Sichuan Yunnan Tour: SYK01 Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Panda, Leshan, Emeishan, Lijiang, Daling, Kunming 13 days Tour

Visit Chengdu Panda Base. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is located in the northern suburb of Chengdu on Futou Hill. It is 10 km from downtown Chengdu, and can be reached by the Panda Road. Giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base live in large naturalistic habitats, which help the visitor to understand how these animals live in the wild . It is an excellent recreational area and a highlight of any visit to Chengdu. Many types of bamboo, trees, and flowers thrive at the Research Base.Several species of birds also make their home there. The Research Base is one of the important centers in China for the captive conservation of giant pandas. Take flight (45 minutes) from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou in later afternoon.

After breakfast, head to the Jiuzhaigou National Park where you will board environmentally friendly buses to sightsee the Park. Visit the Shuzheng and Zezawa Valleys; Pearl Sands and Shuzheng Waterfall; the Tibetan village of Shuzheng, and numerous picturesque lakes including Panda Lake, Long Lake, Rainbow Lake, Tiger Lake and Rhinoceros Lake. Then summon your energy for a Tibetan folk customs show at night, consisting of singing, dancing and other programs. (The entrance fee of 180 RMB is not included in the tour price).

Drive to visit Huanglong National Park, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, with beautiful mountains, lush woods, colourful flowers, and crystal clear waters. (Note: If the road is icy , the tour will visit Munigou National Park instead) Then take flight back to Chengdu, drive to Mt.Emei, enjoying countryside views of the Chuanxi Plain.on the way (two hours along expressway).

Set off from the hotel at 7:00am by tour bus to the cable car station, where you will begin your ride to the the highest summit of Mt. Emei, the Golden summit. Have a look around the Golden summit including Huazang temple. After lunch,Take the cable car down and take the bus to Wanniansi parking lot which is located halfway up Mt. Emei. Take another cable car to visit Wanniansi temple.

Drive half an hour to Leshan, board a tour boat have a panoramic view of the biggest carved Buddha statue in the world. Then continue drive about 2 hours from Leshan to Huanglongxi old town in the morning. It is 1700 years history and around 30 miles away from Chengdu. For most of local people, Huanglongxi old town could be a place where it will bring them back to their childhood. The aged old trees, old temples and native custom all together can be an amazing to you. At Huanglongxi, despites the latest renovation, some of the old architectures were built in the late of Qing Dynasty, which was the last feudal dynasty in Chinese history.

You’ll begin your journey to impressive Lijiang. Upon arrival at Lijiang Airport; your local guide will meet you. And then you will be transferred to your hotel. Then walk around in Lijiang Old Town.

Sightseeing: the First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge,. From Lijiang, you’ll drive about 60KM to the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, and the Iron Chain Bridge in the Stone Drum town. The town of Stone Drum got its name from a large, cylindrical, marble tablet shaped like a drum. The scenery is magnificent as the road running through the Lijiang valley which is filled with wheat fields and drying haystacks. Continue the driving 40KM more to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river. Afternoon, you will drive back to Lijiang.

Visit Ganhaizi Meadow, Baishui(White Water) River; take the chairlift to Yak Meadow(3700M) in the Yulong Snow Mountain —Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stretches a length of 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a width of 20 kilometers (13 miles). Looking from Lijiang Old Town in the south which is 15 kilometers (nine miles) away, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The highest peak named Fan Peak (Shanzidou in Chinese) which is about 5596 meters above sea level. There are three cable cars in the mountain, the fist to the Glacier Park(4500M),the second to Spruce Meadow(3200M),the third to Yak Meadow(3700M). In the afternoon, you’ll stroll through Baisha Village, which is an enchanting traditional Yunnan village. Visit the Baisha Mural about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997. After dinner, Enjoy the Naxi Orchestral and Show in Dongba Palace.

After breakfast, travel (200 km – 4 hrs) south on the old road to the ancient city of Dali, Dali, a historically and culturally famous city of China, is renowned for her historical interest. If this day happens to fall on a Monday you will call in at Shaping for a visit to the colorful Bai market. In Dali you will visit the Three-pagoda in Chongshen Temple, which is a typical historical symbol of Yunnan. It is also one of the oldest sublime architecture in South China. At last, you will walk around the Old Dali Town, which is located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain.

Travel in the Erhai Lake by boat and visit Jinsuo Island. After landing, you will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style architecture, taste their fragrant three-course tea and explore their distinctive culture. Erhai Lake is the largest highland lake next to Dianchi and one of the seven biggest fresh water lakes in China. It means, ’sea shaped like an ear’, in Chinese. Implying that the lake is ear shaped and as large as a sea, hence it was so named. The lake covers an area of 250 square kilometers and is located about two kilometers east of Dali. It is like a crescent lying between Cangshan and Dali city as seen from Cangshan Mount. At last, you will visit Zhoucheng Town, and Bai people’s Tie-Dyed Cloth Work Shop.

Drive 86 km to the Stone Forest. There is a local saying: ’It is a waste of time not to visit the Stone Forest while visiting Kunming’, which vividly expresses the deep love of the local people toward this world wonder. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder. After lunch drive back Kunming to visit the landmark of Kunming-the Golden Horse and Phoenix Archway, which is located at the corner of Sanshi Road and Jinbi Road. And then, you will take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of teahouses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings.

In the morning you will be transferred to Kunming International Airport to Beijing.