Ethnic Adventure Tour 12 Days

Tour Code: CTS 09

Day 01:      West Coast Q Beijing

Fly to Beijing on deluxe plane, cross the International Date Line.

Day 02:      Arrival in Beijing

Arrive in Beijing lat afternoon, met by CTS tour guide, transfer to hotel.

Day 03:      Beijing Q Kunming

Enjoy the famous Beijing Hutong and Alley tour in the morning, visit Old Drum tower and local Family. Then fly to Kunming in the afternoon.

Day 04:       Kunming

Kunming, as the capital city of Yunnan, has the best climate of all Chinese cities, popularly known as the "Spring City¡±. The long history, many minority nationalities and the unique natural resources help make the city rich and colorful, filled with historical and cultural relics as well as exquisite natural beauty. Visit the Stone Forest after breakfast. Due to a process of weathering and erosion, nature has created an art gallery of stone sculpture here. This typical karst physiognomy takes the form of a forest of stone pillars and boulders. It is as if the countless stone shapes have sprung from the ground, assuming different shapes as if vying to surpass each other in grandeur and sublime beauty.

Day 05:      Kunming Q Dali

Fly to Dali in the morning. Dali is a 600-year-old town featuring stone walls, grey-tilted roofs, doors and windows carved with dragon and phoenix patterns. It also features beautiful gardens, and the entire town is covered by a maze of streams fed by runoffs from Cangshan Mountains. Visit Three Pagodas, the oldest standing structures in southwest China, and the Butterfly Spring, so named because in the fourth lunar month each year, the trees put out butterfly-shaped flowers, and swarms of butterflies of twenty or so breeds descend on the tree, linking themselves head against tail into numerous colored ribbon-like strings which keep dangling over the spring. You will also visit the Bai Minority Village, taste their special cuisine, and enjoy the dancing and singing show in the evening.

Day 06:      Dali v Lijiang

After sightseeing the Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, take motor coach to Lijiang, homeland of the Naxi people. Upon arrival venture out of the town and start the hiking to villages at the Yulong Snow Mountain.  You will have the opportunity to observe life in Naxi villages and enjoy viewing the beautiful wild flowers on the way. Afterwards visit the Spruce Ground of the Snow Mountain, and tour the Black Dragon Pool Park.

Day 07:      Lijiang

Continue your tour in Lijiang. Sightseeing the Dayan Ancient Town, which lies beside a stream and is known as a famous water town in the highland. The tour will also take you to  the Jade Summit Temple, Five Phoenix Tower, Baisha Murals, and Dongba Cultural Institute.

Day 08:      Lijiang v Zhongdian

Take bus to Zhongdian after breakfast, on the way you will sightsee the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world. Later continue your tour to  Zhongdian, where the legend of Shangri-La was originated. It is called Shangri-La because of it¡¯s picturesque grassland which is embellished with azalea.  And it is a principally Tibetan town which is at elevation 3,200m and very close to the Tibetan border.

Day 09:      Zhongdian

Continue your excursion in Zhongdian, sightseeing the enchanting Bita Lake Nature Reserve, which is about 16 miles east of Zhongdian. You will hike a few kilometers through meadows and flowers to reach the lakeside, and you will see a lot of Tibetan villages with the Tibetan women working in the field.

Day 10:      Zhongdian Q Kunming

Fly back to Kunming in the morning, upon arrival sightseeing the Western Hills and the Dragon Gate. The Western Hills lie along the western shore of Dianchi Lake, stretch from north to south for about 40km. The Hills resemble a reclining maiden lying on the banks of Dianchi Lake with her long hair flowing down into the lake. As a result, the Western Hills have the nickname of the "A Sleeping Beauty Hills". In actuality, the Western Hills is a forested and lovely park which is perfect for hiking.

Day 11:      Kunming Q Guangzhou t Hong Kong

Fly to Guangzhou after breakfast. As capital of Guangdong, Guangzhou is most well-known for being an economic power house as well as a paradise for epicures. The central part of the city is occupied by religious venues, bearing evidence of the vicissitudes of the different cultural periods that Guangzhou has undergone. Take train to Hong Kong after city tour in Guangzhou.

Day 12:      Hong Kong Q West Coast

Fly back to your sweet home today.