China at Two Altitudes

Overview

Most first journeys pick either Yunnan or Sichuan. This one runs them as a staircase: you start high, among the snow mountains, old towns and forest villages of the northwest, sleep a night at more than three thousand meters in Shangri-La, then fly down into the basin, where an ancient waterworks still waters the plain and life runs on teahouse time. Trains, one flight and a private van link the arc; on the high days, oxygen and a pulse oximeter ride along in the van. By the end you will be able to explain what altitude does to a way of life: that answer is what you carry home.

LyrikTrip travel designers

Your route and its notes are settled before you land; licensed English-speaking local guides walk each region with you.

Why you'll love this trip

Best for: private travelers, active couples and families, Yunnan and Sichuan visitors
Begin in Yunnan's high country, then descend into Sichuan's teahouse pace.

Ride the cable car to Spruce Meadow beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, then watch Impression Lijiang fill the open air.
Take the slow road to Shangri-La, an old-growth forest by morning and the plateau air by dusk.
Eat a chicken feast fired in Nixi black pottery by the family who made the pots.
Spend a morning with Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys, then stand over the gorge where the river tears through.
Watch pandas at their liveliest hour, then ride a tuk-tuk to the eateries Chengdu keeps for itself.
Stand beside the Samantabhadra statue on Emei's Golden Summit, then meet the Leshan Giant Buddha from the water.

Things to do

Spruce Meadow & Blue Moon Valley, Lijiang

Nixi Black Pottery & Chicken Feast, Shangri-La

Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkey Park, Tacheng, Yunnan

Sanxingdui Museum, Once It Confirms, Chengdu

Market Walk & Sichuan Cooking Class, Chengdu

Qingcheng Tai Chi & Vegetarian Lunch, Dujiangyan

Nature

Show

Food

Nature

Craft

Food

Nature

Gorge

City

Food

Culture

Nature

Food

Wellness

Heritage

Culture

Temple

Nature

Heritage

Food

Nature

Show

Food

Nature

Craft

Food

Nature

Gorge

City

Food

Culture

Nature

Food

Wellness

Heritage

Culture

Temple

Nature

Heritage

Food

Nature

Show

Food

Nature

Craft

Food

Nature

Gorge

City

Food

Culture

Nature

Food

Wellness

Heritage

Culture

Temple

Nature

Heritage

Food

Itinerary

Arrivals

Kunming · Day 1

Day 1 · Kunming in, the rails up to Lijiang

The staircase starts at the bottom. No sightseeing today, on purpose.

Kunming arrival You land in Yunnan's capital, meet your representative and transfer to the railway station; the plateau proper is still ahead of you.

High-speed rail to Lijiang The train carries you northwest as the land climbs, provincial city giving way through your window to the mountains of northwest Yunnan.

Lijiang, at your own pace You meet your Lijiang guide and check in; nothing formal is scheduled, so the old town streets are yours after a long travel day.

High-speed rail3.5 hours

Lijiang · Day 2

Day 2 · Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

The snow mountain at eye level, and a stage set against it.

Spruce Meadow A cable car lifts you into an alpine grassland ringed by spruce forest under Jade Dragon Snow Mountain; you walk the meadow at an easy pace while your guide tells you what the peak means to the Naxi who live beneath it.

Blue Moon Valley Below the meadow, mineral-rich water strings into pools of blue and turquoise: the color is the mineral load in the water, not a filter.

Impression Lijiang An open-air performance with the snow mountain itself as the set; music, movement and dress from Yunnan's peoples carry stories tied to the Tea Horse Road. You sit in the open, so dress for mountain weather.

Wild mushroom hotpot Back in Lijiang, dinner is one pot of Yunnan's wild fungi cooked at the table; your guide walks you through the names and the order things go in.

Private vehicle4 hours

Shangri-La · Day 3

Day 3 · The forest road up to Shangri-La

The road climbs to about 3,200 meters. Tonight you sleep higher than any night on this trip.

