7 Days Lijiang Shangri-La Tour from Kunming for Singaporeans
Explore Unique Natural Landscapes and Diverse Ethnic Cultures at a Slow Pace
Explore Unique Natural Landscapes and Diverse Ethnic Cultures at a Slow Pace
Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience from Kunming to Lijiang and Shangri-La, tailored especially for those coming from Singapore!
Yunnan is full of color and charm with numerous must-visit destinations. Kunming, Lijiang, and Shangri-La are among the top choices. Using Kunming as the gateway city, Singaporean travelers can not only enjoy a convenient flight transfer that takes about 4~4.5 hours but also catch a spectacular view of karst landforms in Stone Forest. Lijiang,“City of Romantic Encounters”, features the well-preserved Lijiang Old Town, the magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the deep Tiger Leaping Gorge. As the journey continues to Shangri-La, more wonders await, from the unique Tibetan ethnic group to primitive natural beauty. Songzanlin Monastery which represents Tibetan-Buddhist culture and Pudacuo National Park with intact natural ecosystems will leave you with a fabulous memory.
This 7-day tour offers the epitome of colorful Yunnan, covering its capital city Kunming, Naxi ethnic group city Lijiang, and mysterious Shangri-La. You can admire its stunning natural landscapes and diverse ethnic cultures of Naxi and many other ethnic groups in just one week. With expert guidance and seamless transfers, we create a stress-free and unforgettable journey that caters to your needs!
Day 1 Kunming Arrival
Arrive in Kunming & Transfer to Your Hotel in Kunming Downtown Area
Welcome to Kunming, the Spring City of China! Upon arrival at the Kunming Changhsui Airport from Singapore for about 4~4.5 hours' flying, the local tour guide and driver will meet you in the arrival hall and escort you to your hotel and help you check in. If you want to explore nearly, feel free to get some practical suggestions from your tour guide.
Free Time Ideas: If time permits, enjoy a cultural trip to Yunnan Nationalities Museum for a wonderful understanding of the 25 ethnic minority groups in vast Yunnan. This largest minority museum in whole Asia boasts a collection of over 20 thousand pieces (units) of precious cultural relics to show you the beautiful costumes, diverse ethnic festivals, daily life scenes, exquisite musical instruments, brilliant cultural texts, and so on to know the essence of Yunnan culture!
Welcome to Kunming (Changshui International Airport)
Day 2 Kunming & Train to Lijiang (B, L)
Green Lake - Stone Forest - Train to Lijiang
After breakfast, you’ll enjoy a leisure walk to Kunming Green Lake . This pretty park with a lovely lake, old-styled pavilions, corridors, flowers, etc. is the most popular place for an authentic feeling of local Kunming people’s leisure life with citizens singing, dancing, talking, exercising, etc. During November to the next March, Black-headed Gulls from Siberian will never be late to fly there for their expecting comfortable warm winter holiday. Do not miss playing with those adorable and vigorous elfin during your relaxing roam!
Later, drive 85 km to the typical Karst landform - Stone Forest. As the “Essence of World Karst Landform”, Stone Forest has been listed as the UNESCO World Natural Heritage with the incomparable coverage of 12 square kilometers’ stone pinnacle groups. Take the sightseeing bus to visit the Greater Stone Forest Scenic Area to admire the typical concentrating cinerous stone pinnacles by walking through the maze of stone peaks and jumping high for the panorama of the forest of protruding stone peaks. Also, you will see the famous peak on many photos and even stones towering over 40 meters. Then, continue to ride the bus to explore the Lesser Stone Forest to closely look at the iconic stone “Ashima” like a young lady, listen to the touching love story of Ashima, and fill your eyes with the emerald garden-like park of wilder stone peaks surrounded by lush green plants and blossoms. Take the sightseeing bus to exit the scenic park.
After the tour, be transferred to train station to catch your train to Lijiang. Upon arrival, your guide and driver will meet there and escort to your hotel in Lijiang Old Town area. Have a good rest tonight.
Day 3 Lijiang (B, L)
Yuhu Village - Dongba Culture Museum - Black Dragon Pool Park - Lijiang Ancient City
After breakfast, you will be transferred out of Lijiang Old Town to Yuhu Village which is located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Walking into this authentic Naxi Village, you will see unique stone houses, Naxi ladies dressing in traditional clothes, kids playing and the tranquil Yuhu Lake.
After that, transfer to Dongba Culture Museum where more than 10,000 Dongba cultural relics show mysterious Dongba culture of the Naxi people. Take a gentle walk to Black Dragon Pool Park to enjoy gorgeous view and peaceful surroundings. If weather permits, get to the best spot to overlook the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and shoot some amazing pictures.
Lastly, return to Lijiang Ancient City to wander through the old alleys, old bridges, featured shops and bars around the Sifang Street Square, a mingling ground to enjoy lively atmosphere and unwind yourself. If time permits, join the Naxi people and tourists to dance happily in a round. Then go to enjoy a panoramic view of the whole old town.
