Top Southwest China Art & Culture

The best way to appreciate the local culture is to go to markets. Colorful markets hidden in the mountains of southern Yunnan, are always crowded with local people wearing traditional costume and attract very few tourists. To admire their beauty and explore the astonishing ethnic diversity you can count on us to help you customize your trip and guide you to the best markets, immerse yourself in the local culture, and share unforgettable moments with local people.This relaxing trip will also lead you to the most photogenic part of Yunnan, where Hani people have inhabited and cultivated rice terraces for thousands of years. As a cultural heritage site selected by UNESCO, the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces is a place you will find opportunities for many nice shots. With our assistance, you will also be able  to do something different: Hiking in the Rice Paddy, Visit a Non-touristy village, get to know more about the ethnic culture behind the amazing scenery.

Xishuangbanna(Sipsongpanna) is an exotic place of China. The local Tai-Dai culture background is quite similar with the Thailand or Laos. The mighty Mekong river and lush rain forests will take the visitors to a tropical wonderland without hustle and bustle city life. On 9:00 am, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel. You will be transferred to a traditional Dail village, an experience of learning the Dai embroidery from the local master, a hand to hand paper making class is provided in this village. Before you step into the Botanical Garden, you will have another visit to an authentic village with a nice temple, your guide will lend his insight of the local religion and show you around the temple. A home visit to a local family is also available for a better understanding of the local's life. After that, you will be transferred to the Chinese Largest Botanical Garden. An 3-4 hours visit in the Garden and you will be transferred back to your hotel.

A large number of old villages in central Yunnan survived the culture revolution(1966-1976) because of their remote location and protection by the local villagers. Some of these valuable places have only been rediscovered in recent years, and are unknown to tourists. They give you the feeling of traveling back in time to ancient China: old houses with fading paintings on the wall, gorgeous woodcarvings and stone sculptures, and elegant calligraphy. All of this while the local people just carry on with their daily life as they have been doing for centuries. In this Off-the-beaten tour, you will stay 1 night in the most authentic village with many old houses. You will have a bite of the home cooked delicacies and have nice chat with the local people. A visit to the traditional minority village is also included on the second day, you will be introduced to the village handicrafts men and learn how to make the traditional Paper Cutting & Embroidery.

Where is the Hong'he Hani Rice Terraces? Generally speaking, the world famous Yuanyang Rice Terraces is a part of it, but not all of it. Thousands years ago, the Hani people's ancestors started to cultivate Rice Terraces along the Ailao mountain of the Hong'he region. Nowadays, they became photographers' favorite destinations scattered everywhere in this region. Local people name all of them together-The Hong'he Hani Rice Terraces. 100 kilometers away from the UNESCO Yuanyang Rice Terraces. there are two little towns: Jiaying and Baohua. Each of them has astonishing rice terrace scenery but quite unknown by the travelers. In this 4 days trip, you will not only visit the famous Yuanyang Rice Terraces, but also step into the painting-like Jiaying and Baohua town. Off-the-beaten path will take you to see many different natural scenery and visit different minority people. Stay in a village guesthouse beside the rice terraces is also the highlight of this trip.

This 2 Nights 3 Days private trip will take you to the most photographic place of Yunnan-The Yuanyang Rice Terraces. You will enjoy the most stunning Sunrise and Sunset at the Rice Terraces. Two different minority market visits are also included in this trip, you will be able to explore the authentic life of Yuanyang while wandering around the markets crowded with local folks wearing colorful costumes. A professional driver is guaranteed in this tour. Many options are also available for your personal tailor-made trip. If you pick the one with accommodation included, there are two hotel options for you: The Yunti Hotel at the Xinjie town, or the Jacky's Guest House at the Pugao Laozhai village. Both of them have a high reputation of nice facilities and good service. You will be guaranteed with a scenery view room with two beds. Single supplement is upon request. Option with/without a tour guide is also available.

This trip is especially for those who love nature, hiking, Chinese tea culture and willing to take a off the beaten journey, immerse themselves in the local culture. Xishuangbanna is not only widely regarded as the birthplace of tea, it is also the place where you can find all the different kinds of tea being produced: White, green, black and pu'er.  There are many rituals and festivals related with this magical plant: the most ancient form of tea ceremony consists of clay-pot tea ceremony,cooking tea in a bamboo tube, it is eaten as a salad and also as a pickle. Later more elaborate tea ceremonies where developed in order to better enjoy the joy of tea drinking. This trip will take you to enjoy the natural beauty of tea mountains, home stay in the local tea village, and meanwhile experience the traditions and different ways to enjoy tea.

