Essence of Southwestern China

Welcome to China. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6:00pm when you will meet your tour leader and fellow travelers. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the reception for more information. Please have your passport, travel insurance details and next-of-kin information at hand as your team leader will go through these documents at the group meeting.

If you arrive early, you can go for a stroll and get acquainted with this pleasant city of eternal spring, so called because of its temperate weather. Perhaps head to Green Lake Park where you can see locals spending their leisure time on all kinds of activities and games. Check out The Loft, a disused factory area west of the city centre, home to many small galleries and cafes. Or visit the Yuantong Temple, the grandest Buddhist temple in Yunnan province.

Travel by high-speed train to your next destination, Dali (approximately two hours away). This spot has been a favourite destination among foreign travellers and backpackers for many years, thanks to its laid back atmosphere and spectacular surroundings.

There are snow-capped mountains on one side of this city and the vast Erhai Lake on the other, making for an impressive sight. This afternoon you will take a guided walk around Dali's ancient town with your leader. Present-day Dali is a city that combines history with modern conveniences. It is divided into two areas: the ancient city and the new district (widely known as Xiaguan).

After your guided walking tour is over, enjoy a free evening in this picturesque town. Perhaps circle back to Foreigner Street in the ancient city, where handicrafts and local culinary delights rightly attract many visitors.

Take a private bus to Xizhou, around 23 kilometres north of Dali, today. Xizhou is famous for its Butterfly Spring and Bai architecture. Enjoy a guided tour of the town and the local markets – a great chance to learn more about Bai architecture.

Interact with some local families living in the traditional courtyards and get a feel for local life. You can try some tasty local snacks such as baba (fried rice cake) or the local cheese if you want to. Return back to Dali and enjoy some more free time on arrival. You might perhaps want to take the cable car up Cangshan Mountain or stop in at the Three Pagodas before calling it a day.

Hop on a soft-seat train to Lijiang (approximately two hours and 40 minutes). This Unesco World Heritage-listed town is home to the Naxi people, a matrilineal society descended from Tibetan nomads. 

Why not discover this beautiful city on arrival? The Wangu Pagoda, situated atop Lion Hill in a small park surrounded by trees, offers amazing views over Lijiang. You might also want to wander down the cobbled streets in the old town or take a stroll in the picturesque Heilongtan Park. Lijiang has become very popular with domestic tourists in recent years. Do not be surprised if you see the streets full of tourists from home and abroad.

Take a private bus to Qiaotou (approximately one hour 40 minutes), the starting point for your trek through the magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest and most spectacular gorges in the world.

The entire canyon is 16km long and rises up to 3,900 metres above the waters of the Yangzi River. Though the gorge has become very popular in recent years, and the area has developed rapidly, it is still an incredibly rewarding travel experience. Prepare a day pack (your larger luggage will be stored for two nights) and embark on your hike. 

The first part of the trek is quite arduous – this is not flat terrain by any means. After a slow and steady climb you will reach the 24 Bends (the most challenging part of the trek), a steep and twisting path where you will gain some elevation. After stopping for a break, continue along the flatter section of the gorge to your accommodation, a simple but comfortable guesthouse with shared facilities (upgrades to private facilities at your own cost may be possible, depending on availability).

There will be regular stops to rest as needed. 

Please keep in mind that this area is subject to dramatic changes in weather. Even if we schedule departures for stable seasons, it is still possible that conditions may make travelling through the gorge dangerous. In this case, an extra night each will be spent in Shaxi or Lijiang.

Should the weather be deemed too rainy or foggy to safely complete the trek once you are in the gorge area, your team leader or tour guide will try to come up with an alternative walking route. Else, a minivan will be used for transport between the destinations via the recently built highway. We hope you understand this.

Your second day of trek starts with a nice, easy section that offers spectacular views. There are only a few uphill battles and one slippery downhill stretch before you reach your destination for the night – Walnut Grove.

