10 Day Yunnan Discovery Gorges Glaciers Volcanoes and Heritage

Day 1: Chengdu Airport -- Chengdu City

1. Renmin Park Teahouse
   3h · Admission ticket included
   Our English-speaking guide will accompany you to Chengdu People's Park to experience the true local vibe. We'll sip classic three-piece covered bowl tea (gaiwan), watch a long-spouted kettle tea performance, and visit the matchmaking corner to get a taste of Chinese-style dating culture.
2. Opera House Chengdu
   1h 20m · Admission ticket included
   Experience the vibrant essence of Sichuan culture through its quintessential Sichuan opera in the evening. We will enjoy traditional acts featuring iconic stunts—changing faces, spitting fire, and swirling water sleeves.
3. IFS
   1h 30m
   The IFS food court offers both Chengdu's local cuisine and a great variety of other choices—perfect for a quick, satisfying meal.

Day 2: Chengdu Giant Panda Base -- Shu Brocade & Embroidery Museum

1. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
   5h · Admission ticket included
   At the Chengdu Panda Base, you can observe giant pandas of all ages in natural-like enclosures, from playful cubs to adult pandas munching on bamboo. You can also see the adorable red pandas, visit the panda nursery to watch newborn babies, and learn about panda conservation at the museum. The base is set in beautiful bamboo forests, making it a pleasant walk. The best time to visit is in the morning when the pandas are most active.
2. 3h · Admission ticket included
   As the only museum in China devoted entirely to Shu brocade, it offers a chance to watch master artisans working a large wooden drawloom, tour six exhibition halls across 3,000 square meters, and get hands-on with the craft yourself.

Day 3: Chengdu -- Lijiang (by air) -- Fuguo Temple - Shehe Ancient Town

1. Fuguo Temple
   2h
   Nestled at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, this historic Tibetan Buddhist temple is the largest Karma Kagyu monastery in all of Yunnan.
   
   Distance: 9 km (one-way)
   
   Altitude: Start 2,650 m | Max 4,140 m | End 4,100-4,400m
   
   Extra Support: Mules are available for hire to complete the hike while you take in the golden mountain views. Advance booking is recommended.
2. Shuhe Ancient Town
   5h · Admission ticket included
   This ancient town gives you a quieter, more authentic taste of Yunnan, with plenty of Naxi culture along the way. We'll walk over to Qinglong Bridge, Jiuding Dragon Pool, and the Tea Horse Road Museum.

Day 4: Lijiang -- Tiger Leaping Gorge

1. Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia)
   10h · Admission ticket included
   We'll visit Tiger Leaping Gorge—one of the deepest and most spectacular canyons on Earth—and take in its upper section, where the gorge narrows and the river roars below. After driving you to the best viewpoints for unforgettable photos, we'll set off on a 4‑hour round‑trip hike along the high trail from Luke's Hostel to Empty Glass Platform. Perched at 2,680 meters, this cliff‑edge lookout offers a sheer drop that will leave you breathless.

Day 5: Shangri-la Haba Village -- Haba Black Lake Trail

1. Haba Snow Mountain
   10h · Admission ticket included
   Haba Black Lake Jianshan Route
   
   Starting from Haba Village with a local expert guide, this route takes you through Jianshan Meadow, Jianshan Waterfall, primeval forest, and Rhododendron Valley, before reaching Haba Black Lake — where you may spot the Chinese giant salamander. The return journey follows the same path.
   
   Distance: 9 km (one-way)
   
   Altitude: Start 2,650 m | Max 4,140 m | End 4,100-4,400m
   
   Extra Support: Mules are available for hire to complete the hike while you take in the golden mountain views. Advance booking is recommended.

Day 6: Shangri-la White Water Terrace -- Dukezong Ancient Town

1. White-Water Terraces (Baishuitai)
   2h · Admission ticket included
   En route to Shangri-La City, we'll take in the breathtaking view of Baishuitai (White Water Terrace). This terraced platform of white calcite, shimmering in soft azure light beneath refracted sunbeams, looks like a photograph frozen in time.
2. Dukezong Ancient Town
   5h · Admission ticket included
   Our guide will help you immerse yourself in Tibetan culture at Dukezong Ancient Town. At the Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Center, roll up your sleeves and try your hand at time-honored crafts — paint intricate thangkas, blend aromatic Tibetan incense, or create your own sheet of traditional paper using ancient methods. Under the guidance of master artisans, you'll craft your very own souvenir to take home.
   
