Skip to main content

Yunnan Province Attractions

Red Soil Dongchuan

dongchuan is the best place to go if you have a chance to be kunming.

Impression Lijiang

 

  "You can not leave Lijiang without seeing it." So do people say about the Show set at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mt., called Impression Lijiang. With the beautiful sky  and the Snow Mountain.as natural backgroud, the show sets outdoor, and it goes on eve...

 

  "You can not leave Lijiang without seeing it." So do people say about the Show set at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mt., called Impression Lijiang. With the beautiful sky  and the Snow Mountain.as natural backgroud, the show sets outdoor, and it goes on everyday  whether it snows or rains.

  To many people, it's probably not due to the big name of the director, who also directed the Opening Ceremony of Olypic Games in 2008. The stars in this show though, are the actors and actresses, who acts with thier souls and hearts.  Non of them are proffessional. They are all local boys and girls picked by Zhnagyimou from the villages around.  The show mainly tells about the drinking, marriage culture among the moutain tribes, and the hard stories along  the Tea Horse Caravan Trail which  was mainly for bringing Pu'er tea from the southern Yunnan up to Tibet.

 No electric light, not much color. All is very simple and natural, yet so powful and impressive. This is the charm of the people, and this is the real Yunnan.

 

From the chairman Mao Square, take bus No. 7, to the final destination on the Snow Mt..

Luoping Nine-dragon Waterfalls

It's amazing that about 10 falls take shaped within 4 kilometers.

Xiaozhongdian flower sea

June to october is a nice season to see wild flower in xiaozhongdian, shangrila.   You can also see Tibetan village, Yaks and other animals. xiaozhongdian is on the way to shangrila from Lijiang.  if you are traveling by road in this season, you will not miss it.

Nu River first Bend

Nujiang  through Yunnan Gongshan the County Bingzhongluo Township Dan village near due to the the Wang Qing large cliff cliffs barrier, the river flows from north to south, out of more than 300 meters from east to west instead was Danlamountains blocking the path, had to once again turn arou...

Nujiang  through Yunnan Gongshan the County Bingzhongluo Township Dan village near due to the the Wang Qing large cliff cliffs barrier, the river flows from north to south, out of more than 300 meters from east to west instead was Danlamountains blocking the path, had to once again turn around Sharp from west to east, formed a semicircle in Grand Bay, Nujiang first Beach. Bay Centre, a village called Hom barrels village river altitude of 1710 meters, magnificent, Bay Nujiang platform is flat and wide, 500 meters above the Nu River, constitute a peninsula surrounded by water like small plains.Small plain surrounded by scenery and pleasant, and every slack season or the holidays, people will be here boating slip, Duige dance, Hom called barrel Village, Canyon Taoyuan, everywhere rural scenery·

Napa Lake Nature Reserve Area

Napa Lake is a seasonal lake. in raining season(from Jun-Sep) streams from snow mountain around made it a beautiful lake.and in dry season it becoming a wetland. paradise for the Local animals and wild birds. Nice farmland and Tibetan villages around made it more charming.
Under a bl...

Napa Lake is a seasonal lake. in raining season(from Jun-Sep) streams from snow mountain around made it a beautiful lake.and in dry season it becoming a wetland. paradise for the Local animals and wild birds. Nice farmland and Tibetan villages around made it more charming.
Under a blue Tibetan sky ,Snow mountains and villages around the lake, Yaks are grazing at grassland close to the lake with bell on their necks ringing from time to time and the wild birds seems cooperating with the sound and dancing......

shuhe old town

Lijiang Shuhe old town

Shuhe old town is one of three old town in lijiang, they are baisha old town, shuhe old town and dayan old town, the three old town consist the old town of lijiang,  old town of lijiang is 800 years old, it was put into the world cultural heritage list 1997 by ...

Lijiang Shuhe old town

Shuhe old town is one of three old town in lijiang, they are baisha old town, shuhe old town and dayan old town, the three old town consist the old town of lijiang,  old town of lijiang is 800 years old, it was put into the world cultural heritage list 1997 by UNESCO. shu he has the most beautiful canal in lijiang,  you will made to know why  water is the spirit of old town when you are walking around here.

Compared with lijiang dayan old town, shu he is less crowded and it is  the right place for  people who are looking for queit and relaxation atmostphere. here you can easily find a nice bar near the canal.

