12-Day Yunnan & Chengdu Journey: Old Towns, Highland Flavors & Pandas

Arrive in Kunming, Yunnan's relaxed provincial capital, and transfer to your hotel. After time to settle in and adjust, begin your journey with a relaxed food walk through Kunming's old streets if arrival time allows. Sample local favorites such as rice noodles and grilled snacks while experiencing the neighborhood food stalls and everyday city life.

Meals: Dinner, subject to arrival time

Accommodation: Delta Hotels Kunming or similar 5-star property

After breakfast, travel to the Stone Forest, one of Yunnan's most distinctive karst landscapes. Walk among dramatic limestone formations shaped by time, weather, and local legend, while your guide shares the geological and cultural stories behind the landscape.

Later, return to Kunming for a relaxed walk around Green Lake, where local residents gather for music, conversation, exercise, and everyday leisure. Dinner features a selection of regional Yunnan flavors.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch (Beijing cuisine) / Dinner

Accommodation: Delta Hotels Kunming or similar 5-star property

Travel to Dali, known for its old-town atmosphere, Bai culture, and mountain-and-lake setting. Continue to Xizhou, a historic Bai town known for traditional residences, local markets, and food culture.

Visit a local market and rose farm, then try your hand at making rose cakes, a fragrant local specialty. Later, enjoy a relaxed walk or light cycling along Erhai Lake before exploring Dali Old Town in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation: Dali / Xizhou boutique-style hotel or similar

Begin the day with a traditional Bai Three-Course Tea experience. More than a simple tasting, it offers insight into Bai hospitality, symbolism, and the role of tea in local life.

After lunch, travel to Shaxi, one of Yunnan's most atmospheric old towns along the historic Tea Horse Road. On arrival, slow down with a walk through stone lanes, old bridges, village courtyards, and quiet streets. End the day with a locally prepared dinner that reflects Shaxi's rustic flavors and unhurried pace.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation: Shaxi boutique inn / heritage-style stay or similar

Spend a relaxed morning in Shaxi, with time for an old-town walk, local coffee or tea, and a visit to a village bookstore or another local cultural stop.This quieter setting offers a different view of Yunnan, away from the busier old towns and major scenic areas.

Later, travel to Lijiang. In the evening, explore Lijiang Old Town and enjoy a Naxi-style barbecue and hotpot dinner.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation: Lijiang boutique hotel / selected 4- or 5-star property or similar

Today focuses on the living traditions around Lijiang. Visit Yuhu Village, Baisha, or a similar village area for a quieter look at Naxi heritage, mountain views, local homes, and everyday village life beyond the busy old town.

Take part in a hands-on food experience, such as tofu making led by a local Naxi family. This experience offers a relaxed way to understand how food, family, local identity, and regional traditions come together in everyday Naxi life. Enjoy a free evening in Lijiang.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation: Lijiang boutique hotel / selected 4- or 5-star property or similar

Visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, one of Lijiang's most dramatic alpine landscapes. Ascend by cableway where conditions allow, then continue to Blue Moon Valley for its turquoise waters, mountain views, and scenic walking areas. Later, return to Lijiang and visit Shuhe or Dayan Old Town. The exact route, cableway access, and sightseeing order may be adjusted based on altitude considerations, visibility, weather, and scenic-area operations.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation:  Lijiang boutique hotel / selected 4- or 5-star property or similar

Travel from Lijiang toward Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of Yunnan's most dramatic canyon landscapes. With your guide, visit selected scenic viewpoints and walk suitable sections where conditions allow, taking in the contrast between steep cliffs, mountain roads, and the rushing Jinsha River below.

Continue to Shangri-La, a highland town known for its Tibetan heritage, mountain scenery, and old-town atmosphere, mountain scenery, and old-town atmosphere.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation: Shangri-La boutique hotel or similar

Visit Songzanlin Monastery, an important center of Tibetan Buddhist heritage in Yunnan. Your guide will share cultural context to help you better understand the monastery and its traditions.

In the afternoon, continue to Pudacuo National Park for highland forests, lakes, wetlands, and open mountain scenery.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner (Chengdu-style hotpot)

Accommodation: Shangri-La boutique hotel or similar

Depending on flight timing, join a hands-on Nixi black pottery workshop with local artisans or visit Napa Wetland for open highland scenery. Nixi pottery offers a hands-on introduction to a traditional craft rooted in local Tibetan cultural life, while Napa Wetland provides a gentler nature-focused option.

Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Chengdu. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and rest.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation: Tibet Hotel Chengdu or similar 5-star property

Visit a panda conservation center in the morning to observe giant pandas and learn about their care, behavior, and conservation. In the afternoon, experience Chengdu's relaxed local rhythm at People's Park, a traditional teahouse, Kuanzhai Alley, or a similar historic neighborhood. Enjoy tea, local snacks, shaded lanes, and everyday city life.

In the evening, enjoy a Sichuan Opera performance featuring regional music, theatrical traditions, and face-changing—a lively finale to the journey.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation: Tibet Hotel Chengdu or similar 5-star property

After breakfast, transfer to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport or Chengdu Tianfu International Airport for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Not included

- Accommodation in listed or similar-standard properties, including selected feature stays where noted, based on double occupancy

- Meals as listed in the itinerary, with complimentary bottled drinking water provided daily

- All tour transportation as outlined in the itinerary, including premium tour vehicles and scheduled intercity travel by high-speed train or domestic flight

- Professional English-speaking guides

- Entrance fees and scheduled activities listed in the itinerary

- International flights and airport taxes

- Visa fees (if applicable)

- Meals not specified in the itinerary

- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, snacks, and alcoholic beverages; optional activities arranged on request; and any costs not listed as included

- Travel insurance (highly recommended)

- Single room supplement

- Gratuities for the guide and driver

1. A minimum of 4 people is required to schedule a tour. If you are traveling alone, please consult our customer service department, and they will assist you in joining another group. Early booking is highly recommended as availability may be limited.
2. Please note that this itinerary serves as a sample. The order and locations of planned events may change due to factors such as flight arrival times, road and weather conditions, as well as our desire to tailor the tour to your abilities and interests. Your guide will provide daily updates to keep you informed. Our priority is to ensure that everyone enjoys a safe adventure, creating cherished memories and an unforgettable experience!
3. Accommodations on this journey are selected for overall comfort, location, facilities, service level, character, and suitability for the itinerary rather than star rating alone. Hotel ratings and guest expectations may vary between local and international platforms, so listed properties are intended as a guide to the standard and style of accommodation provided. If a listed property is unavailable, it may be replaced with a similar-standard accommodation, including selected feature stays where noted.

1. Please note that itineraries are subject to change due to unforeseen issues and/or delays.
2. This tour operating company acts solely as an intermediary for suppliers, facilitating the sale of travel-related services and accepting reservations or bookings for services not directly provided by the company (such as air and ground transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, tours, cruises, etc.). The company shall not be held responsible for any breach of contract arising from intentional or negligent actions or omissions on the part of such suppliers, which may result in loss, damage, delay, or injury to you, your travel companions, or group members.
3. Unless the term "guaranteed" is explicitly stated in writing on your tickets, invoice, or reservation itinerary, we do not guarantee the rates, bookings, reservations, connections, scheduling, or handling of personal effects by such suppliers.
4. The travel agent shall not be liable for injuries, damages, or losses incurred by any traveler in connection with terrorist activities, social or labor unrest, mechanical or construction failures or difficulties, diseases, local laws, climatic conditions, criminal acts, abnormal conditions or developments, or any other actions, omissions, or circumstances beyond the control of the travel agent.
5. The traveler assumes full responsibility for verifying passport, visa, vaccination, or other entry requirements for each destination, as well as safety and security conditions during the proposed travel.
6. Traveler voluntarily assumes all risks associated with such travel, whether expected or unexpected. The traveler is hereby informed of these risks and is advised to obtain appropriate insurance coverage to mitigate them.

We understand that travel plans can change. Our cancellation policy is designed to be as fair and transparent as possible.

• More than 60 days before departure: 80% refund of the total trip cost; a 20% cancellation fee applies.
• 59 to 35 days before departure: 50% refund of the total trip cost; a 50% cancellation fee applies.
• Within 34 days of departure: No refund can be issued; a 100% cancellation fee applies.

Cancellation requests must be received in writing. We recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance to help protect your trip investment in the event of unforeseen circumstances.