Those who have not run out of energy can enjoy further hikes to some excellent lookout points from Walnut Grove. Otherwise, this a tranquil place to relax, enjoy the scenery and rest your weary legs.

It is important to note that Tiger Leaping Gorge is subject to dramatic and unpredictable weather conditions. Even on departures taking place during the more stable seasons, the possibility that weather conditions may make travelling through the gorge dangerous still exists.

Today you will travel to a place so beautiful that it was officially renamed Shangri-La, a reference to the mythic utopia from James Hilton’s novel 'Lost Horizon'.

Feel the modern world recede as you head higher into the mountains during your five-hour drive to Shangri-La. This charming Tibetan town lies 3,200 metres above sea level, so take it easy upon arrival and give yourself some time to acclimatise.

Later, you can take a stroll in its ancient town (Dukezong), down its winding streets, past prayer halls and pagodas. Perhaps you might want to see its towering, gilded prayer wheel – the largest in the world. A fire tore through the area in 2014, destroying most of the town, but a painstaking restoration work continues and the town remains charming as ever.

Learn more about Tibetan Buddhism with a visit the Sumtseling Monastery. Located just outside the city and modelled after the Potala Palace, Sumtseling is the leading monastery in the region and a popular destination for pilgrims.

Constructed in 1681 and subsequently destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, the complex was rebuilt in 1981 and the red-and-gold-coloured buildings now house hundreds of monks.

You have the afternoon for yourself to explore this beauty. You might want to hire a van and drive to Xiaozhongdian, a picturesque landscape dotted with Tibetan villages. If you are lucky, you may even get invited to a local's home to enjoy some yak butter tea!

All good things must come to an end. Leave Shangri-La behind as you board your flight to Kunming. We will transfer to the train station on landing in Kunming airport. Catch a high-speed train to Guilin (nearly seven hours away) followed by transfer to your hotel in Yangshuo.

Surrounded by limestone karsts, Yangshuo is super popular with both international and domestic tourists, which is not a bad thing if you are into cafes and bars. It is one of the best places in the country to get a feel for local culture and tradition while having plenty of fun at the same time. Take a walk through the town with your leader on arrival and head down to the Li River to enjoy the landscape immortalised in plenty of Chinese paintings.

Please note that if the flight schedule changes, you will spend one night in Kunming.

The dramatic countryside surrounding Yangshuo is best seen during an optional cruise down the Li River. Float past limestone monoliths and paddy fields and see water buffaloes nonchalantly drinking at the river's edge as the cruise boat sails.

For those feeling active, why not jump on a bike and explore the surrounds and nearby villages? Perhaps you might want to participate in a rejuvenating tai chi session. Enjoy a guided walk through a local market before visiting a converted country house to try your hands at cooking local specialties.

A great way to spend a day in Yangshuo is to visit the nearby tea plantation (optional). Picking tea leaves, brewing them and enjoying the concoction is quite an experience. You can do this all at Seven Fairies Peak tea plantation if you want to.

The other option is to hike up Xianggong Hill for some stunning views. The Li River meanders below, while lights and shadows play out amid karst formations jutting into the sky. You might also want to visit the ancient stone village which was once a garrison town.

Time to leave Yangshuo and continue your journey to the final stop of this trip, Hong Kong. You will be transferred to Guilin from where a high-speed train whisks you to the megapolis defined by its towering buildings in approximately three and a half hours.

The train terminates at the Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Railway Station. Head for your centrally located hotel in the city and check in on arrival. Feel free to go out on a walking tour if you want to, check out the night market on Temple Street or the light show at Victoria Harbour. Do not miss the chance to celebrate your final night with your group in this awesome city.

Your trip comes to an end this morning. There are no activities today. Please make sure that you have checked out of your hotel by 12:00 noon.

Kind reminder: The check-out time is 12:00 noon. If you have booked an airport departure transfer with Truly China Travel, please confirm the pickup time with your tour leader in advance.