21 Days Yunnan Minorities Discovery and Photography Tour from South to North
Highlights: Yunnan is a microcosm of China in the areas of minority affairs and nationality relations . The province has 25 minority groups , nearly half of the countrys total ( 56 ethnic groups ) . With such ethnic diversity it is important to ask the question : what criteria are used to determine minority status and classification ? Basically , there are five ways : Race , Language , Culture , Religion , History . In Yunnan race is not a major consideration , as it is in northwest China where caucasian exist , Language and culture , however , are of primary interest because they are the basis for classfying most minority nationalities . Religion plays a role in groups such as the Hui who , to all intents and purposes , are Chinese except for their faith . Historical background can sometimes tip the balance in determining the status of a people . The Bai , who have a high cultural level and speak a language closedly related to Mandarin , are clearly not Chinese on the basis of their long , well-recorded and independent history .
| Activities | the Eastern pagados and Westrn pagados |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Transfer to the Hotel. Overnight in Kunming, visit the Eastern pagados and Westrn pagados in the down town if time is possible.
| Activities | the Jiuxiang Cave |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Drive 90km to visit the Jiuxiang Cave, then trip to Stone Forest . Overnight in Stone Forest Hotel or same category 3 star hotel.
| Activities | the Yuanyang Old Town |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Drive to Yuanyang, it is a long day driving today. Visit the Yuanyang Old Town on the mountains.
Stay over night in Yuanyang Yunti Hotel 3 star or Yuanyang Government Hotel.
| Activities | Yuanyang Terrace rice field |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Yuanyang See the Sunrise, Photographing spectacular Shencun terraced fields, the Yuanyang Terrace rice field. Hani, Yi, Yao minorities villages, see sun set.
Stay over night in Yuanyang Yunti hotel 3 star.
| Activities | Zhang’s Family Garden |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Drive from Yuanyang to Jianshui. Visit the Zhang’s Family Garden in Tuanshan Village. the confucius Temple, and the Twin Dragon Bridge.
Stay over night in Jianshui Linnan hotel 3 star.
| Activities | the Private Garden |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Visit the the Private Garden of the Zhu Family, the Chaoyang Gate . Daban Ancient Well, Drive to Xinping, visit Mt. Mopan Forest Park. Overnight in Xinping Xinyuan Hotel or same catgory 2 star hotel.
| Activities | the Gasa Dabinlang Villages |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Xinping-Gasa-Xinping by van Drive 72km to Gasa county, where is the home town of the Floral-Belt Dai Minority Nationality. Visit the Gasa Dabinlang Villages, Gasa county. Then drive back to Xinping. Same Hotel.
| Activities | Yi, Hani and Donger floral-belt Dai minority villages |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Drive to Yuanjiang, on the way, visit Yi, Hani and Donger floral-belt Dai minority villages.
Stay over night in Yuanjiang Kaidi Hotel, 2 star or same category 2 star hotel.
| Activities | the Honghe Bridge |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Visit the Honghe Bridge which is the higest bridge in Asia. Drive from Yuanjiang to Simao, visit a “Ten-Thousand-Acre Tea Garden”, Sightseeing in Tea-Horse Route, an ancient Yunnan-Tibet Trade Route connecting the South China Silk Route. Overnight in Simao Jianhua Hotel or same category 2 star hotel.
| Activities | Wild Elephant Valley |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Drive to Xishuangbanna, visit Wild Elephant Valley on the way. Stay over night in Xishuangbanna Tai garden hotel 4 star or same category 4 star hotel.
| Activities | Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden. |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Visit Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden. GANLAN BA, Olive Dam, home to peacocks, a village of the Dai ethnic minority.
Stay over night in Xishuangbanna Botanical Garden Hostel.
| Activities | Jingzhen Octagonal pavilion |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Visit the Jingzhen Octagonal pavilion, a Village of Aini people and Manting Park. Visit the Dai People Free Market.
Drive about 2 hours to Puer city.
| Activities | Weishan Ancient Town. |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Drive about 6 hours to Weishan Ancient Town.
| Activities | Weibaoshan Mountain and Daoist Temples |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Visit Weibaoshan Mountain and Daoist Temples. Drive to Dali and visit Dong Lianhua Village.
Visit Dali Ancient Town.
| Activities | Three Towering Pagodas of Chongshen Monastry |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Visit the Three Towering Pagodas of Chongshen Monastry built in 836AD. cruise on Erhai Lake, enjoy three course tea of Bai People, Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth with wax, and their Village with the traditional architectural courtyards at Xizhou Town. Dali Ancient Town. Stay over night in Landscape Hotel 4 star or same category 4 star hotel.
| Activities | Dayan Ancient Town |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Travel by road 200Km to Lijiang. Move on to Lijiang, you will pass through many enchanting minority villages on the way to Lijiang. Arrival in the afternoon, visit the old town, Dayan Ancient Town. Watch Naxi Ancient Music Show is served this evening. Overnight in Lijiang.
| Activities | the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain – YAK MEADOW, Ganhaizi, Baishui River, Yufeng Lamasery and Murals at Baisha village
| Activities | the First Bend of the Yangtze River |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Travel by road 180Km to Shangrila, tour the Tiger-leaping Gorge on the way, then drive 50km to visit the First Bend of the Yangtze River at Shigu Town before arrival in Shangrila.
| Activities | Naxi Gongba culture |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
One day tour to White terrace Field, which is Naxi Gongba culture original Center. Same Hotel
| Activities | the Deqing village |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Visit the Deqing village, Putacuo National Park includes Bita Hai Lake, Shudu lake, and Songzang Ling Lama Temple. a Tibetan famly. Same Hotel.
| Activities |
| Meals | No meal |
| Hotels |
Transfer to Diqing Airport for returning.
Servie ends.
