Day 1 – Kunming - Dongchuan

Your driver picks you up at your Kunming hotel in the morning at 09:00h. Get driven to Dongchuan Red Soil Land, which takes about 3 hours (180 km). After a Chinese style lunch on the way, pass Luoxiagou Valley and enjoy spectacular views onto the villages and farmlands surrounded by red land. The sunset atmosphere in the evening turns the splendid views to an even more remarkable event, offering almost endless opportunities to photography enthusiasts.

Overnight in Dongchuan Shanju Hotel or similiar

Day 2 –Dongchuan–Kunming

Get up early today to be present when the sun is rising over Dongchuan Red Soil Land in the morning (exact time depends on the season). Viewed from distance, the hills and fields appear in all kinds of red colors. The flowers blossom on hills and slopes and produce a multicolored scenery together with golden wheat fields waving in the breeze. Watch local peasants doing their farm work during the day. After a local lunch in Dongchuan, get driven back to your Kunming hotel.

The best time to have a photography tour in Dongchuan is between mid-May and early June as well as from mid-October until November. In the winter months' roads in Dongchuan may be blocked due to snow and ice. The scenery though is not less spectacular.

Day 3 Stone Forest -Jianshui

After a 1.5-hour drive, visit a fantastic natural phenomenon located 90 kilometers southeast of Kunming — the Stone Forest. The various shapes of limestone were formed due to millions of years' movement of the Earth. The Stone Forest area is the home of the Naxi people, and their folk customs have become a spectacular scene. The colorful embroidery and minority dances combined with the natural scenery will surely leave you with a lasting impression. Enjoy a local lunch in a quaint courtyard with the Stone Forest Park in the background.

In the afternoon, your guide and driver will transfer you directly to Jianshui Town, taking approximately 3 hours. Jianshui is not big, but you will find classic ancient architecture surrounding you everywhere.

Have a relaxing walk in the historical town and enjoy a quaint evening.

Day 4 Jianshui - Yuanyang

Built over 700 hundred years ago, the Jianshui Confucius Temple is one of the biggest Confucian temples in China. It was built to commemorate Confucius, a great Chinese philosopher who lived from 551 to 479 BC. Grand ceremonies are held twice a year, at Chinese New Year and on September 28th, Confucius’s birthday. Have lunch and take a break.

The Zhang Family Garden is a fascinating collection of traditional Chinese folk dwellings and temples. Located in Jianxin Street, the private garden of the Zhu family has a total area of 20,000 square meters.

The planned yards, gardens, and well, combined with the furnished rooms, halls, and the structure of the architecture, make this a very special place.

After the tour, take the 2-hour private transfer to Yuanyang for an overnight stay.

Day 5 Yuanyang Rice Terraces

The Yuanyang Rice Terraces are located in Honghe County. The first tribe to settle in this area and construct terraces for farming purposes was the Hani ethnic group. This incredible piece of engineering was not discovered until the 1980s and became the 45th Chinese World Heritage Site from 2013. Enjoy a spectacular view from the scenic mountain terraces at Duoyishu Village. Climb to the Tiger Mouth Pass that overlooks an extensive view of the terraces. Experience the folk culture at Qingkou Hani Ethnic Village. The highlight is visiting at sunrise and sunset when the light reflects off of the pools of water, creating a magnificent color show. Your guide will arrange lunch flexibly according to your needs. Stay one more night in Yuanyang after you capture the photo of a sunset over the rice terraces.

Day 6 Local Market - Kunming

The local market in Yuanyang attracts minorities from all around the villages. Minority people with unique customs gather in the market both to buy and sell all sorts of products. Local bazaars are usually held once a week. It is a fun way to experience the local people’s normal lifestyle.

After the visit, hop in the private vehicle and enjoy the transfer back to Kunming. It takes approximately 6 hours and your guide will arrange lunch for you to take a break.

Day 7 Kunming Departure

After breakfast in your hotel, you will be transferred to the airport in good time. Your guide will help you with all the formalities. Lijiang CITS hopes to be of service to you again.