A big journey starts small · with Boutique China
We take you to Yunnan's famous ancient food towns, colorful ethnic markets, thousand-year rice terraces, and Hani hill villages, where we meet local families, visit their homes, and share time with the people who shape these landscapes, ending with hot springs beside Mile's red-brick art town.
US$2,390 per person (twin share).
Single room: Available on request
7 days / 6 nights in hand-picked curated stays, each chosen for its unique character.
Small-group departures, max 12 guests per trip.
All experiences & entries: purple pottery, family meals, hot springs, and more.
Meals included.
English-speaking bilingual guide & on-trip support throughout.
We will take you through the living cultures and landscapes of southern Yunnan. From historic towns to vibrant markets to the breathtaking rice terraces of Yuanyang.
We begin in Jianshui, exploring its ancient town, pottery tradition and local food culture, before continuing to Yuanyang, where we stay with a Hani family, share meals with them, and experience their daily life in the rice terrace villages, along with unforgettable sunrise and sunset views. The journey ends in Mile, where we relax in natural hot springs before returning.
| Days | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kunming → Jianshui | Welcome Banquet in a Traditional Courtyard House |
| 2 | Shiping | Local Market, Tofu Grill & Old Town |
| 3 | Jianshui → Yuanyang | Purple Pottery, Zhu Family Garden & Down to the Terraces |
| 4–5 | Yuanyang | Living above Rice Terraces, Hani Family Meals & Mountain Markets |
| 6 | Yuanyang → Mile | Red-Brick Art Town & Hot Springs |
| 7 | Mile → Kunming | Onward Transfer |
Land in Kunming and drive south to Jianshui — the old Confucian town of Lin'an. We gather in the old town over a welcome banquet: steam-pot chicken, grass-shoot noodles, and the Lin'an food culture you'll spend tomorrow eating your way through.
The day belongs to Shiping — a historic courtyard town known for its vibrant rural market. Farmers arrive from surrounding villages carrying seasonal produce, mountain herbs, handmade tools, and local remedies. Your guide helps decode the market's foods and customs before you try Shiping's famous charcoal-grilled tofu.
After lunch in a restored courtyard mansion, there is time to wander the old town — cafés, cultural spaces, and a traditional tofu workshop if it's operating. We return to Jianshui by late afternoon, with a free evening and the lively night market for those who want to continue exploring.
Throw your own cup at a purple-pottery (Zitao) studio — fired and posted on to you later — with a tea tasting, then the classical Zhu Family Garden. In the afternoon the road drops to the hot Red River valley and climbs into the Hani rice terraces; we settle in above the fields for a family dinner.
We watch the sunrise over the rice terraces at Duoyishu, when the fields are filled with water and reflect the sky. Then we continue into the Hani village of Azheke, where a local guide walks with us through the traditional mushroom houses and their daily life. We share a long-table village lunch, take part in a hands-on indigo-dyeing workshop in the afternoon, and end the day at Tiger-Mouth viewpoint for sunset.
We watch the sunrise over the rice terraces, then visit the local market — with mountain produce, herbs, indigo cloth, livestock, and street snacks cooked on the spot. It's a clear window into everyday terrace life. The afternoon is easy, with time for a free walk through the fields before dinner.
We start the morning slowly with a western-style brunch before heading north to Mile. We check into the Bilangwan hot-spring resort on the edge of the Dongfengyun red-brick art town — the surreal, handmade-brick world created by artist Luo Xu. In the evening, we slow down with long soaks in the hot springs and dinner in the art town.
We begin the morning at a gentle pace with a wellness session at the resort — from singing-bowl meditation and mindful yoga to traditional Baduanjin exercises — before enjoying one last soak in the hot springs. Afterwards, we make our way back to Kunming for your onward flight or train, carrying memories of the Red River region: its terraces, flavors, and the peaceful rhythm of rural life.
Days 4 & 5 may swap, depending on which day the country market falls for your departure.
An old-town courtyard in Lin'an, a terrace-view lodge over the Hani fields, and a hot-spring resort on the edge of Mile's red-brick art town.
A restored new-Chinese courtyard hotel inside Jianshui's old town — three garden courtyards and a tea house, with the night-market tofu grills a short walk away.
A small terrace-view lodge in Aichun, floor-to-ceiling windows straight onto the flooded Yuanyang fields — sunrise from the room, the Hani village of Azheke along the ridge.
A hot-spring and wellness resort on the edge of Mile's red-brick art town — natural thermal pools, and singing-bowl, yoga and baduanjin mornings.
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.
A 'professional' foodie based in Yunnan, Brad loves drawing closer to new things and new places, and building connections with local people. A food detective who never misses a delicious dish or a flavorful snack, he's the perfect helper to lead you on your food adventure.
You build real relationships with the farmers, artisans, and small guesthouses along the route, so you experience southern Yunnan the way locals do — not just from a bus window.
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.