Departing from Tianjin, a 9-day ancient town tour of Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La with self-drive upon arrival

🏼♂️The ultra-detailed itinerary is here! Taking you to explore Yunnan's most beautiful check-in spots~
Ten days of self-drive fun in western Yunnan, visiting 5 ancient cities and 4 ancient towns

Ancient Cities: Dali, Lijiang, Dukezong, Jianchuan, Weishan
Ancient Towns: Shuhe Ancient Town, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Xizhou Ancient Town, Guandu Ancient Town

For ancient cities, I highly recommend Jianchuan and Weishan Ancient Cities, which are just beginning to commercialize, offering authentic ancient city life and endless local delicacies. Dukezong has some regional characteristics, while Dali and Lijiang are more about the hustle and bustle.

For ancient towns, Shuhe is highly recommended, and Xizhou Ancient Town is also nice, but be sure to go early. After 9:30 AM during summer vacation, it gets crowded and hot, making it less enjoyable. The least favorite is Shuanglang - the scenery is not as good as the west coast, overly commercialized, and generally unfriendly.

Two favorite spots: Napahai in Shangri-La and the most beautiful kilometer along Erhai Lake, perfect for self-drive and photography.

🌈Day 1: First Impressions of Lijiang
Lashi Lake → Shuhe Ancient Town → Mufu Palace → Lijiang Ancient Town
🌟Tip: Lijiang Ancient Town is liveliest at night, so wait for dusk to explore!

🌅Day 2: First Glimpse of Shangri-La
Ans Homestay (amazing sunrise view of Golden Mountain!)
→ Black Dragon Pool Park
→ Songzanlin Scenic Area
→ Gadan Songzanlin Monastery
→ Napahai (Yila Grassland)
→ Dukezong Ancient Town
📸Recommended photo spot: The golden roof of Songzanlin Monastery is perfect at dusk!

🏔️Days 3-4: In-Depth Shangri-La
📍Stay: Impression Tianlu Hotel, Shangri-La
📍Explore: Pudacuo National Park
📍See: Natural "Cotton Castle" Baishuitai
📍Stay: Tiger Roar·Yunbo Jinsha Homestay (gorge-view room!)

🌊Day 5: Canyon Wonders
Tiger Leaping Gorge (Shangri-La section) → First Bend of the Yangtze River
→ Jianchuan Ancient Town → Shaxi Ancient Town
⚠️Note: Wear anti-slip shoes for Tiger Leaping Gorge!

🏯Day 6: Ancient Architecture Tour
Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas → Weishan Ancient Town
🏨Stay: Shaxi·Muyuanju Homestay (exquisite Chinese courtyard)

🌊Day 7: Erhai Lake Stroll
Xizhou → Panxi Village → Caicun Village
→ Erhai Lake Ecological Corridor (great for cycling!)
→ Three Pagodas Reflection Park → Dali Ancient Town

🏝️Day 8: Shuanglang Highlights
Shuanglang → Nanzhao Folk Island
→ Wenbi Village → Ideal State ("Little Santorini")

🏛️Day 9: Kunming Finale
Yunnan Provincial Museum → Stone Forest Scenic Area
🚗Transport tip: Stone Forest is about 1.5 hours from Kunming

🔥Top 5 Must-Visit Spots:
1️⃣Stone Forest Scenic Area: Geological wonder formed over millions of years
2️⃣Tiger Leaping Gorge: Thrilling and awe-inspiring rapids
3️⃣Pudacuo: Fairy tale world on the plateau
4️⃣Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas: Iconic landmark of Dali
5️⃣Dali Ancient Town: Favorite of artsy travelers

💡Reminders:
✅July is rainy season - bring rain gear and sunscreen
✅Be mindful of altitude sickness in highland areas
✅Large temperature differences in ancient towns - pack a jacket
✅Book scenic spot tickets and unique homestays in advance

📸Photo Outfit Suggestions:
White long dress for Baishuitai
Light-colored outfits by Erhai Lake
Ethnic-style clothing for ancient towns