12 days China Yunnan and Yangtze River Tour
- Trip Highlights: The colorful ethnic minority groups of Yunnan must be experienced to be truly understood. This tour will allow you to witness their ancient cultures and colorful clothing. This 12-day China Yunnan and Yangtze River Tour will give you not only an in depth tour of Yunnan's minority groups, but take you on a cruise down the magnificent Yangtze River. You will not only enjoy the river cruise, but also the shore excursions to the local sites to learn about the culture and history of the area.
- Tour Route: Beijing (China's Capital)
Kunming (Spring City)Dali (Ancient Ethnic Minority Town)Lijiang (Preserved Ancient Town)Yangtze Cruises (Majestic Landscapes)Beijing (China's Capital)
- Tour Code: COT-B-013-D
- Dates: No fixed departure dates. You may go whenever you wish.
- Starts/Ends: Beijing/Beijing
- Trip Type: Ethnic Culture and Folk Arts, Landscape and Nature, Two Destination Tours
- Activity Level: Regular itinerary, Moderate walking
- Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
- Special Experiences:
- Cruise on Erhai, the largest highland lake, to enjoy the crystal water the snow mantled Mt. Cangshan radiating with each other
- Get deep into Southwest China to discover the exotic minority culture and trek along the ancient Tea-Horse Road passing the Tiger Leaping Gorge, 3,700m deep to the bottom makes it one of the most breathtaking gorge in the world
- Boating on a scenic tributary, and shore excursions to the Ghost City and the Three Gorges Dam on the way of the Yangtze River cruise
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Beijing / Kunming
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Kunming Hotel 
Today you will take your flight from Beijing to Kunming. Upon arriving in Kunming, your tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or step out onto the city for a little adventure of your own.
Day 2 Kunming (B)
Accommodations: Kunming Hotel
Sites visited: Stone Forest
On this day you will visit Kunming's famous Stone Forest, a bizarre rock formation created over millennia of rain and weather. A must-see! In the afternoon you will be free to check out all that Kunming has to offer.
Day 3 Kunming / Dali (B)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Asia Star hotel Dali
Sites visited: Erhai Lake, Xizhou Bai Minority Village, Three Pagodas, Dali Ancient Town
This morning you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Dali. Upon arriving in Dali, your tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. You will then take a cruise on the picturesque Erhai Lake, followed by a visit to a Bai ethnic minority village. In the late afternoon you will visit Dali Ancient Town, and its ancient Three Pagodas.
Stone Forest-a bizarre rock formation created over millennia of rain and weather
Visit Dali Ancient Town and explore the colorful minority's culture.
Day 4 Dali / Lijiang (B)
Accommodations: Wang fu Hotel
Sites visited: Lijiang Ancient Town, Lion Hill, Zhoucheng Village
On this day you will be driven to the city of Lijiang without your tour guide (about 3 hours drive with your personal driver only). Along the way, you will stop by the Zhou Village and see their unique process of tie-dying cloth. After arriving in Lijiang, you will be met by your local guide who will escort you to the Lijiang Ancient Town and the Lion Hill located inside the ancient town.
Day 5 Lijiang (B)
Accommodations: Wang fu Hotel
Sites visited: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Black Dragon Pool Park, Baisha Mural Paintings, Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture
You will be driven to the picturesque Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, followed by a visit to the ancient Baisha Mural Paintings. You will then be driven back to Lijiang where you will visit the Black Dragon Pool Park and Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture inside the park.
The picturesque Black Dragon Pool Park in Lijinag.
The amazing Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a nice scenic spot for taking holiday.
Day 6 Lijiang (B)
Accommodations: Wang fu Hotel
Sites visited: Shigu Village, Tiger Leaping Gorge, First Bend of the Yangtze River
In the morning you will be driven to the town of Shigu (Stone Drum) to view the stunning First Bend of the Yangtze River and Iron Chain Bridge. After, you will visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. In the late afternoon, you will be driven back to Lijiang (2 to 3 hours drive).
Day 7 Lijiang / Kunming (B)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Kunming Hotel
Sites visited: The flower market, West Hill and Dragon Gate
On this day you will be free until your tour guide escorts you to the airport for your flight back to Kunming.Upon arriving in Kunming, your tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Today you will visit Kunming’s Flower market followed by a visit to the beautiful West Hill and The Dragon Gate.
Day 8 Kunming / Chongqing (B)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Holiday Inn Yangtze
On this day you will be free until your tour guide meets you and escorts you to the Kunming airport for your flight to Chongqing.Upon your arrival at Chongqing, the largest city in Southwest China, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
Day 9 Chongqing / Dazu / Embark your ship (B)
Accommodations: Ship of Yangtze Cruise
Sites visited: Dazu Rock Carvings, Beishan Grottoes, Baoding Grottoes
Today, you will enjoy a full day tour to view Dazu Rock Carvings in Dazu County(about 2.5-hour-drive), pay a visit to the two major sites--the Beishan(North Mountain) Grottoes and Baoding Grottoes. After the tour, drive back to Chongqing to get on your Ship of Yangtze River Cruise. Departs Chongqing at 21:00.
The spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge is world's deepest river canyon.
You could see marvelous buddhas in the Beishan Grottoes.
Day 10 Yangtze cruise (B,L,D)
Accommodations: Ship of Yangtze Cruise
Sites visited: Shibaozhai
Shore excursion to Shibaozhai this morning.
Day 11 Yangtze cruise (B,L,D)
Accommodations: Ship of Yangtze Cruise
Sites visited: Lesser Three Gorges
Shore excursion to Lesser Three Gorges by smaller vessels this morning.
Day 12 Yichang / Beijing (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Sites visited: The Three Gorge Dam
Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam site this morning. After lunch, you will disembark the ship in Yichang at 13:00. Upon your arrival, our guide will meet you and help you transfer to the airport for your flight back to Beijing.
Trackers pull the sampan on the narrowest part of the Shennong Stream.
Cruising on the captivating Yangze River.
Price & Included Features
- China domestic flights as specified in the itinerary
- Accommodations: for 8 nights at four star hotels and 3 nights at five star cruise in comfortable twin-bedded rooms with a private bath, air-conditioning, television, telephone and minibar.
- 16 meals: 11 full breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners
- Round-trip transfers between airports, hotels, and scenic spots in each city by private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced licensed drivers
- A local English-speaking guide in each city
- Entrance fees to all scenic spots listed in the itinerary
- Luggage transfers between airports and hotels
- China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance
- Government taxes and service charges except tips for tour guides and drivers
Accommodation
Founded in May 1956, Kunming Hotel started business in October 1958. The European style architecture of the Hotel looked so serene that it was a very eye-catching building in Kunming in the mid-twentieth century.In 1982, the main building was constructed. The futuristic design of the towering building is still attractive. It was redecorated in 1992. With its well-appointed equipment and first-rate service, Kunming Hotel became the first four-star hotel in Yunnan. Detail
The hotel has 300 deluxe rooms with mountain and Lake View, 10 luxury suites. The Asia star has the following facilities: more than 300 tastefully furnished double or single bedrooms with in-suite bathrooms, standard or deluxe suites and rooms for the handicapped. All our rooms have a view of ERHAI Lake and CHANGSHAN Mountain. Detail
Lijiang Wangfu Hotel is a charming and unique four star hotel in Lijiang.The hotel has 2 floors and 92 guest rooms. Complete with small courtyards, gates, and waterside pavilions, the peaceful surroundings resemble a traditional Chinese landscape painting.
Chongqing - Holiday Inn Yangtze
Holiday Inn Yangtze Chongqing, above the banks of the mighty Yangtze River, overlooking the ever-growing city centre of Chongqing, is the "home away from home" for the business traveller and the ideal resting point before or after the famous Three Gorges Cruises. Detail
Yangtze Cruises - Ship of Yangtze Cruise
All the 5-star luxury liners, considered to be truly excellent, are equipped to a very high standard. With various cuisine, English-speaking service and luxurious decor among the finest, they pride themselves on providing the highest quality service especially for overseas guests. Besides standard rooms, deluxe suites are also available, with modern facilities to satisfy your need. During the Yangtze River cruise, you can not only appreciate the impressive landscape, but participate in the various interesting activities, such as the captain's welcome & farewell receptions and dinner, morning Tai Chi exercise, fun and informative Chinese tea tasting, practicing and learning Chinese calligraphy and painting. Moreover, the cruises will make stops in ancient and fascinating riverside towns. It is more than just a cruise tour. It is an experience of nature and culture on an amazing land.
Meals
Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary. Meal codes are: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.
Breakfast - Each breakfast will be served in your hotel. Breakfast selections include both Chinese and Western dishes to meet every diner's taste.
Lunch - Lunches are normally arranged at the Chinese restaurants near the scenic spots. Your tour guides will order food according to your appetite. Most are Chinese dishes, and some are modified to fit westerners' tastes. A complimentary glass of beer or soft drink is served with lunch.
Dinner - Same as lunch. If you prefer to not eat Chinese food, China Odyssey Tours suggests you have dinner on your own. Your local tour guide can recommend some good western restaurants in the area.
Transfer and Transport Service
China Odyssey Tours has received wide recognition for its transfer service. With our on-time service, you will never feel alone while traveling through China. We work hard to live up to the slogan's promise "You are not alone in China".
With our private small group tours, you can feel safe in the knowledge that you will enjoy flexible tour arrangements and you will have your own tour guide, car and driver in each destination, exclusive to your own group of friends or family.
