9 days in Yunnan but not sure where to spend 9th day

Question

Hello, this trip is coming up in two days actually but hotels and trains aren't booked. I wrote the itinerary first and then questions on the bottom. Thanks for any help or advice!

day 1 - kunming - kunming dragon gate, yuantong temple, green lake park, flowers and birds market, nanping business street

day 2 - kunming - day trip to stone forest and Jiuxiang - night train to dali

day 3 - dali - cangshan mountain, erhai lake, then to old city, three pagodas, foreigner street

day 4 - dali to shaxi to lijiang

day 5 - lijiang - blue moon valley, old town, shuhe ancient village

day 6 - lijiang - jade dragon snow mountain day trip - possibly see impressions show in evening

day 7 - lijiang to entire tiger leaping gorge to shangrila

day 8 - shangrila - songzanlin monastery

i have an extra full day to work with and here are my options

add it to kunming and go to dongchuan red land

add it to tiger leaping gorge and do the hike in 2 days

do both options 1 and 2 and lose the shangri-la day (return from tiger leaping gorge early on day 2 so i have a half day there)

any thoughts on which option to do or where to add that day? any advice is greatly appreciated!

Answer

Your Yunnan itinerary is already quite full, covering Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Shangri-La. Since you have an extra full day, deciding where to add it depends on what you want more of: natural landscapes, hiking, or cultural experiences.

Option 1: Add the extra day in Kunming to visit Dongchuan Red Land

Dongchuan Red Land is famous for its vibrant red soil, especially striking in the morning and late afternoon light, and is a photographer’s dream.
It requires a full day trip from Kunming (approx. 3–4 hours one way), so adding your extra day here allows a more relaxed pace without rushing Kunming’s city attractions.
This option emphasizes scenic photography and rural landscapes, rather than hiking or cultural immersion.

Option 2: Add the extra day to Tiger Leaping Gorge and do the hike over 2 days

Extending the hike to 2 days allows a more moderate pace and the opportunity to see less-visited parts of the gorge.
You can enjoy overnight accommodation at one of the lodges along the trail and take time to fully appreciate the gorge’s dramatic scenery.
This option is ideal if you enjoy hiking and nature, but it reduces your time in Shangri-La.

Option 3: Do both Dongchuan Red Land and the 2-day Tiger Leaping Gorge hike, losing the full day in Shangri-La

This maximizes experiences but results in a very tight schedule, leaving only a half-day in Shangri-La for Songzanlin Monastery and local exploration.
This option can be exhausting and may not leave enough time to enjoy Shangri-La’s charm or the gorge at a relaxed pace.

Recommendation:

If you prefer a more relaxed and scenic trip with emphasis on photography, add the extra day to Kunming for Dongchuan Red Land. You will enjoy the beautiful landscapes without feeling rushed.
If you are keen on hiking and experiencing Tiger Leaping Gorge in depth, extend the hike to 2 days, but plan to spend only a half-day in Shangri-La. You can still see Songzanlin Monastery but may skip other minor attractions.
Combining both options is possible but not recommended unless you are comfortable with very long travel days and minimal rest.

Given your current itinerary, either extending Kunming for Dongchuan Red Land or making the Tiger Leaping Gorge hike 2 days are both good choices. The decision depends on whether you value scenic photography and cultural sites (Kunming) or immersive nature and trekking (Gorge).

9 days in Yunnan but not sure where to spend 9th day

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