Dali-Lijiang Slow Travel & Natural Wellness Family Tour (6 Days & 5 Nights)

Description

Core Scenic Features

Daily Itinerary Details (Family-Exclusive Experiences)

Day 1: Arrive in Dali · First Taste of Ethnic Style (Cultural Adaptation Day)

• Morning: Arrive in Dali → Check into a Bai-Style Homestay
  • Itinerary: After the whole family arrives in Dali, check into a Bai-style homestay near Erhai Lake. The homestay has a courtyard with Bai-style architectural features (e.g., “three rooms and one screen wall”). Choose a room on the first floor for the elderly to avoid climbing stairs. The homestay provides welcome tea (Bai-style roasted tea) and snacks (Dali preserved plums). After checking in, let the elderly rest in the room, and parents take the children to visit the homestay’s courtyard to admire Bai-style flower arrangements and carvings.
  • Family Highlights: The homestay owner teaches the whole family to make “Bai-style roasted tea”—the elderly can learn the tea-making process, and the children can help add tea leaves. Take a photo of the whole family making tea together to record the first experience of Bai culture.
• Afternoon: Dali Ancient Town · Leisurely Stroll
  • Itinerary: Visit Dali Ancient Town (enter from the South Gate to avoid crowds). Walk along “Fuxing Road” and “Renmin Road”—the elderly can admire the Bai-style buildings with “horse-head walls” and “carved windows”; parents can take the children to look at the small shops selling ethnic handicrafts (e.g., Bai-style tie-dye, silver jewelry). Stop at a traditional teahouse and order a pot of Dali tuo tea for the whole family to taste.
  • Family Highlights: Let the children try on Bai-style children’s costumes (rented from local shops) and take photos with the elderly in the ancient town. The elderly can tell the children about the differences between Bai costumes and the costumes in their hometown, enriching the children’s knowledge.
• Evening: Dali Ancient Town Night View & Dinner
  • Itinerary: As night falls, the ancient town is decorated with lanterns. The whole family has dinner at a Bai-style restaurant in the ancient town (e.g., “Bai Family Banquet Restaurant”). Order Bai-style dishes like “steam pot chicken,” “Erhai fish in sour soup,” and “stir-fried water spinach”—the sour soup is moderately spicy, suitable for the whole family. After dinner, walk along the ancient town’s streets to enjoy the quiet night view.
  • Family Highlights: Buy a “Bai-style lantern” for each child (handmade, eco-friendly) and let the children hold the lanterns while walking. The whole family walks slowly in the lantern light, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere.

Day 2: Erhai Lake Tour · Natural Scenery Appreciation (Scenery Exploration Day)

• Morning: Erhai Lake East Coast · Cycling & Photography
  • Itinerary: Rent electric bikes suitable for the whole family (with child seats and rear seats for the elderly) and ride along the Erhai Lake East Coast (route: Dali Ancient Town → Shuanglang Town). The road is flat and the scenery is beautiful. Stop at the “Erhai Lake Photo Spot” from time to time—take photos of the whole family with Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountain in the background. The elderly can rest by the lake when tired and enjoy the fresh air.
  • Family Highlights: At the “Xiao Putuo” scenic spot by Erhai Lake, the whole family takes a boat tour (small wooden boat, stable and safe) to see the small island in the middle of the lake. The children can feed the fish in the lake, and the elderly can enjoy the lake breeze on the boat.
• Afternoon: Shuanglang Town · Handicraft Experience
  • Itinerary: Arrive in Shuanglang Town and visit the “Bai-style Tie-Dye Workshop.” The whole family participates in tie-dyeing experience: the elderly can make simple tie-dye handkerchiefs (with teacher guidance), and parents and children can make tie-dye T-shirts together. The workshop teacher explains the history and skills of tie-dyeing, and the elderly share their experiences of doing handwork when they were young.
  • Family Highlights: Embroider each family member’s name on the tie-dyed work and mark the date as an exclusive souvenir of the trip. Take a photo of the whole family showing their tie-dyed works to record the sense of accomplishment.
• Evening: Erhai Lake Sunset & Dinner
  • Itinerary: Watch the sunset at the “Shuanglang Sunset Viewing Platform”—the whole family sits together to enjoy the beautiful moment when the sun sets over Erhai Lake. The children can draw the sunset with a sketchbook, and the elderly can take photos with their mobile phones. After the sunset, have dinner at a lake-view restaurant in Shuanglang Town, ordering fresh seafood and local vegetables.
  • Family Highlights: During dinner, the whole family shares their feelings about the sunset. The parents can tell the children about the formation of the sunset in simple scientific terms, combining fun and learning.

