China Part 3 – Yunnan, Guizhou Tour (20 Days)

Guests arrive independently and gather at the designated hotel during the free airport pick-up window from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Arrival airport: Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG) – advance notice required for transfer.

Travel to a traditional Naxi family home to explore their unique architectural style and sample intangible heritage snacks. Continue to Baisha Village, one of the oldest Naxi settlements, followed by a visit to Black Dragon Pool Park, known for its crystal-clear waters and stunning reflection of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a top spot for photography.

Then stroll through Lijiang Dayan Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a famous stop along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. The town features classic wooden houses, cobbled stone lanes, streams, and charming stone bridges. From East Street, you can admire the distant view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

The town’s layout follows the contours of the mountain and rivers with main roads alongside flowing water and side alleys hugging canals, giving the town an exceptionally vibrant atmosphere.

Conclude the day with a visit to Yuhu Village, located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The surrounding scenery is serene, and the stone houses exude a rustic charm. This is also one of the birthplaces of the influential Mu Clan chieftains of the Naxi people.

Drive to Lugu Lake, passing through the scenic “Eighteen Bends” mountain road and the majestic Jinsha River. As the route winds between towering mountains, you’ll enjoy panoramic views from high vantage points.

Then stop at a viewing platform for a full lake panorama. Lugu Lake, straddling Yunnan and Sichuan, is the highest-altitude lake in Yunnan and the third-deepest freshwater lake in China.

It glimmers like a gem among the mountains, and is home to the Mosuo people, who still maintain a matrilineal society where mothers hold central authority in family life, preserving ancient cultural traditions.

Take a traditional Mosuo wooden canoe across the scenic Caohai wetlands, where the shimmering lake and peaceful surroundings create a dreamlike setting.

Locals refer to Lugu Lake as their “Mother Lake” and a “fairyland on earth.”

In the evening, participate in a Mosuo bonfire party, dancing hand-in-hand around the glowing fire with local villagers.

Begin the day with a Lugu Lake sunrise, followed by visits to the Mosuo Museum and a Mosuo family home, offering insight into local customs and lifestyle.

Visit the legendary Walking Marriage Bridge, a symbolic site for the Mosuo’s unique “walking marriage” practice. Men traditionally cross this bridge to visit their partners, earning it the nickname “The Lover’s Bridge of China.”

After lunch, drive onward to Dali.

Explore Dali Ancient Town, including a visit to the 1382-built city tower, offering panoramic views over the town.

Then visit the famous Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, originally constructed during the Tang Dynasty’s Kaiyuan era. Backed by Cangshan Mountain and facing Erhai Lake, the three pagodas, one large and two smaller, form a commanding presence and are a symbol of ancient Dali.

Head to Xizhou Ancient Town, a peaceful and picturesque village often described as “an oil painting come to life.” Chinese writer Lao She once traveled thousands of miles to visit and was inspired to write the words “Cambridge of the East.”

Xizhou is home to the Bai ethnic minority, many of whom still lead simple, traditional lives, carrying bamboo baskets to the market, working the fields from dawn to dusk. Strolling through the wheat fields swaying gently in the breeze feels like stepping into a rural dreamscape.

Drive to the Yuanmou Earth Forest, one of the most spectacular natural wonders in both China and the world. Formed over millions of years through tectonic activity and weathering, the land here has been sculpted into a fantastical array of shapes, earning the name “earth forest” due to its forest-like formations from a distance.

Yuanmou is the most representative site of its kind in Yunnan and reflects ancient geographical changes and landform evolution.

It has attracted countless photographers, geologists, and film directors. Major films such as “The Promise” and “Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles” were filmed here.

Depart by coach for Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province.

In the afternoon, enjoy a city sightseeing tour, including, Daguan Pavilion (one of China’s Four Great Pavilions), Green Lake Park (a peaceful urban oasis) and Old Kunming Streets (offering a glimpse into the city’s historical charm)

Travel to the world-famous Stone Forest Scenic Area, hailed as “The World’s First Natural Wonder.”

Formed around 270 million years ago, this massive karst formation stretches for thousands of square kilometers, a sea of towering rocks that resemble a stone forest. Sharp, jagged, and uniquely shaped, these rocks stand like sculptures created by nature itself.

In the afternoon, transfer to Jianshui, an ancient town known for its rich historical and natural beauty.

Visit the Shuanglong Bridge, also called the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, and take in the magnificent sunset view.

Begin with a tour of Jianshui Ancient Town, followed by a stop at the Ant Workshop (Yi Gong Fang), a creative art space built with colored bricks that blend artistry and local craftsmanship.

In the afternoon, drive to Yuanyang, home to the Hani Rice Terraces, which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013. This engineering and cultural marvel has been cultivated for over 1,300 years by the Hani people and other local ethnic groups, using the region’s unique climate and mountainous terrain.

Upon arrival, visit the terrace viewing area and as the sun sets, the glowing light reflects off the water-filled terraces, creating a dazzling “mirror of the sky.”

The vibrant colors resemble a giant painter’s palette accidentally spilled across the valley — an unforgettable visual feast.

Return to the rice terraces at dawn to view the sunrise.

The Yuanyang Terraces, shaped by centuries of Hani ingenuity, stretch across the mountain valleys in clearly defined layers.

As the sunlight shifts, the water surfaces reflect ever-changing colors like a living oil painting created by nature.

After breakfast, drive to Dongfengyun Art Town in Mile, a culturally inspired creative village that has twice been recognized in Yunnan’s “Characteristic Towns” list.

Explore the Dongfengyun Scenic Area, built from striking red brick with a strong artistic flair.

Visit the Kaleidoscope Art Museum, known for its imaginative and whimsical architectural style, including many “ugly-cute” buildings with quirky, photogenic charm.