The primary step of "Enjoy Like a Local" is to "Eat Like a Local". There are many famous cuisines in each and every places all over the world. As a foodie, you probably cannot take all the tasty food back to your home. But, still you can find out the skills and tricks how your favorite food been cooked and prepared. Firstly, You will be taken to the largest wet market of Kunming and NOT ONLY FOR FUN, but to negotiate and purchase the ingredients under the guidance-a local foodie. After shopping all the ingredients you gonna use today, you will be led to a local culinary school and have a 1.5 hours cooking class. After the class, you will taste the food with the chiefs/teachers and have nice conversations with them! You can also take your food away as souvenirs! This 4 hours Experience starts on 9:00 am or 15:00 pm. You can choose 2 different cuisines to learn: 1. Dumplings 2. Pineapple Rice 3. Spicy and Sour Fish 4. Kung Pow chicken .etc. Other cuisine options are upon request!

In this 5 hours tour, you will be led to a Buddhist Monastery in the Guandu Ancient Town. Outside the temple is busy and noisy, once you step into the temple, the world becomes peaceful. Although it is late afternoon, the locals still do their praying in the monastery, and the monks practice their afternoon class in one of the halls. We will have chances to talk with the locals and have a cup of tea with the monks. After that, you will be guided to the Night Market of Kunming, it is located in a "City village" where you can touch the real laid back life of Kunming and taste all different local snacks. The final of the day, you will be introduced to a local bar in the Wenlinjie street. As the centre of the Kunming city, Wenlinjie is the best place to experience the morden life of Kunming. Your guide will say goodbye to you after ordering the Local favorite Flower Wine for you. You will be free to enjoy the rest of the day.

This Day tour is a combination of the lifestyle between traditions and fashions about Kunming. In this 8-10 hours experience, you will be escorted by your private guide and driver to some of the off-the-beaten places in Kunming city. 1. Zhuanxin wet market and the Yuanbo bird and flower market are two hustle and bustle places which are only for the Kunming locals, the former one is the largest wet market for locals to buy various ingredients for cooking, another is an interesting place to wander around and see all the pets, fish, flowers and Bonsai. 2. After visiting the Kunming Night Market, you will be transferrd to the Wenhuaxiang-the centre of Kunming, a fashionable street with many unique bars and restaurants. Your guide will lead you into one of them and help you to order one of the local favorite-Flower Wine. Then you will be  totally free and enjoy the night life of Kunming by yourself in the beautiful and peaceful music.

Learn the secrets of cooking with fresh flowers on a private, gourmet tour that combines a guided tour of the Dounan Flower Market with a personal cooking class. You’ll explore stalls overflowing with bright blooms, take in aisles of flowers, then head to a local bakery. There, taste a Kunming flower cake, make flower jam, and bake flower pastries you can bring home as delicious souvenirs.

Experience Kunming like a local, with a local, on this private market tour. Your guide will collect you from your hotel and take you to the city’s largest wet market to discover local delicacies. Catch the metro to a vast fresh flower market and a favorite night market: Upgrade to add a tasting of three different local snacks. Drop-off is excluded, but your guide can help arrange a taxi.

The rain forest and the mighty Mekong in southern Yunnan provide a perfect environment to get closer to nature. Especially in tropical Xishuangbanna, with its old wooden villages and Buddhist temples, quite similar to southeast Asia. Even the language and cuisine are not so different neighboring Laos and Myanmar. This trip will take you to the border with these countries, where you can learn traditional skills from the local Dai and Akha people: make your own flying lanterns, paper from tree bark and tribal pottery. You will have the opportunity to visit a tea processing village, and learn how tea is harvested and processed. In between all that learning you will have more adventurous distractions: kayaking in the rain forest, hiking to a village and stay overnight with a local family. 

For this tour, we have arranged visits to famous attractions in Kunming, Lijiang, and Shangri-la. The key highlights of this itinerary include visiting ancient sites known both in China and abroad. Visitors will experience firsthand both Nakhi culture and Lama Temple culture and will also have the opportunity to view the natural scenery of the area that has remained virtually unchanged throughout the millennia.  To see these two together will take your breath away.

Stroll in Stone Forest and explore local markets in Kunming, wind down in picturesque Dali, get to know the Naxi and Bai people, roam the lane ways of Lijiang, cycle past scenic Karst formations in Yangshuo, experience Hong Kong’s vibrant contrasts.

Combine a trip to the Chengdu Giant Panda Base with a visit to the Leshan Giant Buddha on this full-day private tour from Chengdu. With a private guide, travel via high-speed rail and private transfer. Entrance fees and lunch are included.

Visit two UNESCO-listed Sichuan sights on a full-day private trip from Chengdu. Hike and ride a cable car up forested Mount Qingcheng, the birthplace of China’s Taoist religion. View the Shangqing Palace, temples, and lake, and learn how Qingcheng starred in the movie 'Kung Fu Panda 3.' Plus, visit the Dujiangyan project, the world’s oldest non-dam irrigation facility to see its ingenious 3rd-century BC design. Includes private transport, lunch, and central hotel pickup and drop-off.

Make a special trip to see Leshan Giant Buddha and one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains, Mt. Emei, on this 2-day tour by high-speed train from Chengdu. Visit the Leshan Giant Buddha, Baoguo Temple, and Fuhu Temple, and take a cable car up to the Golden Summit. Sit along the banks of the Min River, and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Theater lovers—this one’s for you. Enjoy a mesmerizing event at Sichuan’s Shu Feng Ya Yun Opera House. Roundtrip transportation is provided (hotels within 3rd ring road), and you’ll save time waiting in long visitor lines by having entrance tickets included. The show itself will showcase the best of Sichuan opera, including a face-changing show, puppet shows, comedy, music, and dance. During the show, you’ll be provided with a tea service and a small snack.

At over 230 feet tall (70 meters), the 1,300-year-old Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest Buddha in the world and attracts visitors from around the globe. Keep yourself from getting lost in the crowds of this UNESCO-listed attraction by visiting with the comfort and convenience of a private tour, which includes informative commentary, transportation from your hotel, and a side-trip to a local fishing village. This tour also includes all entrance fees, high-speed train tickets, and lunch.

Explore the quiet and beautiful Taoist mountain Qingcheng covered by luxuriant and verdant trees, admire one of the world's cultural heritages constructed 2,000 years ago – the no-dam irrigation system. Private transportation, English-speaking tour guide, entrance fees and local lunch are all included.

This customizable tour experience is perfect for travelers who like the flexibility to plan their itinerary rather than having a fixed schedule. You won’t have to worry about booking transport as Chengdu hotel pickup and drop-off is included. Travel to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Pandas and customize the rest of your afternoon based on your interests. Potential highlights include Wuhou Temple, and Jinli Street.

See Chengdu’s famous pandas and marvel at the giant Buddha of Leshan on this all-day excursion. After a convenient hotel pickup, visit Chengdu’s top panda research facility and watch as infants and adults nurse, play, and tumble. See the largest carved stone Buddha—it took 90 years to create—and enjoy a delicious complimentary lunch before returning to your hotel.

Spend full day to have a boutique day trip in Chengdu to visit the World Heritage listed Giant Buddha, marvel at the intricate construction of the Buddha’s hair, walk down a twisting staircase on the left side of the statue and be amazed by the largest carved Buddha of 71 meters high. Private English-speaking tour guide, air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup & drop-off and local lunch are all included.

Chengdu is the homeland of pandas and the paradise for panda lovers. This full day tour takes you to Chengdu famous panda-related spots like Panda Base, Panda Post and Panda Sculpture to have a wonderful Panda Experience.

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding led the charge to save this endangered species and a visit is a must when in Chengdu. This flexible but all-inclusive private tour with restaurant lunch brings you to the pandas in the morning, when they are most active. Pick one of seven classic nearby options for the afternoon, including the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and Leshan Giant Buddha UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Explore impressive Yunnan! The amazing 8-day tour will take you to all famous highlights of Yunnan, which including UNESCO World Heritage Site Stone Forest, the beautiful town of Dali and Lijiang, the splendid landscapes of the Tiger Leaping Gorge, Erhai Lake and famous Shangri-La.

Travel with a private guide and your group of up to 15 people on this 8-hour tour of Lijiang that takes you to the area’s must-see attractions. A guided tour provides insider information and hassle-free transportation so you can make the most of your sightseeing.

On the 5-day private trip, experience a unique tour schedule to visit Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong from Chengdu, and then head back to Chengdu or other city after trip. On your drive you will be able to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou Valley. Explore the Jiuzhai Valley and enjoy the colorful lakes, wonderful and impressive waterfalls and verdant forests.

Private 5 Day Guizhou tour with a professional English and Chinese speaking tour guide is an amazing experience for people who wanna explore the beautiful sides of Guizhou. You will experience most of the famous sites of Guizhou.

Taking the private day trip to see the amazing Qingyan Ancient Town, Guiyang Huaxi National Wetland Park and Jiaxiu Tower. Private transfer service, English speaking tour guide service and entrance fees of sites are provided.

Guiyang, Which is located in the southwest of China, and it is the various ethnic minorities’ villages over there. Enjoying a private day tour to see the impressive Guiyang Hoer Tiankeng And Nanjiang Grand Canyon. Private van, English speaking guide, Chinese lunch and entrance fees of sites are included.

Visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (Xiongmao Jidi) on this 9-hour Chengdu tour for a can't-miss chance to watch the pandas playing and eating. This private tour also visits Jinli Street where you can learn about the Qing and Han dynasties and enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.

Explore Chengdu from this package private 2-day tour, take panoramic views from the sculpture's vantage point, then sit down for lunch at a local restaurant. And the private trip will also take you to the breeding center in a suburb outside the city, where you can watch the pandas playing and eating. private van and lunch is included.

This 9-hour private tour allows you to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mt. Emei Scenic Area. Get panoramic views from the sculpture's vantage point, then sit down for lunch in a local restaurant. This private tour ensures personalized attention from your guide and a flexible itinerary. Round-trip transportation from Chengdu accommodations is included.

This private tour will take you to visit the most prosperous capital in ancient China – Xi’an, the east end of ancient Silk Road. You will visit the 8th Wonder of the World – the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, and hear about its accidental discovery by a local farmer before wandering around its earthen pits. You will also visit the most completed ancient City Wall of Ming Dynasty, and take a stroll around the Muslim district and browse the eclectic boutiques and butcher shops.

Experience Chinese history and culture on this all-day guided excursion. A private tour will enhance your experience, with better access to your guide for questions and a more personalized experience. See the area’s key landmarks between attractions in a comfortable vehicle,Highlights include the Yangtze Cable ride, Crown escalator & Lizaba experience and Hongya Cave. Learn about the rich history of this great city and even sample the region’s famous hot pot at a local spot.

Get the most out of your time in Chongqing during this two-day private tour. A private tour will enhance your experience, with better access to your guide for questions and a more personalized experience. See the area’s key landmarks between attractions in a comfortable vehicle in first day. Highlights include the People’s Auditorium, Eling Park, Yangtze Cable ride, Crown escalator & Lizaba experience and Hongya Cave. Next day travel to Dazu and explore its thousands of Tang Dynasty-era cliff side statues, a UNESCO world heritage site, then visit Ciqikou, an ancient porcelain-making town, and see its Ming- and Qing-dynasty architecture. 

Experience Chinese history and culture on this all-day guided private tour. After a convenient hotel pickup in Chonqing, travel to Dazu and explore its thousands of Tang Dynasty-era cliff side statues with a knowledgeable local guide. UNESCO has recognized the Dazu Rock Carvings, a collection of more than 50,000 statues and 100,000 Chinese characters, with World Heritage status. Then, Tour the flag stoned lanes of Ciqikou, an ancient porcelain-making town, and see its Ming- and Qing-dynasty architecture. Lunch will be served.

This private tour packages covers the most interesting facets of Yunnan Province. Highlights include Kunming’s geological wonder the Stone Forest; Dali Old Town, the former political, cultural and economic center of Yunnan; Lijian Old Town, for 800 years home to the Naxi ethnic minority and Pudacuo National Park, a protected wetlands area in Shangri-La (Zhongdian).

Visit Chengdu’s top attractions on a private two-day tour that includes the Panda Breeding Center and Leshan’s Grand Buddha. Observe the pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and learn about conservation efforts for China’s panda population. Have lunch in the historic Wide and Narrow Alleys district (aka Kuan-Zhai Lane), then learn about the 3000-year-old Shu kingdom at Jinsha Site Museum. The next day, travel to Leshan to tour the site of the Grand Buddha, the largest stone Buddha in the world.