Explore the route, then refine the details.
A China Adventure Club route through southern landscapes and local culture. Explore the operator’s itinerary outline, then refine its pace and arrangements for your dates.
Adapted from China Adventure Club’s original regional and national collection. The outline below describes the source route; your written proposal establishes the current order, overnight stops and service arrangements.
Itinerary outline
Select a route section to explore the map. Tap a stop for its location or use the directions link for the next leg. Flights, trains, cruises and hiking arrangements follow your itinerary.
1 Kunming Directions to Dali
2 Dali Directions to Erhai Lake
3 Erhai Lake Directions to Jianchuan
4 Jianchuan Directions to Tiger Leaping Gorge
5 Tiger Leaping Gorge Directions to Lijiang
6 Lijiang Directions to Kunming
7 Kunming
ITINERARY
Day 1: Warm-up in Kunming (30 kilometers/18miles of cycling)
Arrive in Kunming, known as the Spring City for its mild climate. At about 1,900 meters (6,233 feet) above sea level, it offers a pleasant setting for a warm-up ride. Cycle to the East and West Pagodas and Green Lake Park.
Overnight in Kunming today.
Day 2: Kunming to Dali (20km/12miles of biking)
We'll take a bullet train for 2 hours to Dali. A bike ride through the ancient city with its stone-paved streets, traditional-style houses, and numerous gardens is an exciting excursion, and it will also be a memorable one.
Ride to Dali’s Three Pagodas, set between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, about 1.5 kilometers northwest of the old town. The central pagoda is more than 1,100 years old. Together, the three towers form a distinctive triangular arrangement.
Day 3: Dali and Er'hai Lake (50km/30miles of biking)
After breakfast, cycle around Erhai Lake. Its shores are lined with fishing villages, Bai farming communities, temples, and historic towns. Enjoy views of the lake and surrounding mountains as you explore the area around Dali.
Cycle halfway around Erhai Lake, visiting villages, temples, and Jinsuo Island, also known as Golden Shuttle Island. Learn about local Bai communities and enjoy views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Return to Dali by boat.
Day 4: Dali-Jianchuan (B, L, D) (50km/30miles of biking)
Cycle along the old Dali–Lijiang road toward Jianchuan, passing villages and varied countryside. Stop at Shapin, a Bai community, to explore the local market. Browse regional goods and crafts, including colorful tie-dyed textiles.
In Jianchuan, visit the Jihuashan cliff-relief grottoes to learn about Yunnan’s Buddhist art and heritage. Stay overnight at a local guesthouse.
Day 5: Jianchuan-Tiger Leaping Gorge (B, L, D) (50km/30miles of biking)
Continue north alongside the Yangtze River to its First Bend, where the river changes direction sharply. The area was historically important as a crossing point and a place of trade between communities.
Arrive at Tiger Leaping Gorge, where steep mountain slopes frame the rushing Jinsha River. Explore the upper gorge near Tiger Leaping Boulder, where the river narrows between the mountains and powerful currents strike the banks.
For our time here we will spend two nights in the gorge in simple cabin-like lodgings.
Day 6: Tiger Leaping Gorge (B, L, D)
Spend the day hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge. Around midday, reach Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge on the Jinsha River, where the water narrows to about 20 meters (70 feet). Local legend tells of a tiger leaping across the river here, giving the gorge its name.
Day 7: Tiger Leaping Gorge-Lijiang (B, L, D) (50km/30miles of biking)
After the hike, cycle toward Lijiang, a city known for its Naxi cultural heritage. Stop in Baisha along the way to explore the historic town.
The Baisha Old Town is one of the oldest towns around Lijiang. It is the earliest settlement of the Naxi people and is the birthplace of "Tusi," chief of the Mu clan. In the town there are many ancient buildings built during the Ming Dynasty, including Dabaoji Palace, Liuli Temple, and Wenchang Palace. The well-known Baisha Frescoes are located in Dabaoji Palace.
On arrival in Lijiang, explore the old town’s historic districts. Discover Naxi and Han architectural influences, local crafts, and the town’s heritage as a stop on the Tea Horse Road. The old town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
Day 8: Lijiang-Kunming (B, L)
Before flying to Kunming, you’ll get one last chance to walk around the Lijiang Old Town. You’ll then go to the airport to fly back to Kunming. Once in Kunming, you will fly on to your next destination, ending your adventure tour through Yunnan.
From Lijiang to the Tiger Leaping Gorge on Google SATELLITE
You'll Experience the following
Yunnan Tour Packages
8-day
Yunnan Ethnic Minority Experience Tour
5-day
8-day
Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge Hike
8-day
Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge Cycling Trip
TAILOR-MADE TRAVEL
What to refine before booking
Protect the travel days
Review the full hotel-to-hotel transfer for every intercity leg. Avoid relying on a flight or train arriving early enough for a tightly timed major attraction unless the final schedule supports it.
Choose a comfortable pace
Confirm stairs, slopes and time on foot. Ask which optional visits can be shortened or removed, and where an additional night would make the biggest difference.
Make inclusions explicit
Request the actual hotel and room choices, guide language, vehicle arrangements, admission coverage, meals and any activity-specific support in the written quotation.
Compare another approach
For a more spacious route, explore the original journey briefs in our national and regional collections. These show overnight allocations, transfer days and the tradeoffs behind each route.