Day 1
Various places-Kunming
[Today] After arriving in Kunming, all distinguished guests can take a rest in the business waiting room of Kunming Station.
[21:40] Depart from Kunming Station to Lijiang.
Starlight · Lancang–Mekong
Yunnan Grand Circuit — 9 Days, 8 Nights
Yunnan · 9 days and 8 nights
Original Chinese name
天籁之境旷世云南·环滇全景游9天8晚
Journey overview
- Reference fare
- USD 5,493 and up
- Duration
- 9 days and 8 nights
- Departure location
- Kunming
Departure dates
2026
2027
Cabins
- Starlight Enjoyment Room (Twin Beds)
- Starlight Privilege Room (double bed)
Fares and availability vary by departure and cabin. Please confirm both when booking.
USD estimates use the 2026-11-13 exchange rate. Confirm the final amount and payment currency when booking.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 2
Kunming-Lijiang
[08:05]Arrived at Lijiang Station.
[08:15-09:30] Take a bus to [Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area].
[09:30-11:30] Take a battery car to visit [Blue Moon Valley Scenic Area].
[11:30-13:30] Take a bus to Lijiangyuan Restaurant in Yushui Village and enjoy Lijiang special lunch.
[13:30-14:30] Roam around the [Yushui Village] scenic spot and taste the ancient Naxi culture at the source of Lijiang water.
[14:30-17:00] Go to [Lijiang Ancient Town], known as the plateau Suzhou, and experience the slow time of the ancient town with flowing water in front of every house.
[18:01] Depart from Lijiang Station to Baoshan Station.
Day 3
Lijiang-Baoshan
[08:20]Arrived at Baoshan Station.
[08:40-12:30] Take a bus to the Chinese coffee valley - [Lujiangba Coffee Base] (Beaton Coffee Manor), visit coffee factories and plantations, appreciate the history and culture of Chinese coffee, and taste the rich taste of authentic Yunnan arabica coffee.
[12:30-13:30]Enjoy a special coffee meal.
[13:30-15:00] After lunch, take a bus to Tengchong City, pass the [Longjiang Super Bridge], and watch the miracle of construction.
[15:00-17:30] Take a bus to [Heshun Ancient Town], pass through the small town on the edge, and experience the influence of overseas Chinese culture at Heshun Library and Ai Siqi's former residence.
[17:30-18:30]Enjoy Tengchong special meal.
[18:30-19:00] Take the bus to the hotel to check in.
Day 4
Baoshan-Mengzi
[9:30-12:30] Take a bus from the hotel to [Rehai], step into the Tengchong Rehai, and encounter the thousand-year geothermal context of the extreme border town. There are clouds and mist in the mountains, hot springs are steaming, and the valley is filled with fairy air.
[12:30-13:30] Enjoy Tengchong special lunch at the restaurant.
[14:00-18:15] Take the bus to Baoshan Station and take the Starlight Train to Mengzi.
[18:40] Depart from Baoshan to Mengzi Station.
[18:50-20:00]Enjoy train dinner.
Day 5
Mengzi-Jianshui
[09:34]Arrived at Mengzi Station.
[09:50-12:00] Take a bus to [Bise Village] and review history at the filming location of the movie "Youth".
[12:00-13:00]Enjoy special lunch at a local restaurant.
[13:00-17:00] Take a bus to Jianshui to visit [Tuanshan Folk Residences], and go to Tuanshan Ancient Village, which is said to have gold and silver hidden in the Yi language. The whole village is inhabited by the surname Zhang. In the late Qing Dynasty, tin merchants returned home after digging for gold and built a series of wealthy compounds. There are still original residents in the old house, and there is no excessive commercialization. You can touch the original ecology of southern Yunnan in the fireworks old house.
[17:00-18:30] Take a bus to [Shuanglong Bridge]. The entire stone bridge is built of bluestone, with seventeen holes in a series and three attics standing on the bridge deck. It is a representative work of Yunnan's ancient stone arch bridges.
[18:30-20:00]Take a bus to a restaurant in Jianshui City and have dinner.
[20:00-20:30] Take a bus to Jianshui Lin'an Hotel to check in and have a good rest.