Day 3: Dali Ethnic Culture Experience · Family Interaction (Ethnic Immersion Day)

• Morning: Xizhou Ancient Town · Bai Folk Custom Experience
  • Itinerary: Visit Xizhou Ancient Town, a well-preserved Bai-style ancient town. Visit the “Bai Folk Custom Museum” to see Bai-style furniture, costumes, and daily necessities. The elderly can identify the old objects they used in the past and tell stories to the children. Participate in the “Bai-style pastry making” activity in the town—learn to make “Xizhou Baba” (a local pastry) with the guidance of a Bai aunt.
  • Family Highlights: The whole family works together to make Xizhou Baba—some knead the dough, some add fillings, and some bake. After baking, taste the pastries made by themselves. The elderly can compare the taste with the pastries they ate when they were young, sharing the changes of the times.
• Afternoon: Butterfly Spring Park · Natural Exploration
  • Itinerary: Visit Butterfly Spring Park, a famous scenic spot in Dali. Walk along the park’s paths—see clear springs, ancient trees, and colorful butterflies (best viewed in spring and summer). The elderly can sit by the spring to rest, and parents can take the children to observe the butterflies and learn about their living habits. Visit the “Butterfly Culture Exhibition Hall” in the park to learn about the types and protection of butterflies.
  • Family Highlights: Take a photo of the whole family with the “Butterfly Spring” stone tablet. Let the children count the number of butterflies they see and record it in the travel journal, cultivating their observation skills.
• Evening: Dali Theater · Bai Ethnic Performance
  • Itinerary: Watch the large-scale Bai ethnic performance Impression Dali at Dali Theater. The performance combines music, dance, and drama to show the life and culture of the Bai people. The whole family watches the performance together—the children are attracted by the colorful costumes and lively dances, and the elderly appreciate the traditional culture expressed in the performance.
  • Family Highlights: After the performance, take a photo with the actors in Bai costumes. The children can ask the actors questions about Bai culture, and the actors will answer patiently, enriching the children’s knowledge of ethnic groups.

Day 4: Dali → Lijiang · Naxi Culture Exploration (City Transfer Day)

• Morning: Take a High-Speed Train to Lijiang → Check into a Naxi-Style Homestay
  • Itinerary: Take a high-speed train from Dali to Lijiang (about 2 hours, comfortable and fast). After arriving in Lijiang, check into a Naxi-style homestay in Lijiang Ancient Town. The homestay has a courtyard with Naxi-style “five-flower screen walls” and planted osmanthus trees. The homestay owner provides Naxi-style welcome tea (Pu’er tea) and “Lijiang snow peach” (a local specialty fruit). Let the elderly rest in the room after checking in.
  • Family Highlights: The homestay owner teaches the whole family to say simple Naxi greetings (e.g., “Nv ho” means hello). The children learn quickly and greet the homestay staff in Naxi, bringing joy to everyone. Take a photo of the whole family in the homestay courtyard with Naxi-style buildings in the background.
• Afternoon: Lijiang Ancient Town · Slow Exploration
  • Itinerary: Visit Lijiang Ancient Town (enter from the North Gate to avoid crowds). Walk along “Sifang Street” and “Qiyi Street”—the elderly can admire the Naxi-style buildings with “slate roads” and “quadrangle courtyards”; parents can take the children to visit the “Dongba Culture Exhibition Hall” to learn about Dongba characters (the only living hieroglyphic in the world) and Dongba religion.
  • Family Highlights: Let the children learn to write their names in Dongba characters under the guidance of a teacher. The elderly can compare Dongba characters with the characters they know, feeling the uniqueness of ethnic writing. Take a photo of the children holding their Dongba name cards.
• Evening: Naxi-Style Dinner & Bonfire Party
  • Itinerary: Have dinner at a Naxi-style restaurant in the ancient town (e.g., “Naxi Family Restaurant”). Order Naxi-style dishes like “Naxi roasted meat,” “cured pork ribs hot pot,” and “chicken bean jelly”—adjust the spiciness according to the family’s taste. After dinner, participate in the “Naxi bonfire party” in the ancient town’s square. The whole family holds hands with Naxi people and dances around the bonfire.
  • Family Highlights: The children follow the dance steps of the Naxi people, and the elderly clap to the rhythm. The whole family laughs and dances together, enjoying the lively atmosphere of the bonfire party. Take a video of the family dancing to record the happy moment.

