Tour 2 ~ South-West China ~ August 2003
You can get to Kunming from Hong Kong or from Bangkok.
Day 1: Pick up at Kunming airport. Depending on flight times afternoon trip to Daguan Park.
Day 2: See the lotus at the Minorities Village. Afternoon trip to the Bird & Flower market to look for treasures.
Day 3:Day trip to Chengjiang to see the "endless petal" lotus…[ this lotus is a dark pink with no pod whatsoever just smaller and smaller petals] and wander around the old town .Overnight sleeper bus to Lijiang the seat of the ancient Naxi culture.
Day 4: Visit Black Dragon Pool and later wander along the cobbled laneways of "Old Town " with it's meandering streams arched briges and fantastic wood carvings. A night concert of the traditional Naxi orchestra is not to be missed!
Day 5: Day trip to He Qing to check out the lotus fields and have a punt ride out into the lotus fringed lake and visit the local market.
Day 6: Bus journey back to Kunming with many interesting sights along the way.
Day 7: See the different lotus varieties at Green Lake Park then visit the sight[now a huge park] of the 1999 World Flower Expo.
Day 8:Travel by bus to "The lakes abounding with shrimp and fish"…. A fantastic scenic trip to an unbelievable place……16 lakes nestled between amazing karst mountains. We will be staying in the Shanni village with the locals. Dinner at lakeside restaurant.
Day 9: Visit the Yi minority village and surrounding
lotus fields double white brushed with pink and maroon, double dark pink
with narrow petals and a red variety amongst others. Walk around the Shanni
village checking out the various lotus ponds and weird carved boulders.
Night time show of contortionists, acrobats dancing, singing and other
weird goings on!
Day 10: There are several mountains [not too hard and stairs all the way] that need to be climbed for various incredible views. Afternoon bus excursion
Day 11: Cruise the lotus lined lakes and explore the incredible limestone caves in a long paddle boat, propelled by a beautiful Shanni woman and whoever feels like paddling, have lunch at a lake-side restaurant [ maybe a lotus leaf omelette] the lakes are great to swim in , more paddling more ……..passing underneath a classic Chinese style bridge…more unreal caves, coming out of one via an underground river! Smell, feel and fondle the lotus on the way there and back and see other water plants like water chestnut and a giant ottelia , the flowers of which also eaten. Back to the village for a last meal with our family [including our host's 86 year old bound foot, bamboo bong smoking, smiling mother] then sleeper bus trip back to Kunming.
Day 12: Morning rest then afternoon trip to the Western
Hills. Night out in Kunming.
Price: US$1800
