Yunnan Cycle and Tiger Leaping Gorge

Highlights

Wander the cobble stone street of Salvidor Dali
Step back in time within the ancient town of Shaxi
Get up near Yunnan’s vibrant ethnic minorities and rare natural environments
Cycle through remote rural landscapes and villages of China
Hike through the dramatic great thing about Tiger jumping Gorge
Discover the globe Heritage city of Lijiang
Tour description provided by World Expeditions

Yunnan, home to several minorities, is arguably one amongst China’s most exciting and engaging regions. To modify you to urge up near its vibrant ethnic minorities and gorgeous natural setting, we've designed Associate in Nursing journey like no alternative. From the capital of Kunming we tend to fly to the globe Heritage city of Lijiang to explore encompassing villages and Lashi Lake. Home to the colorful Naxi folks, we’ll study their ancient culture before sport back-roads across the covering peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the unbelievable Tiger jumping Gorge. we tend to swap the bikes for go by foot, visiting little Naxi villages as we tend to hike through Tiger jumping Gorge staying in little native guesthouses on the path. Back on the bikes we’ll visit ancient temples and frescoes in Shaxi, soak in hot springs in Eryuan before sport around Er Hai Lake to the Baic minority capital, Dali. With time to explore the previous city and encompassing villages, we tend to head back to Kunming for the top of the tour.
What's enclosed

13 breakfasts, ten lunches and nine dinners
Internal flight from lijiang/kunming valued at us$212
Comfortable well set hotels and guesthouses
Expert english speaking native guide
Sightseeing and entry fees as listed in itinerary
Private cool vehicles
Group medical kit
Water on sport and hiking days
21 gear bikes
Itinerary