Drive to visit the Jiulong Waterfalls (Nine-Dragon Waterfalls) in Luoping. Described as “waterfalls falling from the sky, roaring as they descend to the earth,” you’ll hear the thunderous sound of cascading water from afar, like a dragon’s roar, as the Jiulong River winds through the mountains.

Then head to Jinjifeng Canola Flower Scenic Area and ascend to the flower sea viewing platform. From above, the canola flower fields stretch across the land in irregular patchwork patterns, forming a vibrant and breathtaking natural tapestry.

Drive to Wanfeng Lake Scenic Area and enjoy a boat tour on this vast reservoir. Known as “the lake of ten thousand peaks” and hailed as Southwest China’s most picturesque waterscape, Wanfeng Lake is 76 times the size of Hangzhou’s West Lake, ranking among China’s top five freshwater lakes.

In the afternoon, visit the nearby Wanfenglin (Ten Thousand Peaks Forest), a surreal landscape of thousands of sharp, dramatic limestone peaks stretching over hundreds of kilometers.

Beneath the peaks lies a serene rural panorama of meandering rivers, fertile fields, and the unique Bagua (Yin-Yang) Rice Fields, showcasing the one-of-a-kind charm of the mountainous Yunnan-Guizhou plateau.

Visit the world-famous Huangguoshu Waterfall, part of the largest waterfall cluster in the world, with 18 waterfalls on the surface and 14 underground. Standing 78 meters high and 101 meters wide, Huangguoshu is also the largest waterfall in Asia.

Its most unique feature is the 100-meter-long Water Curtain Cave hidden behind the falls. Inside the cave, you’ll marvel at mysterious stalactites while being surrounded by the thunder and mist of the cascading water, an awe-inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Travel to Pingyuan Ancient Town in Zhijin, known as a karst paradise of both water and stone, a fairyland-like town rich in cultural history and local charm.

In the afternoon, explore the Zhijin Cave, the largest karst cave in Asia. With its massive scale and extraordinary formations, the cave is filled with wonders:

Stone Pagoda Forest, Iron Mountain in the Mist, Hundred-Foot Waterfall Curtains, the Moon Palace, Lingxiao Hall, the Silver Rain Tree, Coiling Rock, Samantabhadra Riding Elephant, and Mother-in-Law & Daughter-in-Law Love, each scene more mesmerizing than the last.

This underground world combines grand landscapes and intimate vignettes, leaving every visitor in awe.

After breakfast, drive to the world’s largest and most stunning cherry blossom park, the Ten Thousand-Acre Cherry Blossom Garden. Every March, over 700,000 cherry trees bloom in full splendor. This location has been called by foreign media “The Most Beautiful Cherry Blossom Garden on Planet Earth.”

In the afternoon, continue to Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, the largest Miao ethnic village in China. As night falls, admire the magical village night view, where countless lights twinkle like stars and reflect off the silver ornaments worn by the Miao people, a dazzling, unforgettable sight.

Explore the iconic Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, the largest Miao ethnic settlement in China, consisting of 1,285 traditional stilted wooden houses built into the hillside in dramatic, tiered layers.

Celebrated as a living museum of Miao culture, this village is a crucial site for studying Miao history and was a major gathering point during the Miao people’s fifth great migration.

In the afternoon, drive to the millennia-old Zhenyuan Ancient Town to explore its historic docks, narrow alleys, traditional homes, and ancient stone bridges. Visit the Fu Family 

Mansion and the Qinglong Cave Complex, where Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism harmoniously coexist. Built on Zhonghe Mountain to the east, the complex integrates rock, cliff, and cave structures, all within a stunning natural setting.

Travel to Zhaoxing Dong Village, the largest Dong ethnic village in China, honored in 2005 by China National Geographic as one of “China’s Six Most Beautiful Ancient Villages.”

In 2007, it was also named one of the “Top 33 Most Alluring Destinations in the World” by National Geographic Traveler and Travel + Leisure.

The village is famed for its five iconic drum towers, performance stages, and wind-and-rain bridges, all clustered in a picturesque layout. Known as both the hometown of drum towers and of Dong music and dance, Zhaoxing offers a rich cultural experience.

Enjoy a traditional Dong welcome ceremony on the Wind and Rain Bridge. In the afternoon, take a shuttle bus to Tang’an Dong Village, praised as an ecological museum of Dong culture.

Surrounded on three sides by mountains, the village features open terraced fields, jagged peaks, and lush farmland, creating a scene of rural harmony.

Drive to Libo, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Visit the famous Xiaoqikong Scenic Area, where stunning natural landscapes of waterfalls, virgin forests, and crystal lakes await. Along the 1-kilometer-long Xiangshui River, water drops more than 40 meters in total, forming 68 cascading waterfalls that produce a symphony of soothing sounds. 

Walk deeper into the Guibei Mountain primeval forest, where twisted tree roots, hundreds of bird species, and rare plants abound. The kaleidoscopic colors of the lakes, created by the reflections of surrounding trees, shift constantly, offering a mesmerizing and dreamlike experience.

After breakfast, drive to Longli to visit the striking Yuncong Waterfall, where a giant golden dragon head is embedded in a cliff. Water gushes out of the dragon’s mouth like a dramatic waterfall, creating a powerful and unforgettable spectacle.

In the afternoon, proceed to Guiyang, the capital city of Guizhou Province.

Visit the historic Jiaxiu Tower, built in 1598 during the Ming Dynasty. With its red wooden beams, green-tiled roof, and elegant three-tiered structure, the tower stands as a proud symbol of Guiyang’s cultural heritage and development.

After breakfast, transfer to Guiyang High-Speed Rail Station for your bullet train journey to Guangzhou.

If you wish to continue on to Hong Kong by high-speed rail, please note that an additional fare difference will apply.