A Trip with Memorable Family Moments
What are your expectations for a family trip? Relaxation, learning, adventure, experiencing, or simply having fun? There is a destination in China that offers all the above… Journey to Yunnan!
In this 8-day Yunnan family tour including Kunming, Dali, Shaxi and Lijiang, you can have fun when driving in the idyllic countryside, learn about distinctive minority culture when interacting with local people, walk into an authentic ethnic village and experience its beauties and warm hospitality, and go on an adventure to discover a best-kept secret of the snow-capped mountain.
The sample itinerary below is only one version of the possibilities. Get involved and share your thoughts to make this journey unique.
Suggested 8-Day Family Tour
| Day | Highlights |
|---|---|
| 1-2 Kunming |
Naigu Stone Forest, Taste local food |
| 3-4 Dali |
Erhai Lake, Bai villages, Making flower cake |
| 5 Shaxi |
The last ancient market of the Tea Horse Ancient Road |
| 6-8 Lijiang |
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Naxi family visit |
Tour Map
Tour 'Wow' Points
Journey through a Landscape of Mystical Stone Wonders at the Stone Forest
Walk through the labyrinthine Naigu Stone Forest, and engage your imagination with your guide's black stone stories.
Encounter the Graceful Black-headed Gulls at Dianchi Lake
Kunming offers a perfect wintering spot for Black-headed Gulls due to its warm climate, attracting Red-billed Gulls every mid-October until their departure in flocks by the end of March the following year.
Tasting local snacks at Kunming old street
Have a relaxing walk on the Old Street in Kunming. Try the local snacks including rice noodle salad, deep-fried mushrooms, big sweet dumplings, and milk tea.
Drive along the East Bank of Erhai Lake
Along the way, you can stop at several places for the great views. Enjoy the flowery meadows and rice fields, and see the clouds floating above the majestic Cangshan mountains.
Experience ancient craftsmanship passed down for thousands of years - Bai Tie-dye
Learn the secrets of the dye, and dye your own handkerchief the traditional Bai tie-dye way.
Make Yunnan flower cake in a Bai village
You will learn how to make flower cakes in a beautiful garden hidden in a Bai village. After that, you can enjoy the flower cakes you have made with some flower tea while you are sitting in the garden.
Unveiling the only surviving ancient market of the Tea Horse Ancient Road
Shaxi was once an active trade stop on the Southern Silk Road. As the last remaining market town on the ancient Tea & Horse Caravan Trail, Shaxi still hosts the local market every Friday.
Climb up the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to enjoy the most beautiful snowscapes and glaciers
Take a cable car up Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. You may be lucky enough to meet a cute animal like a squirrel before you enter the high snow-capped world.
Experience the daily life of the Naxi people
Visit a Naxi family in Yuhu Village, wearing traditional Naxi dresses and doing household tasks like a local Naxi people. Learn to make Dongba paper and write the mysterious Dongba characters.
Take an adventure at Tiger Leaping Gorge(optional)
Carved by the mighty Jinsha River, this rugged wilderness offers visitors a thrilling hiking experience amidst towering cliffs, rushing rapids, and cascading waterfalls.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Yunnan tour with China Highlights
This visit to Yunnan was 10 days long with stops at Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La and Kunming. We had 4 different guides - Dali with Daisy, Shangri-La with Peter, Lijiang with Li and Kunming with Doyle. Our guides, Daisy, Peter and Doyle was outstanding in their service. They were sensitive to our needs, flexible when we wanted any changes and did their job with enthusiasm and pride. The measure of how good a travel agency provides their service is not only in the planning of the itinerary but the follow through with good guiding service. Daisy, Peter and Doyle were exemplary in this regards! Well done, China Highlights for having guides of this quality. more
Mar 2025, Michel Siew Ngo... F
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Unforgettable 7 Day Travel Experience in Yunnan
Our 7 days Yunnan trip with China Highlights started at Kunming then took us all the way to Dali, Lijiang and Shangri La. Visiting Yunnan in December during winter time was interesting, less crowded and most importantly enable us to see Yunnan in a different landscape. A special mention to our fantastic guides, May (in Kunming) and Sunny (in Dali) and their respective drivers who were personable and shared a wealth of knowledge and insights of the places we visited. They spoke good English, helpful with our requests and ensured that we were comfortable and satisfied with our tours. We will not hesitate to use China Highlights again for our next trip to China! more
Jan 2025, Jess W
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Lijiang- family trip Dec 2024 Eleanor
My family really enjoyed our time with Eleanor in Lijiang. She was able to pass on a lot of knowledge about her city which made the trip lots more interesting! We enjoyed having her guide us to amazing places. She was really attentive when one of us were feeling sick at the top of the mountain and provided us all with adaquete preparation for the 4000km+ altitude ascension. more
Jan 2025, Nicole L
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Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests.
