A big journey starts small · with Boutique China
Nine days through the Nujiang Valley, a remote melting pot of Lisu, Nu, Dulong and Tibetan cultures, following the old missionary road into the mountains of southwest China — where ancient traditions meet Christianity, forgotten towns hide in the clouds, and Catholic villages survive at the end of the road. Over Peacock Mountain to Cizhong, then through Tacheng's volcanic landscapes and hot springs before emerging into Lijiang.
8 guests max. One minibus, narrow roads, spontaneous stops, and time to linger where the journey calls for it.
US$2,920 per person (twin share).
Single room surcharge: US$300
9 days / 8 nights in hand-picked boutique stays, each chosen for its character.
All experiences & entries: the Laomudeng choir evening, Zhiziluo, the Wuli cliff path, Cizhong's church and wine house, and a market-to-table cooking session.
All meals included — every breakfast, lunch and dinner, from the welcome dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on your last morning.
English-speaking bilingual guide & on-trip support throughout.
The Nujiang is China's deepest valley and its least-visited — the Salween running through a gorge so steep the road only reached its head twenty years ago. French missionaries walked it a century before, and left churches, hymns and vines behind them.
Nine days from Baoshan up the gorge: a Lisu choir at Laomudeng, the abandoned city of Zhiziluo, the Catholic villages of Bingzhongluo at the end of the road, then over Peacock Mountain to Cizhong — mission church, vineyard, wine still made by local hands — and down through Tacheng and Shigu to Lijiang. Three great rivers, and the table that goes with them.
| Days | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baoshan | Arrival by Air or Rail, Optional Banqiao Old-Town Walk |
| 2 | Baoshan → Laomudeng | Up the Nujiang Gorge & Evening Lisu Church Choir |
| 3 | Laomudeng → Bingzhongluo | Zhiziluo Walk, Tiger Leap, Stone Moon & the First Bend |
| 4 | Bingzhongluo | Catholic Church, Wuli & Qiunatong Villages, Drive to the Tibet Checkpoint |
| 5 | Dimaluo → Cizhong | Village Lunch & the Crossing of Peacock Mountain |
| 6 | Cizhong → Tacheng | Mission Church, Vineyard Lunch & Tongle Lisu Village |
| 7 | Tacheng → Lijiang | Village Morning & the First Bend of the Yangtze at Shigu |
| 8 | Lijiang | Market-to-Table Cooking & Farewell Dinner |
| 9 | Lijiang | Morning in Shuhe or Dayan Old Town, Tour Ends |
We meet you at Baoshan's airport or railway station — the gateway to the Nujiang. If you arrive early, an easy walk through Banqiao, the old market town outside the city, or one of the nearby parks. In the evening we sit down together for a welcome dinner before heading to the valley.
Begin in Lujiangba, visiting the coffee farms before following the old Missionary Road deeper into the mountains to Laomudeng, where Christianity took root among the Lisu people over a century ago — shaping not only their faith, but their language and music. Tonight, hear that tradition for yourself as Lisu hymns echo through the mountain church.
Start the morning in Zhiziluo, a former county town abandoned in the 1980s, now suspended above the clouds — with its pagoda, church and empty avenues overlooking the valley. Then follow the Nujiang north through its narrowest stretches, passing the Tiger Leap, Stone Moon viewpoints and a natural arch in the Gaoligong Mountains, before reaching the First Bend, where the river almost circles a peninsula of farmland. By evening, we arrive in Bingzhongluo, the last basin before Tibet.
The heart of the old Missionary Road. Visit the Catholic church at Zhongding, then take a gentle walk along the river to Wuli village, following the route once walked by missionaries. Enjoy an authentic local lunch before exploring Qiukedang and its remarkable religious diversity — from churches to Buddhist and other local monasteries.
Begin the morning in Dimaluo, a quiet village of the Nu ethnic group nestled beneath the mountain pass, where wooden houses, small fields and a Catholic church still preserve its traditional character. From here, follow the old missionary trail toward Peacock Mountain, stopping at mountain viewpoints as the landscape opens up on both sides. Cross from the Salween watershed into the Mekong valley, then descend to Cizhong, arriving by evening.
