Summary

Yunnan, literally means South to the Clouds, is the province in the very southwest China. The northwest of Yunnan is the extension of Tibet Plateau. The mountains with large rivers running by are tending from north to the south and we call them Parallel Mountains. The humidity from Indian Ocean can reach the plateau along the great valleys and offers enough precipitation for the plants to grow up. Further more, the plants are in diversity because of the huge altitude difference of the valley as low as about 1,000 meters to the high mountains as high as over 4,000 meters. Yunnan is home of 14,590 higher plants, which is about 48% of China’s. Therefore, Yunnan also gets another name as “Kingdom of Plants”. Dr. Joseph Rock lived in Yunnan for decades and studies the alpine botanies in most of his time.Besides the botanies, we also will visit the World Heritage Lijiang Ancient town and to experience ethnic group culture of Tibetans and Naxi People.

Day 1 Arrive in Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Arrive in Dali

Accommodation:

Meals:

Upon arrival Dali, be greeted by our local guide in Dali airport and transfer to the hotel.

Dali is an old town with beautiful landscape and long history. The CangShan Mountain and the Erhai Lake have formed one of the most beautiful and best known scenery in China. Dali was once the ancient capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom for hundreds of year since Tang dynasty to Yuan dynasty till Mongols took over it. However, its important role in trading on the ancient Tea-Horse-Caravan has never changes.

And Dali is a beautiful place to see flowers.

Day 2 Dali( B , L )

Sightseeing and Activities:Dali-Cangshan Botany Tour, Dali Old Town,Chongsheng Temple,Erhai

Accommodation:

Meals:

After breakfast we are going to do a gentle walk about 2 hours on Cangshan Mountain along the Jade trail to another cable station, where we take cable car down Cangshan. On walking, it is great time to see azaleas with blooms, as well as some wild flowers. En route, we also have an over-view of Dali Old Town, Chongsheng Temple and Erhai Lake.

In the afternoon, we are keeping our tour starts with Chongsheng Temple, which is by far the most well-known and magnificent Buddhist shrines in this part of Southeast Asia.

Then we drive to Erhai and take a short cruise on Erhai Lake to admire the beauty of the lake.

In the evening, we will explore around Dali Ancient Town, which is small but lovely.

Day 3 Dali( B , L )

Sightseeing and Activities:Dali Grand Garden Botany Tour

Accommodation:

Meals:

After breakfast we drive about 3 hours to western slope of Cangshan Mountain to start our flower trip, the Grand Garden.

The Grand Garden lies at the west slope of Cangshan Mt of Yangbi County. As an important part of the Cangshan Scenic Resort, it covers about 30 sq km, with the altitude ranging from 2,600 to 3,900 meters above sea level. The garden boasts of a high biodiversity, and exhibits a land eco system of latifoliate forests highlighted by at least 20 kinds of rhododendrons. With the vegetation coverage of over 60%, the garden abounds in rhododendron and camellia bushes, of which rhododendrons account for at least 40%. From March to June, it is a frantically blooming scene of multi-coloured flowers. We will have a wonderful time at here. indulge yourself in the world of expansive alpine meadows, a sea of rhododendrons and wild flowers. Then drive back to Dali.

Day 4 Dali-Shaxi-Laojun Mountain( B , L )

Sightseeing and Activities:Laojun Mountain, Botany tour

Accommodation:

Meals:

This morning we will leave Dali and drive about 3 hours to the Laojun Mountain. Laojun Mountain area has been part of the Three Parallel Rivers Region, which was designated as World's Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO. May, June and July are best seasons to see wild flowers like rhododendrons in here. In the eastern side of the north of main ridge of Laojun Mountain, in the lap of the mountain in elevation above 3,800m, there are tens of lakes and swamps, distributing in cluster along the stream, which are called 99 Dragon Pool. During these months, the beautiful rhododendrons will be blooming all over the mountain and dons the whole place with its magnificent colors.This afternoon we will explore this area with about 4 hours hiking and stay one night in a rustic guest house.

Day 5 Laojun Mountain-Lijiang( B , L )

Sightseeing and Activities:Lijiang old town,Lion Hill

Accommodation:

Meals:

This morning we will drive to Lijiang. Lijiang, a beautiful river, was name given by Kublai Khan in 1254 and the old town has been listed as world cultural heritage by UNESECO. The canals in the town is really a uniqueness and the local people block water to wash the ground in the town everyday and this had been started once the town was established.