Accommodate in Lijiang Ancient City.
Day 4 Lijiang (B)
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain - Blue Moon Valley - Baisha Mural Paintings
In this morning, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and escort you to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. The 13 peaks in this mountain area are the sacred mountains among Naxi people. Take the tramway to the Spruce Meadow at 3,000 meters high, and you can both see the fascinating sightseeing and appreciate the gorgeous look of the whole snow mountain at the best place.
After that, you can choose to enjoy the electrifying Impression Lijiang Show (Optional) performed by about 500 local people under the white snow and blue sky with the background of white Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which lasts for about 60 mins. (Note: For the ticket is hard to book in peak season, if you are interested in the show, please tell us your likes in advance.)
On the way back, you will enjoy the charming scenery and the crystal clear water various with the weather in Blue Moon Valley and its White Water River.
After that, head to Baisha Village and appreciate the ancient Baisha Mural Paintings. Visit Dabaoji Palace and Liuli Temple to view murals painted over 1000 years ago which is a combination of Tibetan Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. (Optional experience: You can have in-depth cultural experience to learn how to make Baisha embroidery instructed by the local masters in Baisha Village.)
Please Note:
1. If you want to visit Yak Meadow (with an altitude of 3,500 meters) which offers a good location to appreciate the 13 peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain; or go to Glacier Park (at 4,680 meters ) to see the wonder of the Green Glacier Peaks; please tell your like to your travel consultant to adjust the itinerary. Different tramways have different prices. Please pay attention that it will be difficult to book the ticket of Glacier Park tramway, you need to tell your likes to us or book the ticket in advance. Besides, it takes about 1-2 hours to queue up for the tramway to Glacier Park.
2. For the tickets of Impression Lijiang Snow are hard to book in peak season, if you want to enjoy the show, please tell us your interest and we will help to book the tickets in advance.
3. If time allows today, you can extend a leisure trip to Shuhe Ancient Town - one of the earliest settlements of Naxi people as well as the well-preserved stop of the Ancient Tea Horse Route.
4. Lunch is not included because the dining options are limited. You can bring some snacks or dine in the local restaurants in the national park.
Day 5 Lijiang - Shangri-La (B, L)
First Bend of Yangtze River - Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge - Drive to Shangri-La
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. First, drive about 52 kilometers from Lijiang to view the First Bend of Yangtze River. The upper reach of the Yangtze River is Jinsha River coming down from Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and when it arrives at Shigu Town, it is obstructed by Hailuo Mountain and forms a V-shape turn. Then it changes the direction and goes to the northeast. You’ll reach the observation deck to catch a panoramic view of the bend, an extraordinary turn nearly about 180 degrees with beautiful and marvelous views like a wonderful landscape painting unfolding before your eyes. You’ll have a look at local market and Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in Shigu Town.
Later, be transferred to visit the one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyon in the world - Tiger Leaping Gorge. It is also a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site called Three Parallel of Yunnan Protected Areas. This steep gorge is situated between the 5596 meters Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the south and 5396 meters Haba Snow Mountain to the north. Measuring 17 kilometers in length, the whole gorge is divided into three parts: upper, middle and lower gorge and you’ll pay a visit to the maturest section - Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge. Walk about 1,000 stairs along the plank road from the entrance to the Tiger Leaping Rock. Take a moment to enjoy the magnificent gorge view and rolling waves. (Travel tip: This gorge is suitable for most travelers with easy walk. Comfortable shoes are recommended.)
After the hiking tour, you’ll be driven to Shangri-La. With 2 hours' driving, enjoy the enchanting natural scenery along the way. Welcome to Shangri-La (Zhongdian, altitude: 3459meters), the Garden of Eden!
Upon arrival, explore Dukezong Old Town. With a history over 1300 years, Dukezong Old Town is the largest and the best preserved Tibetan community in China. Climb up to the top of Guishan Hill (or Tortoise Hill) to have a panoramic view of both the endless snow-capped mountains surrounded the pure land and the large scale of the old town with countless Tibetan dwellings. Join in the tourists to turn the largest Prayer Wheel in the world in clockwise direction.
Day 6 Shangri-La (B, L)
Songzanlin Monastery - Pudacuo National Park - Local Tibetan Family Visiting
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. First, you'll be transferred with 7 kilometers' driving to Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Gompa), reputed as the "Little Potala Palace" for it was built according to the complex of Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Established by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1679, the monastery belongs to Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and it is also the largest Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province with around 700 monks and lamas. Walk 147 steps to get atop of the monastery and pay clockwise visit to the three main lamasery buildings where you can not only see the Buddhism treasures, but also enjoy large number of monks of all ages going about their daily routines, praying, chanting, cooking and resting. It should be a nice trip to get in-depth understanding about Tibetan Buddhism. If time permits, take some quiet time to walk around the peaceful Lamuyangcuo Lake and shoot panorama view of Songzanlin Monastery with reflection in the clear water.
