14 Days Southwest China Tour

Guangzhou, Guilin, Longsheng, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la

Traveler Reviews

Tour Code: TCT-Yunnan-06

Tour Type: Private Tour

Tour Highlights:

This 14 Days Southest China Tour is arranged to visit Guilin and Yunnan Province,

The amazing journey experience to enjoy the best of natural scenery and the unique and the most diverse minority custom.

Spend days exploring the fabulous Li River and  the famous rice terraces and Zhuang and Yao minority villages in Longsheng beyond Guilin.
 

Best Travel Time: Suitable for the whole year, best from April to November.

From $ 1805

Free Inquiry

Day 1Arrival Guangzhou
Transfer service to hotel

Meals: No meal
Accommodation: In Guangzhou

Arrive in Guangzhou, you will be met at the airport & transferred to your hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.

Guangzhou City View
Guangzhou City View

Day 2Guangzhou - Guilin
Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall, Temple of Chen Family, Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, Take high speed train to Guilin

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:In Guilin

Today, you will take a half day city tour of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall - one of the most important historic buildings in Canton and is built to honor Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the great architect of Chinese revolution, Temple of Chen Family - one of the most culturally unique complexes in Southern China, Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, which enshrines three Buddhist statuses in its Grand Hall, which were cast in the Qing Dynasty in 1663.  then in the late afternoon, be transferred to railway station to take high speed train for Guilin.

Temple of Chen Family
Temple of Chen Family

Day 3Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin
Li River Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:In Guilin

Depart from hotel in the morning, you will be transferred to the Pier for the Li River Cruise (about 4 hours and the lunch will be served on board). Savor the fairy-tale scenery when sail down the meandering river to Yangshuo. Be transferred back to Guilin in the late afternoon. Optional Four Lakes Night Cruise is available tonight.(your own expense).

Li River
Li River

Day 4Guilin
Longji Rice Terraces, Ping'an Zhuang Village, Drive back to Guilin

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Guilin

Depart from hotel in the morning, you will take about 2.5hours driving to Longsheng and visit the marvelous Longji Rice Terraces and Ping'an Zhuang Village. After the tour, drive back to Guilin City.

Longji Rice Terraces
Longji Rice Terraces


Day 5Guilin
Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill, Free at leisure for the rest of the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:In Guilin

In the morning, visit Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill which is regarded as the symbol of Guilin. Free at leisure for the rest of the day. 

Elephant Trunk Hill
Elephant Trunk Hill

Day 6Guilin - Kunming
Free leisure time, Take high speed train to Kunming

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Kunming

Enjoy a leisure morning, check out and you will be transferred to train station to catch the high speed train for Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan province, regarded as " City of Spring"

Our local guide will meet you at the exit and transfer you to check in hotel. 

Day 7Kunming - Dali
Stone Forest, Take bullet train to Dali

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:In Dali

In the morning, our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and visit the Spring City. Enjoy morning leisure tour to Green Lake which is peaceful and a public park for local people. You will see musicians singing and playing and you can also take a paddle boat out and relax on the lake. After that, go directly to The Stone Forest which is known as the First Wonder of the World and typical karst landform. The magnificent, strange and steep landscape of the Stone Forest creates countless labyrinthine vistas, all of which feature stones in various formations. Animals, plants, and even human figures can be found here. Then transfer to Kunming South Train Station to take a D-train to Dali (duration: 2.5 hours). You will see different landscape of Yunnan on the train.