Day 5: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain · Natural Wellness (Natural Experience Day)

• Morning: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain · Glacier Park (Adjust According to the Elderly’s Health)
  • Itinerary: If the elderly are in good health, take the cable car to “Glacier Park” on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (prepare oxygen tanks and warm clothes in advance). Take photos at the viewing platform at an altitude of 4,680 meters, and the whole family feels the grandeur of the snow-capped mountains together. If the elderly are not feeling well, stay at “Blue Moon Valley” to enjoy the beautiful scenery (the lake is blue like a sapphire). Parents take the children to play by the lake and take photos.
  • Family Highlights: Take a “family photo with snow-capped mountains” at “Ganhaizi” at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (with grasslands and snow-capped mountains as the background). Let the children help the elderly wear warm clothes and hand them oxygen tanks, cultivating the awareness of caring for others.
• Afternoon: Yunnan Spruce Meadow · Grassland Leisure
  • Itinerary: Visit “Yunnan Spruce Meadow” (lower altitude, suitable for the whole family). The elderly sit in the grassland tent to rest, drink butter tea, and watch yaks and sheep. Parents take the children to fly kites on the grassland or play “grassland frisbee.” The whole family can also do simple grassland yoga together to breathe in the fresh air and relax.
  • Family Highlights: Have a “grassland picnic” together (prepare snacks like dried beef, fruits, and chocolate). The elderly share stories about snow-capped mountains they heard when they were young, and the children listen with great interest. Take a group photo of the family lying on the grass, with the sky and snow-capped mountains in the background.
• Evening: Lijiang Hot Spring · Wellness Relaxation
  • Itinerary: Return to Lijiang and go to a hot spring resort (choose a resort with family-friendly hot spring pools, such as “Lijiang Ancient Town Hot Spring”). The elderly soak in the low-temperature hot spring pool to relax their muscles and bones. Parents take the children to play in the children’s hot spring pool (with small slides and water toys). After soaking in the hot spring, drink a cup of warm ginger tea to keep warm.
  • Family Highlights: The whole family soaks in the hot spring together (choose a private family pool for privacy) and chats about the day’s experiences. The children can play with water toys in the pool, and the elderly can enjoy the comfort of the hot spring—relaxing both physically and mentally.

Day 6: Lijiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience & Departure (Warm Wrap-Up Day)

• Morning: Lijiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop · Handicraft Experience
  • Itinerary: Visit the “Naxi Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop” in Lijiang. The whole family participates in traditional Naxi handicraft experiences: the elderly can try “Naxi embroidery” (simple patterns), and parents and children can make “Dongba wood carvings” (choose simple patterns like small animals). The workshop teacher explains the history of Naxi intangible cultural heritage, and the whole family listens carefully to feel the charm of intangible cultural heritage.
  • Family Highlights: Carve each family member’s name and the travel date on the handicraft as an exclusive souvenir of the family trip. The whole family shows their works together and takes a “handicraft experience photo.”
• Noon: Naxi-Style Lunch · Farewell Meal
  • Itinerary: Have lunch at a “Naxi Home-style Restaurant” (e.g., “Lijiang Renjia Restaurant”). Order a table of Naxi home-style dishes like “Naxi fried rice,” “clay pot fish,” “stir-fried wild mushrooms,” and “vegetable soup”—let the whole family taste Naxi cuisine for the last time. During the meal, the whole family shares their feelings about the trip. The elderly thank the younger generation for their company, and the younger generation thank the elderly for their care.
  • Family Highlights: The whole family raises their glasses together to celebrate the successful end of the Dali-Lijiang family trip and make a promise to travel together again. Let the children serve food to each family member to express their gratitude.
• Afternoon: Souvenir Shopping & Departure
  • Itinerary: Visit the “Lijiang Specialty Market” outside the ancient town to buy Yunnan specialties for relatives and friends, such as Pu’er tea, Lijiang snow peach dried, yak beef jerky, and tie-dye products. The whole family discusses and chooses souvenirs together. Before departure, take a “farewell photo” of the whole family at Lijiang Sanyi International Airport/Train Station to record the beautiful memories of the Yunnan family trip. On the way, the whole family reviews the interesting things during the trip and looks forward to the next family trip.
  • Family Highlights: Let the children be responsible for “packing the travel luggage” and put the handicrafts and souvenirs in order to cultivate their self-care ability. The elderly tell the children stories of their travels when they were young, enhancing intergenerational communication.