Day 6
Jianshui-Xishuangbanna
[09:30]Check out of the hotel.
[09:30-11:00] Go to the foundation of Jianshui culture [Jianshui Confucian Temple]. The Jianshui Confucian Temple maintains the architectural style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and every frame is a graceful echo of Confucian culture.
[11:00-11:45] The Ximen Daban Well that appears in "A Bite of China", a sweet well water and Jianshui's unique tofu, are all Jianshui's business cards.
[12:00-13:00]Enjoy Jianshui’s authentic special lunch.
[13:00-14:30] The famous Jianshui purple pottery has become everyone's dream when arriving in Jianshui. Go to the [Purple Pottery Museum] to witness the growth of purple pottery.
[14:30-15:30] [Chaoyang Tower] records the changes in Jianshui over the past century. Climb up and overlook the entire Lin'an City.
[15:30-17:00] Take a bus to visit the [Zhu Family Garden], known as the "Grand View Garden of Southern Yunnan", and feel the historical context and the rise and fall of the tin mining family in the residential buildings of the Qing Dynasty.
[17:00-18:30] Feel free to experience [Jianshui Ancient City] and feel the fireworks on earth in southern Yunnan.
[18:30-19:30]Enjoy a flavorful meal.
[19:45-20:50] Go to Jianshui Station and take the Starlight Train to Xishuangbanna.
[21:06]Departure from Jianshui Station.
Day 7
Xishuangbanna
[08:42]Arrived at Xishuangbanna Station.
[08:55-12:45] Take a bus to [Chinese Academy of Sciences Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden]. The tour guide will lead you to visit the western area of the botanical garden, observe various exotic flowers and plants in the tropical kingdom, feel the growth of plants in the botanical garden, and then go to [Wanglian Pond] to experience the magic of Wanglian.
[12:45-13:45]Have lunch at Wanglian Hotel.
[13:45-15:45] Under the guidance of professional explanations, go to the East Area of the Botanical Garden [Tropical Rainforest] to explore the secrets, and learn about the biological knowledge of the tropical rainforest along the way.
[15:45-17:15] Take the bus to the hotel to check in.
[17:30-18:30]Local special dinner.
[19:00-21:00] Visit Xishuangbanna [Starlight Night Market], take a Dai-style travel photo shoot, and experience the human fireworks unique to Banna.
Day 8
Xishuangbanna-Kunming
[09:00-12:00] Take a bus to [Jinuo Style Garden]. In the tea forest, you can participate in tea making with your own hands and watch the leaf buds between your fingertips and utensils, being rolled and baked to create a unique flavor. Finally, savor the aroma of tea and feel the solace and intoxication from your taste buds to your soul.
[12:00-13:00]Dai specialty farm rice.
[14:00-16:00] Take a bus to [Manzhang Village] to deeply experience the characteristic villages of the Dai people, experience intangible cultural heritage activities (Baye Sutra), and deeply experience the farming life of the Dai people.
[16:00-17:30] Take the bus to Yexianggu Station and take the Starlight Train to Kunming.
[17:48]Departure from Yexianggu Station.
[18:00-19:00]Enjoy an exquisite train dinner.
Day 9
Kunming
[08:00-09:00] The train runs slowly on the track early in the morning. A night of dreams is awakened by the sun. A delicious train breakfast relieves the fatigue of the journey.
[10:49] Arrive in Kunming and end the trip.
Special note: The above train times are for reference only. They are subject to the final train times ordered by the Ministry of Railways. If the train times change, the Starlight Lanmei Express train crew will fine-tune the scenic spots and meal arrangements. Please understand and cooperate!
What the fare covers
Included
Transportation
Starlight Lanmei Express + destination regular tourist bus.
①Buick GL8 business car for airport pick-up and drop-off
② During the itinerary, the Lijiang Tengchong section uses a 2+1 land first-class bus
③In the Jianshui section of the itinerary, ordinary buses are used
④The Chinese and Western Shuangbanna sections of the itinerary will use a 2+1 land first-class bus
Catering
8 breakfasts + 14 meals + 5 midnight snacks throughout the journey.
Starlight Lanmei Express train meals: Breakfast standard is ≈ USD 8.93/person, dinner set standard is 100/person, dinner meal sharing standard is 200/person, and late night snack standard is 60/person.
