Classic China route
The Best of Sichuan and Yunnan
12 days private China route following Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri - La - Chengdu - Huanglong - Jiuzhaigou linking the main cities with a Sichuan extension, planned around clear city order, iconic sites, comfortable transfers and realistic visit timing.
We shape the route around your dates, pace and comfort level before preparing the proposal.
Choose with confidence
Picture the route before asking for a proposal.
Follow the route rhythm, landscapes and travel moments first. If this feels like the China you want, we shape the dates, pace, hotels, transport and special interests around your group.
What you will see
Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Emei, Leshan, Sanxingdui, birding or reserves are tied to real stops.
How the pace feels
Ticket windows, roads, walking level and hotel position decide whether the route feels smooth.
How it can change
Photography, light hiking, family pace, less walking or more scenery time can be adjusted.
Route fit
For scenery and culture with the right season.
You want Sichuan landscapes, Buddhist heritage, lakes, mountains or seasonal color.
You want a city-only trip or cannot allow any seasonal/road adjustment.
Highlights
- Kunming
- Dali
- Lijiang
- Shangri
- La
- Chengdu
Planning focus
Scenery works best with the right season and rhythm.
We check scenery window, ticket rules, road time, walking comfort, hotel position and whether the route needs one more night.
Route at a glance
See the sequence before the details.
This quick route view helps you understand the order of stops, where the journey slows down and what we check before the final proposal.
Route sequence
Season and roads
Roads, mountain weather, festivals and scenery windows change the best version of the route.
Daily pace
Driving time, rest time and hotel location decide whether the route feels smooth.
Itinerary rhythm
What each day can feel like
The day-by-day view shows how scenery, cultural stops or nature experiences are placed. Before confirmation, we check season, tickets, opening hours, roads and hotel position.
Kunming
In the morning transfer to the bus station, drive to Dali by shuttle bus. Dali was the ancient capital of Nanzhao Kingdom and hometown of Bai minority. In the afternoon visit of San Ta Si (Three Pagoda Temple) in the northwest outskirts of Dali. Then stroll in the alleys of Dali ancient small town. The well preserved ancient city gates and the historic buildings have shown the city’s long history.
Bus Kunming – Dali
Drive northwards approx. 200 km to Lijiang (2600 m), the hometown of Naxi Minority. The Lijiang Old Town is famous for its old wooden houses and the layout of the town’s streets. It has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Visit of Hei Long Tan (Black Dragon Pool), which is located in the northern foot of the Elephant Hill. The summits of the Yulong Snow Mountain are clearly reflected in this pond. Afterwards visit of Dongba Culture Museum.
Dali – Lijiang
Continue the journey to the Tiger Jumping Gorge on Jinsha Jiang (Golden Sand River), the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (the longest river of China, 6380 km). Short walking in the gorge and keep driving to Shangri-La (3330 m), the historic southern gateway to Kham and Tibet.
Lijiang – Tiger Jumping Gorge – Shangri-La
In the morning visit Sumzanlin Monastery, which was created in 1679 by the Fifth Dalai lama. Characterized by its Han-Chinese and Tibetan construction style, the monastery is the most important monastery of Gelugpa-sect in Yunnan province. Afterwards, walking 2 – 3 hours through villages, grasslands, fields, hills to Napa Hai Preserve. After the visit of Napa Hai, transfer to the airport, fly to Chengdu (MU5857 1920/2030), capital of Sichuan province, the home town of Panda. Picked
Air Shangri-La – Chengdu
In the morning drive to Chengdu Giant Panda Base of Breeding and Research. Founded in 1985, today there are over 50 giant pandas living there. In the afternoon transfer to the airport, fly to Jiuzhaigou (Nine-villages Valley), which is listed as a World Natural Heritage and reputed as a “fairyland” with its fantastic natural view. It is named after the nine Tibetan villages in the scenic area.
Chengdu – Jiuzhaigou
Walking and sightseeing the whole day in the three valleys of Jiuzhaigou (Nine-villages Valley). As the water, the “soul of Jiuzhaigou”, is pure and crystal-like and rich in colors, there is an adage saying that no water is worth your attention after your visit to Jiuzhaigou.
Jiuzhaigou
In the morning drive to visit the Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Scenic Spot which is listed as a World Natural Heritage. Huanglong is marked by its low-temperature and highly calcified Karst landform, which forms numerous valuable colored ponds. In the afternoon transfer to the airport, fly back to Chengdu.
Jiuzhaigou – Huanglong, fly to Chengdu
In the morning leave for Leshan. On the way enjoy the beautiful countryside landscape of western Chengdu Plains during about two hours of driving on the expressway. Upon arrival in Leshan visit of the Grand Buddha in Lingyun Temple. The grand Buddha was completed in 803 of Tang Dynasty after 90 years of construction. Enjoy the fame of the biggest sitting stone sculpture in the world (71-meter high). Carved on the cliff face, the sculpture is well designed with perfect balance a
Chengdu – Leshan – Emei Shan
Early in the morning take the sightseeing bus to Leidongping Bus Station along the 52-kilometer zigzag mountain road. Upon arrival, take the cable car to the Golden Summit. With an altitude of 3099 meters, if the weather is fine, you will have an amazing view; the verdant forest waves surge along the mountain; Min River, Qingyi River and Dadu River are like three pieces of silk; Mt. Daxue and Mt. Gongga seem to stretch to the horizon; the sun emerges with all shimmering rays through the
Emei Shan – Chengdu
In the morning visit of Qingyang Gong. The Qingyang Temple is one of the most famous Daoist temples in China. The temple was originally built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a period when Taoism was flourishing. Wandering through the temple, you will find many locals and visitors eating, drinking tea and playing Mahjong at the temple's teahouse. This is a traditional and extremely popular pastime for the people of Chengdu. Then we will enjoy a walk at the Broad and Narrow Lanes (Kuan Xiangz
Images help show the landscape and travel mood of the route. The exact hotel, vehicle, guide and timing are confirmed with your proposal.
Trip inquiry
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