On the way to Lijiang, we are going to pass areas of different ethnic village as Naxi people. We will visit the village to see how the daily life of local people is alike.

After we arrival Lijiang and check-in hotel, we will explore around the Lijiang old town and climb up to Lion Hill to enjoy the panoramic of the ancient city of Lijiang.

Day 6 Liijang( B , L )

Sightseeing and Activities:Ganheba botany tour

Accommodation:

Meals:

Today, we drive about 30km out of Lijiang old town to Ganheba. It takes us about 1 to 2 hours to hike to the place with quite many alpine flowers including Azaleas(rhododendron), Gentianaceae, Primulaceaes, Camellias, Liliaceaes, Orchidaceous and Meconopsis.

It is like a fest to botany lovers there.

Today, we have box lunch with us.

Drive back Lijiang in late afternoon and enjoy your free time to explore around Lijiang old town.

Day 7 Lijiang( B , L )

Sightseeing and Activities:Wenhai botany tour

Accommodation:

Meals:

After breakfast, we start our Wenhai botany tour. On the way, we will visit Yuhu Village firstly. Yuhu Village is on the outskirts of Lijiang Basin at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Joseph Rock , a biologist, chose this lovely village to live when he came Lijiang in 1922.

After visiting Yuhe village, we are keeping on the way to Lijiang Alpine Botanical Garden. The Lijiang Alpine Botanical Garden, believed the highest botanical garden in the world, was built jointly by China and Britain under a contract signed between the Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden and the Kunming Plant Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in May 2000. Lijiang was selected as the site for the garden as it is one of the world's top 10 regions for biodiversity research and one of the three seed plant centers in China.

After that we head to Wenhai. Upon arriving at Wenhai, a beautiful landscape including a lake and peaceful village meet up together; everything here feels so fresh. There is a beautiful lake, and there is grassland with blooming colorful wildflowers and horses, goats and sheep.

Then we drive back to Lijiang.

Day 8 Lijiang-Shangrila( B , L )

Sightseeing and Activities:Tiger Leaping Gorge,Shangri-la ancient town

Accommodation:

Meals:

Today we drive about 1.5 hours to the Tiger Leaping Gorge to admire the Tiger Leaping Gorge. The upper stream of Yangtze River flows between the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain for 16 km hereby come to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. It is one of the longest, deepest, and narrowest gorges in the world.

In afternoon, we get to Gyalthang, which is in the area of Kham Tibetan area, now has been renamed as Shangri-la by the government in order to promote tourism due to its beautiful scenery. We will visit the Shangri-la ancient town after a short break in the hotel.

And visit Songtsam Monastery. Songtsam Monastery has been the most important monastery in north Yunnan or south Kham after it was built in late 1600’s.

Day 9 Shangri-la( B , L )

Sightseeing and Activities:Pudacuo National Park，Shudu Lake，Bita Lake

Accommodation:

Meals:

Today, we will have a one-day tour in Pudacuo National Park, the first national park on Chinese mainland. It is mainly comprised of Shudu Lake, Militang Pasture and Bita Lake. We can trek along the planked path by Shudu Lake and Bita Lake to admire the wild flowers among whom mostly is alpine azalea, enjoy the picturesque scenery. Along the sightseeing planked passage ashore, growing are multitudes of centuries-old oak trees, spruces, firs with unease on.

In May, we can see quite many different species of azaleas.

Day 10 Departure from Shangrila( B )

Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Shangrila

Accommodation:

Meals:

Departure from Shangrila

What's Include

Accommodation with daily breakfast as indicated in the hotel list as below.

Chinese lunches and dinners as listed in the itinerary.

All land transfers & transportation with private air-conditioned coach.

All transfers and sightseeing with skilled English-speaking tour guide.

All entrance fees as mentioned in the itinerary.

Domestic air tickets fares with airport tax and fuel extra fee based on economy class mentioned in the program.

Service charge and all government taxes.

Luggage transfers between airport and hotels.

What's Exclude

Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets.

Any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary.

Chinese visa fees.

Excess baggage charged by Airlines.

Single room supplement.

Tips to guides and drivers,

Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff.

Personal travel accident insurance.

All optional programs.