Boduo Luo forest walk An easy walk through old-growth woodland on the road north: big trees, streams and alpine plants, built as a light outdoor morning rather than a trek.

Shiyu Heting Cultural Park Shiyu Heting A stop to meet how the mountain communities here live, before the road climbs on.

Drive to Shangri-La A private vehicle takes you up onto the plateau; the evening is kept free on purpose, so your body meets the altitude gently. You'll notice it first in your breath, then in your voice: up here, you slow down without deciding to.

Private vehicle

Chengdu · Day 1

Flight

Tacheng · Day 4 - Day 5

Day 4 · Nixi black pottery, on to Tacheng

A village fires its pots the way it always has, and lunch comes out of them.

Nixi black pottery & chicken feast Nixi is a Tibetan village that fires black pottery, shaped, polished and fired the way its families have done for generations; you watch the potters work, then lunch arrives cooked in the same black clay, a chicken feast that is the village's own dish.

Drive to Tacheng The road drops off the highest ground toward Tacheng, lower and greener.

Highland ice wine A château growing grapes at altitude; you hear how high-country growing works, then taste locally made ice wine with the mountains still in view.

Day 5 · Snub-nosed monkeys & Tiger Leaping Gorge

A morning with one of China's rarest primates, an afternoon over a roaring river.

Yunnan snub-nosed monkey park You go into the mountain forest with your guide to watch Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys and hear how they live: family structure, feeding, and the conservation work that keeps them here. They are wild animals on their own schedule, so the visit is set for the morning.

Tiger Leaping Gorge You follow maintained paths through selected sections on the Shangri-La side: sheer walls above, fast water far below. The name carries a legend, that a hunted tiger cleared the river in one leap at its narrowest point. Standing over the noise, you'll find you've stopped talking.

Return to Lijiang Your vehicle brings you back down to Lijiang for the night.

Flight

Dujiangyan · Day 2

Private vehicle

Leshan · Day 3

Private vehicle

Chengdu · Day 6 - Day 12

Day 6 · Down to the basin: Chengdu

You fly off the plateau and land where life runs on teahouse time.

Direct flight to Chengdu A direct flight carries you off the Yunnan highlands and down into the Chengdu Basin, about two thousand meters lower than where you woke.

People's Park teahouse The park where Chengdu goes to do nothing in particular; you take a seat with a gaiwan, the lidded cup China brews in, and stay as long as the afternoon allows. After the high days, you'll feel your shoulders drop: down here nobody is in a hurry, and neither are you.

Kuanzhai Alley Three restored lanes of courtyard architecture, walked at an easy pace.

Tuk-tuk food night An evening ride through residential streets and old alleys, stopping at community restaurants most visitors never find; the tastings along the route are included and your guide explains who cooks what.

Day 7 · Sanxingdui, once it confirms

A bronze face from a culture unlike any other in China. If it confirms, the day is yours.

Sanxingdui Museum A museum of the finds of an ancient culture of the Sichuan Basin: monumental bronze masks, gold objects, jade and human figures in a style unlike anything from the Central Plains; the day runs with professional interpretation that places the objects in the longer story of Chinese civilization.

Told straight This visit is arranged once tickets, English-language interpretation and the added cost are confirmed; if it cannot confirm, the Chengdu city day moves here instead.

Day 8 · Pandas & a Sichuan kitchen

Pandas at their busiest hour, then dinner you cook yourself.

Chengdu Panda Base The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, visited in the morning, when pandas eat, climb and actually move; you watch them at close range and hear how breeding research and conservation work here.

Market walk You go to a local market with the cooking instructor: fresh vegetables, chilies, spices, pickles and sauces, the working pantry of Sichuan cooking.

Sichuan cooking class Then the studio, hands on: you cook selected dishes and the meal you made becomes dinner.

Day 9 · Mount Qingcheng & Dujiangyan

Tai Chi under Taoist trees, then a waterworks that has run for two thousand years.

