This exciting new tour has been designed with tour leader and renowned botanist, Professor Tim Entwisle, to one of the most spectacular areas of China, which is also culturally rich with exceptional botanical diversity.
The Kingdom of Flowers is well named. Its extraordinary floral and botanical diversity stretches from the jungles of Indochina to the Tibetan massif, with many of the plants we are familiar with in gardens across the world - camellias, azaleas, primroses, magnolias, rhododendrons, poppies, and others - hailing from this region.
It is also a region of great cultural diversity, intersecting with the southern part of the Silk Road and the trail of the tea horse, where once blocks of tea were transported from Tibet to China.
This spectacular region of lakes and mountains is dotted with beautiful old towns, rich in culture and history, such as Lijiang and Dali.
Travel through the Kingdom of Flowers as it reveals its rich botanical and cultural history amidst stunning natural beauty. From Kunming, city of eternal spring, continue to Dali, beautiful Lijiang, onto Shangri-la and return to Kunming.
Walk the Cangshan Mountain in Dali to see azaleas with blooms, as well as wild flowers. There ae wonderful view of Dali Old Town, Chongsheng Temple and Erhai Lake.
Explore the backstreets of picturesque Lijiang with the stunning backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cobbled, canal-crossed streets are joined by bridges and lined with willows.
Shangri-la is at the base of the dramatic Tibetan massif in Pudacuo National Park, the first national park in China. Walk by Shudu Lake past wild flowers, ancient oak trees and spruces.
Spend three nights exploring the botany and culture of Xishuangbanna in the south of Yunnan, bordering Myanmar and Laos. Xishuangbanna is known for Dai culture, distinctive temples and tropical rainforests. Prefectural capital, Jinghong, offers palm-lined streets, and the Tropical Flower and Plants Garden with a large number of fruit trees and blossoms. The city's Mengle Buddhist Temple is a vast Dai religious complex completed in 2007.
Some walking between destinations, more time spent standing, and increased travel distances. Requires a reasonable level of fitness.
If you have some questions about this particular tour, you can contact the Jon Baines Tours team by phone or email.
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