunming on the last day of this 9-day Guilin and Yunnan tour.

   After breakfast, make a visit to the Kunming Green Lake Park, the "emerald gem" in the heart of Kunming City. With picturesque scenery throughout the year, the Green Lake is local people's favorite place for leisure and entertainment. A morning visit here will allow you a chance to see locals’ various exercises like tai chi, dancing, and singing.

   Following the park, you will be transferred to the Stone Forest. Thanks to its spectacular karst landscape of diverse stone pillars, peaks, and caves, Stone Forest was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showing millions of years of geological evolution. You’ll marvel at some of its most iconic formations in both the Greater and Lesser Stone Forest areas.

   After the Stone Forest visit, be escorted to Kunming Airport for your departure flight. Bid farewell to your guide and driver. Your memorable China tour to Guilin and Yunnan ends here.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A