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Sichuan Yunnan Explorer 15D Map

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Day 1

Arrival in Chengdu… I’m filled with anticipation…
You arrive in Chengdu according to your own arrangements at any time.

Day 2

Getting your Chinese driving license… and seeing a bit of Chengdu
There are two steps to getting your license: one is to assess your basic fitness to drive (e.g., test your eyesight); the other is to apply for the license itself. We will have all the documents ready; you will just need to show up and sign. In between the formalities, we’ll make sure to give you a taste of Chengdu. The day ends with a dinner together and a genuine Chengdu foot massage.

Day 3

Chengdu to Mount Emei… and a visit to the world’s largest Buddha statue en route
You’re on the road in China! Leaving Chengdu, you will first drive on a broad, world-class highway embedded in rice fields and tea groves. As you drive, gradually the air gets fresher and the landscape greener until you arrive at the site of the Leshan Big Buddha. This, your first day of being on the road, is very relaxed – there is ample time to wander around the lovely, lush park in which this enormous stone Buddha statue is situated. In the afternoon, you take a small detour to the Thousand Buddha Cliffs. In these cliffs, situated by a lovely river, thousands of Buddha statues have been carved.  From there it’s a short drive to the city of Emei, at the foot of 3,000m high Mount Emei, where you’ll stay overnight. 

Day 4

A day under the spell of fabled Mount Emei
Mount Emei is one of China’s four sacred Buddhist Mountains, and its slopes are dotted with ancient temples and monasteries. On a clear day, the view from the top of the mountain is spectacular – sometimes you’ll be able to see all the way to Sichuan’s tallest mountain, Mount Gongga (7,556m).  Even if the weather isn’t perfectly clear, Mount Emei shrouded in mist and cloud can be just as bewitching. Today the pace is leisurely, leaving you with plenty of time to immerse yourself in the history and explore the sights of this wonderful mountain.

Day 5

Into the heart of rural Sichuan…
Today you begin to ascend the eastern edge of Tibetan Plateau. Today’s route goes through some of the most remote and seldom visited parts of Sichuan.  The road winds through rural areas where foreigners are rarely seen, taking you right into the heart of rural China and the homeland of the Yi people. Sadly, the opportunity to travel these roads will soon be lost - a highway is under construction in a neighboring valley, which will cut travel time to Xichang, our overnight stop, in half, but will also inevitably change the centuries-old way of life in these isolated valleys.

Day 6

Up into the highlands and a first glimpse of Lake Lugu
Your destination today is Lake Lugu, a beautiful alpine lake. Lake Lugu straddles the border between Sichuan and Yunnan – the lake’s northern shores are in Sichuan, the southern shores are in Yunnan. The drive to Lake Lugu from Xichang takes you further into the highlands, driving through deep gorges and along fast-moving rivers. Before you know it, you’ll have reached 3,000m – today’s highest point – from which you’ll descend to Lake Lugu which lies at 2,600m. You will spend the night at a lovely, newly opened boutique hotel.

Day 7

The shores of lovely Lake Lugu…
In the morning, you can do a charming hike through the coniferous forests surrounding Lake Lugu to a pretty picnic spot. In the afternoon, you can relax at the hotel with a good book or visit one of the oldest Mosuo houses on the Sichuanese shore of Lake Lugu. The Mosuo are the main ethnic minority in this region – in the past they practiced an intriguing form of matriarchy that has given rise to stories about the licentiousness of Mosuo women.  During your visit, you will learn what is fact and what is fiction!

Day 8

Into Yunnan and the old town of Lijiang…
Today’s drive to Lijiang will take you into Yunnan for the second half of the journey. It is a moderately long drive across a spectacular mountainous region. During this drive, you’ll come across the only non-paved section of road on this trip – a good part of it is paved with old-fashioned cobble stones!

By mid-afternoon you’ll arrive in the old town of Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will stay in a charming boutique hotel in the centre of the old town.

Day 9

In and around Lijiang
There is enough to do in and around Lijiang to fill a week, ranging from a trip on horseback up Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to a drive to the stunning Tiger Leaping Gorge, or from a visit to neighboring village Shuhe to simply strolling around Lijiang shopping for local, handmade souvenirs. The choice is yours today, and we are always happy to make arrangements on your behalf.

Day 10

Via Dali, on the way south…
It is time to leave Lijiang behind and drive further south to see more of Yunnan’s charms. Today you’ll enjoy driving along Yunnan’s excellent roads - among the best in China. In the morning, you’ll drive from Lijiang to Dali, on the western edge of Lake Erhai. After Lijiang, Dali is not quite worth staying for a day, but after a leisurely lunch it is worth exploring for a few hours.  Then you’ll drive on to Chuxiong for an overnight stop-over on the way south.  Chuxiong is an Yi minority centre and you will enjoy exploring this very typical, small Chinese town in the evening.

Day 11

Chuxiong to Jianshui… a day of spectacular roads…
Today we’ve chosen a county road that is among the most enjoyable Peter has ever driven on in all his time driving in China.  There is little traffic, and it leads through remote parts of Yunnan that are lush, green and hilly. Today’s itinerary is perfect for celebrating the sheer pleasure of driving. You stay overnight in Jianshui, the last stop before arriving at the spectacular terraced rice fields of Yuanyang. 

Day 12

Into Central Yunnan and to beautiful Yuanyang
Today your journey continues on a mixture of excellent highways, broad, sweeping country roads and winding mountain road into the heart of Yuanyang after a short drive of 3-4 hours.  As soon as you arrive in the old town of Yuanyang in the remote mountains of central Yunnan, you’ll be enchanted by the romantic villages and the stunningly beautiful rice fields that the farmers have cultivated through back-breaking labour for hundreds and hundreds of years.

Day 13

Amidst the splendor of the terraced rice paddies…
Whether at sunrise or sunset or, in fact, any time during the day, these rice paddies are an amazing sight to behold, as are the small, charming villages that dot the hills, many of them reminiscent of villages in the Italian or French Alps.   Your leisurely day in Yuanyang is perfect for dreaming and reflecting on life as you slow your pace to match the unhurried and eternal rhythm of life here.

Day 14

Sadly, it is time to return…
Your drive to Kunming today is lovely and easy, but the contrast between Yuanyang and the provincial capital couldn’t be starker. In the evening, you will fly back to Chengdu – a short hop of just over an hour.  Upon arriving in Chengdu, you will enjoy a sumptuous Sichuanese dinner at one of Chengdu’s finest restaurants – a time to reminisce and just have a good time with the friends you’ve made!

If you would like to see more of Kunming, we can arrange for you to stay longer and explore Kunming and its surroundings.

Day 15

Back in Chengdu…’Life goes on’…
Schedule your return/onward journey as you wish, or we can help you make arrangements for sight-seeing in and around Chengdu. Why not pamper yourself by extending your journey with our 3-day Culinary Chengdu package?