   Beyond the workshops, immerse yourself in the town's vibrant atmosphere. Savor local flavors at authentic eateries, explore lively markets for handmade treasures and Tibetan jewelry, and dress in traditional Tibetan attire for a memorable photo shoot against the ancient cobblestone streets.
   
   As evening falls, the rhythm of Dukezong shifts. Head to Moonlight Square, where locals and travelers come together in a communal Tibetan circle dance — a joyous celebration of music, movement, and community that welcomes everyone to join in.

Day 7: Shangri-La -- Baoshan City

1. Shangri-La County
   Pass by
   The train ride from Shangri-La to Baoshan is not just a transfer—it's a moving panorama of Yunnan's most dramatic and diverse landscapes. In just about five to six hours aboard the C374 train, the scenery shifts from high-altitude Tibetan plateaus to lush subtropical valleys, offering a visual feast that changes with every bend of the track.
2. Baoshan
   2h
   Discover a living piece of Silk Road history at Qinglong Street (Green Dragon Street) in Baoshan's Banqiao Town. This 875-meter-long ancient street, paved with dragon-scale-like bluestone, has been a vital stop on the Southern Silk Road for over 2,000 years . Today, it offers a captivating blend of intangible cultural heritage, time-honored flavors, and a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere.
   
   We will take some time to relax over a cup of tea at Qinglong Street, enjoying the old-town atmosphere before we hit the road to Tengchong.

Day 8: TengChong Jade Museum - Rehai Boiling Pot

1. Tengchong County
   1h 30m
   The Tengchong Jade Museum is China's first museum dedicated to jadeite. The museum offers an immersive journey into the world of jade, from its geological formation to its cultural significance. You will see the centerpiece—a massive raw jade stone weighing over 24 tons.
2. Tengchong County
   3h
   Located in the Rehai Geothermal Scenic Area near Tengchong, Yunnan, the Big Boiling Pot (known locally as Dagun Guo) is the most iconic and spectacular hot spring in the entire region. Its name comes from its appearance—a massive, steaming pool that looks exactly like a giant pot of boiling water.
3. Tengchong Volcano Group
   2h
   We will hike up Dayingshan, the highest volcano in the region. At the top, discover a large, well-preserved crater that becomes a picturesque "sky mirror" in the rainy season — part of the Tengchong Volcanic and Geothermal National Geopark, surrounded by volcanic cones and geothermal activity.

Day 9: TengChong - Wild Hot Spring - DaYingShan National Geopark

1. Tengchong County
   4h
   Lunma Shihua Cave Hot Spring is a wild, primitive hot spring cherished by locals for its untouched natural beauty and healing mineral waters. If you suffer from rheumatism, you simply must try the "geothermal bed" therapy—a truly one-of-a-kind local treatment. You'll lie on bamboo mats placed over natural steam vents, wrapped in a cozy blanket, as the warm, mineral-rich steam gently soothes your aching joints and muscles. This hot spring is best for adventurous travelers seeking an off-the-beaten-path, authentic soak in nature, rather than a polished resort experience.
2. Tengchong Volcano Group
   4h
   We will hike up Dayingshan, the highest volcano in the region. At the top, discover a large, well-preserved crater that becomes a picturesque "sky mirror" in the rainy season — part of the Tengchong Volcanic and Geothermal National Geopark, surrounded by volcanic cones and geothermal activity.

Day 10: TengChong - Baoshan -Chengdu

1. Baoshan
   Pass by
   From Baoshan, we will transfer to the airport and board our flight back to Chengdu, marking the end of our unforgettable Chengdu & Yunnan journey.

Pickup details

We can pick you up at the international or domestic arrival gate. We can also pick you up at the hotel to start your tour package. If you need a specific pick-up location, please contact us in advance.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness