9 Days China Holiday to Fujian, Guilin and Yunnan Tour

Welcome to Xiamen, a coastal city where history and modernity blend seamlessly. Begin your adventure on Gulangyu Island, a car-free haven of colonial villas and blooming banyan trees. Listen to pianos echoing from open windows as you wander its winding lanes. Later, drive along Huandao Road（Island Ring Boulevard）, where the sea breeze carries the scent of salt and tropical flowers, before heading to Yongding for a restful night.

As sunshine pours on the land, journey into Fujian's countryside to explore the Shunyu Building, a colossal circular fortress with 368 rooms, and the 700-year-old Yuchang Building, where wooden pillars lean precariously yet stand strong. In Hongkeng Tulou Village, this UNESCO-listed gem in Yongding County is a 700-year-old village where the Lin family still thrives in iconic earthen buildings. Picture giant circular forts with cozy courtyards—some housing 200+ people! Chat with Hakka families and admire the harmony of round and square earthen structures. Though this attraction may take you a whole day to visit, its cultural and natural experience is worthy. Return to Xiamen as the sun dips behind the hills.

Board a high-speed train to Guilin, this 2,000-year-old city is famous for its dreamy karst mountains, emerald rivers, and caves lit like fairy tales, where jagged karst peaks pierce the horizon like nature's skyscrapers. Gaze out the window as rice paddies and bamboo forests blur into a green tapestry. Arrive in Guilin by evening and settle into your hotel, ready for tomorrow's rural escape.

Wake up with the chirping birds out of your window, then wind through misty mountains to the Longji Rice Terraces(about 4h), where golden steps cascade down slopes like ribbons. Nicknamed "Dragon’s Backbone" , Longji’s terraces are a 650-year-old masterpiece where Zhuang and Yao farmers carved "stairways to the sky" across misty mountains. Each season paints them anew—spring’s mirror-like water, summer’s emerald waves, autumn’s golden ribbons, and winter’s frosty lace. Meet Yao and Zhuang villagers in colorful embroidered attire, their smiles as warm as the terraced fields. By afternoon, drive to Yangshuo, a town cradled by the Li River, and fall asleep to the hum of cicadas.

After a serene morning in Yangshuo, board a train to Dali, a kingdom of snow-capped peaks and azure lakes. This 2,000-year-old gem blends ancient charm with bohemian vibes. Must-sees: Erhai Lake: A sapphire-blue "ear-shaped" lake—bike along its shores or sip tea in a lakeside café. Three Pagodas: Iconic 9th-century towers, glowing gold at night. Old Town: Cobbled lanes lined with Bai-style homes, quirky shops, and crossing-the-bridge noodles. Arrive in the evening and stroll Dali Old Town's lantern-lit streets, where the aroma of rose cakes drifts from tucked-away bakeries.

After have a good sleep last night, today first pay a visit to the Monastery Santasi (Three Pagodas), a symbol of the history of Dali City and a record of the development of Buddhism in the area. After spending 2-3h there, ride a cable car up Cangshan Mountain, trekking cloud-kissed trails draped in wildflowers. Your lunch will be a vegetarian feast at Jizhaoan Monastery, its gardens a symphony of Zen tranquility. In the afternoon, glide across Erhai Lake by boat, stopping at Tianjing Island to explore hidden caves and chat with Bai fishermen. Cap the day with a lakeside bike ride, the wind carrying laughter from distant villages. Finally drive back to visit Old Town of Dali, a natural configuration that seems specially designed for a good, bountiful life.

Drive to Lijiang, a UNESCO-listed ancient city where cobblestone alleys follow the melody of flowing streams. Known for its maze of cobblestone lanes, gurgling streams, and wooden Naxi houses, this UNESCO World Heritage site feels like stepping into a living watercolor painting. Unlike other ancient towns, Lijiang has no city walls—legend says its rulers avoided trapping their luck. Drop your map and let the water guide you—past Naxi women in traditional aprons, under arches adorned with red lanterns, and into courtyards where elderly locals play traditional chess.

Today is a day worth waking with excitement, ascend Jade Dragon Snow Mountain by cable car, stepping onto a glacial plateau where the air sparkles with frost. Walk the plank road to 4,680 meters, your breath mingling with mountain mist. This 13-peaked wonder is the southernmost snow-capped mountain in the Northern Hemisphere. Its highest peak, Shanzidou, towers at 5,600m—like a dragon’s spine draped in eternal snow. Locals revere it as the sacred home of the Naxi people’s protector god "Sanduo", and legends say its peaks are frozen swords from an ancient battle. After about 5h in that beautiful mountain, descend to Blue Moon Valley, its milky-blue pools framed by pine forests, then visit Yushui Village to sip barley tea in a Naxi family's wooden home.

Spend your final morning savoring Lijiang's quiet magic—perhaps sipping coffee on a rooftop overlooking tiled roofs. Board an afternoon train to Kunming, where twilight paints the sky in hues of lavender. Transfer to the airport, carrying memories of tulou whispers, terraced gold, and snow-kissed peaks. Safe travels!