Day one Arrive in Kunming
On arrival you'll got to create your own thanks to the cluster building. If you'd wish to organize Associate in Nursing arrival transfer World Expeditions will organize this for you, please raise your reservations adviser for details. Your tour leader can meet you within the building lobby wherever a visit informing are control at around five.00pm. this night we tend to head out for a welcome dinner at a delicious native building.
Day two Fly to Lijiang
This morning we tend to take a morning flight to Lijang, a desirable city renowned for its paving stone alley ways in which, canals, and intriguing Naxi minority culture. we tend to analyze our ancient curtilage building within the previous city of Lijiang before heading bent explore the labyrinth of alleyways that offer Lijiang its character. There area unit variety of places of historical interest and natural scenic spots here, awaiting your exploration. Mu's Residence (Mufu), once the palace of the supreme ruler Chieftain letter of the alphabet of Lijiang, was reconstructed by the globe Bank in 1996 within the northwest a part of previous city. it's the most effective place for guests to fancy the sumptuous subject field heritage of ancient Lijiang. the most effective place to examine the total extent of the previous city is Lion Mountain Park that is simply 250 meters (about zero.16 mile) from sq. Street. With Associate in Nursing altitude of two,500 meters (8202 feet), the park includes a tranquil natural setting. It conjointly includes a typical Naxi building, Wan Gu Lou (Aeon Tower) on the mountaintop and a few fine Lijiang murals. within the evening we’ll head out for a feast of native specialities!
Day three Lijiang, cycle around Baisha
After an area breakfast, we tend to head out on the bikes to ride to the traditional village of Baisha, famous for its preserved frescoes, and to Yu Feng Temple close beneath the snow capped peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. we'll cycle off road through Naxi and Lolo villages and farmland. there's one hill to climb before reaching the Yufeng temple. within the evening we've the chance to take in Lijiangs nightlife or absorb Associate in Nursing facultative performance of the globe renowned Naxi Orchestra. Cycle distance: or so 45kms
Day four Baishuihe - Daju - Tiger jumping Gorge
Today is Associate in Nursing epic day to mention the least! we tend to transfer to the beginning of our ride at Baishuihe within the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain parkland. These gleaming white terraces, fashioned over millennia, distinction bright with the turquoise mineral wealthy water that helped type them. White snow capped peaks suspend higher than as we tend to climb through pine forest to the highest of our pass at 3300m. From here the views of the Yangtze River below area unit gorgeous and it’s downhill all the thanks to the riverside city of Daju for lunch. when lunch the journey continues as we tend to cycle to the sting of the watercourse and have porters carry our bikes right down to the ferry wherever we tend to cross the mighty river because it emerges from Tiger jumping Gorge. Up the opposite aspect, it’s back on the bikes as we tend to enter the gorge to cycle our house for the evening in Walnut Grove. this is often a good probability to sit down back and savour the unbelievable sheer scale of 1 of the world’s deepest gorges! sport Distance 75km
Day five Hike in Tiger jumping Gorge
Today we tend to leave the bikes behind and have the morning at leisure before we tend to hit the hiking trails when lunch. we tend to climb up removed from the vehicle road to the high path wherever we've spectacular views of the gorge and watercourse below. Passing by waterfalls and little farming villages occupied by Lolo and Naxi folks, we tend to keep long in one amongst the native family run guesthouses. This gorgeous gorge is one amongst the deepest within the world. it's 16km long and 3900m high from the waters of Jinsha watercourse (Yangtze) to the snow capped mountain super of Haba Mountain. it's no marvel, with its jaw dropping views, that the Chinese contemplate this gorge amongst the foremost precious natural wonders all told of China.
Day half-dozen Hike to Naxi Village
A spectacular day of hiking as we tend to continue on the high path, following dirt tracks to our long house. nowadays we tend to tolerate little villages and criss cross the ’24 bends’ that structure this higher path. Tonight we tend to relax during a pretty easy guest house, close into the side. we tend to pay the Vesper gazing from our little house, closely-held by folks from the Naxi minority cluster.
Day seven Cycle to Shigu
We hike the previous few kilometers to Qiaotou, wherever we tend to area unit re-united with our bikes. The ride could be a swish device as we tend to head on the banks of the river, before crossing once more by barge to the traditional city of Shigu, a well-liked place for Chinese day trippers WHO return to examine the “First bend within the river River”. whereas Shigu it in style by day it's nearly freed from guests by night- simply US and also the native residents! There area unit many back alleys, temples and bridges to explore before we tend to settle certain  a home barbecued meal. sport Distance 50km
Day eight Cycle to Shaxi
Today could be a huge day on the bikes! We’ll head out of Shigu and start our cycle from the highest of the mountain through rural rural area, passing by several market cities and villages. It’s on a daily basis of ups and downs as we tend to create our thanks to our destination in Shaxi, pronounced Shaa Shee, one amongst the regions higher unbroken secrets. The scenery here changes speedily as we tend to cycle lush rice fields and thru forests famous for his or her large form of mushrooms. sport Distance 95km
Day nine In Shaxi
Today could be a nice day to relax when the large ride however there’s masses to examine during this distinctive very little village. The Sideng open-air market of Shaxi was else to the globe Monuments Watch List of a hundred MostEndangered Sites in 2001. Shaxi started as a mercantilism purpose for tea and horses throughout the Tang (618 – 907) and also the city was at its height throughout the dynasty and Manchu dynasties (1368– 1912). it's most likely the foremost intact horse caravan city on the traditional tea route leading from province into Myanmar and Asian country. we tend to visit the previous city before hiking (optional) to the traditional Shibao Tai cave. the foremost accepted sight at Shibao Tai is that the Stone Bell Temple with its 139 well preserved stone carvings. These glorious stone carvings date from 1300 years, and area unit testimony to a time once Buddhism from Asian country began to unfold within the province space. Another fascinating sight is that the Baoxiang Temple that was engineered on the ridge of an almost vertical geological formation and might solely be reached by a protracted flight of stairs. On a transparent day the views from the Temple over the vale area unit glorious.
Day ten Cycle to Eryuan
Today we tend to leave Shaxi Associate in Nursingd head on an intimate vale on superbly sealed roads. It’s undulating all the means before we tend to head for the hills. a large climb of over 30km awaits those desirous to take a look at out their legs, otherwise a welcome ride up within the van awaits. Either way, the selection is yours and each choices can lead to unbelievable views from the highest and a giant downhill run into Er Yuan and a soak within the hot springs! sport distance 106km

Day eleven Cycle around Er Hai Lake
This morning we tend to transfer to Er Hai Lake, Dali’s most distinguished feature, and cycle around its bounds. Views across the lake to the Cangshan mountains area unit ennobling and also the waterlife is fascinating. Er Hai is taken into account a vital food supply for the native folks. Famously, fishmongers have trained cormorants to catch fish and come back these to them. The birds area unit prevented from swallowing their fish by rings mounted around their neck. Eventually we tend to complete our loop within the historic city of Salvidor Dali. sport distance 65km
Day twelve Salvidor Dali
Today we've a full day to explore Salvidor Dali and surrounds. Salvidor Dali is accepted for its vibrant folks, embroidery, wealthy agriculture, renowned marble and glorious breed of horses. The historic home of the Baic folks, this gorgeous city is that the capital of the region. Salvidor Dali was conjointly the capital of the Nanzhao kingdom throughout the eighth and ninth centuries and at its height conquered abundant of Myanmar, components of Vietnam, Thailand, and components of the state province. Later Kublai Khan conquered this stone town of Pagodas.
Day thirteen Transfer to Kunming
After a morning of exploring Dali’s previous city, we tend to transfer to Kunming (approx three hours) wherever we'll head out for a dinner to celebrate the top of this unbelievable adventure!
Day fourteen Trip concludes
Following breakfast our trip concludes. must you need help with from now on arrangements please raise your reservations adviser.