Qingcheng Tai Chi & vegetarian lunch Mount Qingcheng is one of China's most important Taoist mountains; you follow a quiet forest route to a secluded Taoist setting, take an introductory Tai Chi session built on breathing, balance and controlled movement, then sit down to a vegetarian lunch in the Taoist tradition.

Dujiangyan waterworks An irrigation system from ancient times that still waters the Chengdu Plain, working with the river instead of blocking it; on site you see how its parts divide the flow, steer sediment and take the violence out of floods.

Day 10 · To Mount Emei: crafts, kung fu, a dusk temple

Heritage still made by hand, and a temple after the crowds go.

Drive to Mount Emei You leave Dujiangyan and travel toward the mountain.

Emei crafts & kung fu A traditional town in the Emei area where regional heritage is still made by hand; you meet the craftspeople, then get an introduction to Emei Kung Fu and how it grew up alongside the mountain's Buddhist culture.

Baoguo Temple at dusk An evening visit, after the day's visitors have gone; the courtyards quiet down, the halls keep their incense, and the temple reads differently than it does at noon.

Day 11 · Emei's Golden Summit

The trip's last high point, reached by cable car. What the weather gives, it gives.

Golden Summit Through the scenic area to Leidongping, then a cable car to the summit, about 3,000 meters, and the ten-direction Samantabhadra statue; the panorama is the reward, and on the right day the clouds drop below you into a sea. Weather decides that part, and the statue and temples stand either way.

Wannian Temple One of Mount Emei's most historically significant Buddhist temples.

Qingyin Pavilion You walk the forested valley to Qingyin, where temples, streams and bridges close the day quietly.

Day 12 · Leshan Giant Buddha & a tea farm

One last look from the water, one last cup at a farmer's table. Then the answer you carry home.

Leshan Giant Buddha by boat The Buddha sits carved into a river cliff where three rivers meet; from the boat the figure resolves as one piece with the other carvings around it, and the scale only adds up from the water.

Tea farmer visit A tea-growing community near Leshan; you meet a farming family and follow tea from bush to cup, and in season you join selected stages yourself. A simple meal at the family's table is included. By the last cup, you'll have your own answer to what altitude does to a way of life: that answer is the souvenir.

To Chengdu Airport After the visit, a private transfer to Chengdu Airport for your departure.

Private vehicle1.5 hours

Dujiangyan · Day 9

Private vehicle

Leshan · Day 10 - Day 11

Private vehicle2.5 hours

Chengdu · Day 6

Departures

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Hotels

These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.

Lijiang

Halfway Hostel

The most famous on in Hu Tiao

Shangri-La

Chang Palace

A luxury palace-style hotel in Dukezong Old Town, Shangri-La, Yunnan.

Tacheng

Songtsam Tacheng

Songtsam Tacheng. A selected stay in Tacheng.

Chengdu

Atour Hotel Chengdu Taikoo Li Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street

A simple Chengdu stay near Chunxi Road, good for travellers who want easy walks, food stops, and short city transfers.

Dujiangyan

Atour Hotel Dujiangyan Imixpark

Atour Hotel Dujiangyan Imixpark. A selected stay in Dujiangyan.

Mount Emei

Mozhuang Chanyi Hotel

Mozhuang Chanyi Hotel. A selected stay in Mount Emei.

Leshan

Rezen Select Leshan Zhanggongqiao

Rezen Select Leshan Zhanggongqiao. A selected stay in Leshan.

Tacheng

Habuda Yungu Homestay Weixi

Habuda Yungu Homestay Weixi. A selected stay in Tacheng.

Shangri-La

Songtsam Linka Shangri-La

Boutique Tibetan-design retreat with prayer-flag courtyards and Songzanlin Monastery views.

Chengdu

Hilton Chengdu Chenghua

A practical Chengdu base for travellers who want easy city access, relaxed days out, and a comfortable return after sightseeing.

Leshan

Borrman Hotel (Leshan High-Speed Railway Station Wanda Plaza)

Borrman Hotel (Leshan High-Speed Railway Station Wanda Plaza). A selected stay in Leshan.

