Chase the Shadow and Light in the Glamorous Yunnan Tour

Package Overview

Lying in the southwest of China, Yunnan is well known for its magnificent landscapes and enchanting natural scenes. On the “Tropic of Cancer”, only here in Yunnan can you find such diverse landscapes with sky-piercing snow mountains, thick primeval forests, mysterious deep valleys, torrential rivers, calm and limpid highland lakes, and many wonderful Karst mountains and caves. In this photo safari, we are scanning a wide range of landscape including Shilin stone forest, Yuanmou earth forest, Jianshui swallow karst caves, Dongchuan red soil field, Jiulong waterfall in the eastern Yunnan. We will collect the curves of those wonders through the lens.

The landscape in Yunnan is never a master piece only by the mother nature but also been crafted by its intelligent and romantic residents. Inhabited by 26 ethnic nationalities, the Province is well known for its greatest number of ethnic groups in China. The minorities show strong identities by their unique ethnic folk customs distinct from the Han Chinese. They moved the “rice culture” from plain to the mountains and created an engraving art of the land. Hani people's resilient land management system of the rice terraces in Yunnan demonstrates extraordinary harmony between people and their environment, both visually and ecologically, making Honghe Hani rice terrace the representative of this rice terrace culture and be listed in the UNESCO sites. We are going to the best place to view the terraced fields in Yuanyang, and venture Luoping for the most beautiful rape flower field to record those splendid culture landscape by our camera.

The pleasant climate in Yunnan is another blessing from the mother nature. Wherever you go in Yunnan, you will always encounter with beautiful sunny days which is a big bonus for photographers. The warm sunshine will delight your body as well as the nature and people in your frame. Any season you come to visit the rice terraces Yunnan, you will be treated fairly. The mountains are always capped with snow while it is forever summer in the tropical river valleys. And the friendly local people are always enjoying their peaceful life in the sunbath regardless of those ever-changing visitors. It is a corner forgotten by the world, a corner that you will never forget.

Highlight

• Diverse landscape photography. We will search throughout the eastern part of Yunnan for all the unique geological wonders, Shilin stone forest---the name card of Kunming, the famous earth forest in Yuanmou, the world second marvelous red soil field in Dongchuan following the one in Rio Brazil, "the biggest and most splendid Karst cave in Asia"---Jianshui swallow cave etc.
Dongchuan red soil field

• Colorful ethnic minority customs. Yunan has the highest number of ethnic groups among all provinces and autonomous regions in China. Among the country's 56 ethnic groups, 25 are found in Yunan. In the long process of Historic evolution and through exchanging and blending their outstanding cultures, each of those ethnic nationalities has formed its specialized and colorful ethnic culture and art. We are going to experience their culture and authentic remote countryside lifestyle by joining their daily life and big festivals along the way.
Minority lady

• Pastoral scenery photography. In the low mountainous areas, high mountain peaks or river valleys, the smart minority people added new curves of the landscape by diligently cultivating on their homeland. We will capture the earliest blossom of rape flower field in China and dance with reflections of the famous wonder Hani rice terrace in Yuanyang where the mountains are covered with terraces extending 2,000 meters, from the mountain top down to the valley while famers ploughing in the field on the misty mountain slope with their reflection in the water.
Foggy morning in the rape flower sea in Luoping

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Day wise Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive Kunming

  Arrive at Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province. We will meet you up at airport and check in hotel.
  
  Kunming is known as 'the City of Eternal Spring' for its pleasant climate and flowers blooming all year long. With a history of more than 2,400 years, it was the gateway to the celebrated silk road that facilitated trade with Tibet, Sichuan, Myanmar and India. (We would like to help you with the booking of domestic flight upon your request.)
  Overnight:Kunming

• Day 2 : Kunming City Tour

  We start the first day with a nice breakfast slowly in the morning to adjust the time difference. Today, we will arrange a short day tour in Kunming. In the late afternoon, we depart for Shilin stone forest.
  
