Arrive in Dali • Enter a world of traditional handicrafts and Bai architecture as you stroll along the cobbled streets of Dali Old Town • Fly past swaying reeds and fertile farmland as you set out by bicycle to find minority villages dotting the lakeside • Witness a private cormorant fishing demonstration, where fishermen work alongside their winged compatriots as they have for centuries
Education - South of the Clouds (Yunnan)
Strap on your hiking boots and explore Yunnan! With low-lying fertile valleys, spectacular white-capped mountains, rustic towns and villages, and a lively mix of ethnic minority communities, this province is perfect for the adventure seeking.
About This Trip
Yunnan's mountains have historically isolated groups of people from one another, which has served to preserve the region's unique minority heritage. While soaking in the most culturally and ecologically diverse province, bond as friends and work closely as a team on this project-based learning adventure. From endangered monkey conservation studies to taking part in a community project in a rural Tibetan village, we will throw out the textbooks and dive headfirst into the myriad of cultures found in the fertile lands "South of the Clouds."

What we love
- Trekking Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Learning from experts about monkey conservation
- Giving back to the Tibetan community with a service project

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
DETAILED ITINERARY
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Day 1 | 2
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Day 3
Be an intrepid explorer and hike along the towering ravines jutting out over Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world's deepest and most exhilarating river canyons • Spend the night beneath the Milky Way at a local guesthouse, which hosts stunning views of the mountain range
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Day 4
Be transported through scenic mountain roads to Tacheng in search of the illusive snub-nosed monkey • Partake in student-led discussion on topics, such as animal conservation methods and the relationship between animal and man • Get to know the people behind the Lisu Center, an organization that promotes the preservation of local minority culture
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Day 5
Rise and shine to witness snub-nosed monkeys in their natural habitat at a national park • Get to know local youth by participating in a school exchange at an elementary school outside of Shangri-la • Get your hands messy with clay at a Nixi-style black pottery workshop
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Day 6 | 7
Follow the narrow winding lanes of Shangri-la Old Town, passing by white stupas and outdoor markets • Study under a calligraphy master the flowing lines and dots that make up the Tibetan alphabet • Wander through the gilded pillars and incense-filled rooms of Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan lamasery in Yunnan • Share a farewell meal with a local Tibetan family, and expect yak to be on the menu! • Finish off the trip with a Tibetan-style dance party at a local home
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Adventure
From biking the aquamarine waters of Erhai Lake alongside Dali to climbing the heights of the 28 bends on the Tiger Leaping Gorge trek, this outward-bound trip veers away from China's well-worn tourist routes to challenge the body and mind.
Culture
Whether it's experiencing age-old customs in Yunnan's ethnic villages or embarking on a spiritual journey through Tibetan Buddhism in Shangri-La, this immersive program puts students in the heart of China's most diverse province.
Tour Reviews

University - Penn State, Dec 2015Guides were excellent. Our guests truly enjoyed the experience. Thank you to all who made the trip a success.

W.W., Dec 2017Visit that included 18 teenagers from our US school, staff and parents
The WildChina Beijing team was above and beyond EXCELLENT. The knowledge level, responsiveness, resourcefulness , 6 star level customer service is unmatched. I've traveled to China multiple times before for business and never have we had such excellent guides. I would highly recommend WildChina for leisure, academic and business purposes. I would also recommend WildChina for corporate expats. I would like to highlight that Michael , Anna and Fann did an amazing job ! Thank you !!
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Dulwich Beijing, Jun 2017A huge thank you to all of the WildChina staff for their outstanding care, provision and planning, to make the Year 9 trip such an enormous success. It was a truly remarkable trip and one that we will all never forget. A survey went out yesterday and out of 122 students the trip received an overall rating of 4.74 out of 5!! A true testament to the magnificent work done by all of your team to make this unique but quite extraordinary vision a reality!
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