Lijiang

Pullman Lijiang Resort & Spa

Five-star Naxi-design resort with private courtyards and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain views.

Dujiangyan

Howard Johnson Conference Resort Chengdu

Howard Johnson Conference Resort Chengdu. A selected stay in Dujiangyan.

Tacheng

Lapu Zangyun Lodge Weixi Tacheng

Lapu Zangyun Lodge Weixi Tacheng. A selected stay in Tacheng.

Shangri-La

Hylandia by Shangri-La

Shangri-La Group hotel offering a spa, pool, and premium facilities in Shangri-La County, Yunnan.

Chengdu

The Temple House

Boutique luxury hotel inside a restored Qing-dynasty courtyard near Taikoo Li with one of Chengdu's strongest design statements.

Leshan

Gongxin Hotel

Gongxin Hotel. A selected stay in Leshan.

Lijiang

Shan Quan Guesthouse

Wife of the host is from France, so much convenient for French travelers.

Lijiang

Halfway Hostel

The most famous on in Hu Tiao

Shangri-La

Chang Palace

A luxury palace-style hotel in Dukezong Old Town, Shangri-La, Yunnan.

Tacheng

Songtsam Tacheng

Songtsam Tacheng. A selected stay in Tacheng.

Chengdu

Atour Hotel Chengdu Taikoo Li Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street

A simple Chengdu stay near Chunxi Road, good for travellers who want easy walks, food stops, and short city transfers.

Dujiangyan

Atour Hotel Dujiangyan Imixpark

Atour Hotel Dujiangyan Imixpark. A selected stay in Dujiangyan.

Mount Emei

Mozhuang Chanyi Hotel

Mozhuang Chanyi Hotel. A selected stay in Mount Emei.

Leshan

Rezen Select Leshan Zhanggongqiao

Rezen Select Leshan Zhanggongqiao. A selected stay in Leshan.

Tacheng

Habuda Yungu Homestay Weixi

Habuda Yungu Homestay Weixi. A selected stay in Tacheng.

Shangri-La

Songtsam Linka Shangri-La

Boutique Tibetan-design retreat with prayer-flag courtyards and Songzanlin Monastery views.

Chengdu

Hilton Chengdu Chenghua

A practical Chengdu base for travellers who want easy city access, relaxed days out, and a comfortable return after sightseeing.

Leshan

Borrman Hotel (Leshan High-Speed Railway Station Wanda Plaza)

Borrman Hotel (Leshan High-Speed Railway Station Wanda Plaza). A selected stay in Leshan.

Lijiang

Pullman Lijiang Resort & Spa

Five-star Naxi-design resort with private courtyards and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain views.

Dujiangyan

Howard Johnson Conference Resort Chengdu

Howard Johnson Conference Resort Chengdu. A selected stay in Dujiangyan.

Tacheng

Lapu Zangyun Lodge Weixi Tacheng

Lapu Zangyun Lodge Weixi Tacheng. A selected stay in Tacheng.

Shangri-La

Hylandia by Shangri-La

Shangri-La Group hotel offering a spa, pool, and premium facilities in Shangri-La County, Yunnan.

Chengdu

The Temple House

Boutique luxury hotel inside a restored Qing-dynasty courtyard near Taikoo Li with one of Chengdu's strongest design statements.

Leshan

Gongxin Hotel

Gongxin Hotel. A selected stay in Leshan.

Lijiang

Shan Quan Guesthouse

Wife of the host is from France, so much convenient for French travelers.

Lijiang

Halfway Hostel

The most famous on in Hu Tiao

Shangri-La

Chang Palace

A luxury palace-style hotel in Dukezong Old Town, Shangri-La, Yunnan.

Tacheng

Songtsam Tacheng

Songtsam Tacheng. A selected stay in Tacheng.

Chengdu

Atour Hotel Chengdu Taikoo Li Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street

A simple Chengdu stay near Chunxi Road, good for travellers who want easy walks, food stops, and short city transfers.

Dujiangyan

Atour Hotel Dujiangyan Imixpark

Atour Hotel Dujiangyan Imixpark. A selected stay in Dujiangyan.