Stone Forest
Stone Forest

Day 8Dali
Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake, Dali Ancient Town

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:In Dali

Dali enjoys a very high fame for its four grand scenes, namely, Xiaguan's wind, Shangguan's flowers, Mt. Cangshan's snow and Erhai's moon. In the morning, enjoy leisure tour to Three Pagodas. The elegant, balanced and stately style is unique in China's ancient Buddhist architectures, which makes it a must-see in the tour of Dali. Hiking to the top is highly recommended where you can get full view of Dali old town and Erhai Lake. The reflection park is also a nice place to capture the classical photo with three Pagodas’ reflection. People nowadays regard Xizhou as a town that is famous for the Bai minority culture. After that, we will drive to the ecological corridor of Erhai Lake, enjoy the beautiful lake view. Biking along the lake is available, depending on your physical condition and personal request. . Erhai Lake was formed by the subsidence of geological fault. It is reputed as the pearl on plateau for its beautiful scenery. Then we will have a visit to Zhoucheng, where you can enjoy the typical Bai architectures and you have chance to learn tie-dyeing. Back to hotel and enjoy your free time at Dali Ancient Town. Unlike any other Chinese town, the traditional Bai ethnic folk houses give the town distinctive feeling

Three Pagodas
Congsheng Three Pagodas

Day 9Dali
Cangshan Mountain, Xizhou Bai's House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:In Dali

After hotel breakfast, you will spend the morning on Cangshan Mountain. The cable car service will be arranged up to Jade Belt gallery road and you can hike on Cangshan Mountain and have chance to visit Taoist temple and find the precious vegetation on the mountain. In a sunny day, the crystal water of Erhai Lake and the snow mantled Mt. Cangshan radiate with each other forming a beautiful picture. In the afternoon, take a short visit to Xizhou Bai's Houses. People nowadays regard Xizhou as a town that is famous for the Bai minority culture. The old houses and streets are well preserved, through which visitors may still find some traces of past glory. And then you can choose to take a bicycle riding along Erhai Lake by yourself. A leisure day is arranged for you today.

Erhai Lake
Erhai Lake

Day 10Dali - Lijiang
Take train to Lijiang, Lijiang Old Town

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lijiang

Enjoy your peaceful time in the morning at the ancient town and then check out. You will be transferred to train station to take train (duration: around 2 hours) to Lijiang, where the local guide is waiting for you.  Check in at the hotel in Lijiang Old Town after lunch and take a rest in the room. In the afternoon, enjoy your free time at Lijiang Ancient town, which is perfectly adapted to the uneven topography of this key commercial and strategic site. We will give you a map of Lijiang old town. We would suggest you Sifang Street for the vivid nights and Lion Mountain for the panoramic view of Lijiang old town.

Lijiang Ancient Town
Lijiang Ancient Town

Day 11Lijiang
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yufeng Temple, Baisha Mural, Black Dragon Pond Park, Dongba Writing

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lijiang

Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and start today’s tour. Drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and take cable car up to the Mountain. We will arrange the visit to Glacier Park at 4506 meters above sea level and get real close to the Snow Mountain. You can choose to hike on the mountain and get to the top at 4680 meters or just stroll around at Glacier Park and appreciate the holy Mountain peacefully. After lunch, visit Yufeng Temple. The whole temple shows a distinctive and conjunct architecture style of Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism and the local Naxi Dongba Religion. Afterwards, pay a visit to Baisha Mural, which is the cradle of the Naxi culture and ancient capital of the Naxi Kingdom. Go back to Lijiang, on the way, have a short visit to Black Dragon Pond Park where is the perfect place to take photo of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with reflection in the Pond.

Then we will visit a local who is the mater of Dongba writing. We will deeply experience the Dongba culture by learning Dongba character writing, which a kind of pictograph of Naxi people. 

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Day 12Lijiang - Shangri-La
Drive to Shangri-La, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Ancient Town

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Shangri-la

Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and leave for Shangri-La, the lost horizon. Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge en route. Tiger Leaping Gorge is a canyon on the Yangtze River which can be divided in to upper, middle and lower sections, winding 25 km and it is one of the deepest valleys in the world. The narrowest part of the gorge was just 30 m, which is so narrow that a tiger can jump over the gorge, hence the name. We will drop you at upper Tiger Leaping Gorge and you hike down to the viewing deck about half an hour. After lunch, continue driving to Shangri-La. Upon arrival, check-in at your hotel and explore the Dukezong Ancien Town, which is the largest and best-preserved Tibetan city among China 147 Tibetan counties. 