 

Luoping Duoyi River

Duoyihe River is located in the southeast of Luoping County. She is called as the mother river of Buyi people.

Yuanyang Rice Terraces

Yuanyang County (yuán yáng xiàn 元阳县) is located in Honghe Prefecture (hóng hé zhōu 红河州), Yunnan province (yún nán shěng 云南省), China. It is well known for its spectacular rice-paddy terracing. It covers an area of 2200 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 365,000 (2002), of whic...

Yuanyang County (yuán yáng xiàn 元阳县) is located in Honghe Prefecture (hóng hé zhōu 红河州), Yunnan province (yún nán shěng 云南省), China. It is well known for its spectacular rice-paddy terracing. It covers an area of 2200 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 365,000 (2002), of which 88% belong to ethnic minorities and 95% is associated with agriculture.

Geography
Yuanyang county lies at an altitude ranging from 140 along the Red River up to nearly 3000 metres above sea level in the Ailao mountains (āi láo shān 哀牢山) and is situated about 50 km north of the border with Vietnam.

The climate of Yuanyang county is mainly central sub-tropical monsoon with wet summers and dry winters. Average temperatures range from 26 Celsius down in the Red river valley to 4 Celsius in the upper reaches of the mountains.

Due to recent highway construction, Old Yuanyang can now be reached in about 7 hours by direct bus from Yunnan's capital Kunming (kūn míng 昆明), situated 300 km to the north of the county, a trip which only a few years ago, would take 10 hours or more. Buses also connect Yuanyang with the town of Hekou (hé kǒu 河口) and the border crossing with Vietnam (6 hours).

Vertical distribution of the various ethnic minority groups

The Hani (hā nízú 哈尼族) and Yi (yí zú 彝族), the creators of the monumental rice terraced mountains which have made Yuanyang famous, are the original inhabitants of these regions. Both their languages belong to the Tibeto-Burman group. Their villages can mainly be found between 1300 to 1600 metres above sea level.

The Dai (dǎi zú 傣族) moved here 700 years ago. The Zhuang (zhuàng zú 壮族) 400 years ago. Both their languages belong to the Kradai language group. Their villages are situated in the warmer areas below 700 metres elevation, near and along the rivers. Their main crop is rice grow in paddy fields.

The Miao (miáo zú 苗族) and Yao (yáo zú 瑶族) (of the Hmong-Mien language group) are fairly recent arrivals to the region, only settling here 200 and 270 years ago. Their villages are in the cooler and drier upland areas, between 1600 and 1800 metres above sea level, where they grow maize.

Travel in Yunnan


Yuanyang County (yuán yáng xiàn 元阳县) is located in Honghe Prefecture (hóng hé zhōu 红河州), Yunnan province (yún nán shěng 云南省), China. It is well known for its spectacular rice-paddy terracing. It covers an area of 2200 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 365,000 (2002), of which 88% belong to ethnic minorities and 95% is associated with agriculture.

Geography
Yuanyang county lies at an altitude ranging from 140 along the Red River up to nearly 3000 metres above sea level in the Ailao mountains (āi láo shān 哀牢山) and is situated about 50 km north of the border with Vietnam.

The climate of Yuanyang county is mainly central sub-tropical monsoon with wet summers and dry winters. Average temperatures range from 26 Celsius down in the Red river valley to 4 Celsius in the upper reaches of the mountains.

Due to recent highway construction, Old Yuanyang can now be reached in about 7 hours by direct bus from Yunnan's capital Kunming (kūn míng 昆明), situated 300 km to the north of the county, a trip which only a few years ago, would take 10 hours or more. Buses also connect Yuanyang with the town of Hekou (hé kǒu 河口) and the border crossing with Vietnam (6 hours).

Vertical distribution of the various ethnic minority groups
The Hani (hā nízú 哈尼族) and Yi (yí zú 彝族), the creators of the monumental rice terraced mountains which have made Yuanyang famous, are the original inhabitants of these regions. Both their languages belong to the Tibeto-Burman group. Their villages can mainly be found between 1300 to 1600 metres above sea level.

The Dai (dǎi zú 傣族) moved here 700 years ago. The Zhuang (zhuàng zú 壮族) 400 years ago. Both their languages belong to the Kradai language group. Their villages are situated in the warmer areas below 700 metres elevation, near and along the rivers. Their main crop is rice grow in paddy fields.

