Lijiang and Shangri-La Minority Paradise Tour - 5 Days

Our English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel in Lijiang Old Town. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to have a good rest or explore the city.

Channels cross around all the Town, numerous of small bridges stand upon the rivers like the rainbows and dense of weeping willow swing with the wind are the sign of Lijiang Old Town. With the altitude of 2400 Meters, Lijiang Old Town is titled as National Famous Historical and Cultural City. Also, because of the magnificent scenery and the characteristic structure, Lijiang Old Town is named as "Oriental Venice".

You can start your memorable Lijiang tour from Lijiang Ancient Town. Enjoy a panoramic view of this fascinating old city from Wangu Tower, the landmark building of Lijiang. A trip to Mu’s Residence - the “Forbidden City” of Lijiang to appreciate Naxi people’s brilliant culture and fine arts. After lunch, continue your visit to Black Dragon Pool Park and the Naxi Dongba Culture Museum where you can learn Naxi pictograph character and explore the rich Naxi minority culture in the museum.

Tips:

1. The cobblestones are slippery when they are wet, so please be careful when walking on them.
2. If you go early (before 10am) you will get many sections of the town to yourself with barely anyone around.
3. The altitude is about 2,400 meters or about 7,800 feet. Some people may get some altitude sickness. So take it easy the first day or two.

Attractions: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yuhu Town, Baisha Village, Shuhe Old Town

In the morning, the guide will accompany to sight-see Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is famous for its variant and beautiful natural scenes, and is considered a sacred mountain among the local Naxi ethnic people. The highlights in the scenic area are Glacier Park, Ganhaizi Meadow, Yak Meadow, White River (Blue Moon Valley), Spruce Meadow

Upon arrival, we will initially spend a few minutes at Ganhaizi (Dry Sea Meadow) viewing the boundless prairie and looking up at the magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After that, we will take the ropeway to reach the Spruce Plateau on the hillside, which is regarded as the best place for shooting the spectacular scenery of the Snow Mountain.

Afternoon  

We will go to visit Yuhu Town, you can still see the former residence of Rock, the stone and wooden houses of local Naxi people, and the beautiful natural scenery, including Jade Lake and Skyreach Pillar of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Continue our Lijiang day trip to the Baisha Village to admire the famous Baisha Murals which took more than 300 years from the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) to complete. 

Afterwards, drive to Shuhe Old Town. Ambling along Sifang Street, you will feel time slowly flowing backwards. Walk on the Qinglong Bridge, built of stone pieces,  was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Among the countless old stone bridges in Lijiang, it is regarded as 'the First'. 

Night 

Afterwards, our guide will transfer you back to the hotel in Lijiang old Town for a good rest.

Attractions: Zhiyun Temple, the First Bend of the Yangtze River, Dukezong Ancient Town

Morning  

Today's Shangri-La tour will start with the Zhiyun Temple. It was built in 1727 during the Qing Dynasty. The grand hall can seat hundreds of Lamas

Afternoon  On the way, we will second stop at the First Bend of the Yangtze River to see the v-shaped course and the Shigu Town, a rural village surrounded by mountains with idyllic scenery. After visiting , we will drive to Shangri-La. 

Shangri-La is a mountain paradise, with dense forests, alpine lakes, grasslands, and gorges distributed among the meadows and plains. Shangri-La is home to more than 20 ethnic groups, with the Tibetans comprising the majority of the population. It is a great place to experience the Tibetan lifestyle and religion, especially if you have no chance to visit Tibet.

Night 

Check in the hotel and have a good rest to adapt the high altitude of 3200 meters.

Attractions: Pudacuo National Park, Songzanlin Lamasery, Dukezong Ancient Town

Morning  

Immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural beauty and holy religious atmosphere of the unspoiled Shangri-La. 

Your will  be pick up from your hotel which is located in the downtown of Shangri-la City, then you'll visit the tranquil Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park. Pudacuo National Park is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. It is a world-class nature reserve with varied landscapes including highland meadow, alpine pastures, mirror-like lakes and wetlands as well as lush virgin forests. An amazing boat cruise on Shudu Lake will take you step into the untouched part of the reserve where wildlife lives. Then take a leisure stroll at Militang Pasture to breathe in the enchanting steppe. 

Afternoon  

Visit the largest Tibetan Buddhist Lamasery in Yunnan Province - Songzanlin Lamasery - which was built in the style of Potala Palace in Lhasa and represents the Tibetan culture, housing Buddhist statues and many precious cultural treasures. Talk with a local Tibetan lama in his dormitory's study room, which is not normally open to tourists. If you are lucky, you might meet a living Buddha!

Night 

Dukezong Ancient Town, a Tibetan town located in Shangri-La, offers sanctuary to all those seeking refuge from the busy city life.

The authentic Tibetan dwellings in Dukezong, gilded prayer halls and pagodas, and lanterns of various shapes lighting the way along narrow, winding lanes are permeated with the grace as well as the mystique of antiquity that enchants visitors the moment they set foot in it. 

Bonfires that are lit in the town square every night illuminate local musicians as they sing to and play traditional stringed instruments.