Dukezong Ancient Town
Dukezong Ancient Town

Day 13Shangri-La
Sumtsaling Monastery, Potatso National Park, Tang-ga parinting

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Shangri-la

Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and start to find out the lost horizon, Shangri-La. You will reach the Sumtsaling Monastery, which is the largest Tibetan Buddhism monastery in Yunnan Province. Take a family visit to local resident home and with help from our guide, you will learn about a local family’s history and way of life. After lunch, visit Potatso National Park which is the first national park in mainland China. Bitahai Lake and Shuduhu Lake are two major parts of the park. Besides these two lakes, forest, marsh, valley, alpine meadow and so on can be seen in the park. All major spots are connected by footpath which offers a closer distance for travelers to experience the natural environment.

Back to the old town, we will follow a local artist to learn how to make Tang-ga parinting, which is  a unique form of painting and art in Tibetan culture, touching every aspect of its history, politics, social life, etc.


Shangri-la Grassland

Day 14Shangri-La - Kunming, Departure
Fly to Kunming for departure

Meals: Breakfast

Free at leisure until be transferred to take flight to Kunming for departure

Service Ends

Tailor-made Free Inquiry

Tour Price (US$ per person)

Hotel Class Group Size Dec. ~ Feb. Mar. ~ Nov.
Economy Hotel
★★★
2 ~ 5 pax

$ 2406

$ 2481

6 ~ 9 pax

$ 1805

$ 1879

Comfortable Hotel
★★★★
2 ~ 5 pax

$ 2636

$ 2754

6 ~ 9 pax

$ 2035

$ 2153

Deluxe Hotel
★★★★★
2 ~ 5 pax

$ 2941

$ 3078

6 ~ 9 pax

$ 2340

$ 2476

Price includes:

♦ Domestic flight or high-speed train as specified
♦ Private transfer between the airport or railway station, attractions, and hotels
♦ Private licensed English-speaking guide and driver service
♦ Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast on sharing basis
♦ All attraction entrance fees as specified
♦ Meals mentioned in the itinerary, Chinese local food
China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance

Price excludes:

* International Air tickets or Train Tickets to enter or leave China
* Tips to your tour guide and driver on your own discretion
* China Entry Visa Fees
* Personal expenses
* Optional tours, meals, activities and services


Remarks:

※ Prices are valid from Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2025, except Chinese public holidays, local fairs or events.
※ TCT reserves the right to adjust the price caused by exchange rate
※ No guide on the flight and Yangtze River cruise. 
※ Recommended hotels are subject to change in actual booking
※ Special requirements should be advised to TCT in advance.
※ TCT reserves the right of final explanation for any change due to the reasons beyond our control.

Traveler Reviews Feedbacks & Photos >>Feedbacks

5.0

PunkNelson

5.0

Great Hotel stay Very Nice Tour guides Convenient planned daily trips Average selection of restaurant for food though
Kiwimac53