The Miao (miáo zú 苗族) and Yao (yáo zú 瑶族) (of the Hmong-Mien language group) are fairly recent arrivals to the region, only settling here 200 and 270 years ago. Their villages are in the cooler and drier upland areas, between 1600 and 1800 metres above sea level, where they grow maize.

 

Photographers and Chinese tourists flock here in droves to watch sunrises and sunsets turn the terraces into pools of gold, red and silver. Even in poor weather they can be breathtaking. Fog rolling into the terraced valleys leaves hill-top villages the only things visible, and the effect can be dramatic, like islands floating in the clouds.

There are three buses daily from Kunming to Yuanyang (Y90, 6½hrs, 10.40am, 7.30pm, 8pm). Other destinations include Hekou (Y37, four hours) and Gejiu (gè jiù 个旧) (Y22, one hour).

Getting there & away
Buses from Xinjie (xīn jiē 新街) back to Kunming leave at 10.12am, 5pm and 9pm. Or, you can forge on to Xishuangbanna (xī shuāng bǎn nà 西双版纳). At the time of research, there were no direct buses to Jinghong (jǐng hóng, 景洪). To get there, take the 7.30am bus to Luchun (lǜ chūn 绿春) (Y25, four hours), there you’ll have wait to get the Jiangcheng (jiāng chéng 江城) bus at 4pm (Y31, five hours). By the time you arrive, there’ll be now more buses but you can stay at the hotel attached to the bus station which has cheap rooms (dm/d Y10/60). Buses to Jǐnghóng (Y50, 8½ hours) start running at 6am.

Yunnan Province Articles

Top Yunnan Province Tours

$550 Per Day

A Fantastic tour Lijiang- Tiger Leaping Gorge –Xishuangbanna -Kunming

I will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Lijiang Airport and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city.
No meal
Van
Day 1
Lijiang
★★★



After breakfast goes to visit the Dragon Snow Mountain, is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Consisting of 13 peaks, among which Shanzidou is the highest one with an altitude of 5,600 meters (18,360 feet), Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stretches a length of 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a width of 20 kilometers (13 miles). Looking from Lijiang Old Town in the south which is 15 kilometers (9 miles) away, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence the name of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Take the cable car to the Spruce Meadow, the best place to see Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. In the afternoon visit Black Dragon Pool, somewhat idiosyncratically known as Black Dragon Pool, the Jade Spring Park to the north of Lijiang derives its name from the waters which sparkle like jade and are as clear as spring water. Then entire park is green with grass and shaded by swaying willow trees. Under the Shuocui Bridge, a waterfall creates a constant roar as it cascades downstream. Then visit Lijiang Old Town, which belongs to the World Culture Heritage of UNESCO.

Van
  Day2
Lijiang
★★★

Today go to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge on the way, which is believed to be one of the deepest gorges in the world. From the top of the gorge you look down the steeply angled ( 70-90 degrees ) mountain sides to the rushing Golden Sands River ( up reach of Yangtze River ) with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters ( about 700 feet ) below. Then drive back to Lijiang, evening take flight from Lijiang to Jinghong. Meet the local guide and check in the hotel.

Flight/
Van
Day3
Jinghong
(Xishuangbanna)
★★★

Today go to visit Ganlanba morning market, Water Dai Village, Burmese temple, rubber garden, Botanic Garden (the biggest one in China). In the evening you can enjoy the Dai BBQ as dinner.

Van
Day4
Jinghong
★★★

Take a visit Wild Elephant Valley; take cable car to get through the primitive raining forest. In the afternoon visit Dry Dai people village on the way back. In the late afternoon take flight from Jinghong to Kunming, check in the hotel.

Van/Flight
Day5
Kunming
★★★

After breakfast visit the Stone Forest. A typical Karst formation, the Stone Forest covers an area of more than three hundred square kilometers. Scientific research has shown that what is now the Stone Forest was 270 million years ago an immense expanse of water with a vast stretch of limestone sediment formed obey the years on the seafloor. As a result of the crustal of movement, the seabed rose gradually and a large piece of land thus came into being. Exposed to rains and winds, eroded by the elements, the strange-looking limestone ranges were shaped by time. About 200 million years ago numerous stone peaks, pillars, and stalagmites rose abruptly from the ground and towered into the sky, extending now as far as the eye can see, looking like a vast forest of stone, hence the name " the Stone Forest ".

Van
Day6
Kunming
★★★

Free easy in the morning, transfer to airport to departure. KM-CITS wish you have a good trip.

Van
Day7
End of the tour

Remark:

$300 Per Day

12 Days Yunnan Hani Minority Rice Terrace and Minority culture tour

Trip highlights After getting lost in Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Zhongdian (Shangri-la), we will see the Ancient Constructions in Jianshui county, and Hani ethnic minority groups's rice terrace in Yuanyang. Yunnan minority and rice terrace tour welcomes you to join in...
Tour priceFrom US$1,356.00             
Destinations Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Zhongdian, Kunming, Jianshui, Yuanyang, Kunming
Tour type Private tour available everyday, private tour guide & driver

 Day1 :Our English speaking tour guide will hold a welcome sign to meet you at Kunming Airport and drive to the hotel. If time permit, you may stroll around to visit the Ancient Archway of Golden Horse and Green Phoenix, the Sculpture Cultural Pedestrian Street and Flower market.

Day2:After breakfast, transferred to visit the Stone Forest (about 89 KM / 2 hours). It covers 350 square kilometers, is the highest karst terrain in the world and a national scenic area in China. After the tour, drive back to Kunming, pay a visit to Cuihu Park for your leisure time at the rest of the day.

Day3:After early breakfast, transferred to Kunming airport for the flight to Dali. Upon your arrival at Dali airport, picked up by English speaking tour guide and drive to visit the Three Pagodas, Dali old town and Ancient Wall Gate.

Day4:Visit Xizhou morning market, Xizhou Bai Minority old town, enjoy the tea ceremony of Bai Ethnic, take as more pictures of the colorful costumes of Bai Ethics, listening to their stories...After lunch, transferred to Lijiang. Visit Dayan Old town, Square Street and enjoy the beautiful sunset on the top of the Lion Hill--Wangulou (if the weather is fine), overlooking the old town and the great Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is in the distance.

Day5:Drive to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the morning, take cable car to Yak Meadow, walk along the trails for 1 hour on the summit. Visit Yuhu village, a village famous for Naxi Ethnic Culture in the afternoon.

Day6:After breakfast, we will drive to visit First Bend of the Yangtze River and upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, then drive to Zhongdian (Shangri-la) directly. Visit pasture of Xiao Zhongdian on the way. Upon arrival Zhongdian, free time at your leisure.

Day7:Today we will drive to visit the Puda Tso National Park, including Shudu Lake & Bitahai Lake. Later drive back to Zhongdian, pay a Tibetan Family visiting on the way. Visit the Songzanlin Monastery, if you come at the right time, you may see the Lama having their evening lessons, and many Tibetan people enjoying the ceremony.

Day8:After breakfast, transferred to Zhongdian airport to catch the morning flight back to Kunming. Upon arrival at Kunming airport, be met and transferred to Jianshui county directly (140 KM / 3.5 hours) to visit the garden of Family Zhu, an example of a typical residential structure of southern Yunnan, built in Qing Dynasty.

Day9:Highlight morning tour to the Temple of Confucious, Shuanglong (Double Dragon) Bridge, Chaoyang Gateway Arch and the Zhang Family Garden in Tuanshan village. Afterwards, we'll drive to old town of Yuanyang (3.5 hours). We may enjoy the fresh air everywhere. Stay overnight in Yuanyang County for 2 nights.

Day10:After simple Chinese breakfast in hotel, we'll drive 28 KM to visit the Duoyishu Rice Terrace in sunrise. Afterwards, drive back to join in the Sheng village's morning market, then transferred to visit the Bada Rice Terrace. After your lunch, transferred to visit the Qingkou Hani and Yi ethnic minority villages, and enjoy the Tiger Mouth (Laohuzui) Rice Terrace in sunset, the eighth world wonder.

Day11:After simple Chinese breakfast, we will say goodbye to Yuanyang, and drive back to Kunming. The total journey is about 472 KM / 8 hours. Enjoy the unique view on the way. Check in the hotel in Kunming, free time at the rest of the day.

Day12:Morning is free at your leisure till transferred to Kunming airport according to your flight schedule. And your pleasant tour ends here.