6-Day Kunming, Lijiang and Lugu Lake Tour

Kunming Stone Forest

Kunming Stone Forest

Today after breakfast, we will head to visit the Stone Forest which is known as "the first wonder of the world". Marvel at its natural stone masterpieces and be bewitched by the stone peaks, pillars and stalagmites rising abruptly from the ground and extending as far as the eye can see.

After the tour in the afternoon, return back to Kunming city. En route, we will stop by the Golden Temple Park, a large Taoist temple in Yunnan, located on the Mingfeng Mountains, 7KM to the east of Kunming city. There is a fine building made of bronze, commonly known as Jindian (the "Golden Temple").

After the tour, be accompanied to your hotel in Kunming

• Drive about 180KM for approx. 4 hrs
• Elevation: Kunming (1895M), Stone Forest (700M)
• Internet & Wifi
• Kunming Business Hotel (standard room with private bathroom)
• Breakfast, Lunch

Panoramic View of Lijiang Ancient Town

The Street of Lijiang Ancient Town

After breakfast, our trip leader and chauffeur will escort you to the airport for the morning flight to Lijiang. Upon arrival in Lijiang, meet your trip leader at the arrival hall, and transfer by private car and driver to your hotel. Check in and have a short rest before exploring the ancient town.

In the afternoon, overlook and get a panoramic view of Lijiang Ancient Town from Wangwu Tower, the landmark building of Lijiang. This pure wood building is built at 33 meters tall on the top of Lion Hill. Afterwards, explore the city at your leisure. In the recent years, Lijiang ancient town has been commercialised, very touristy, and things are expensive targeting on tourists. So make sure to ask some advices from our trip leader even for a cup of coffee.

Lijiang Ancient Town, also called Da Yan ancient town, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one of China's four best preserved ancient cities with Sichuan Langzhong, Shanxi Pingyao and Anhui She County, known for its unique ethnic culture, water system and architectural style.

• Flight about 40 Minutes
• Elevation: Lijiang (2418M)
• Internet & Wifi
• Lijiang Local Featured Hotel (standard room with private bathroom)
• Breakfast

Lugu Lake Impression

Wooden Lover Bridge of Lugu Lake

Today we will get up very early and head to Lugu Lake, and it takes about 5~6 hours to arrive. You may feel uncomfortable due to the bumpy road, ask your trip leader for a pill of dramamine to help out the carsick. Upon arrival at about 13:00, check in your lake-facing hotel. Have a short break, and we will head to the Lover Bridge, the world's longest man-made traditional wooden bridge crossing over 300-meters Grass Sea; wander on the bridge and enjoy the sunset scenery. Have a Mosuo local flavor dinner with "Sulima Wine" and "tuotuo mutton" to the Lugu Lake. Join the fire party after the dinner and enjoy the folk songs and dance with the local people in a big courtyard.

Lugu Lake, situated in the mountains on the border between Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, the remoteness of the region has long preserved traditions, is the historical home of the Mosuo, one of the last matrilineal societies in the world. The mirror-like lake surrounded by the lush peaks has the crystal clear water and here you can see many metres down into the water and the plant life below. Just clicking your camera shutter, there is the blockbuster photo same as the ones you find on the internet even you are using the basic photography facility.

Mosuo people still retain the custom of Walking marriage, which means "male does not marry, female does not marry." If two people like each other, the young man climbs up a tall wall and crawls into a window to have intimate relation with a girl at night and leaves before day break secretly. Lovers have no economic or any legal relationaship, and continue to live in their mother's home when they have children. The females are called "Azhu" and the the males are called "Axia".

•  Drive about 6 hours
•  Elevation: Lugu Lake (2500M)
• Internet & Wifi
•  Facing-lake local hotel (standard room with private bathroom)
• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You can rent either a bike or moped to ride around Lugu Lake

Lige Penisula of Lugu Lake

We will rent a moped and spend the whold day riding around the lake. It is about 60km to Lige peninsula located at the north side of Lugu Lake, surrounded on three sides by water and connected with a 2-meters lane in the north side. In the afternoon, check in the facing lake hotel in Lige penisula. You can taste the roast suckling pig for the dinner and have some drinks and relax in the bars.

• Moped/Walk 60km
• Elevation: Lugu Lake (2500M)
• Internet & Wifi
• Facing-lake local hotel (standard room with private bathroom)
• Breakfast

After breakfast at about 7:30, enjoy and shoot the beautiful sunrise of Lugu Lake in the first rays and listen the sweet lover songs from the lake. Then say goodbye to the calm lake, warm sunshine, boundless forest, blue sky and all over the sky stars. Then we will return back to Lijiang town. Transfer to your hotel or the airport for your next destination.

• Drive 205km back to Lijiang
• Elevation: Lijiang (2418M)
• Internet & Wifi: No
• Hotel: No
• Breakfast, Lunch