Yunnan 10-Day Odyssey: Old Towns & Meili Sunrise

&

# Day 1

* Arrival in Kunming

@ Flight arriving at Kunming. Self-exploration. Dinner at a recommended restaurant. Drop off to Kunming hotel.

&

&

# Day 2

* Haigeng Dam · Dianchi Lake · Yunnan Ethnic Minority Village

~ Morning

@ Haigeng Dam — seawall promenade famous for wintering gulls (best Nov–Mar). Dianchi Lake.

~ Afternoon

@ Yunnan Ethnic Minority Village — living museum of 25 minority groups' traditions, architecture and performances.

~ Night

@ Drop off to hotel. Dinner at a recommended restaurant.

&

&

# Day 3

* Erhai Lake · Dali Ancient Town · Local Market

~ Morning

@ Breakfast.

~ Afternoon

@ Erhai Lake — highland lake ringed by Bai minority villages and Cangshan Mountain. Optional: 4 km cycling trip along the lakeshore. Dali Ancient Town — marble-paved streets, wooden shopfronts and a Cangshan mountain backdrop. Local market visit.

~ Night

@ Drop off to hotel. Dinner at a recommended restaurant.

&

&

# Day 4

* Butterfly Spring · Xizhou Ancient Town · Tie-Dyeing Experience

~ Morning

@ Butterfly Spring — a natural spring pool beneath a hackberry tree, famous for its butterfly swarms in spring.

~ Afternoon

@ Xizhou Ancient Town — best-preserved Bai minority town in the Dali area with ornate three-courtyard architecture. Tie-dyeing experience — traditional Bai technique using natural indigo dye.

~ Night

@ 2-hour drive from Dali to Lijiang. Drop off to hotel near Lijiang Ancient Town. Dinner at a recommended restaurant.

&

&

# Day 5

* Yulong Snow Mountain · Blue Moon Lagoon

~ Daytime

@ Yulong Snow Mountain — 4,680 m summit cable car or mid-level options. Blue Moon Lagoon — vivid turquoise pools at the mountain's base.

~ Night

@ Drop off back to hotel. Dinner at a recommended restaurant.

&

&

# Day 6

* Lashihai Park · Zhongyi Market · Lijiang Ancient Town

~ Morning

@ Lashihai Park — highland wetland lake with migratory birds and horse riding.

~ Afternoon

@ Zhongyi Market. Lijiang Ancient Town (Dayan) — UNESCO World Heritage cobblestone lanes and Naxi wooden architecture.

~ Night

@ Drop off to hotel. Dinner at a recommended restaurant.

&

&

# Day 7

* Baisha Ancient Town · Dongba Culture Workshop

~ Morning

@ Baisha Ancient Town — quiet Naxi village with ancient murals.

~ Afternoon

@ Dongba paper making and character culture workshop.

~ Night

@ Drop off to hotel near Lijiang Ancient Town. Dinner at a recommended restaurant.

&

&

# Day 8

* Tiger Leaping Gorge · First Bend of the Yangtze · Dukezong Ancient Town

~ Morning

@ First Bend of the Yangtze River (Shigu). Tiger Leaping Gorge — one of the world's deepest gorges.

~ Afternoon

@ Tiger Leaping Gorge continued. Optional: White Water Terraces. The Great Prayer Flag of Shangri-La.

~ Night

@ Dukezong Ancient Town. Prayer Wheel. Drop off to hotel.

&

&

# Day 9

* Songzanlin Monastery · Pudacuo National Park

~ Morning

@ Morning mist at Songzanlin Monastery — attend the sunrise chanting ceremony. Thangka painting and black pottery handcrafting introduction.

~ Afternoon

@ Pudacuo National Park — pristine alpine lakes, meadows and old-growth forest at 3,500–4,159 m.

~ Night

@ Drop off to hotel.

&

&

# Day 10

* Farewell

@ Breakfast and check out. Self-exploration. Pick up from hotel to airport.

&