Then, drive about 27 kilometers to Pudacuo National Park. This 1,300-square-kilometer national park is notable as the first national park in China to meet International Union for Conservation of Nature standards. It is renowned for well-preserved primitive landscape, which is endowed with lakes, wetlands, forests, meadows, streams, brooks, rare plants and animals. Throw yourself into the lush green forest with diverse species of flora and fauna, walk along the plank road to catch the gorgeous scenery. There are also many hiking opportunities. (Notes: 1) the altitude of Pudacuo is at 3500m-4150m so you should avoid strong activities to avoid high altitude sickness; 2) part of the national park is currently closed for environment protection and recovery.)
After the merry time in the park, pay a visit to a local Tibetan family to experience the highly-praised hospitality of Tibetan people and taste some special Tibetan snacks and butter tea. (Optional Experience: If you are interested in the Tibetan people's daily drinks, you can follow the locals to involve in the process of making butter tea.)
Day 7 Shangri-La Departure (B)
Airport/railway station drop off
Today is free for you to relax until your driver escort you to catch you flight or train to next destination.
Departure ideas: After Shangri-la, you can return to Kunming to catch a flight to Singapore.
1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons. It will drop greatly if your group has 4 or more members.
2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, month and date. There may be huge price increasing during public Chinese holidays, school summer vacations, tourism peak seasons or some special dates. (China Public Holiday 2025 Schedule Released)
3. Other factors that may change the final tour price include group size, hotel class, tour activities, fluctuation of currency exchange rate, etc.
4. This price is based on exchange rate USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final price will be based on the exchange rate in effect at the time of agreement with our quotation.
5. This price is only valid to March 31, 2026.
6. This price is not the final price until the Confirmation Letter is sent.
7. The items included and excluded in this price are for reference only. The final services included, please refer to the confirmation letter sent to you by the travel consultant.
Hi Phoebe,
MUST TO VISITS are Panda Base and Jinli Street!
文君WenJun Hotel is very good. Its meals are delicous with good variety. Service is attentive with personal touch.
Tour guide speaks clear and fluent English, able to explain very well.
Driver's attitude is good and friendly, with steady driving, up to expectation.
Your service is very good and standard already.
Eugene
Hello Reya,
Yes we are at the airport awaiting our flight. We have had a wonderful trip, both Xian and Beijing were so interesting and amazing. Our guide Eric has recommended some other cities so we may return to China next year. If we need a tour I will book with your company again.
Many thanks
Bellis
Hi April,
Just want to take a moment to say Thank you very much for your help with my Datong Tour.
The tour is very amazing, especially my tour guide Star.
Thanks again.
Nguyen
Hi Rita,
Marianne and I enjoyed the trip in Dec 2024 very much and we would like to visit China again in Nov 2025 from 2 to 8 Nov. This time, there will be 5 people and we would like to visit Zhang Jia Jie and the old town.
Thank you
Rgds
Catherine
Good Morning Mr. Wang,
Overall, I rate the tour as excellent.
1) Communication was clear, prompt and excellent.
2) Tour arrangement, driver and tour guide (Excellent), Mercure Hotel (excellent), Hotel in Snow Town (I do not know the name) is OK at best (a bit disappointing).
3) I will definitely recommend you and your company to friends.
Best of luck and Happy New Year (lunar).
Hanh
We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years!
"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.
Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.
Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!
After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.
Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.
We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.
Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.
Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.
Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!
Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!
Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.
Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!
In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!
The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.
If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.
Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.
We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.
The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.
There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.
All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!
Welcome to Kunming (Changshui International Airport)
Major Stone Forest
Kunming Green Lake-20190415-Marcin from USA- TD-Li
Kunming Yuantong Temple-2019-customer from Italy-CD-Wi
Bai-style Architecture in Xizhou Old Town
Zhoucheng Tie-dye - Shot by Carrie
Three Courses of Tea - Lyn
Magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain-20181015-Lee's Family from Singapore
Spruce Meadow at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain-20210316-YuSuke from Japan
Our Guests at Blue Moon Valley-20230402-Jana from Czech
Baisha Mural Paintings-2018-Daisy from Thailand
Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge-202010-Ana's Group from Belgium and Mexico
Sightseeing at First Bend of Yangtze River-2018-Daisy from Thailand
Shudu Lake of Pudacuo National Park, Picture Shared by Daisy
Magnificent Songzanlin Monastery - Bondny
Pudacuo National Park, Picture Shared by Daisy
Kunming / Dali / Lijiang
Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La
Kunming / Stone Forest / Yuanyang / Jianshui / Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La
“Very good experience”
“WONDERFUL 25 DAYS IN CHINA - PRIVATE TOUR”
“Awesome China tour from northeast to southwest”
2,100+ Reviews