  Yunnan Province is well known as a “live museum of minority ethnic groups”. We are going to the Yunnan Nationalities Museum located by Dian Lake (Dian chi) to have an overview of the colorful minority culture. Our local guide will tell you many stories about their customs and history.
  Overnight: Shilin scenic area

• Day 3 : Shilin Stone Forest

  The Stone Forest National Park is located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County of Yunnan Province, 80 kilometers southeast of Kunming City. It covers 350 square kilometers and consists of Major Stone Forest, Naigu Stone Forest, Changhu Lake, Grand Waterfall, etc. The Stone Forest displays the richest morphological features. Due to its unique geological evolution, numerous stone forest clusters that formed in different geological periods coexist in varied topography, each with its particular features. There are pinnacle-shaped, column-shaped, mushroom-shaped, and pagoda-shaped groups. Since almost all the typical pinnacle karst types can be identified in the Stone Forest, the park is acclaimed internationally the "Museum of Stone Forest karst".
  
  After the “Museum” above the ground, we will dive deep underneath for the wonder of Karst caves. Leaving Shilin, we will stop by Jiuxiang which boasts its caves as the largest in scale and number (there are about a hundred karst caves) and has the most wonderful in-cave scenes in China. You'll marvel at its natural stone masterpieces and be bewitched by the intricate formations.
  
  We will drive to Luoping in the late afternoon.
  Overnight: Luoping

• Day 4 : Luoping Waterfall and Gorge Scenery

  Most of the visitors go to Luoping for the rape flower sea. In the early morning we drive to Jinjilin to photograph sunrise if the weather permits. Jinjilin is a lonely peak cluster isolated in the flower sea. The hills look like some ships floating in the ocean which makes a unique picture.
  
  Then we drive to Jiulong Waterfalls, which is ranked among the “Top Six Most Beautiful Waterfalls in China” by China National Geographic Magazine. It will be another amazing scenery combining rape flower and the magnificent running waterfall.
  
  The last stop of the day would be Lubuge Gorge. The Luguge Canyon is a storage reservoir of the Luguge Hydroelectric Power Station with a 19.8-kilometer-long tranquil lake which was originally an extremely turbulent section of the Huangni River before the construction. The canyon is full of cliffs in various life-like images. A steamer trip will take you into a fairyland.
  Overnight: Luoping

• Day 5 : Luoping Rape Flower Field

  In the morning, we pay a visit to the scenic Duoyihe Scenic Area, we will spend about 2 hours there and drive back to Niujie or Bull Street to take photos of rape flowers. After late lunch we drive to Qiubei and stop by Puzhehei.
  
  Puzhehei Scenic Resort is located in Qiubei County of Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Nationalities Autonomous Prefecture. The scenic area is consisted of clusters of lakes, limestone peaks and karst caves. The beautiful scenes are enhanced by numerous peaks standing amidst limpid water, patches of lotus leaves dotting the lakes and fishing boats seen here and there. The resort is praised as "Guilin of Southern Yunnan” because its mountains and lake water look so similar to and perhaps are even more beautiful than those in Guilin.
  Overnight: Puzhehei

• Day 6 : Bamei Countryside Scenery

  We will leave in the morning and drive to Bamei. The famous Chinese litterateur Tao Yuanming who lived during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) once told of a Peach Blossom Valley isolated from the hustle and bustle of the ordinary world. People lived there in peaceful, serene isolation. The description of Tao Yuanming came true when Bamei Village was discovered.
  
  Located thirty kilometers (about nineteen miles) from Guangnan County in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, the village is hard to find because of its unique location. It is surrounded by hills, and visitors have to travel by small boat through a long, dark limestone tunnel. In the dark, you feel as if you are going back in time. When you emerge from the tunnel you will be amazed. In a hidden valley, in a grove of green bamboos and old trees, lies Bamei Village. A blue stream gently flows by, and hard-working farmers silently till the green fields. It's a picture of another lost Shangri-La. It is an ideal destination for pastoral scene photography.
  Overnight: Bamei

• Day 7 : Bamei

  In the morning, we spend the morning to explore Baimei Village. After lunch we drive to Wenshan County.
  Overnight: Wenshan

• Day 8 : Yuanyang Rice Terrace

  Today we will drive to Yuan Yang, which was once crowned as one of the China's 17 most attractive scenic places. It is located in the depth of the Ailao Mountains in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Yuanyang becomes a big draw to tourists and photographers for the amazing rice-terraces built on the red-soil mountains.
  
