Yunnan Tours

Yunnan Province has a unique climate, influenced by its high altitude and southern latitude, which makes it comfortable all year round. It rains a lot in the springtime in Yunnan. Summers are not very hot and temperatures rarely exceed 27°C/80°F. Winters are not very cold, with temperatures ranging from 8°C/46°F to 17°C/63°F. Because of its mild climate, Yunnan is worth a visit at any time of the year. No matter what time of year you visit Yunnan, be sure to bring a thin jacket because it may get very cold at night.

Kunming is Yunnan's provincial capital and the only mega-city in Yunnan. The temperature difference in Kunming is similar throughout the year, but its daily temperature difference is very large. The best time to visit Kunming is from March to October. At that time, Yunnan's ethnic minority festivals are most frequent and flowers are in full bloom. May to October is the rainy season in Yunnan, so don't forget to bring a windbreaker and rain gear.

Dali has a long history and is one of the earliest cultural birthplaces of Yunnan. The best time to visit Dali is in spring. Dali is heavily influenced by the low latitude plateau monsoon climate and the seasons do not change significantly. Dali is home to a large number of Bai people, and their festivals are held from March to April. At that time, you can experience unique ethnic customs.

Xishuangbanna is the only tropical rainforest nature reserve in China, which has a lot of rare animals and plants. The best time of year to visit Xishuangbanna is from October to June. Xishuangbanna is a Dai autonomous prefecture. Every mid-April, the Water-Sprinkling Festival is held here. The festival is the most influential and well-attended celebration among Yunnan's ethnic minorities.

The best time to visit Lijiang is during the spring and summer months. April and May are the most beautiful time in Lijiang. At that time, the lush flowers, trees, and blue sky look like a fairyland. The azaleas in Lijiang bloom in spring and are beautiful. In summer and autumn, it rains a lot in Lijiang, so bring your rain gear.

The best time to visit Shangri-La is from May to July and September to October. May to June is the period for viewing rhododendron, yaks, and alpine meadows. In July, the Tiger Leaping Gorge is most magnificent. It is good for seeing wolfsbane flowers and autumn scenery in September and October. However, the temperature difference in Shangri-La is also large, so you need to bring extra clothes to keep warm.

Dali has a long history and is one of the earliest cultural birthplaces of Yunnan. The best time to visit Dali is in spring. Dali is heavily influenced by the low latitude plateau monsoon climate and the seasons do not change significantly. Dali is home to a large number of Bai people, and their festivals are held from March to April. At that time, you can experience unique ethnic customs.

Xishuangbanna is the only tropical rainforest nature reserve in China, which has a lot of rare animals and plants. The best time of year to visit Xishuangbanna is from October to June. Xishuangbanna is a Dai autonomous prefecture. Every mid-April, the Water-Sprinkling Festival is held here. The festival is the most influential and well-attended celebration among Yunnan's ethnic minorities.

The best time to visit Lijiang is during the spring and summer months. April and May are the most beautiful time in Lijiang. At that time, the lush flowers, trees, and blue sky look like a fairyland. The azaleas in Lijiang bloom in spring and are beautiful. In summer and autumn, it rains a lot in Lijiang, so bring your rain gear.

The best time to visit Shangri-La is from May to July and September to October. May to June is the period for viewing rhododendron, yaks, and alpine meadows. In July, the Tiger Leaping Gorge is most magnificent. It is good for seeing wolfsbane flowers and autumn scenery in September and October. However, the temperature difference in Shangri-La is also large, so you need to bring extra clothes to keep warm.

First, we recommend that you bring comfortable shoes. Because you will walk a lot, and comfortable shoes are a must. Secondly, we recommend bringing sunscreen and light outerwear. This is because Yunnan has very strong UV rays and the temperature difference between morning and evening is quite large. If you are a photographer, remember to bring your camera. Otherwise, you will regret missing out on the beautiful scenery.

Kunming is the transportation hub for the whole province of Yunnan. Kunming Airport is well connected to many Chinese cities including Shanghai and Beijing. In addition to taking flights, you can also reach Kunming by high-speed train. In Yunnan, there are many options for getting around, such as cabs, buses, minibuses, and, of course, private cars. Bicycles are also available for rent at some attractions.

For visitors, accommodation is one of the most important parts of their Yunnan tour. In Yunnan Province, a wide variety of hotels are available for visitors from China and overseas. There are many hotels in Yunnan ranging from three to five stars to choose from. Most are located in city centers and some are located near the most famous and popular attractions. We have selected hotels that meet our quality standards. The hotel concierge speaks English, so the language is not an issue. They will welcome you with great enthusiasm and do their best to make you feel at home. The hotels we have chosen are not only relaxing and restful after your tour, but they are also usually close to shopping malls and restaurants, making them convenient for dining and shopping.

There are no star hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge. There are only small hotels and guest houses. While lacking some of the amenities of larger hotels, these hotels and guest houses are family-owned and operated and very clean. And the operators of these small hotels are very hospitable.

