Yunnan Itineraries

Start at 7 AM with tai chi at Green Lake Park while black-headed gulls circle. Walk to Yuantong Temple (1,200 years old, still active), then lose yourself in the hutongs off Zhengyi Road. Evening: Nanping food street — across-the-bridge noodles and erkuai from street stalls.

Depart Kunming by 6:30 AM (East Bus Station bus, CNY 45-60, 90 min) to beat the tour groups. Spend 3-4 hours in the Greater Stone Forest labyrinth and climb to Wangfeng Pavilion. Return by mid-afternoon train or bus.

Morning: cable car or hike up Western Hills to Dragon Gate for the Dianchi panorama. Afternoon: quick pass through the Flower & Bird Market (weekend flea market if it's a Saturday), then to the airport.

Day 1: Green Lake at dawn, Yuantong Temple, old-town hutongs, Nanping food street. Day 2: early Stone Forest trip (leave 6:30 AM), back by afternoon — relax at Green Lake or the Flower & Bird Market.

CNY 128-230, 2 hours. Check into a courtyard guesthouse, then spend the afternoon on Dali's old-town walls and in the artist-run cafés off Renmin Road. Sunset over Cangshan from the old-town south gate.

Rent an e-bike (CNY 50-80) and ride the western shore to Xizhou: tie-dye workshop, Xizhou baba flatbreads, Yan Family Compound. Return for a late-afternoon visit to the Three Pagodas (CNY 121, allow 3h).

1.5h train (CNY 70). Drop bags, then hit the Old Town at golden hour — watch the lanterns come on from the Wangu Tower viewpoint, and eat Naxi grilled fish on a canal-side terrace.

Follow the 5-day route's Kunming plan: Green Lake at dawn, old-town hutongs, Stone Forest day trip on Day 2, and a Flower & Bird Market stroll before the evening train north.

Morning train (2h). Afternoon: old town, Three Pagodas, sunset from the south gate. Evening: three-course Bai tea ceremony in a courtyard teahouse.

Full-day e-bike ride: Caicun → Xizhou (tie-dye, baba) → back along the lake. Late afternoon: Cangshan cable car if energy allows (3,900m cloud trail).

Morning train (1.5h). Drop bags, explore the Old Town before 10 AM (empty streets!), then Black Dragon Pool for the Jade Dragon reflection. Evening: Naxi ancient music performance.

Full day: cable car to 4,506m, glacier walk, and the Blue Moon Valley below. Book the cable car ticket a day ahead in peak season. Rest early — altitude at 4,500m is no joke.

Scenic 4h bus or 1h 15min train to Shangri-La (3,400m). Take it slow — first 24 hours are for acclimatizing. Afternoon: Dukezong Ancient Town and the world's largest prayer wheel.

Morning: Songzanlin 'Little Potala Palace' at golden hour (CNY 90, no photos inside). Afternoon: Pudacuo National Park boardwalk around Shudu Lake. Evening: fly or train back to Kunming.

Same as the 8-day route: Kunming (Stone Forest day trip), then Dali with the Erhai cycling day and a slower pace to save legs for the gorge.

Arrive by train. Old Town at dawn, Black Dragon Pool, then afternoon in Baisha — silk embroidery workshops and the quietest cobbled lanes in the area. Rest early.

Cable car to 4,506m + Blue Moon Valley. This is your warm-up for the gorge — hydrate, sleep well.

Morning minibus to Qiaotou (CNY 25-35, 2h), pay CNY 45 entrance, leave your main bag at Jane's Guest House, and start the High Trail by 10 AM. Climb the 28 Bends in the afternoon, sleep at Halfway Guest House (dorm CNY 40).

Finish the High Trail to Tina's (3-4h), optional descent to Tiger Leaping Stone (1,700 steps down — and back up). Bus from the gorge to Shangri-La (1.5-2h). Rest: altitude is coming.

Monastery at golden hour, then Napa Lake for yaks and black-necked cranes. Afternoon: Pudacuo boardwalk or a Tibetan homestay experience.

Direct flights to Kunming (1h, CNY 600-1,200) or onward. If your flight is late, spend the morning at the giant prayer wheel one last time.

Exactly the 8-day Classic Northwest: Kunming, Stone Forest, Dali (Erhai cycling), Lijiang (Jade Dragon), and Shangri-La (Songzanlin + Pudacuo). Add the Tiger Leaping Gorge trek instead of one Lijiang day if you're up for it.

Direct flight from Shangri-La or Kunming (1h). Afternoon: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (13,000 species). Evening: the Mekong night market — grilled fish, pineapple rice, papaya salad.

Morning: Wild Elephant Valley elevated walkways (observe, never ride). Afternoon: Dai stilt-house village homestay experience — sticky rice grills and temple bells.

Fly Jinghong → Kunming (1h), then the 6-7h bus to Xinjie Town (CNY 140). Check in with a terrace view — tomorrow you wake before the sun.

4:30 AM at Duoyishu for the golden mirror terraces. Morning: Qingkou mushroom-house village. Afternoon: Bada panorama; evening: Laohuzui sunset. Bring a tripod and every layer you own.

Morning: Jingkou market — Hani and Yi traders in full embroidered dress. Afternoon: one last viewpoint, then bus back to Kunming (6-7h).

Changshui Airport is one of China's largest — arrive 3h before international flights. Buy your bamboo basket souvenirs the night before; they're too big to fit in a carry-on.