Yunnan's Flying Tigers

Follow in the exhaust trails of Yunnan's famed shark-nosed Tigers as you explore China's most culturally and ecologically diverse province. Hear first-hand stories of the pilots, the war, and the Burma Road they fought over while you immerse yourself in the natural vistas of Erhai Lake and the towering Gaoligong Mountain.

Let's Plan Your Trip Share

Trip Length 14 Days

from USD

$5,500 /person

Private Tour

春 spring

夏 summer

秋 fall

冬 winter

History , Cultural Immersion , Nature & Wildlife , Expeditions

What we love

Exploring the 80,00 relics on display at the World War II memorial in Tengchong
Hiking to a village in the Gaoligong Mountains to hear elders' stories of WWII
Wander through galleries of ancient Chinese art in the Shanghai Museum

Basic Itinerary

About This Trip

China's southwestern province of Yunnan is home to many mythical tigers, but seldom do they fly. As WWII tightened its grip, a group of American volunteers joined the effort, defending a primary supply route, the Burma Road. They fought hard and earned their name as 'Flying Tigers'. On this journey you will follow the Tiger's route through the Gaoligong Mountains and hear first-hand accounts of their achievements. Wander the ruins of their airstrips, marvel at the dramatic mountain skyline in the villages they called home, and glimpse into the lives of Naxi and Bai communities.

Detailed Itinerary | Featured Hotels

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

- Gaoligong Mountain
- World War II Memorial Museum
- Burma Road

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 | 3

Beijing

Begin your Beijing adventure in style as WildChina arranges private access to the concept store and gallery of Ma Ke's fashion house, Wuyong. • Explore the imposing Forbidden City, where emperors ruled for 500 years • Hike up jingshan and take in a commanding view over the Forbidden City • Weave your way through Beijing's ancient, interwoven hutong alleys • Uncover a treasure trove of Qing Dynasty curios in the Temple Hotel • Peking duck dinner • Enjoy a champagne picnic on the majestic Great Wall, built to protect China's heartland from invaders
Day 4 | 5

Tengchong

Fly to Tengchong, a city that saw the brunt of the fierce battles against the Japanese, via Kunming • Taste the southeast Asian flair in local cuisine at a welcome dinner • Explore the 80,00 relics on display at the World War II memorial, built to commemorate the Chinese and allied soldiers that gave their lives in the war that retook Tengchong County • Drink in the sights and sounds of the vibrant local market • Swap stories with residents in He Shun Village, a 600-year-old Southern Silk Road trading hub, which was miraculously spared during the fierce fighting between Japanese and Chinese troops • Take advantage of the region's abounding geothermal energy as you soak in natural hot springs
Day 6 | 7

Gaoligong Mountains

Retrace the vital World War II military supply routes along the Burma Road to the towering Gaoligong Mountain range • Explore the dramatic misty mountains and rich green plant life that make up Gaoligong Reserve • Get in touch with the verdant splendor of nature by spending the night in the reserve • Hike to a nearby village to hear elders' stories of the World War II battles fought here • Stroll along an abandoned logging road and reflect on the importance of the mountain range to the Chinese soldiers and their American allies during WWII • Enjoy afternoon tea Yunnan style and spend a second night in the reserve
Day 8 | 9

Dali

Drive to Dali and stroll through the town's dynamic interwoven streets • Soak in the historic scenery of Xizhou, once home to a landing strip and radio station for the Flying Tigers • Learn the process of making tea from pluck to sip • Bike around idyllic Erhai Lake, a base along the Burma Road and home for the Flying Tigers
Day 10 | 11

Lijiang

Drive toward Lijiang • Make a pit stop in the unspoiled village of Shaxi which flourished throughout Chinese history due to its strategic position on the Ancient Tea and Horse Caravan Trail • Savor local specialties for breakfast in the local market • Venture out of town and stop by the airstrip used during World War II by the Flying Tigers • Hike to the foot of the stunning Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, an alpine range which soars to the dizzying height of 5,596 meters. • Become guest of honor at a lively Naxi party
Day 12 | 14

Shanghai

Take a short flight to Shanghai, via Kunming • Dine on a local Shanghainese cuisine and take an evening stroll along the Bund • Visit the Yu Gardens, an extensive classical garden in the center of the city • Peruse Cheng Huang Miao Bazaar and discover why the locals call this area 'China Town' • Wander through galleries of ancient Chinese art in the Shanghai Museum • Marvel at the lasting remnants of Shanghai's colonial history in the French Concession • Relish one last authentic Chinese meal at a farewell dinner overlooking the Bund

Let's Plan Your Trip

FEATURED HOTELS

Banyan Tree Lijiang

Luxury Boutique

Blending traditional Naxi ethnic minority architecture with modern elegance and luxurious amenities, Banyan Tree Lijiang is a refuge of calm amidst the city's hustle and bustle.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

What's Included:

All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
All meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water
All services of WildChina English-speaking guide(s)
All accommodations, based on double-occupancy and including breakfast, service charge, and government tax
Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip

What's Not Included:

International & domestic flights and relevant taxes
Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
Travel, health and trip cancellation insurance
Meals apart from those included in the itinerary and alcohol
Expenses of a personal nature
Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
Discretionary gratuities for guides and chauffeurs

Tour Reviews

WildChina gave our family (party of 4 with two 20 something children) a truly memorable, first class touring adventure around China, a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we will remember and treasure forever. This was our first private tour anywhere. We tend to research a place and do it "our way." This trip changed my view of traveling—so much of what we did and saw could not have been accomplished on our own, and certainly without any knowledge of Mandarin. And throughout the trip, we luxuriated in the knowledge we were in the safe and savvy hands of WildChina. They made the trip extraordinary—I never could have arranged what they did and as seamlessly. We would highly recommend WildChina to anyone who is thinking about taking a trip to China and would not hesitate to book another tour with them again!
For more reviews, head to TripAdvisor

MMHLondon-Madison, Jan 2020

We had the most wonderful experience with WildChina! First, working with WildChina to plan our trip was a pleasure. They listened to where we wanted to go and the type of experiences we wanted to have, and then formulated a trip tailored to exactly what we had envisioned... I cannot say enough about our local guides and could not begin to choose which one we liked the best, because they were all fantastic. Each guide was very knowledgeable, fluent in English, and very helpful if we had a specific thing we were looking for or wanted to do in their city. The guides were amazing, the hotels were great, and, in short, our trip was perfect from start to finish, mainly because WildChina took care of all the details, large and small... If you are looking for a tour company for an amazing trip to China, I highly recommend WildChina. Cannot think of a single negative aspect of our trip. Thank you, WildChina, for orchestrating our amazing trip to China.
Read more on TripAdvisor

Sheryl M, Oct 2019

My wife and I are vegan and were pretty worried about our ability to find decent food, but our guides were very helpful at identifying appropriate restaurants and checking with restaurant staff to make sure the dishes we ordered were vegan. Shelly in particular was the perfect combination of knowledgable, fun, flexible, kind, interesting, and accommodating. We were truly sad to say goodbye to her at the airport, and I suspect my wife is already thinking about making another trip to Yunnan province to visit her again!
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Rallanah, Jul 2019

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Beijing

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Dali

Lijiang

Shanghai

Banyan Tree Lijiang