Essence of Kunming

Your private guide will pick you up outside the luggage claim area and transfer you to your hotel in a professionally-chauffeured vehicle. The rest of the day is for you to acclimatize and explore the city, or relax and recoup ready for the tour tomorrow.

Good to know:
If you arrive early in the morning and have some time to kill, you may consider enriching your day by visiting Yunnan Minority Village, which gives a very quick view of the various minorities in Yunnan and their cultures, costumes, and customs. If you are interested in the history of the American Flying Tigers during World War II, Kunming Museum is recommended.

Accommodation
Kunming New Era Hotel (4-star)/Green Lake Hotel (5-star).

After a 1½-hour drive, visit a fantastic natural phenomenon located 90 kilometers southeast of Kunming — the Stone Forest. The various shapes of limestone were formed due to millions of years' movement of the Earth. The Stone Forest area is the home of the Naxi people, and their folk customs have become a spectacular scene. The colorful embroidery and minority dances combined with the natural scenery will surely leave you with a lasting impression. Enjoy a local lunch in a quaint courtyard with the Stone Forest Park in the background.

In the afternoon, transfer back to Kunming and visit the Yuantong Temple, the largest and most ancient Buddhist temple in Kunming, to learn about the differences between the halls of the three denominations of Buddhism.

And then visit the Green Lake Park. The most interesting thing in the park is some local people dance together, wearing their traditional dress and some gentlemen play traditional instruments. You are welcome to join them.

After the tour, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel for a good rest.

Good to know:
For Chinese tourists, the Stone Forest Park is a must-see attraction; therefore, the countless tourist groups there during the peak season rank among travelers’ pet peeves. Due to the gigantic size of the park, your guide will help you find quieter, more remote areas to avoid the crowds, especially in the winter months.

Follow the saying and walk pass the Dragon Gate on Xishan (Western Hills) to get prosperity in the future. You will have a bird’s-eye view of the Dianchi Lake and appreciate the groups of Taoist sculptures in the grottoes on the cliff in this scenic area.

Have a lunch in a Cross-bridge rice noodle restaurant to try the famous troditional local food in Yunnan province.

Visit the Zhuanxin Wet Market, which is the most traditional and famous wet market in Kunming. Local people can buy everything they need for their daily lives there. It is also a great place to try local snacks and discover the minority culture. Your guide will show you around and explain some special ingredients that are only produced in Yunnan, such as the mushrooms you’ll find there. You might find some vendors in their traditional dress.

Sit back and relax as your guide will already have called to confirm your next journey. You will be transferred to your station or the airport in advance.

Good to know:
Round-trip shuttle buses between Xianshan Entrance and Dragon Gate Entrance are included (20 minutes each way). If you would like to save time and energy, you can choose to take chairlift up to the mountain top (20-30 minutes) and walk down the Dragon Gate Plank way (1-2 hours).