Meet your private local guide in the arrival hall and transfer to your hotel. Your guide will help you check in and make sure everything at the hotel is satisfactory.
Skip the touristy spots loved by Chinese people. Visit a less crowded area — the Naigu Stone Forest. You will feel that you are walking in a national geological park, but not a tourist attraction. Play at science fiction or "name the rock" with your children in this amazing landscape.
Drive to Dianchi Lake after lunch, feeding the birds and taking great pictures that resemble posters.
Have a relaxing walk on the Old Street to learn the history of Kunming. And taste the local snacks, such as rice noodle salad, deep-fried mushrooms, big sweet dumplings, and milk tea.
Get up early to catch the bullet train to Dali.
Drive along the east bank of the Erhai Lake to see the Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake from another angle. Along the way, you can stop at several Villages for the great views.
Walk through Dali Ancient City and admire its well-preserved traditional architecture, cobbled streets, ornate gates, and ancient city walls.
Visit Xizhou and Zhoucheng Village in the morning, to catch the daily life of Bai people at the market. Discover the beauties created by Bai people in their architecture, traditional dress, and a family tie-dyeing workshop.
Visit a small and pretty cafe with lovely views of the wheat fields in Xizhou Village. Enjoy the breeze and beautiful countryside scenery.
Have a baking class in a flower farm. Learn to make the famous Yunnan snack — flower cakes. Enjoy the cake you have made with a cup of flower tea and play on a swing in the garden, while facing the great Cangshan ('Deep Green Mountains').
Drive to Shaxi ancient town. Explore the historic town nestled amidst Dali and Lijiang, once a significant point along the Tea-Horse Road. Discover landmarks such as Xingjiao Temple, Square Street, the ancient stage, and the Yujing bridge.
Immerse yourself in the tales of horse caravans at a private museum dedicated to artifacts from the Tea Horse Road trade.
Take a leisurely stroll down the ancient Tea Horse Road from Shaxi to a neighboring village spanning 2.5 miles.
You will get to Lijiang after 2 hours of driving.
Head to the Black Dragon Pool Park to enjoy the serene atmosphere and capture beautiful photos of the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the background.
End at the Lijiang ancient town, stroll through the cobblestone streets, admire the traditional Naxi architecture, and visit local shops and cafes.
Take a cable car up the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for breathtaking views. The cable car will reach Shanzidou Peak, the main peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, you will ascend 1,100 m (3,600 ft) to Glacier Park at an altitude of 4,680 m (15,350 ft).
Explore Yuhu Village at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain, which is less touristy compared with Lijiang Ancient Town, Suhe Town, and Baisha Village. Here you can see Naxi ladies walking on the street in their traditional dresses. There is a lake near the village. By the lake, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Yulong Mountain.
Enjoy Naxi fire pit hot pot for lunch and then you will also have a chance to visit a Naxi family in Yuhu village.Try on the traditional Naxi dresses and experience some housework as the Naxi people do. Learn to make Dongba paper and write the mysterious Dongba characters.
Enjoy your last time in Yunnan. Your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport after breakfast.
Hotel Selection
—the Icing on the Cake
Boutique hotels are recommended to enrich your travel experience.
Tour Price
Price includes:
- Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
- English-speaking local guide
- Activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling
Tour code: km-3a