The Yunnan people are exceptionally good at making local ingredients and are known for cooking delicacies, freshwater fish, and vegetables with a sour, spicy, and slightly numb taste. They also choose tropical fruits and flowers as ingredients. Each of Yunnan's ethnic groups has its own specialties, so foreigners often have a novel tongue experience in Yunnan. So, we suggest you try the local Yunnan food first. We are sure you will like it. Yunnan also has many western restaurants, as well as fast-food restaurants such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and KFC.

You cannot use the foreign currency directly in Yunnan, but you can exchange it at the branches of the Bank of China throughout Yunnan. Most star-rated hotels and fine dining restaurants in Yunnan Province accept credit cards. The hotel you stay at can also exchange cash for you. However, credit cards are not accepted at small hotels and restaurants. If you are afraid that you will not be able to exchange RMB, it is recommended that you exchange small amounts of RMB in advance in your country just in case.

In different seasons, the terraced rice fields in Yuanyang present different scenery. In autumn, the rice fields are filled with water. During this period, the morning glow and evening sunset is reflected on the water surface and the terraces turn golden. In winter, the terrace fields sometimes wear colorful clothes and sometimes white coats. In spring, plowing cows work in the rice fields while the local Hani people plant rice. After a few days, the whole terraced fields turn green and look so vibrant together with the green mountains. In summer, the sea of clouds over the rice fields changes a lot, looking like a beautiful Chinese painting. Visitors can come all year round, and the best time for photographers is from November to March.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is not only majestic but also shows different views with the change of seasons. Even in the daytime, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is changing in a thousand ways. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is as green as grass at the foot but covered with snow at the top, making the high mountain plateau climate obvious. The best time to visit Yulong Snow Mountain is from November to March. During this time, the weather is clear, the air is dry, and the snow-capped mountains shine in the sun. Whether visited or photographed, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is most charming during this time.

Lugu Lake is the home of the Mosuo people. The Mosuo is an ethnic minority community of about 40,000 people who have lived near Lugu Lake for generations. The Mosuo tribe is recognized as the last matriarchal society in the world. This is why it is also known as the Land of the Women. Mosuo is a matrilineal tribe where the society and family are led by women. Women have absolute ownership of family property and their children. Lugu Lake is ice-free all year round and has plenty of sunshine. Visitors can enjoy different scenery in different seasons throughout the year. But the best time to visit is from March to October when you can see the most beautiful scenery on the lake. Except for July to September, it rarely rains. Even if it rains, it doesn't last long.

Yunnan is known as a treasure trove of natural resources and minority cultures. Yunnan has many specialty products that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. So it is a famous shopping destination in China.

Embroidery: Dai embroidery was created by Dai women and is known for its high level of quality. Almost every Dai woman learns to embroider at a very young age and it is an integral part of Dai culture. Dai embroidery is known for its unique patterns and beautiful bright colors. There are many themes of Dai embroidery and each theme has its own meaning. These designs have been passed down from generation to generation.

Dai Tie-Dye: The Dai people are famous for their tie-dyed cloth. Dai tie-dye patterns feature animals, flowers, dragons and phoenixes, and geometric designs. This fabric is used for many items including tablecloths, clothing, bags and purses, hats, etc. You can also buy a tie-dyed dress if you like ethnic costumes.

Pu'er Tea: Pu'er tea is one of the most famous teas in China and has a long history. Pu'er tea has a strong aroma and bright red tea water. It is like a bottle of fine wine. The more it ages, the better it tastes. Aged Pu'er tea can even sell for tens of thousands of dollars. If you like to drink tea, you must not miss it.

Yunnan Baiyao: In 1914, a folk doctor invented Baiyao Powder in Kunming. This medicine is made from a variety of valuable herbs and is said to heal almost all wounds. Yunnan Baiyao has the ability to resolve blood stasis and stop bleeding, invigorate the blood to relieve pain and detoxify and reduce swelling. Therefore it is also a common medicine for the Chinese people.

The ancient towns of Dali and Lijiang have always been major attractions on every Yunnan tourist's travel itinerary, but they are not the only ones in Yunnan Province. If the Dali Ancient Town and Lijiang Ancient Town no longer attract you, then check out these towns that time forgot.

Shaxi Ancient Town
Shaxi is an ancient town with a long history, once part of the Ancient Tea Horse Route. Shaxi ancient town is smaller than both Dali and Lijiang, and not as modern as Dali and Lijiang. It will give you more of a sense of history. There is a century-old stone bridge in Shaxi Ancient Town that is worth your visit.

Baisha Ancient Town
Baisha is not far from the Lijiang Ancient Town and is relatively close to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Baisha is most famous for its ancient Buddhist murals.

Jianshui Ancient City
If you are going to see the famous terraced rice fields in Yuanyang, you can stop at Jianshui. Jianshui is only a few hours away from Kunming and is home to many beautiful and well-preserved Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings.