Day 1 Various locations → → Kunming ★ Assembly day
All day
Tourists from all over the world will check in at their Kunming hotels (submit "China-TravelNote + your name" when checking in). The day is free for leisure. (Unlike regular tour groups that arrange hotels far from the city center for cost-effectiveness, China-TravelNote has specially arranged a meeting point hotel near the heart of Kunming for convenient travel.)
After checking in, you'll have free time to stroll through Kunming's streets, soak up the warm sunshine unique to the City of Spring, and embark on a city walk to explore the city's story. Please be safe during this free time!
Day 2 Kunming → Fuxian Lake → Jianshui
All day
Opening the Spring City's Back Garden - Fuxian Lake
After breakfast, we'll set off by car. Less than two hours later, we'll reach the beautiful plateau lake Fuxian Lake (China's largest freshwater lake by volume, boasting pristine, crystal-clear waters, rippling with the plateau breeze). We'll first visit the Luchong Scenic Area. Friends in Kunming say you haven't been to Fuxian Lake if you haven't visited Luchong. We'll stroll along the beach and climb Bijia Mountain, overlooking Fuxian Lake. (Bijia Mountain has gentle steps, and the hike to the summit takes about 20 minutes, making it a relaxing and enjoyable experience for all ages.) Afterward, we'll have some free time for lunch in the scenic area. (The copper pot fish and copper pot potato rice are highly recommended.)
Wander around Jianshui Ancient City and find delicious food
After lunch, we'll travel to Jianshui for a China-TravelNote-inspired Jianshui Ancient City City Walk. We'll pass by Jianshui Chaoyang Tower, the legendary predecessor of Tiananmen Square and known as "the first building in Yunnan," then stroll along Lin'an Old Street, discover the Daban Well, and visit a tofu shop. Along the way, we'll also visit the Jianshui Confucian Temple, second only to the Confucius Temple in Qufu in size. This architectural wonder epitomizes the flourishing of Central Plains culture in Jianshui, offering a glimpse into Jianshui's cultural heritage. This ancient city, featured in shows like "A Bite of China" and "12 Flavors of China," also boasts a wealth of hidden gems. Besides its renowned grilled tofu, other favorites include steamed chicken, grass sprout rice noodles, and barbecue. Enjoy a taste of Jianshui's vibrant atmosphere as the night lights begin to shine.
Day 3 Jianshui → Yuanyang
All day
Yunnan-Vietnam train, experience time travel
After breakfast, we'll head to Lin'an Station to board the Jianshui Yunnan-Vietnam Railway (Route: Lin'an Station - Shuanglong Bridge - Xianghui Bridge - Tuanshan Station). Experience Jianshui's uniquely retro wooden train. The vintage wall lamps, oscillating old fans, and French-style architecture at the stations along the way will transport us back to the early 20th century, when the railway was first completed. The journey will slowly pass by farmland, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, and the old station building. Disembarking at the final station, a few minutes' walk will take you to Tuanshan Ancient Village, where the Luxi River flows through the village entrance, vast paddy fields, and fruit and vegetable fields grow in front of and behind the houses.
Heading into the mountains, heading to the Yuanyang Rice Terraces
Depart for Yuanyang at the right time. Along the way, you'll encounter a dazzling array of tropical fruit stalls and banana groves undergoing harvest. After a short rest, take the winding mountain road up to Ailao Mountain. Arrive at Bada in time to witness the sunset. As the sun sets, filling the sky with crimson clouds, stand in Bada and admire the thousand-year-old terraced rice fields stretching far below you. The mirror-like surfaces reflect the sunset light, casting a warm golden hue, highlighting the graceful curves. You can't help but marvel at the unparalleled craftsmanship of man and nature.
Day 4 Yuanyang → Maitreya
All day
Just for Duoyishu, I rushed early to watch the sunrise
Before the sun comes out, we set off for the Duoyishu Rice Terraces, a great place to watch the sunrise in Yuanyang, and also the highlight. Pugao Old Village, the colorful clouds, sea of clouds, terraces, villages, morning mist, the poetic and majestic scenery are all in sight.
Private visit to Hani Old Village and light hike on terraced fields
We'll travel to Azheke, the filming location for the TV series "Ask the East and the West," home to pristine Hani mushroom houses. The village is pristine and tranquil, with simple folk customs and a rich local flavor. A Hani woman will lead us through the village, explaining Hani culture in a simple, unpretentious voice. We'll then embark on a terraced hike, observing the water-dividing trees that embody the wisdom of Hani ancestors, and further understanding the natural farming system of forest-village-village-river, further understanding the agricultural civilization of the Ailao Mountains. We'll then enter a local family's mushroom house and be greeted by a sumptuous Hani family feast, featuring fish from the terraced fields, homemade smoked bacon, free-range chicken, and unique vegetables—all embodying the flavors of the countryside. After the family dinner, we sat around the fire and listened to the intangible cultural heritage inheritors perform the [Hani Rap] for everyone. The handmade instruments made sounds, the ancient language flowed from the singing, and the national epic was chanted. With the help of others' translation, we could get a glimpse of the national culture.
Hot spring hotel, relax in the hot springs
After the Azheke activity, we will go to Mile and check into the Mile Hot Spring Hotel. We will have free time and take a hot spring bath.
Day 5 Maitreya → Luoping
All day
Axi Fire Festival: Experience the ancient and mysterious rituals of the Yi people
Arrive early in the morning at the main venue of the Fire Festival to experience the Axi Fire Festival's diverse activities: wood-drilling for fire, fire-god dancing, Axi moon dances, and the pine needle long street banquet. Experience an Eastern carnival! On this day, tens of thousands of villagers from villages across the country flock to the festival. The Fire Festival is a grand masquerade. The men dig cinnabar and germanium, crush them, and soak them in tattoo colors to create tattoos for the participants. The masquerade takes place in the secluded forest outside the village. The five colors representing the earth—red, yellow, black, white, and brown—are applied to various parts of the body to create various designs. The sacred fire emerged from the rotten wood. In the faint light of the fire and the rich atmosphere, the reveling Yi people did not wear their usual outer clothes and trousers. They put on makeup, covered their faces, painted their bodies, and walked around the fire, swaying and marching in the magical and psychedelic sounds, singing and dancing to their heart's content. These traditional yet unique patterns and their costumes reflect the diverse history and culture of the Axi people.
At noon, the Long Street Banquet began. Villagers scattered fresh pine needles, gathered from the mountains the previous afternoon, on the stone pavement, forming a table. Guests from far and wide enjoyed a unique Yi-style meal on a long dragon-shaped banquet paved with green pine needles. Villagers and guests sat on the ground, forming a unique street banquet stretching hundreds of meters long. Axi girls sang toasting songs along the street. In the afternoon, activities such as "drilling wood to make fire" and "Axi moon dance" were performed one after another. Led by the village elders, the "Bimos," fire worshippers gathered under the dragon tree in ancient ways to welcome the new year's fire! As the sacred fire began to burn, the revelry reached its climax.
After the experience and observation, we went to Luoping to check in.
[Special Note] The arrangements for the Fire Festival vary from year to year. The itinerary description is for reference only. Please note that there is a chance of traffic jams when leaving the Fire Festival venue, and the arrival time in Luoping on the day will be late. Please understand.
Day 6 Luoping → Kunming
All day
Jinji Peak Cluster, a sea of flowers in the karst landform
After breakfast, we'll head to the Golden Rooster Peak Cluster. Within Luoping's karst heartland, 800,000 mu (approximately 1,000 acres) of rapeseed flowers quietly lie. Every February and March, they bloom in full bloom, stretching for dozens of miles, a breathtaking spectacle. The undulating karst cones dot the sea of flowers, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the natural beauty of this rapeseed country. Let the vibrant blossoms of this vibrant landscape herald the arrival of spring. We'll take a scenic train through the fields of rapeseed flowers. For photography enthusiasts, bring brightly colored clothing. For a bird's-eye view of the rapeseed blossoms, ascend Golden Rooster Peak or venture into the fields.
Screw Field, a spiral sea of flowers
Afterwards, we'll head to Jiulong Town (located north of Luoping County, but locals still call it by its old name, Niujie). The terraced fields here are unique—they're built from the valley floor and covered in rapeseed flowers. The orderly, yellow-brown ridges resemble the spirals of a screw, hence the name "Screw Fields."
End of the trip and return to Kunming
After lunch in Luoping, we will depart for Kunming. The journey is approximately 3.5 hours and we will disband in Kunming. For your convenience, we will disband at the South Square of Kunming Railway Station around 17:30.
1. Tourists returning by train or high-speed rail can get off here at Kunming Station and enter the station. Kunming South Station can be reached by taking Metro Line 1. If you want to continue to play in Kunming, this area is ideal for accommodation as it is densely populated with hotels and has convenient transportation.
2. Tourists heading to the airport can take Metro Line 1 and transfer to Line 6 at Tangzi Lane to reach the airport, which takes about 45 minutes. They can also go to Jinjiang Hotel and take the airport bus to Kunming Changshui Airport, which takes about 1 hour.
