Brief

Arrive in Dali, where your private guide and driver greet you and transfer to your hotel. Explore Dali Ancient Town starting from the South Gate, wandering twisting, charming alleyways. Stroll Yangren Street, then visit the 1927 church blending Bai and Western architecture, and soak in the town's slow, laid-back vibe.

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Dali Ancient Town once served as the political and cultural heart of the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom. Cobblestone lanes wind between traditional Bai folk houses with grey tiled roofs and white painted walls. Yangren Street retains a relaxed bohemian atmosphere. The century-old church masterfully merges local Bai building craftsmanship and western design, standing as a rare cultural landmark recording cross-border communication in old Yunnan.

Brief

Choose your preferred way to explore Dali. Family travellers can visit Chongsheng Temple's Three Pagodas and enjoy a leisurely walk at Erhai Lake Park. Active travellers may pick lakeside cycling through rural villages, or swap cycling for a Cangshan Mountain hike.

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The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are iconic Buddhist relics of Dali, towering elegantly against mountain backdrops, representing the splendid ancient Buddhist art of the Nanzhao era. Erhai Lake, a bright plateau freshwater lake, is ringed by farmlands and Bai villages. Cycling or walking along the lakeside lets you witness pastoral highland scenery, while Cangshan Mountain offers forest trails and panoramic views overlooking the lake and ancient town.

Brief

Travel to Xizhou Town to admire classic Bai courtyard homes and join the graceful Three-Course Tea ceremony. Stop at Zhoucheng Village to visit a traditional tie-dye workshop. Continue to Shaxi Old Town, and later head to Lijiang for overnight stay.

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Xizhou is famed for well-preserved Bai courtyard architecture. The Three-Course Tea ritual embodies the Bai people's philosophy of life. Zhoucheng is a living village of Yunnan tie-dye craft, where artisans demonstrate natural indigo dyeing techniques. Shaxi, the last intact Tea Horse Road caravan market, preserves Ming-era Yujin Bridge and Xingjiao Temple, retaining the original vibe of ancient caravan trade.

Brief

Drive to Yuhu Village at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, visit local stone homes and the former residence of botanist Joseph Rock. Explore Baisha Village and its thousand-year-old murals, then wander Shuhe Ancient Town and Black Dragon Pool Park.

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Yuhu Village sits quietly beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, with primitive stone houses and the former home of Joseph Rock, who documented Naxi culture for decades. Baisha Ancient Murals fuse Tibetan, Naxi and Han painting styles. Shuhe, an early Naxi settlement, keeps the quiet charm of the old Tea Horse Road. Black Dragon Pool delivers postcard-perfect reflections of the snow-capped Jade Dragon peak.

Brief

Spend your final day exploring Lijiang Ancient Town, the UNESCO World Heritage Site with 800 years of history. Roam its intricate network of waterways and stone lanes, learn more about Dongba culture. After sightseeing, transfer to the airport or train station for your departure.

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Lijiang Ancient Town is a masterpiece of Naxi urban construction, crisscrossed by clear spring water streams. Wooden houses line the lanes, filled with the atmosphere of Dongba civilization. Visit the Dongba Culture Museum to learn about the unique Dongba script and Naxi religious traditions. This ancient town preserves the soul of the Tea Horse Road, wrapping up your journey through Yunnan's ethnic and natural wonders.