  The first day in Yuanyang, we drive to Duoyishu to photograph sunrise in the early morning. We spend the next two days to explore the rice terrace and experience life of local minorities who created this great wonder. Yuanyang Rice Terraces are known as the world's largest and most spectacular rice terraces. The incredible rice terraces in Yuanyang allows us to explore China's most beautiful and peaceful countryside with great freedom.
  Overnight: Yuanyang

• Day 9 : Yuanyang Rice Terrace

  Today we will drive to Yuan Yang, which was once crowned as one of the China's 17 most attractive scenic places. It is located in the depth of the Ailao Mountains in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Yuanyang becomes a big draw to tourists and photographers for the amazing rice-terraces built on the red-soil mountains.
  
  The first day in Yuanyang, we drive to Duoyishu to photograph sunrise in the early morning. We spend the next two days to explore the rice terrace and experience life of local minorities who created this great wonder. Yuanyang Rice Terraces are known as the world's largest and most spectacular rice terraces. The incredible rice terraces in Yuanyang allows us to explore China's most beautiful and peaceful countryside with great freedom.
  Overnight: Yuanyang

• Day 10 : Yuanyang Rice Terrace

  Today we will drive to Yuan Yang, which was once crowned as one of the China's 17 most attractive scenic places. It is located in the depth of the Ailao Mountains in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Yuanyang becomes a big draw to tourists and photographers for the amazing rice-terraces built on the red-soil mountains.
  
  The first day in Yuanyang, we drive to Duoyishu to photograph sunrise in the early morning. We spend the next two days to explore the rice terrace and experience life of local minorities who created this great wonder. Yuanyang Rice Terraces are known as the world's largest and most spectacular rice terraces. The incredible rice terraces in Yuanyang allows us to explore China's most beautiful and peaceful countryside with great freedom.
  Overnight: Yuanyang

• Day 11 : Tonghai Jianshui Karst Cave

  After breakfast, we start our trip to our next destination, Tonghai, en route we will pay a visit to Jianshui Ancient City and the famous natural scenery Swallow Cave which is known as one of "the biggest and most splendid cave in Asia".
  
  Jianshui Swallow Cave consists of a dry cave, a water cave and a 30,000-square-meter natural forest, with a total area of 100,000 square meters. Every year between spring and summer, thousands of swallows will fly here from Malaysia, building nests and giving birth to and raising young swallows. Thus it is named "the Swallow Cave”.
  Overnight: Tonghai

• Day 12 : Drive to Dongchuan Red Soil Land

  Today we will have a long drive toward Dongchuan to photograph the red soil field. After breakfast, we make a short visit to Mongolian village in Xingmeng Township. Situated under the foot of Fenghuang Mountain, Xingmeng Mongolia Nationality township is the only dwelling area of Mongolia nationality in Yunnan. It will be very interesting to check out the life of this northern ethnic far away home.
  Overnight: Dongchuan

• Day 13 : Dongchuan Red Soil Land

  In the morning we start photographing red soil in different locations. This area boasts the most typical and featured red soil in Yunnan. The brilliant red soil, the yellow buckwheat and the dramatic skies make the region around Dongchuan a paradise for photographers. After the program in Dongchuan, we drive to Yuanmou for the last wonder--- earth forest.
  Overnight: Yuanmou

• Day 14 : Yuanmou Earth Forest the Earth Forest in Yuanmou

  The Earth Forest in Yuanmou, a provincial-class scenic spots made up of five areas. It was formed by geological movement and soil erosion one or two million years ago. It is named for its shape like immense forest and the main composition of the expansion earth. The Earth Forest, the Stone Forest and the Colorful Sand Forest in Luliang are called "the Three Forest in Yunnan".
  
  Driving back to Kunming, we are having a farewell dinner and end this trip.
  Overnight: Kunming

• Day 15 : Kunming

  Flying back home via Kunming

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Inclusions

• Hotel
• Sightseeing

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Terms & Conditions

Payment Terms & Methods :
* Some Advance Percentage of total booking amount
* Airfare/Transport fare to be paid full at one time in advance.

Cancellation & Refund Policy :
* Upon cancellation, refund will be made after deducting the Retention Amount.
* Retention Amount varies as per the number of days left before your package start date.

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