Mount Emei

Mozhuang Chanyi Hotel

Mozhuang Chanyi Hotel. A selected stay in Mount Emei.

Leshan

Rezen Select Leshan Zhanggongqiao

Rezen Select Leshan Zhanggongqiao. A selected stay in Leshan.

Tacheng

Habuda Yungu Homestay Weixi

Habuda Yungu Homestay Weixi. A selected stay in Tacheng.

Shangri-La

Songtsam Linka Shangri-La

Boutique Tibetan-design retreat with prayer-flag courtyards and Songzanlin Monastery views.

Chengdu

Hilton Chengdu Chenghua

A practical Chengdu base for travellers who want easy city access, relaxed days out, and a comfortable return after sightseeing.

Leshan

Borrman Hotel (Leshan High-Speed Railway Station Wanda Plaza)

Borrman Hotel (Leshan High-Speed Railway Station Wanda Plaza). A selected stay in Leshan.

Lijiang

Pullman Lijiang Resort & Spa

Five-star Naxi-design resort with private courtyards and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain views.

Dujiangyan

Howard Johnson Conference Resort Chengdu

Howard Johnson Conference Resort Chengdu. A selected stay in Dujiangyan.

Tacheng

Lapu Zangyun Lodge Weixi Tacheng

Lapu Zangyun Lodge Weixi Tacheng. A selected stay in Tacheng.

Shangri-La

Hylandia by Shangri-La

Shangri-La Group hotel offering a spa, pool, and premium facilities in Shangri-La County, Yunnan.

Chengdu

The Temple House

Boutique luxury hotel inside a restored Qing-dynasty courtyard near Taikoo Li with one of Chengdu's strongest design statements.

Leshan

Gongxin Hotel

Gongxin Hotel. A selected stay in Leshan.

Lijiang

Shan Quan Guesthouse

Wife of the host is from France, so much convenient for French travelers.

Included / Excluded

What's Included

Private vehiclesAir-conditioned private vehicles for all listed sightseeing and transfers, with station and airport pick-ups
High-altitude supportSupplemental oxygen and a pulse oximeter arranged for the van on the highland Yunnan days
GuidesLicensed English-speaking guides through every region
RailKunming to Lijiang high-speed train ticket, first class
Hotels11 nights in selected four-star, five-star or quality boutique stays, breakfast daily
Tickets and experiencesAll listed attractions, cable cars and scenic-area shuttles, the Blue Moon Valley shuttle, the Lijiang old-town maintenance fee and the Tiger Leaping Gorge escalator, plus the hands-on and cultural experiences in the confirmed itinerary
Included mealsWild mushroom hotpot · Nixi black pottery chicken feast · tuk-tuk food tastings · Sichuan cooking class dinner · Taoist vegetarian lunch · tea farmer meal
AlsoTravel accident insurance

Not Included

Long-haulInternational flights into Kunming and onward travel from Chengdu
Domestic flightThe Lijiang to Chengdu flight is quoted with your confirmation unless stated otherwise in the final quotation: one figure, no surprises
SanxingduiSanxingdui Museum tickets, specialist interpretation and related costs, until confirmed in your final itinerary
MealsBeyond the included meals, lunches and dinners stay flexible: each day your guide recommends and books around the group's tastes
PersonalVisas, gratuities, single-room supplement, personal spending, and optional activities not in your confirmation

Special Notes

A few things on this route depend on weather, seasons or operators. Here they are, told straight: with the backup already planned.

