A big thank you, David, for designing and organising this trip, which let us discover this beautiful Chinese region off the beaten track and outside of time. The itinerary took us gently from the rice terraces of southern Yunnan to the mountains of northern Yunnan.
A fascinating trip: grandiose landscapes, beautiful traditional houses, terraced rice fields, red earth, hillside temples, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and the smiles and joie de vivre of everyone we met.
We also owe this wonderful trip to our very knowledgeable driver-guides, Jack in southern Yunnan and Zhangje in northern Yunnan. We thank them for their safe driving, their efficiency, their kindness, their knowledge of the region and for always taking such good care of us.
The cultural visits with our guides were enriching. They shared their knowledge of the culture, history, architectural heritage and culinary plants, and thanks to them, we had the pleasure of meeting different ethnic minorities.
We really liked the choice of hotels, whether in superb traditional courtyard houses or in inns tucked away in small hilltop villages. To name just a few, we won’t forget the many traditional courtyards of the ideally located Linden Centre, the stunning view over the rice terraces from Twelve Manor, and the Ya Cha Jiao Manor for its original architecture and its views over the Yangtze gorges and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain range.
The meals, taken in small inns during our walks, were varied and always excellent. We ate very well and enjoyed the regional specialities.
We saw two traditional shows. Dynamic Yunnan was absolutely magnificent, but we found the Naxi music performance in Lijiang too long, as the presenter talked a great deal.
We also had two original activities. At the tea plantation, picking tea leaves and learning how they are turned into tea was not only very interesting but also great fun. And finally, in Lijiang, the visit to the big, colourful market and the cooking class with Fancy, followed by tasting what we had made, delighted us. Not to mention the French bakery next to the cooking class, which was a big surprise: exquisite croissants made with Échiré butter and flour from Seine-et-Marne.
We fell under Yunnan’s spell. Our encounters with the ethnic minorities will remain unforgettable, special memories, and we won’t forget the diversity and beauty of the landscapes either.
The trip was perfectly organised, including the hotel bookings and the train and plane tickets booked by the team. However, at the very start, we had a lot of problems with SIM cards and cash machines!
A big thank you to the whole Yunnan Roads team for organising this trip so perfectly, for letting us travel in complete safety and for giving us an unforgettable experience.
And a big thank you to Lilli for her kindness, professionalism and availability. We also congratulate her on her excellent French.
And not forgetting you, David, who spent so much time with us designing this unique trip and sharing your passion for Yunnan, for timeless China and for the China of the future.
Françoise and Bernard