Day 1 – Arrival in Lijiang

You will be met at Lijiang Airport by a private car and an English speaking tour guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Meals: No meals provided

Day 2 – Lijiang

Attractions: Lijiang Old Town, Mu Palace, Lion Hill, Baisha Old Town, Baisha Murals, Baisha Naxi Embroidery Institute

The morning will be spent exploring Lijiang Ancient Town which is the cultural center and capital of the Naxi people and is now a Unesco Heritage Site. It was built more than 800 years ago and the original water supply system is still in place. It is a veritable rabbit warren of small alleyways, cobbled pavements and running streams supplemented by innumerable shops, restaurants and guest houses. At the center of the ancient town four main streets radiate in four directions and are connected by many narrow lanes. While walking through the old town, you will immediately get overwhelmed by small bridges, swift streams, cobbled streets and the grey tiled roofs of the local houses. You will also see many local Naxi people wearing traditional costumes and headgear.

Set in the heart of Lijiang’s Old Town the Mu Palace was the home of the Mu clan which led the Naxi people and ruled Lijiang for over 700 years. The buildings and grounds are influenced by an attractive mix of Naxi, Tibetan and Han architecture and design.

Behind the Mu Palace is Lion Hill. Climb up past more than forty ancient cypress trees which are over 800 years old. At the top is the Wangu Tower, the landmark building of Lijiang Ancient Town. This pure wood building is 33 meters tall, overlooking the scenery of Lijiang at its foot, and looking out to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance.

Nearby is the village of Baisha which was the original capital of the Naxi Kingdom before the 12th century. Here you will view the famous Baisha Murals which are the combination of Naxi, Tibetan, Bai and Han artistic designs. Most of the murals vividly describe the religious stories of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. One of its characteristics is combining several religious stories and having them in one painting. Therefore, Baisha murals are quite unique from murals elsewhere.  Figures of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism might appear in one mural and 100 portraits at least would be in each of the murals.  The portraits in these paintings include not only the religious figures but also ordinary people.

End your visit at the Baisha Naxi Embroidery Institute with its amazing double sided embroideries. The mission of this institute is to protect, develop and promote the Naxi traditional hand-made embroidery.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 3 – Tiger Leaping Gorge

Attractions: The First Bend of the Yangtze, The Stone Drum Town (Shigu Town), Tiger Leaping Gorge

After breakfast you will leave Lijiang and follow the Yangtze River north on the Yunnan Tibet road. The scenery here is very spectacular as we travel through huge gorges dotted with small villages. You will stop along the way and view the first bend of the Yangtze and see the historical village of Shigu which is named after a drum shaped marble plaque. Many historic and significant events have taken place in this area. Kublai Khan crossed the Yangtze River here and in April, 1936 the Second Route of the Red Army also marched through the town.

Next you will stop at the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge and view this incredible sight. The Gorge is situated in between two large mountains, Jade Dragon Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain, and at one point drops three kilometers to the river below. After seeing Tiger Leaping Gorge you will return to Lijiang.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 4 – Lijiang

Attractions: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Impressions Lijiang Show, Yuhu Village, Yufeng Monastery, Shuhe Ancient Town

In the morning you will drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain where you may take a cable car for amazing mountain views. Be aware that this takes you to a high altitude so oxygen is available if needed.

On the way back you will stop at the Impressions Lijiang Show which combines 500 actors and 100 horses and showcases them in a 360-degree open-air theatre stage with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as a backdrop. It is a cultural show which aims to provide an insight into the lives of the region’s Naxi, Yi and Bai ethnic groups and all the songs and dances in the show portray the daily life of the local people. It is the second outdoor production (after Impression Liu Sanjie in Yangshuo, Guilin) of famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou, who co-directed the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

In the nearby Yuhu Village you will stop to visit the home of Dr Joseph Rock the famous Austro American botanist who wrote extensively about the region’s botany, culture and its people. He lived here from 1922 to 1949 and was the first foreign scholar to introduce Lijiang culture to the rest of the world including publishing many articles in the National Geographic Magazine. Many of his photos are on display in the Exhibition hall.

Next stop is the Yufeng Monastery which is located in a magnificent natural setting. Inside you can see the harmonious mix of various religious and cultural styles but it is most famous for the “Ten Thousand Flower Camellia” which is more than 500 years old.

Finally you will visit Shuhe Ancient Town which is regarded as a living specimen of the Naxi ancestors’ transition from an agricultural civilization to a commercial culture. Similar to Lijiang Ancient City, Shuhe Ancient Town is surrounded by a murmuring river and interlaced with smooth flagging.
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 5 – Depart Lijiang

Attractions: Black Dragon Pool

If there is time in the morning you can visit the Black Dragon Pool where the imposing snow capped peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain dominates the skyline.

Later you will be transferred to Lijiang Airport to check in for your flight to your next destination.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel