Day 1 Lijiang Airport/Station → Hotel ★Meeting Day
All day
Itinerary presentation
丨First sight of Lijiang City/ Itinerary meeting day
[Yeshebang VIP Privileges] 24-hour private car pick-up and drop-off service, worry-free arrival
Today is the gathering day. Tourists will go to Lijiang to gather on their own. Upon arrival at Lijiang Sanyi Airport, a 24-hour free pick-up service will be provided by a special car, and then they will be driven to the hotel for check-in.
Lijiang Old Town, nestled against the mountainside, with streets and alleys shaped by the water, was once a trading market along the ancient Tea-Horse Road. Shops selling regional specialties, including ethnic jewelry, tea, silverware, and shawls, abound throughout the town. There are also numerous restaurants offering everything from local specialties to Western-style pizzas.
Accommodation presentation
丨Sushe Hotel/ Songtsam Linka Hotel Lijiang ◆◆◆◆◆ Altitude: 2400M
Songtsam Linka Lijiang is nestled between a village, a pine forest, and a pear orchard. It faces the ancient city to the east, overlooks the Jade Dragon Temple to the north, and overlooks Lashi Lake from a high point to the west. The hotel's courtyard blends the architectural features of official residences in the Central Plains, with the majestic architecture of the residence as the main theme, complemented by the traditional Naxi courtyard layout, creating a grand yet sophisticated atmosphere. The interiors are a tribute to local culture, with Tibetan carpets and traditional Chinese paintings creating a unique and elegant atmosphere, framed by Naxi six-panel windows that create a bright and airy atmosphere.
Day 2 Lijiang → Tacheng → Bodhidharma Cave → Winery Icewine Tasting
All day
Itinerary presentation
丨Visiting Weishita City/Emerald in the Hengduan Mountains
Today, we'll depart from Lijiang and travel north along the Jinsha River to Tacheng. Tacheng Town in Weixi Lisu Autonomous County, nestled between the Lancang and Jinsha Rivers, lies in the heart of the Three Parallel Rivers World Heritage Site. Nestled against the mountains and facing the river, the idyllic villages of Tacheng, Weixi, boast a rich biodiversity and year-round scenic beauty, earning it the nickname "Emerald of the Hengduan Mountains." Weixi also blends the cultures of various ethnic groups, including the Naxi, Tibetan, and Lisu. Here, you can connect with nature and enjoy the countryside, witnessing not only the beauty of nature but also the warmth and pure faith of the southwestern ethnic minorities.
丨Pilgrimage around Bodhidharma Cave/Pray with local Tibetans
[Yeshebang VIP Privileges] Invite local Tibetan scholars to circumambulate the mountain together to experience the holy land and pray for blessings
In the afternoon, we'll visit Bodhidharma Cave, the site of Bodhidharma's enlightenment. After Tibetan Buddhism was introduced to Diqing, folklore circumambulates the cave, where Bodhidharma attained enlightenment after spending ten years facing the wall. This cave, nicknamed Bodhidharma Cave, is said to be the abode of noble spirits. We'll invite local scholars to join us in circumambulating the mountain, hanging prayer flags and burning pine branches, while we listen to fascinating historical events and experience a spiritual and physical awakening.
丨Exploring Local Scenery/ Lap Valley Ice Wine Tasting
Head to the highland winery of Weixi for an ice wine tasting. Known as the "Ice Wine City of China," Weixi boasts over 170 years of ice winemaking experience and is recognized globally as one of the three major ice wine producing regions. Tourists invites you to sample Weixi ice wine, a beloved favorite! Its rich, layered flavor, with refreshingly sweet and refreshing floral and fruity notes, exemplifies the unique flavor of this auspicious location. Not only can you taste the ice wine here, but you'll also learn about its production process.
Accommodation presentation
Stay in a poetic countryside/Songtsam Tacheng Hotel, Weixi, altitude: 2000M
Songtsam Pagoda is built on a rice paddy, where waves of rice ripple in June and the fragrance of rice fills the air in September. Each window is cloaked in the scenery, while each scene emerges from the frame. Songtsam Pagoda has evoked a poetic and pastoral sentiment in countless people. Amidst what you might have thought was a bleak plateau landscape, you unexpectedly encounter the "Jiangnan" region. Rice paddies, forests, irises by the stream, and the golden glow of ginkgo trees, millennia of time are reflected in the beauty of the landscape.
Day 3: Tacheng → Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park → Village Activities (Pounding Baba & Grinding Tofu) → Tongle Village → Cizhong
All day
Itinerary presentation
丨Biodiversity/ Encounter with the unique Yunnan snub-nosed monkey
This morning, we'll head to the Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park to meet the adorable "snow mountain elves," the Yunnan golden monkeys, a national treasure alongside the panda. Let's stroll through the lush, pristine forest, quietly entering the monkeys' territory and awaiting their arrival.
Shangri-La Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park is one of the few places in the world where you can watch Yunnan golden monkeys up close. It is also a national park in China with the theme of Yunnan golden monkey protection, breeding, scientific research, and leisure and vacation.
丨 Local Experience/ Integrate into the local community and experience the authentic Yunnan
Each season offers its own unique charm, and the village offers a wealth of experiential activities. Rice paddies frame the quaint village, while the Puna River meanders nearby. Experience folk crafts like pounding rice cakes and grinding tofu, and choose your favorite. Immerse yourself in the local culture and experience the authentic flavors of Yunnan.
丨Visiting Tongle Village/Exploring the local Lisu village
After lunch, we'll depart Tacheng and head to Tongle Village, a mysterious and pristine Lisu village. Here, houses are nestled against the mountainside, and smoke occasionally rises from the wooden houses. Explore the village and learn about the little-known culture of the Lisu people.
丨Church and Red Wine/Small Town in the Lancang River Canyon
We will then travel to Cizhong, a breathtaking natural gem of the Lancang River Gorge, where towering snow-capped mountains pierce the river's southward course through the alpine canyon. Known as the gateway to heaven, it is a sacred site for Tibetan Buddhism and houses the ancient Cizhong Catholic Church in the Lancang River basin. Cizhong's traditional winemaking method has been passed down for centuries, making it the world's only remaining rose honey variety. We will visit a local winemaker and experience the distinct difference between Cizhong wine and ice wine.
Accommodation presentation
丨Stay in Tibetan Mountain House/Deqin Songtsam Cizhong Hotel ◆◆◆◆◆ Altitude: 2000M
[Yeshebang VIP Privileges] Free special dinner, taste the flavors of Songzan Private Kitchen, and experience the authentic scenery of Cizhong
Songtsam Cizhong blends effortlessly into the local village, its Gothic-style Cizhong Church and Tibetan-style hotel quietly standing out amidst the vineyards. Inside, photographs taken by Westerners during the Republican era create a museum-like atmosphere. Outside, people of different faiths live collaboratively on the same land. Tracing the footsteps of Western missionaries over a century ago, Catholicism and Tibetan Buddhism met and reconciled here.
Day 4 Cizhong → Feilai Temple → Mingyong Glacier → Deqin
All day
Itinerary presentation
丨First sight of Mount Meili / Encountering China's most beautiful snow-capped mountains
After leaving Cizhong, we continued north along the Lancang River, enjoying panoramic views of the majestic rolling snow-capped mountains, Feilaisi Village at their foot, and the Lancang River Valley. We arrived at the Feilaisi Snow Mountain Observation Deck, which faces Kawagebo, the main peak of Meili Snow Mountain, providing a perfect photo opp. We then checked into our hotel, where we were given a room with a view of the Meili Snow Mountain.
丨Glacier light hike/Witness the disappearing glacier
[Yeshebang VIP Privileges] Exclusive private hiking guide, free trekking pole rental
After lunch, we'll reach the Mingyong Glacier, nestled beneath Mount Kawagebo. Stretching for thousands of meters, this 10,000-year-old glacier resembles a silver-scaled, jade-armored dragon, arcing downward from the 6,740-meter Meili Snow Mountain to the primeval forest at 2,600 meters, cascading down to the Lancang River. However, due to global warming, the glacier is melting at an accelerated rate, retreating approximately 500 to 600 meters annually. Mingyong Glacier is also part of the local Tibetan circumambulation route for prayers. Joining a local guide, we'll embark on a pilgrimage to this vanishing glacier.
Accommodation presentation
Stay at the foot of the snow-capped mountains/Songtsam Meili Hotel, Deqin (diffuse oxygen supply) Altitude: 3500M
[Yeshebang VIP Privileges] Upgrade to a Snow Mountain View Room and enjoy the resort atmosphere with the view from the window
The hotel enjoys a tranquil location, facing the Meili Snow Mountain in Guji Village, a village of only five households. Originally located on the site of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery destroyed in the 17th century, its ruins remain today, adjacent to the Meili Mountain Residence. Whether in the library, on the terrace, or in your room, you can gaze breathtakingly at the sunrise, each snow-capped peak gilded in golden light. Alternatively, the starry sky or the bright moonlight cast a sacred brilliance against the peaks.
Day 5 Deqin → Benzilan → Shangri-La → Songzanlin Temple → Dukezong Ancient Town
All day
Itinerary presentation
丨Lie down and watch the snow-capped mountains / A wild luxury vacation with the view from the window
Get up early and enjoy the golden sunshine on the Meili Snow Mountain. The Kawagebo and Mentsim Mountains are shining brightly under the golden light, which is a breathtaking beauty.
Retracing the Tea Horse Road/ The confluence of the Hengduan Mountains and the Jinsha River
After breakfast, we'll depart, passing through Benzilan, a key town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Continuing on, we'll reach Moon Bay, the first bend of the Jinsha River. We'll stop for a short rest. After lunch in Nixi Township, renowned for its intangible cultural heritage earthenware, we'll continue on to Shangri-La.
丨Pilgrimage to Songtsen Monastery/Potala Palace in Shangri-La
After arriving in Shangri-La, we'll head to Songzanlin Temple, Yunnan's largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Built into the mountainside, Songzanlin Temple resembles the Potala Palace in appearance. Its unique five-story carved Tibetan architecture embodies the essence of Tibetan plastic arts and is known as the "Tibetan Art Museum." We'll circle the Lhamoyangtso Lake in front of the temple and then enter the temple to experience Tibetan Buddhist culture.
Accommodation presentation
Stay in Moonlight City / Songtsam Retreat Shangri-La ◆◆◆◆◆ Altitude: 3300M
Built along the mountainside, the Linka features Tibetan watchtowers with distinct Kham style, scattered throughout the complex, shaded by flowers and trees. The pine forest paths surrounding the Linka are often visited by lamas, herders, and horses, creating a harmonious and Zen-like atmosphere. Each building in the hotel is named after a village deep within Shangri-La. The lobby is decorated with solid wood furniture, Tibetan carpets, bronze Buddha statues, and Tibetan Eight Treasures ornaments, along with other handmade and antique artworks, offering a glimpse into the essence of Tibetan culture.
Day 6 Shangri-La → Tiger Leaping Gorge → Lijiang Airport ★ Dismissal Day
All day
Itinerary presentation
丨Encounter Tiger Leaping Gorge/Feel the passionate rush of Jinsha River
After breakfast, we'll depart for Lijiang, visiting Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of China's deepest canyons. The gorge stretches approximately 20 kilometers, divided into three sections: Upper, Middle, and Lower. We'll then visit the Upper Tiger Leaping Scenic Area Observation Deck. Here, the Jinsha River cuts through the Haba and Yulong Snow Mountains, creating a gorge with a dramatic drop of 3,900 meters. The Yangtze River narrows dramatically, its waters surging and surging, a truly breathtaking sight.
丨Farewell on the disbanding day/Looking forward to seeing you again
Today is the end of the tour. We will transfer you to Lijiang Sanyi International Airport according to your flight schedule. If you need to return to your home city from Lijiang on the same day, we recommend booking a flight after 3:00 PM. If you are staying in Lijiang, we will transfer you to your hotel.
Shangri-La - Lijiang Sanyi International Airport is about 210 kilometers away, about 3 hours
