Dali Lijiang Shangrila 6-Days Tour

Arrive in Dali

4-Stars Hotel

Breakfast

Free activities. Recommended itinerary: Stroll freely through the streets of Dali, where you can explore charming cafes, bars, and other hidden gems at your own pace. 

Xizhou Ancient Town - Shuanglang - Erhai Lake - Dali Ancient Town / Tie-Dyeing

4-Stars Hotel

Breakfast

After breakfast, follow Intoexplore to Xizhou Ancient Town. Xizhou is the best-preserved Bai ethnic ancient town in Dali, with a history spanning over 1,400 years. Compared to the bustle of Dali Ancient Town, Xizhou offers a purer, more pastoral charm—rippling wheat fields, fluttering tie-dyed fabrics, and deep-rooted traditional residences—making it a primary filming location for the drama Meet Yourself. Here, you can also learn tie-dyeing and create a one-of-a-kind garment.

Next, journey to Erhai Lake, Yunnan’s second-largest freshwater lake. Shaped like a human ear, it stretches 42 kilometers from north to south and sits at an elevation of 1,972 meters. As one of Dali’s iconic "Four Sceneries" (feng hua xue yue; representing "Erhai Moon"), this destination harmonizes Bai culture, wetland ecology, and trending photo spots, making it a must-visit healing getaway in Dali.

On the northeastern shore of Erhai Lake lies Shuanglang Ancient Town, one of the most intact Bai ethnic villages along the lake, acclaimed as the "First Town of Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake." By day, Shuanglang is a symphony of blues—glistening lake waves and reflections of whitewashed walls. By night, it glows in warm amber hues—lantern-lit bars and starlike fishing boat lights. For those seeking refuge from the crowds of Dali Ancient Town, this is an idyllic escape. Stroll or cycle freely along the lakeside boardwalk and soak in the sunset.

To the west of Erhai Lake stands Dali Ancient Town, a living theater nestled at the foot of the Cangshan Mountains and a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the lake. Standing atop the ancient city wall, you’ll find the tapestry of daily life on one side and a landscape painting of mountains and water on the other. Here, you can: Climb the watchtower to overlook the ancient town, Learn tie-dyeing and craft your own unique clothing, Or wander through vibrant markets to savor local delicacies.

Depart from Dali to Lijiang Station

4-Stars Hotel

Breakfast

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain - Glacier Park - Blue Moon Valley

Travel by vehicle to Lijiang and arrive at the magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Departing from Lijiang Ancient Town, you’ll reach the mountain base and head to Ganhaizi Meadow (elevation: 3,100m), where you can admire distant views of the snow-capped peaks and capture stunning photos.

Next, take the cableway to Glacier Park (elevation: 4,500–4,600m). During the ascent, witness the gradual shift in landscapes: Yunnan pine forests → fir forests → alpine meadows → exposed glacial ice. As the core scenic area of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Glacier Park features ancient glacial relics and modern glacial formations. It is China’s lowest-latitude maritime glacier and the world’s glacier region closest to the equator. On clear days, you can overlook the entire Ganhaizi Meadow from above.

Proceed to Blue Moon Valley (elevation: 2,800m), a series of four interconnected lakes. Each lake displays unique colors due to mineral content and light refraction. From the shores, photograph the turquoise waters, white travertine terraces, and snow-capped mountain backdrop—a particularly majestic sight when the peaks reflect on the lake in winter.

Depart from Lijiang to Shangrila  Station

4-Stars Hotel

Breakfast

Tiger Leaping Gorge - Dukezong Ancient Town
After breakfast, travel by vehicle to Shangri-La. En route, pass through Shigu Town to admire the First Bend of the Yangtze River—a dramatic 180° turn of the Jinsha River through the Hengduan Mountains, forming a rare Ω-shaped meander. At an elevation of 1,850 meters, the river flows wide and tranquil here, starkly contrasting with the raging torrents downstream at Tiger Leaping Gorge. This bend is not only a geography textbook landmark but also a historic witness to the Ancient Tea Horse Road and the Red Army’s Long March.

Continue to Tiger Leaping Gorge, straddling the border between Lijiang and Shangri-La. Here, the Jinsha River roars through a narrow passage between Haba Snow Mountain (5,396m) and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (5,596m), creating one of the world’s deepest gorges (with a vertical drop of 3,900 meters from river to peak). Renowned for its perilous grandeur, it was named one of "China’s Top 10 Most Beautiful Canyons" by National Geographic.

Finally, arrive in Shangri-La and explore Dukezong Ancient Town—Tibetan for "moon and sun in the heart." Immerse yourself in rich ethnic minority culture: Stroll through Dukezong Flower Lane to experience traditional crafts like Tibetan Thangka painting, woodcarving, and intangible cultural heritage practices such as Nixi black pottery and Dongba papermaking. Visit Baiji Temple atop the western hill—a Tibetan Buddhist temple shaded by ancient cypresses, offering panoramic views of the ancient town and parts of Napa Lake and Yila Grassland. Gather at Square Street, the town’s spiritual heart, where locals and tourists join in Guozhuang dance (communal circle dancing) nightly from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

Ganden Sumtseling Monastery - Pudacuo National Park

4-Stars Hotel

Breakfast

Morning: Visit Ganden Sumtseling Monastery – Yunnan’s largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, hailed as the "Little Potala Palace." It masterfully blends Tibetan and Han architectural styles. From the 5th day of the 5th Tibetan lunar month, the three-day Horse Racing Festival (or "Heavenly Horse Festival") transforms Shangri-La. Beyond thrilling races, the event features traditional song-dance performances and local cuisine. Horse traders clad in finest furs or silks gather here, while families camp in tents on the festival meadow.

Afternoon: Explore Pudacuo National Park – China’s first national park on the mainland. Its Tibetan name means "the ferry that delivers all beings from suffering to the shore of liberation." The park preserves an intact composite ecosystem: alpine lakes, primeval forests, plateau wetlands, and Tibetan cultural heritage.

Depart from Shangrila Station

Breakfast

The end of the journey