5 Days Kunming Xishuangbanna

• Kunming Arrival--Free acitivities
• 4-Star Hotel

Welcome to Kunming, the Capital City of Yunnan Province! Upon arrival in Kunming, our driver will meet you at the airport/train station and escort you to your hotel. You can have a good rest to overcome the jet lag in your hotel. You can explore on your own based on your arrival time. Feel free to seek practical suggestions from your tour guide.

Recommended Acitivities

1.Explore Yunnan's Diverse Minority Cultures at Yunnan Ethnic Village, Yunnan Museum of Minority (closed on Mondays), and enjoy the scenic views at Haigeng Park near Dianchi Lake (Meet Black-Headed Gulls from Siberia in winter).

2.Enjoy a Kunming City Walk from Eastern and Western Pagodas (Landmarks in Kunming) to Jinma and Biji Archways (Symbols of Old Kunming), Kunming Flying Tigers Museum (Kunming Museum, Learn about a significant chapter in World War II), and Jingxing Flower and Bird Market (A calling card of the local life in Kunming).

3.Unveil the Amazing Yunnan Food by visiting Daguan Zhuanxin Farmers' Market (all kinds of delicious flowers, mushrooms, ferns, insects, Ham, Rushan cheese, local snacks) and try Yunnan cuisine while strolling around Nanqiang Pedestrian Street (since the Qing Dynasty) and Nanping Pedestrian Street (a historic old street).

• Stone Forest--Train to Xishuangbanna
• 4-Star Hotel
• Breakfast

Today you will drive 80km (approximately 1.5 hours) to the Stone Forest, a World Heritage Site of South China Karst, for a Kunming excursion. Afterward, return to downtown to catch a high speed train to Xishuangbanna.

In the morning, visit the Stone Forest (a World Heritage Site of South China Karst), a must-see natural wonder that was once submerged under an ancient sea. The Kunming Stone Forest (Shilin) is a national geological park famous for its unique stone forest scenery, which represents the magnificent transformations of the natural world over 270 million years (marine sedimentation → crustal uplift → volcanic lava coverage → erosion and leveling → formation of the Stone Forest). Within the Stone Forest, you can closely observe the traces left by the passage of time and gain an understanding of its distinctive karst landforms, rich geological history, and the accompanying Yi ethnic culture. 

After the tour, you will head back to downtown Kunming to take a high speed train to Xishuangbanna (about 3.5 hrs). Upon your arrival at Xishuangbanna train station, our driver will meet you at the exit, greet you, and escort you directly to the downtown area, where they will help you check in at your hotel.

• Tropical Botanical Garden -- Manting Park--Zongfosi Temple
• 4-Star Hotel
• Breakfast

After breakfast, we will drive 62 kilometers (about 1 hour) to the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to experience the magic and mystery of tropical vegetation. It will open a door to a new world for you.

Today we will mainly visit the West District. The West District is dominated by ornamental landscapes and has a characteristic plant area with high ornamental value. It is an ideal place to observe various species. Explore the Garden of Exotic Flowers and Herbs, where the plants are extraordinary. You will see flowers with changing colors, mysterious fruits with sweet and sour taste, and even dancing grass that seems to sway with music. Along the way, you will encounter countless exotic flowers, trees and fruits, not only can you enjoy the visual feast of tropical plants, but also experience the vivid natural scenery.

After lunch, go to the city center to visit Manting Park, also known as "Chunhuan Garden", which means "garden of the soul" in Dai language. This is the oldest park in Xishuangbanna. It was once the royal garden of the Dai king and has a history of 1,300 years. Walking through the park, you will encounter tranquil ponds and vibrant tropical plants, with cultural landscapes dotting the tranquil environment. The Zongfosi Temple, located on the south side of the park, is an important pilgrimage site for local Buddhists and holds a special place in the hearts of the Dai people. Along the way, if you are lucky, you can also experience the park's colorful cultural activities, such as Tibetan-Ha singing, elephant performances, and parrot interactions.

• Wild Elephant Valley-- Manzhang Dai Village
• 4-Star Hotel
• Breakfast

After breakfast, we will drive 31 kilometers (about 40 minutes) to the Xishuangbanna Wild Elephant Valley. The Wild Elephant Valley is the only place in China where you can safely observe Asian elephants up close. Visitors can observe the natural habitat of wild Asian elephants from a safe elevated viewing platform, walk through the rainforest, and track elephants.

You will depart from the South Gate, where the Rainforest Theater is located. Visitors can watch elephant performances at specific times: 10:20 and 11:30. Afterwards, you can explore theme gardens such as the Butterfly Garden and the Bird Garden, or go directly to the cable car, which is the best viewing point. On the cable car, you can overlook the vast rainforest and wildlife before reaching the elevated viewing trail. This trail is built near a pond where elephants like to play and forage, so it is the best place to observe wild elephants. When wild elephants appear, you can see them walking and foraging in the forest. After touring the 2,280-meter-long elevated trail, you will go to the Asian Elephant Museum to learn about the history and protection of these majestic creatures, and leave from the North Gate to end your journey.

Next, you will visit Manzhang Dai Village, an original Dai village with a history of more than 500 years. In this village, you can immerse yourself in Dai culture and explore their cultural heritage and traditional lifestyle. Wandering in the village, you can see traditional stilted bamboo houses and neat streets lined with flowers and fruits.

• Xishuangbanna Departure
• None
• Breakfast

It’s time to end this 5-Day Kunming to Xishuangbanna Tour. Our driver will escort you to the airport or train station for your departure.

If you wish to extend your trip and explore other highlighted parts of Yunnan, such as  Lijiang, Dali, Shangri-La, and more, we can help you with the arrangements.

Thank you for choosing Intoexplore for your Yunnan tour, hope to see you again for your next trip to China. Safe journey!