Sichuan Yunnan Tour: SYK04 Wolong, Jingsha Museum, Dujiangyan,Mt. Qingcheng, Lijiang, Daling, Kunming 13 days Tour

Visit The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in the morning. It is located in the northern suburb of Chengdu on Futou Hill about 10 km from downtown Chengdu. Giant pandas live in large naturalistic habitats, which help the visitor to understand how these animals live in the wild. The Research Base is one of the important centers in China for the captive conservation of giant pandas. After lunch, we drive 40km to visit Sanxindui Museum, it is situated in the northeastern part of the state-protected Sanxindui ruin by the bank of the Yazi Rive. Two large sacrificial pits were found in 1986 boast the most important archaeological finds on the Sanxindui Ruins for the past half century. The exposure of a large number of spectacular relics created a great sensation, making the Sanxindui site well known to the world.

Visit Chengdu Jinsha Ruins Museum, it exhibits the splendid culture of the ancient Shu Kingdom 3,000 years ago, modifying previous assumptions about the origins of the Chinese civilization. Over 6,000 pieces of cultural relics with sophisticated craftsmanship, like carved jade, gold, bronze, stone, and ivory artifacts, have been unearthed at the Jinsha Ruins. Historians believe they are the remains of the ancient Shu Kingdom mentioned in stories of the Qin and Han dynasties. The discovery is considered by local archaeologists as one of the most important finds in the region’s history.
From downtown Chengdu, it takes about 4 hours to get to Wolong. Upon arrival in Wolong, check into the hotel.

Wolong Panda Valley, originally called Heroes or Hero Valley, locates in Wolong Nature Reserve, is this only place to trace or track wild pandas and carry out scientific surveys and observation in panda research, Wolong, Sichuan. The Valley is about 3.2 km and about 2050-2800m above sea level.

Visit to the Giant Panda Research Base, funded by WWF (World Wildlife Fund). This base is home to around 40 pandas living in captivity in order to carry out research into their breeding and living habits. Continue on to the Giant Panda Museum, which comprehensively and graphically displays information relating to pandas as well as the flora and fauna of this area. then, we drive to Mt. Qingchengshan. On the way, visit Dujiangyan Irrigation System , a UNESCO cultural heritage site, which has benefited the Chengdu Plain for around 2260 years.

Today, hiking to the summit of Mt. Qingchengshan in the morning. Qingcheng Mountain is the birth place and headstream of Chinese Taoism. the initiator of Taoism,Zhang Taoling in the end of East Han Dynasty, came to Qingcheng Mountain to instruct Taoism from Shanxi. there still go round supernatural stories describing how he fighted hard with devils,how the ”Brush Pen Groove” and the ” Three Island Stone” formed. Since Jin Dynasty and Tang Dynasty, there are many Taoist Temples with flourishing burning incense.Then drive back to Chengdu

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.