13-Day Sichuan & Yunnan Explorer

Route: Arrival → Hotel Check-in → Kuanzhai Alleys

The Experience: Welcome to Chengdu. After settling in the hotel, we start feeling the "slow life" of this city. In the evening, you can wander through alleys, taste spicy snacks, and watch the amazing face-changing opera.

Route: Panda Base → Wuhou Shrine → Jinli Street

The Experience: Start your day with the pure joy of watching clumsy pandas tumble over bamboo. Later, walk the red-walled paths of Wuhou, feeling the weight of centuries-old legends.

Highlight: The "aww" moment when a baby panda looks right at you.

Tip: Pandas are active in the early morning. We need to arrive at the base before 7:30 am.

Route: Chengdu → Leshan Giant Buddha → Mt. Emei

The Experience: We head to Mt.Emei by private car in the morning. En route, we will see Leshan Giant Buddha, the world’s largest stone Buddha, carved into a riverside cliff where three rivers meet.

In the afternoon, we'll arrive at the foot of Mt. Emei, with time to settle into your hotel and enjoy the quiet mountain setting.

Highlight: Seeing the Buddha’s peaceful face emerge from the river mist.

Note: Take a good rest tonight. We'll climb the mountain the whole day tomorrow.

Route: Mt. Emei Base → Cable Car → Golden Summit → Return to Chengdu

The Experience: Ascend Mount Emei by cable car, rising through misty forests to the Golden Summit, where sweeping mountain views and a serene Buddhist atmosphere await.

After time at the summit, descend and return to Chengdu, carrying a calm sense of reflection from one of China’s most sacred mountains.

Highlight: The sun reflecting off the massive golden statue of Samantabhadra.

Route: Flight to Dali → Erhai Lakefront

The Experience: Fly from Chengdu to Dali, arriving in Yunnan’s relaxed lakeside setting. Settle in near Erhai Lake, where gentle breezes, open skies, and calm waters set the tone for a slow, unhurried afternoon by the lakefront.

Highlight: Sunset over the lake.

Note: Take it easy today! Let your body gently get used to the higher mountain air.

Route: Dali Old Town → Three Pagodas → Xizhou Village

The Experience: Explore Dali Old Town’s historic streets before visiting the iconic Three Pagodas, standing quietly against the Cangshan Mountains.

Continue to Xizhou Village, where well-preserved Bai courtyards and everyday local life offer a more intimate glimpse into Yunnan’s living traditions.

Highlight: Tasting a hot, crispy Xizhou pancake, handed to you with a smile by a local vendor.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to say "Nǐ hǎo" (Hello); the local Bai people are incredibly warm.

Route: Cangshan Mountain → Sunset Lake Cruise

The Experience: Feel the crisp, cool air on your face as you hike the "Cloud Traveler’s Path." Later, let the gentle rocking of the boat on Erhai Lake soothe your soul.

Highlight: Seeing the peaks of Cangshan reflected perfectly in the still water of the lake.

Goal: Wear comfortable shoes as we need to walk a lot.

Route: Dali → Shaxi Ancient Town → Lijiang

The Experience: Depart Dali in the morning and drive toward Lijiang, pausing along the way in Shaxi Ancient Town. Once a key stop on the legendary Ancient Tea Horse Road, Shaxi remains refreshingly untouched, with stone lanes, old temples, and a slow rural rhythm.

After exploring the town, continue to Lijiang, arriving in the evening to settle into your hotel.

Highlight: The peaceful silence of the village square, broken only by the soft sound of a distant lute.

Route: Lijiang Old Town → Black Dragon Pond

The Experience: Follow the little canals through the town. Every turn leads to a new discovery—a hidden garden, a Naxi musician, or a view of the snow-capped mountains.

Highlight: Seeing the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain framed perfectly by the Black Dragon Pond bridge.

Tip: Lijiang is famous for its music; stop and listen to the old men playing traditional flutes.

Route: Hike through Naxi Villages → Zhiyun Monastery

The Experience: Today is about connection. Walk through fields where farmers still use water buffalo and visit a local home. It’s a beautiful reminder of a simpler, slower way of life.

Highlight: The warmth of a shared meal in a farm kitchen—the best food you'll have on the trip.

Goal: To see the world through the eyes of the Naxi people.

Route: Lijiang → Tiger Leaping Gorge → Shangri-La

The Experience: Travel north from Lijiang toward Shangri-La, passing through one of China’s most dramatic natural landscapes.

At Tiger Leaping Gorge, the Jinsha River roars through a narrow canyon between the towering Jade Dragon and Haba Snow Mountains.

Short walks and viewpoints allow you to take in the gorge’s depth and movement before continuing on to the highland plateau of Shangri-La, where the landscape opens, and the air turns crisp.

Highlight: Standing above the gorge as the Jinsha River thunders through a narrow canyon between snow-capped peaks

Note: Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a light jacket.

Route: Songzanlin Monastery → Napa Lake → Dukezong

The Experience: Begin at Songzanlin Monastery, the spiritual heart of Shangri-La, where golden roofs rise above the valley and prayer flags flutter in the mountain air.

Continue to Napa Lake, a wide highland wetland surrounded by grasslands and grazing yaks, ideal for a gentle walk or relaxed cycling.

End in Dukezong Ancient Town, wandering its stone lanes and prayer wheels as evening lights glow across this historic Tibetan settlement.

Highlight: Turning the giant golden prayer wheel in the center of town, making a wish for your loved ones.

Tip: Try the yak butter tea! It’s salty and strange at first, but it’s the ultimate "highland hug" in a cup.

Route: Shangri-La → Chengdu → Departure

The Experience: As you fly back over the mountains, look down at the winding rivers and peaks. You’re leaving with more than just photos; you’re leaving with a bit of the mountains in your heart.

Highlight: A final moment of gratitude for the journey and the people you've met.

Goal: Safe travels and a heart full of stories to tell.