Itinerary
- Day 1
Kunming
You'll arrive at Kunming International Airport and head to your hotel for check-in. If there's time before evening, take a walk around The Green Lake or visit the Birds and Flowers market to get a feel for the local scene. The market has a good selection of plants and flowers, and it's a nice way to settle into the city.
Optional Activities
- Visit The Green Lake
- Visit the Birds and Flowers market
Landmarks/POIs The Green Lake Birds and Flowers Market - Day 2
Kunming to Dongchuan
After breakfast, drive toward Dongchuan Red Land, which takes about 3 to 3.5 hours. The red earth landscape here is known for its striking color variations. Stop at Music Hollow near Flower Stone village, then continue to Wafang Liangzi and Luoxianggou Valley. Try to reach Luoxianggou around 4:30 pm so you can photograph the red fields as the light changes. The late afternoon illumination on the terrain is what makes the photography worthwhile.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Music Hollow (Yuepuao) near Flower Stone village
- Visit Wafang Liangzi for sunset photography
- Visit Luoxianggou Valley at sunset
Landmarks/POIs Dongchuan Red Land Music Hollow (Yuepuao) Flower Stone (Huashitou) village Wafang Liangzi Luoxianggou Valley - Day 3
Dongchuan to Kunming
Start early at 5:00 am to catch sunrise at Damakan, where mountains surround the red soil. Later, head to Seven-Color Slope near Embroidery Garden and Jinxiuyuan to walk through the rolling red terrain and traditional villages. By late afternoon, begin your drive back to Kunming, which takes another 3 to 3.5 hours. You'll arrive back in the city by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing at Damakan
- Visit Seven-Color Slope (Qicaipo) near Embroidery Garden
- Visit Jinxiuyuan
Landmarks/POIs Damakan Seven-Color Slope (Qicaipo) Embroidery Garden Jinxiuyuan - Day 4
Kunming to Jianshui
Drive to Jianshui, a journey of 4 to 5 hours. Once there, check out Shuanglong Bridge and spend time in Tuanshan Village, a traditional walled settlement that's been carefully preserved. Tour the Garden of Family Zhang while you're in the village. Then walk through Jianshui Old City and see the Chaoyang Gateway Tower, built during the Ming Dynasty in 1389. The tower's architecture is similar in style to Beijing's Tian'anmen Square.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Shuanglong Bridge
- Visit Tuanshan Village
- Tour Garden of Family Zhang
- Explore Jianshui Old City
- Visit Chaoyang Gateway Tower
Landmarks/POIs Shuanglong Bridge Tuanshan Village Garden of Family Zhang Jianshui Old City Chaoyang Gateway Tower - Day 5
Jianshui to Yuanyang
In the morning, visit the Confucius Temple, which has been standing for about 700 years and ranks as the second largest in China. From there, tour the Zhu Family Garden. After lunch, transfer to Yuanyang and head to Tiger Mouth to see the terraced fields as the sun begins to set. The layered landscape here is particularly nice in the golden hour light.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Confucius Temple
- Visit Zhu Family Garden
- Sunset viewing at Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) terraced fields
Landmarks/POIs Confucius Temple Zhu Family Garden Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) terraced fields - Day 6
Yuanyang
Start before dawn and drive to Duoyishu Village to watch sunrise light up the rice terraces cascading down the hillside. Visit Qingkou Village where Hani people have lived and farmed for generations. Check out Bada Hani Rice Terrace and Shengcun Market. Later in the afternoon, head to Longshuba Rice Terraces, about 5km from Xinjie Town, to photograph the sunset over the water-filled fields.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing at Duoyishu Rice Terrace Fields
- Visit Qingkou Village
- Visit Bada Hani Rice Terrace
- Visit Shengcun Market
- Sunset viewing at Longshuba Rice Terraces
Landmarks/POIs Duoyishu Village Duoyishu Rice Terrace Fields Qingkou Village Bada Hani Rice Terrace Shengcun Market Longshuba Rice Terraces - Day 7
Yuanyang to Stone Forest to Kunming
Depart for Stone Forest, a 5 to 6 hour drive from your current location. The karst landscape here is distinctive and geologically important. Spend time walking through the formations and taking in the terrain. Afterward, drive back toward Kunming in the late afternoon, which takes about 1.5 hours, arriving back in the city by early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Tour Stone Forest
Landmarks/POIs Stone Forest - Day 8
Kunming
Head to Kunming Airport for your departure, timing your transfer according to your flight. Your trip through Yunnan's varied landscapes and cultural sites concludes here.
- Meals
- Breakfast
