Trip Summary
The lush southwest end-to-end: pandas and Buddhist peaks in Sichuan, Dali and Lijiang's highland lakes, a Tibetan plateau breath in Shangri-La, the waterfalls of Huangguoshu and Guizhou's karst, the Li River, and a Hong Kong harbour finale.
Trip Highlights
- Panda breakfast + Leshan's river-carved Buddha
- Golden Summit sunrise on Mt Emei
- Erhai lake cycling and the Three Pagodas
- Tiger Leaping Gorge and Shangri-La monasteries
- Huangguoshu — Asia's largest waterfall curtain
Day by Day
Day 1 — Chengdu
Arrive; Jinli lanterns.
Flight in · Chengduinternational flights, destination pre-filledBook → Stay · Kuanzhai Alleyold lanes by People's ParkBook → Car rental · Chengdupick up at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on arrivalBook → 
Day 2 — Chengdu
Pandas + People's Park + Kuanzhai.
Stay · Kuanzhai Alleyold lanes by People's ParkBook → 
Day 3 — Leshan
HSR; Giant Buddha by boat; on to Emeishan.
Stay · Kuanzhai Alleyold lanes by People's ParkBook → Tickets · Leshan Giant Buddhaskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 4 — Emei summit
Bus + cable; Golden Summit sunset.
Chengdu → Leshan trainHigh-speed rail ~1 hBook → Stay · Mount EmeiGolden Summit-area hotel for sunriseBook → Car rental · Leshanpick up at Leshan Railway Station on arrivalBook → Tickets · Mount Emeiskip-the-line entryBook → Day 5 — Descend → Kunming
Qingyin pavilion monkeys; afternoon HSR/flight to Kunming.
Chengdu → Kunming flightDirect ~1.5 hBook → Stay · Green Lake Parkold quarter by the lakeBook → Car rental · Kunmingpick up at Kunming Changshui International Airport on arrivalBook → 
Day 6 — Stone Forest → Dali
Pinnacles morning; afternoon train.
Kunming → Dali trainHSR ~2 hBook → Stay · Dali Old TownSouth Gate quarterBook → Car rental · Dalipick up at Dali Railway Station on arrivalBook → Tickets · Stone Forestskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 7 — Dali
Pagodas + Erhai e-bike loop.
Stay · Dali Old TownSouth Gate quarterBook → Tickets · Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple Cultural Tourism Zoneskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 8 — Lijiang
Train; old town.
Dali → Lijiang trainHSR ~2 hBook → Stay · Lijiang Old Towncanal-laced Naxi quarterBook → Car rental · Lijiangpick up at Lijiang Railway Station on arrivalBook → Tickets · Old Town of Lijiangskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 9 — Snow mountain
Glacier cable + Blue Moon Valley.
Stay · Lijiang Old Towncanal-laced Naxi quarterBook → Tickets · Yulongskip-the-line entryBook → Day 10 — Gorge drive
Tiger Leaping Gorge to Shangri-La (3,200 m).
Stay · Lijiang Old Towncanal-laced Naxi quarterBook → Day 11 — Shangri-La
Songzanlin dawn; old town butter tea.
Lijiang → Shangri-La trainLijiang-Shangri-La rail ~1.5 hBook → Stay · Dukezong Old TownTibetan old town — wood-burning stoves and butter teaBook → Car rental · Shangri-Lapick up at Shangri-La Railway Station on arrivalBook → Day 12 — To Guiyang
Flight; Jiaxiu tower night.
Shangri-La → Kunming flightDirect ~1.5 hBook → Kunming → Guiyang trainHSR ~2.5 hBook → Stay · Jiaxiu Towerriverfront by the lit night towerBook → Car rental · Guiyangpick up at Guiyang North Railway Station on arrivalBook → 
Day 13 — Huangguoshu → Guilin
Waterfall day; evening HSR to Guilin.
Guiyang → Guilin trainHSR ~2.5 hBook → Stay · Elephant Trunk Hillcentral lakes quarterBook → Car rental · Guilinpick up at Guilin North Railway Station on arrivalBook → Tickets · Huangguoshu Waterfallskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 14 — Li River
Cruise to Yangshuo; West Street night.
Stay · Elephant Trunk Hillcentral lakes quarterBook → Tickets · Li Riverskip-the-line entryBook → Day 15 — To Hong Kong
HSR Guilin→HK West Kowloon 4 h; Victoria Peak farewell.
Guilin → Hong Kong flightDirect ~1.5 hBook → Car rental · Hong Kongpick up at Hong Kong International Airport on arrivalBook → Flight out · Hong Kongdeparture flights from Hong Kong, destination openBook → 
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