5.0

We were looking for a tour in SW China while in the area for work and found this one. While we wouldn't normally get a private tour but surprisingly it was actually cheaper than most of the group tours in the area and was great value. While I would usually rather keep one guide for the whole tour, as you get to know each other and they get to know what you are interested in, we changed guides 5 times during this trip (fortunately we had the same guide in Kunming at the start and end of the tour which was a real bonus as Murphy, our Kunming based guide, was excellent.) In this case changing guides had the advantage of local knowledge at each site so compensated for the change. Of the 4 guides we had 3 excellent and 1 very good with each of them working hard to look after us and make sure we enjoyed our trip. Vicky, our Dali based guide was also extremely good making our time there a highlight. The tour gives you 2 days at each base ie travel in the morning, have the afternoon and the next day touring the area then drive to the next base. We chose the driving tour as we feel it gives you a better experience of the area and you get to see the locals in action. All the drivers we had were great - they went out of their way to look after us and were very safe, which is saying something for driving in China. While all of the guides were very fluent in English none of the drivers could speak English which was a slight disadvantage as you didn't have the guides with you when traveling between bases but the friendliness and helpfulness of the drivers more than made up for this. The tour was very well organised and we knew what we were doing from the time we met our guide on arrival at the Kunming railway station to when we walked through security at the airport on our way out. The tour comes with 4,5 and 6 star accommodation choices and we went for the cheapest 4 star option. While the English at the hotels was limited the guides made sure we were checked in and out and took care of any issues (which were minimal). The 4 star option is largely "Chinese style" hotels ie designed for Chinese visitors with breakfast consisting of what many westeners would consider dinner style food but there was always eggs and toast for the less adventurous. The hotels were all clean and comfortable and generally very well located. The Hotel in Kunming (Jin Jang Inn) was a bonus as it seemed higher than 4 star and we stayed there both on our way in and out. As well as breakfast, lunch came with the tour which was enjoyable as the guides choose the restaurants so we got a variety. I got the feeling that most of the restaurants were owned by friends or family or there was some arrangement with the guide, but as you get to formally review each guide and the meals at the end of each stop they work hard to make sure you enjoy the meal and there was always an abundance of food. We tried a range of local cuisine and there was only one meal we didn't think was up to par. You get your own dinner which also suited us as there is invariably a range of restaurants or for the more adventurous there is the street vendors and you can choose what you want. The vehicles we were driven in were all very good- plenty of space and very comfortable. Being a private tour, while there was a set itinerary, which was diverse and very interesting with something for most people, the guides could tweak it to suit individual interests eg more time at one site and less at another. It is easy to get a bit templed out but overall the itinerary was a good mic of nature and culture. I would thoroughly recommend the tour and the company and we will be looking to the company if/when we go back - Guilin is next on the list as the guides were very happy to discus what they thought we would and wouldn't enjoy based on working with us on this tour,
N2265ZIinfo

5.0

Excellent guides, flexible and knowledgeable travel agent. They speak good English. Our trip was very well organized. We are 100% happy and I can recommend Top China Travel to everybody.
Wesley O

5.0

I contacted Top China travel for a 13 day China vacation (Beijing/Xian/Yangtze River cruise/Shanghai) and right from the start Bonnie provided me with great choices and package options. Throughout the entire planning and even during the trip Bonnie was there for us following up and making sure everything was perfect. Thank you Bonnie for making our China vacation unforgettable.
Johnf8958

5.0

From the minute I contacted Vicky at Top China Travel to book our holiday, to the time we were taken to Pudong airport for our flight home, the experience was perfect. My wife and I visited Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and all of our tour guides were fluent in English, very knowledgeable and very friendly. Thank you Vicky and all at TCT and I will definitely be in contact when I return to China.
lakazdi

5.0

I went on a Top China Travel group tour. Everything was so well organised that I never had to worry about anything. I really liked that the group was small and it felt like we were a big group of old-friends all travelling together, not just a passenger on the bus. Every hotel, guide, driver and restaurant was very well picked. I was very happy with how well-informed each guide was, how flexible they were to ensure we all had a great time, and their English was all very good. At every step of the way, guides had us fill in a Top China Travel feedback form which I am certain the company take very seriously since their service was so good. I will be passing on their details to all my friends and family who want to travel in China.
DEBORAH O

5.0

Thanks to Ms Raylene He we had a wonderful and well organised trip to 5 destinations which all went off without a hitch including being met by guides and drivers in each city and looked after very well. This all included several domestic flights a train trip and permits. I have no qualms in recommending this company to other travellers.
EBTraveler

5.0

With forty years of travel to the far corners of our world we have encountered many guides. Like most travelers some have not been very good, some decent and the rare few that are outstanding. During our three weeks in China last month we encountered just such a rare individual. Our guide in Guilin was a young women named Ping (I'll provide her email later). Ping demonstrated knowledge and command of the history, stories and culture all along the way. Beyond that, Ping exuded infectious enthusiasm not only for our touring, but for us personally as well. We had a serious medical issue occur suddenly, in fact one of us went into diabetic shock. It was four in the morning but no matter, after calling Ping she took command and arranged for the hotel to send us, with a car, driver, and assistant to a hospital. Upon our arrival there was Ping who obviously thru on some clothes, got on her motorbike and rushed to meet us. There she not only served as translator but as though a family member, she became invested in our proper care and recovery. Truly remarkable to have such a person supporting you. In small ways she flavored her guiding with a sense of our interests and preferences, like the day we mentioned our love of pomegranates and the next morning there she is smiling and with samples for us as a treat. When we left a jacket behind, once again was on it as Ping arranged for its shipment to out next stop and tracked it until it was in our hands. Beyond that, Ping was in frequent contact to make certain of our full medical recovery and to offer her help where or whenever it might be needed while in China. Amazing! Ping can be contacted at bellakanas@163.com Sheila Hertz, Howard Entin
ourview_11

5.0

From the first email to Top China Travel with Joyce to our wonderful Tour Guide Linda and our driver I can not say more happily what a wonderful trip we have had. Linda was very Kind and very informative with all your tours. The vehicle used was at very high standard and the Driver very safe. We had a private Tour for myself and my Husband we would totally recommend this company.
Geonannie

5.0

Top China Travel is the the tops! I booked an 21 day tour of China for my husband and I and from the very first contact with Lily Lui I was totally impressed. We communicated via e-mail and Lily was very quick and helpful with her responses. Because this was not our first trip to China, I wanted an itinerary that was different from the norm. Lily's recommendations were top notch. The hotels she used were top shelf as we requested. Our guides and drivers were fantastic. What impressed me the most was that when we were in China, Lily called to speak to me and make sure everything was going well. When I ran into some issues due to altitude sickness, I contacted her and she had the itinerary changes done and finalized within an hour. This was a private tour with guide and driver and I honestly can say there was not one thing I wished we had done differently. Thanks to Top China Travel and Lily our trip to China was perfect. I will definitely be contacting Lily when we return to China for yet another visit.
Allessandr0

5.0

I am a tour leader from Italy and this was my first cooperation with Janet and how lucky we met her!! We followed the trip with her to remote areas in China including some ethnic group area in Guizhou province and Sanjiang, Longsheng and Guilin, we enjoyed completely throughout the whole trip and some arrangement even out of our surprise, like we went to Janet’s home to learn how to pack Chinese Ravioli, she invited a Taichi teacher and we had a 1 hour Taichi class inside her home community. Everything was fine and our group members are all like her very much. We strongly recommend Janet Chan (janet@topchinatravel.com) as your China trip consultant! She is so considerate and carefully planned each detail of our trip. Guizhou is a very interesting and primitive place for visiting, you should include in your China trip as well! Thank you Janet! You are very professional!!
Salim A

5.0

When I planning our private trip to china I have read many trip adviser reviews and I have noticed Janet Chan’s name came up a number of times so i sent her an e-mail asked for the best two weeks private tour in China for 6 persons , whiten two days she replied me recommending 5 cities ( Zhangjiajie, hangzhuo , shanghai, Beijing , Guilin ) we went through the program which she sent to us it was excellent so we asked her to go ahead to arrange our journey . it was a great choice we made, The tour guides were knowledgeable and helpful. The hotels which reserved for us by TCT were excellent We can only say thanks for TCT and especially Janet Chan
Karan J

5.0

From the 1st point of contact till the end Joyce was great and helped plan a perfect trip which I was for a short time in Beijing. I was traveling alone and was recommended to join a small group of fellow travelers which was perfect. Great tour guide with a clean bus. Pick up on time and overall a great experience.
Ms Masha B

5.0

My husband and I booked a two week private tour of China with Top China Travel. It was an excellent experience. Vicky, a tour consultant, offered us a very good program visiting Beijing, Xian, Zhangjiajie, Shanghai and Nanjing. We really enjoyed every location. The tour guides were knowledgeable and helpful. In Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing me made our own hotel reservation and in Xian an Zhangjiajie TCT made the reservations for us. Lunch was included in the tour and the selection of the restaurants was excellent in most locations (except Xian). Overall great tour!
Chris W

5.0

When planning our China trip we read many trip advisor reviews and noticed Janet Chan’s name came up a number of times so we asked for her to arrange our journey across this fascinating land. What a great choice we made, she listened and responded to our questions and arranged all our trip that went off without any problems. We didn’t want shopping nor group travel and she responded brilliantly. Two days hiking on the wall with fabulous guide Miko, in fact all our guides and drivers were just excellent. High speed train meant we saw lots of China’s varied countryside and went to some out of the way places. We can only say great things about TCT and especially Janet Chan if you are planning a trip. Thank you Janet for an exciting and memorable trip! Chris n Jools Winstanley
Raghavan A

5.0

We signed up with TCT after reading reviews of Tibet tour agencies. Our trip included 4 days in Lhasa, two in Shigatse and one at the base camp. TCT made all the arrangements including the Tibet permit, hotels, tour guide, car and the driver for the entire trip. The arrangements were superb. The guide and the driver were very accommodating to our needs and made the entire trip very convenient. At the base camp, the guide even arranged for extra oxygen in case we need it. She was also very helpful in advising us as how to get acclimated to the altitude. The entire trip was smooth and enjoyable and we would highly recommend TCT for travel to Tibet.
karenilena

5.0

wonderful visit and wonderful guide Li. Li showed us all the charms of this great city together with our Li river tour. We fell in love with this place and Yangshou. Great place to visit and it was a favourite city in all the cities we visited. great guide
Natasha J

5.0

I can't recommend this company enough!! I started talking to Yocky via the chat system on their website, as we wanted to do a 2.5 week trip around China. Our itinerary was: Shenzhen-Beijing-Xian-Kunming-Dongchuan-Chengdu-Guilin-Sanya Here's how things went: 1) She was instant in her replies and responded to subsequent emails within the hour (and trust me, I sent A LOT of emails). She was always so thorough and efficient. 2) She made us a tailor made trip that covered everything we wanted, including some slightly more off the beaten track attractions. 3) She helped us keep to our budget and suggested reasonable things we could cut out when things were too expensive (not something many companies would do as they are trying to make a quick buck). 4) She listened to all of our requests for things such as early morning flights, vegetarian food, and readjusting itineraries. 5) All our drivers and guides were EXCELLENT; they were prompt, kind, spoke excellent English and had a wealth of knowledge about all the sites we saw. All the cars on our private tours were nice and comfortable and had water. 6) Despite asking for 3* hotels, all 7 hotels we stayed in seemed like 4* to us and all included breakfast. 7) With such a large and complicated trip there were bound to be a few hiccups (e.g. there was a marathon in Xian one day which meant a lot of roads were closed, so we couldn't access sites). Yocky was in touch with us the entire time and helped us rearrange our plans quickly and ordered complimentary tickets to a show to make up for the inconvenience. We were so nervous about our first trip to China as we speak no mandarin and are strict vegetarian but honestly this was one of the best trips of our life; this company made it so easy for us and I really can't imagine having been able to do it myself any better!
JrnyJunkie

5.0

The views are stunning and the boat that we were on had VIP seating for just our group with a private balcony to view the river.
Candi S

5.0

Raylene did a wonderful job organizing our tour to meet our time constraints. She answered all questions very efficiently. Our tour guide Rocco met us at the airport and the Driver was waiting near by. I have specific dietary restrictions and the guide was extremely helpful communicating that with the restaurants. The trip was so easy and we always felt safe. My husband and I are looking forward to booking a more extended trip in the future. There is so much to see and the food is wonderful!
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