Altitude — The Yunnan days run between about 2,400 and 3,300 meters, the highest night is Day 3 in Shangri-La, and from Day 6 you are down at the Chengdu Basin's roughly 500 meters; the Shangri-La evening is kept free to let your body adjust, and oxygen and a pulse oximeter are arranged for the van on the highland days.
Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys — They are wild animals on their own schedule, so the visit is set for the morning; sightings are never guaranteed, and the forest walk and conservation talk go ahead either way.
Golden Summit — The sea of clouds depends on the day's weather; the summit, the Samantabhadra statue and the temples stand either way.
Impression Lijiang — An open-air, seasonal performance that runs on the venue's own calendar; seating is outdoors, so dress for mountain weather.
Tea farmer participation — The stages you can join yourself depend on the tea season; the visit and the family meal go ahead either way.
Sanxingdui — Arranged only once tickets, English-language interpretation and the added cost are confirmed; if it cannot confirm, the Chengdu city day moves to that day.
Hotels and venues — Named in your confirmation; or similar always means the same class and comparable location, never a quiet downgrade.

Is Twelve Days Your Length?

Tell us your dates and who's coming: we will shape the length around you.

Have the full window?

This is the whole staircase: Yunnan's high country first, then the Sichuan basin, in their proper order.

Shorter on days?

We trim a region, not the pace: keep Yunnan, keep Sichuan, or tell us what matters most and we will cut the line to fit.

Traveling with older parents or kids?

The highland days can soften further, and every climb has a cable-car answer.

Good to Know

Group: Private; from 1 guest: no minimum
Altitude: The Yunnan days run between about 2,400 and 3,300 meters, highest night Day 3 in Shangri-La; from Day 6 you are down at roughly 500 meters
Language: English-speaking guides throughout
Shopping Policy: No shopping stops or commission detours on the route; your time is dedicated solely to the places listed here.
Tailoring: Fully flexible. Days, stops, and pace can be added, removed, or swapped. We'll reshape the plan together before you confirm and pay.
Payment: A 10% deposit, minimum $399, locks your dates and resources; the balance is due 14 days before departure
Flexibility: Walking distances adapt to your pace throughout; weather-dependent items and their backups are listed in Special Notes
Best season: Spring and autumn ideal across both provinces; summer runs green and full, winter quiet and crisp
Ports: Kunming In · Chengdu Out
Gateway markets: Lead country marker: FR. Gateway markets from inventory: WEU, SEU, UK, ANZ. Kunming-side access may need a connection.
Advance booking: Shiyu Heting Cultural Park needs to be reserved 7 days ahead; your travel designer handles it once your dates are confirmed

Your Private Concierge

Jenessa

Private China Route Concierge

“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”

Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style.

20+

Years

300+

Trips Designed

24/7

On-Trip Care

Step 01

Tell us what excites you

Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.

24h

First concept delivered

Step 02

We design it around you

Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.

100%

Private, never off-the-shelf

Step 03

Lock it in with 30%

When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.

30%

Deposit to confirm

Step 04

Travel. We handle the rest.

Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.

24/7

Support throughout your journey

Cancellation terms agreed in writing

English-speaking concierge

Secure payment via Stripe

Guest Reviews

4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews

Emily Carter

🇺🇸 Seattle, USA

Perfect for couples

“My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.”

May 2026

Claire Brooks

🇬🇧 London, UK

Great for families

“Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.”

Apr 2026

Laura Bennett

🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada

Alisa made the whole experience easy

“Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.”

Mar 2026

Mark Henderson

🇺🇸 Denver, USA

Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly

“Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.”

Feb 2026

Rebecca Miller

🇺🇸 Boston, USA

Really listened to what we wanted

“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”

Jan 2026

China Ready

We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveler needs to know before arriving.

Do this before you fly

VPN & Internet Access

What's blocked

Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.

Download before you leave

It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.

Hotel Wi-Fi tip

Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.

Good news

WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.

Your concierge sets this up on Day 1

Paying in China

China is cashless

Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.

International cards now work

Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.

Carry some cash

We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.

Booking this trip

Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.

We handle the paperwork

Visa & Entry

Do you need a visa?

Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.

240-hour visa-free transit

Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.

Processing time

Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.

What we provide

Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.

Our responsibility, always

Safety & Practical Tips

Is China safe?

China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.

Emergency numbers

Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.

Health & medications

Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.

Language

English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveler.

Before You Book

Everything worth knowing before you book.

Twelve days across two provinces: will it feel rushed?

No. The line works as a staircase with two or three nights in each region and cable cars or shuttles for the climbs.

How high do we go, and what if the altitude affects us?

The source places the Yunnan stretch at about 2,400-3,300 m with the highest night in Shangri-La. Altitude affects people differently so the high days stay gentle and the figures require final confirmation.

Is Sanxingdui guaranteed?

No. It is arranged only after tickets, English interpretation and added cost confirm; otherwise the Chengdu city day moves here.

Why aren't all meals included?

Daily breakfast and six named meals are included. Other lunches and dinners remain flexible around the group's tastes.

Spruce Meadow & Blue Moon Valley

Impression Lijiang

Wild Mushroom Hotpot

Boduo Luo Forest Walk

Nixi Black Pottery & Chicken Feast

Highland Ice Wine

Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkey Park

Tiger Leaping Gorge

People's Park Teahouse

Tuk-Tuk Food Night

Sanxingdui Museum, Once It Confirms

Chengdu Panda Base

Market Walk & Sichuan Cooking Class

Qingcheng Tai Chi & Vegetarian Lunch

Dujiangyan Waterworks

Emei Crafts & Kung Fu

Baoguo Temple at Dusk

Golden Summit

Leshan Giant Buddha by Boat

Tea Farmer Visit

01. Spruce Meadow & Blue Moon Valley

02. Impression Lijiang

03. Wild Mushroom Hotpot

04. Boduo Luo Forest Walk

05. Nixi Black Pottery & Chicken Feast

06. Highland Ice Wine

07. Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkey Park

08. Tiger Leaping Gorge

09. People's Park Teahouse

10. Tuk-Tuk Food Night

11. Sanxingdui Museum, Once It Confirms

12. Chengdu Panda Base

13. Market Walk & Sichuan Cooking Class

14. Qingcheng Tai Chi & Vegetarian Lunch

15. Dujiangyan Waterworks

16. Emei Crafts & Kung Fu

17. Baoguo Temple at Dusk

18. Golden Summit

19. Leshan Giant Buddha by Boat

20. Tea Farmer Visit

01. Spruce Meadow & Blue Moon Valley

02. Impression Lijiang

03. Wild Mushroom Hotpot

04. Boduo Luo Forest Walk

05. Nixi Black Pottery & Chicken Feast

06. Highland Ice Wine

07. Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkey Park

08. Tiger Leaping Gorge

09. People's Park Teahouse

10. Tuk-Tuk Food Night

11. Sanxingdui Museum, Once It Confirms

12. Chengdu Panda Base

13. Market Walk & Sichuan Cooking Class

14. Qingcheng Tai Chi & Vegetarian Lunch

15. Dujiangyan Waterworks

16. Emei Crafts & Kung Fu

17. Baoguo Temple at Dusk

18. Golden Summit

19. Leshan Giant Buddha by Boat

20. Tea Farmer Visit

01. Spruce Meadow & Blue Moon Valley

02. Impression Lijiang

03. Wild Mushroom Hotpot

04. Boduo Luo Forest Walk

05. Nixi Black Pottery & Chicken Feast

06. Highland Ice Wine

07. Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkey Park

08. Tiger Leaping Gorge

09. People's Park Teahouse

10. Tuk-Tuk Food Night

11. Sanxingdui Museum, Once It Confirms

12. Chengdu Panda Base

13. Market Walk & Sichuan Cooking Class

14. Qingcheng Tai Chi & Vegetarian Lunch

15. Dujiangyan Waterworks

16. Emei Crafts & Kung Fu

17. Baoguo Temple at Dusk

18. Golden Summit

19. Leshan Giant Buddha by Boat

20. Tea Farmer Visit

Kunming · Day 1

Lijiang · Day 2

Shangri-La · Day 3

Chengdu · Day 1

Tacheng · Day 4 - Day 5

Dujiangyan · Day 2

Leshan · Day 3

Chengdu · Day 6 - Day 12

Dujiangyan · Day 9

Leshan · Day 10 - Day 11

Chengdu · Day 6