Spend the morning in Cizhong, where a century-old mission church and the vineyards planted by French priests still tell the story of the valley's Christian past. Visit the old wine house and taste locally made wine over lunch, before continuing to Tongle, a hillside village of the Lisu ethnic group, with wooden houses rising above the valley. Then follow the Lancang River south to Tacheng.
Spend a slow morning exploring Tacheng, wandering through its village lanes and fields before enjoying a local lunch at the guesthouse, featuring Tacheng-style roast suckling pig. Then head east to Shigu, where the Yangtze makes its dramatic First Bend — completing the journey through the three great rivers of the region. Continue on to Lijiang by evening.
Explore the ancient streets of Lijiang before heading to the morning market with Chef Fancy Wu. Choose fresh local ingredients, then bring them back to the kitchen to cook and share a traditional Yunnan lunch together. In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner at Shanxun Yunxiang, one of Lijiang's finest tables.
Enjoy a final morning at your own pace in Shuhe or Dayan old town, wandering along quiet canals and through narrow lanes lined with traditional Naxi roofs before the crowds arrive. Then transfer to Lijiang Airport for your onward journey. The tour ends here.
Our guides live and breathe Yunnan — building real relationships with the families, artisans and small guesthouses along the route, so you experience the province the way locals do, not just from a bus window.
Eight nights, each chosen for its setting: a garden resort beside the Baoshan wetlands, a cliffside inn overlooking the mountains at Laomudeng, a gorge lodge above the Nu River in Bingzhongluo, a beautifully designed house beside the mission church in Cizhong, a peaceful valley inn in Tacheng, and two traditional Naxi farmhouses in Shuhe.
A garden resort on the edge of the Qinghuahai wetland park, ten minutes from the station — grey-tiled wings around ponds and lawns, an indoor pool, and open-air hot-spring pools set among the trees.
A small inn on the Laomudeng shelf, 1,800 m up the flank of the Biluo range with the gorge falling away below — pale timber and rattan rooms glazed onto the valley, and a lounge window the full width of it, cloud sitting in the gorge below you at first light.
Built in 2023 on the shelf above the river, a few minutes' walk from the Bingzhongluo lookout — an infinity pool facing the gorge, rooms glazed floor to ceiling onto the snow peaks, and a long dining room over the valley.
New in 2026 and the reason Cizhong is now a night rather than a stop — eighteen rooms in the village itself, a few doors from the mission church. Painted Tibetan timber outside, pale and plain within, picture windows onto the Lancang and a shared kitchen and roof terrace.
A timber-and-glass inn in a remote Tacheng valley, rooms opening onto rice fields and forested mountains.
Located in Lijiang’s Old Town, Awamai Hotel is a beautifully restored historic residence that blends traditional Naxi architectural elements with classic Chinese aesthetics, breathing new life into a centuries-old house.
In rare cases of limited availability, some stays may be replaced with hotels of equal standard.
Having spent the past few years guiding travelers and exploring Yunnan, Carrie has developed a deep appreciation for the region's incredible diversity. Now living in a peaceful village in Dali, she loves sharing the landscapes, cultures, and hidden gems she has discovered.
Having called Yunnan home for over a decade, Henry has transformed his passion for the region into a career. From the bustling streets of Kunming to the mountains of Shangri-La, he specializes in uncovering hidden scenery that guidebooks often miss. Henry loves connecting travelers with local culture through authentic food and untold stories, ensuring every journey feels personal and unique.
A Yunnan native with a lifelong passion for his homeland, Li loves sharing the region's landscapes, cultures, and hidden stories with travelers. Years living in Australia and working with international guests give him both local insight and a global perspective.
33 villages, 117 musicians, countless cups of tea and coffee. Jean Zhang is a Yunnan-born social anthropologist — a quarter Naxi, a quarter Yi — who speaks English and French, and happens to sing and dance too. She loves discovering the Yunnan that doesn’t always make it into guidebooks: the people, stories, music and everyday life behind the landscapes.
Tell us a little about your trip and we'll be in touch within ~24 hours. A 20% deposit secures your spot; groups stay small.