Dining at tourist destinations: Breakfast is provided by the hotel, and the dinner standard is 80-100 per person.
Special instructions: Train meals need to be ordered and prepared on demand before the train departs, so please inform us of relevant dietary restrictions in advance; dining at tourist destinations is a group meal, so meals included in the itinerary will not be refunded if you do not use them, please understand!
Admission
Tickets to the attractions on the itinerary and required on-site transport.
Special instructions:
① The tourist train itinerary is a service package model. The ticket fees have been calculated according to the group price and need to be booked and registered in advance. Therefore, the tickets are not subject to any preferential policies and will not be refunded if used! Please understand.
② Tea made in Jinuo Mountain in Xishuangbanna section, one cake of tea for each family, please understand.
Accommodation
3 nights Starlight Lanmei Express train seat + 1 night at a tourist destination hotel.
Special note: The room type is a double standard room. If there are single men and single women, we will arrange to share a room. If you are unable to share a room or want to live alone, you need to pay for the Single supplement.
Tour guides and service personnel
Local tour guides; full-time accompanying service personnel; Starlight Lanmei Express train stewards.
Special note: The exclusive butler will accompany you throughout your trip (including on the train and at the travel destination).
Service Standards for Children Under 12 Years Old
Includes bus fare, tickets and sightseeing transfers, train meals, full meals on the ground, driver service fees, etc.; if the extra bed and breakfast in the ground hotel are too high, please pay the relevant fees by yourself.
Excluded
1. Transportation from various places to and from Kunming.
2. Other expenses and personal consumption not included in the itinerary.
3. Tourists’ personal travel accident insurance.
Travel notes
Changes and cancellations
Travellers acknowledge that railway transportation is related to the national economy and people's livelihood. Railway transportation organizations follow the principle of unified dispatching and command. If due to emergencies or irresistible reasons such as relevant department dispatching, construction, line accidents, vehicle breakdowns, line rerouting, etc., the travel agency will notify the travel train in advance or postponement 7 days in advance. If the travel train cannot be run, the agency will notify travellers 5 days in advance. The travel agency will not bear any liability for breach of contract. The specific departure time and stopping points of the special train are subject to the orders of the relevant departments! If tourist trains are delayed or the travel itinerary is affected due to railway system changes to the railway timetable, construction, line accidents, vehicle breakdowns, changes in travel plans, etc., these are all force majeure factors, and travel agencies do not assume any liability for breach of contract!
If the traveler cancels the trip due to personal reasons after registration, the fees are as follows:
30 days or more before the trip, 10% of the total order amount will be charged.
15-29 days (inclusive) before the trip, 20% of the total order amount will be charged
8-14 days (inclusive) before the trip, 50% of the total order amount will be charged
Within 7 days (inclusive) before the trip, 100% of the total order amount will be charged
Before you travel
1. The fare of Starlight Train is all-inclusive, and all the contents listed in the itinerary are included in the fare, except for customized services and other unfinished matters.
2. Children aged 12 or under who share a room with one adult pay 70% of the adult fare.
3. When sharing a room with two adults, children aged 5 or above pay 50% of the adult fare. Children under 5 travel free.
4. Single occupancy requires 150% of the fare.
Questions
How much is Yunnan Grand Circuit — 9 Days, 8 Nights?
From USD 5,493 (Starlight · Lancang–Mekong, 9 days and 8 nights). Fares vary by departure, cabin and party size; confirm the quote when booking.
When does Yunnan Grand Circuit — 9 Days, 8 Nights depart?
Departures: Dec 12 2026; Jan 23, Oct 1, Dec 4 2027. Availability is confirmed when booking.
Where does the journey start?
The journey starts in Kunming. Travel to and from Kunming is arranged separately; an adviser can help.
What does the fare include?
The fare covers Transportation, Catering, Admission, Accommodation, Tour guides and service personnel, Service Standards for Children Under 12 Years Old. See “What the fare covers” on this page.
How do I book?
Select “View dates and book” to choose your date, cabin and party size, or call +86-23-88721881 and an adviser will book for you. Payment by PayPal, SWIFT bank transfer, UnionPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay.