CHINA Sample Itinerary - A Yunnan Adventure

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A Yunnan Adventure

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From Xi’an, fly you to Lanzhou and be met by your guide to check into your hotel. The rest of the today you will arrive in Zhongdian for the start of your Yunnan adventure. Also known as ‘Shangri-La,’ this unique town should be considered the gateway into Tibetan Buddhism and the ‘cultural Tibet’ aspects of Yunnan. Today, your guide will give you a tour around Shangri-La itself to help you get your bearings. Afterwards the town itself is quite small and we recommend you explore and meet the people of Zhongdian on your own. Tara Gallery This beautiful restaurant and art gallery offers the triumvirate of influences of Shangri-La’s unique geography, serving Tibetan, Indian and Yunnan fare. Try a seat on the second floor terrace to enjoy people-watching and relaxing. Karma Café Located outside of the old town in an original Tibetan house, this is a quiet and local restaurant with a charming atmosphere and staff. A great place for a Tibetan treat without other tourists around. Shangri-La Yak Cheese Shop: An interesting concept of ‘East meets West’, this shop specializes in Yak milk cheeses that are made using Western Methods. A great chance for you to have an utterly unique wine and cheese, as you try Yak Brie and sip on Tibetan Barley Wine. Overnight in Shangri-La

International Arrival in Zhongdian | Day 1

The Meal Plan for Today ü  Breakfast ü  Lunch ü  Dinner

Where to Stay: Songtsam Sanghri-La



Today, arise early as you have a full day of travel. In the morning, drive to visit the Songzanlin Monastery, Yunnan’s biggest monastery that houses over seven hundred monks. Your guide will introduce the basic concepts of Tibetan Buddhism and daily religious practices. Later on, visit the Monastery and learn more about its history, its structure, and the daily life of monks. Afterwards, along the drive, visit two traditional villages that are striking examples of China’s soon-to-be-forgotten past. These villages will be Tibetan and offer you a wonderful opportunity to see why travellers refer to Yunnan as ‘Cultural Tibet’. Total driving time, excluding stops, 3-4 hours Overnight in Benzilan

Zhongdian – Benzilan | Day 2


Where to Stay: Songtsam Benzilan Lodge



Today, begin your journey to Meili, which means you will travel along the beautiful Jinsha River Gorge (Yangtze). On this journey, drive to Dongzhulin Monastery which sits overlooking the Gorge. The Dongzhulin, though not as famous as Songzanlin, is more popular with the local Tibetans. It has several “living” Buddhas and each year the Mask Dancing Ceremony attracts thousands of followers. It was built in 1667, before Songzanlin, and at one time housed treasures that rivaled Potala Palace. Afterwards, we will take you to an accommodation that is worth the journey itself. Meili Lodge is a traditional Tibetan mountain lodge built from quarried stone. It has fantastic views not only of the Meili Snow Mountain Range, but also of the village with a creek tumbling down the mountains. After freshening up at Meili Lodge, we will visit the small village nearby which has a stunning view of the Meili Snow Mountain Range. Afterwards, return to your accommodation to enjoy the unforgettable views. Total driving time, excluding stops, 3-4 hours. Overnight in Meili

Benzilan - Meili | Day 3


Where to Stay: Songtsam Meili Lodge


Kevin Poh


Meili | Day 4

An early start is in order to capture Kawagebo (The highest mountain in Yunnan) at sunrise – this is an excellent photographic opportunity. A day hike will be arranged and designed to your comfort. The Meili Snow Mountain Range has become a very popular destination for tourists; however, our trip will enable you to explore some of the most untouched corners of the area. In spring and summer time, pastures at highland are covered by colorful wild flowers and dotted with yaks and horses. Hike through the majestic scenery, and then join local family in their cabin for hot yak butter tea, followed by a picnic at a scenic spot. If you would like a far more immersive and multi-day hike, it can be arranged to show you Mingyong Glacier and the sacred Buddhist waterfall of Mt. Kawagebo (said to purify travelers who bath in its sacred waters). Overnight in Meili


Where to Stay: Songtsam Meili Lodge



Today, drive from Meili to Tacheng. This will start in the early morning and conclude in the early evening. Along the way you will have the chance to stop at minority villages nestled in the hills and plains. We will also give you a chance to visit Su Song Nunnery, a wonderful opportunity to interact with authentic (non touristic) Tibetan Buddhists and Buddhism. After this stop (along with any point of your drive) the guide and driver will be happy to stop at any location that interests you, looks perfect for a photograph or to simply stretch your legs! Upon arrival in Tacheng, please rest for your day ahead. Total driving time, excluding stops, 6-7 hours. Overnight in Tacheng

Meili - Tacheng | Day 5


Where to Stay: Songtsam Tacheng Hotel



Tacheng – Baima – Tacheng | Day 6

In the morning, you will depart and drive for 30 minutes to the Baima Snow Mountain Reserve. When you arrive you will be taken aback by the beauty of the reserve. Outside of simply strolling amongst the pristine grounds, you will be attempting to follow wild Yunnan golden monkeys. At an appropriate time, a picnic lunch will be arranged at a beautiful spot before resuming our tour. After leaving the park, visit a local Lisu Village and taste their honey developed in a traditional way. Then rest for a final night in Tacheng before returning to modern China. Total driving time 1-2 hours including round-trip to Baima Overnight in Tacheng


Where to Stay: Songtsam Tacheng Hotel



In the morning, you will say goodbye to the pastoral beauty of Tacheng and reemerge into Modern Yunnan. Along the way you will visit China’s ‘Grand Canyon’ at Tiger Leaping Gorge. Although it will require some hiking, it is a breath-taking view. You can rest at the “Halfway House,” a wonderful restaurant and lodge at a convenient location along the gorge (please dine locally here). Afterwards, we will pick you up and return you to Ljjiang. Please note with our routing your hike will be 1-2 hours maximum, unless you wish for a more in-depth experience. Please feel free to explore the town unguided as you will have excellent concierge service at your hotel as well as highly-organized tourist infrastructure within the Old Town. Total driving time excluding stops 4-5 hours Your expert guide will be making restaurant recommendations for you here, but some of our recommendations would include: Bells Restaurant and Bar While they have a decent amount of wine bottles and Yunnan staples, the main appeal of this venue is that it overlooks the main plaza of the old town, allowing you to watch as travelers and minority groups intermingle both naturally and in the vein of tourist performances. Lamu’s House of Tibet For over a decade this restaurant has been serving Tibetan and Yunnan delicacies. The restaurant gives off a slightly bohemian feel and also offers a second floor that allows you to people-watch as you dine on a generous fare. Overnight in Lijiang

Tacheng - Lijiang | Day 7


Where to Stay: Banyan Tree Lijiang



Lijiang | Day 8

In the morning, we will make our way to see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Black Dragon Pond. Both are excellent photographic opportunities and we will be leaving early to give you as private an experience as possible. Time permitting, stop at some interesting villages, just for a stroll and to see their way of life (no ‘meet the local’ tourist style visits, simply impromptu stops at places that look interesting and peaceful) After time to rest, we will contact you to visit Baisha, where you can enjoy a traditional Yunnan Meal. We’ll also introduce you to the good people of a quaint little café in the heart of Baisha, where a group of Europeans set up a wonderful little wine bar in total harmony with the local ambiance. In the evening, we recommend one last stroll in old town with the atmosphere of Yunnan at your disposal. Please use our restaurant recommendations to explore on your own. Overnight in Lijiang


Where to Stay: Banyan Tree Lijiang



If you would like to go FAR off the map, we would like to recommend Xishuangbanna as a beautiful and restorative way to end your time in Yunnan. Here you will enter the tropics of Yunnan, buttressed by the South East Asian countries of Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam For your first day in Xishuangbanna, tour the starkly different architecture and culture of Theravada Buddhists (different from the Mahayana Buddhism you will have witnessed in Northern Yunnan). With your expert guide you will be able to learn about the differences presenting the numerous monasteries and local venues scattered throughout Xishuangbanna. In the evening, a sumptuous tropical feast will be prepared for you as you relax and stare off the jungle horizon. Overnight in Xishuangbanna

Lijiang – Xishuangbanna | Day 9


Where to Stay: Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa


4/20/15 Mandarin Journeys Asia 12

Xishuangbanna - Departure | Day 10

Depart from Yunnan, with memories of one of China’s most diverse and wild provinces, fresh in your heart.




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MJ planned an excellent leisure trip for me to Japan and China in July-‐August 2014. The trip was 2 weeks and included all hotels, both long haul and short hall flights, trains, local transportaJon, dinner reservaJons each night, and full day guides in each city. CiJes visited included Tokyo, Kyoto, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The trip was planned and executed flawlessly. There was not one detail, reservaJon, travel arrangement that was miscommunicated or out of order. For this to occur on a two week, complex, internaJonal iJnerary speaks volumes to the quality, reliability, and thoroughness of Marc and Mandarin Journeys. The guides in each city superb and highly knowledgeable re. the local sights, culture, languages, and transportaJon. Stayed in a older courtyard house/hotel in Beijing (Hans Royal Garden) and 300 year old Ryokan in Kyoto. The trip was thoroughly enjoyed. MJ even arranged vintage motorcycles with side cars as the transportaJon from central Beijing to a non touristy, less travelled part of the Great Wall. I highly recommend Mandarin Journeys for anyone that wants a non touristy, comprehensive trip to the Far East Mr Steve Randich – CIO Finra, former CIO CiJgroup

Our family recently used Mandarin Journeys for a 3-‐week/5 desJnaJons trip to China and Thailand, and we highly recommend them. They were a[enJve and responsive during the planning process, which for us involved mulJple changes along the way, and they helped us manage everything seamlessly. They designed a premium, customized program with acJviJes suited to us and expert guides who completely enhanced the experience. And they were in touch throughout to ensure things went according to plan. They took the Jme to understand what we were looking for and delivered beyond our expectaJons. I'm sure we will be "repeat" customers. Mrs Mary Gerzema & John Gerzema – VP Global Media at The Estee Lauder Companies & NYT Bestselling Author

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