Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture is located in the central part of Yunnan Province, bordering Kunming City in the east, Pu'er City and Yuxi City in the south, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in the west, Panzhihua City in Sichuan Province in the north, and connecting to Sichuan  Province. As an important node of the golden tourist routes in West Yunnan and Northwest Yunnan, Chuxiong is the main route for Kunming to enter and exit West Yunnan. In addition, the transportation of various scenic spots in Chuxiong Prefecture is convenient, and the tourist route is in the shape of a loop, which allows you to avoid turning back when traveling by car.

 

Here are three recommended self-driving routes from Kunming to Chuxiong. There are not only one-day short-distance self-driving routes suitable for weekend family travel, but also Chuxiong in-depth five-day self-driving routes that are favored by tourists.

 

One Day Travel Route

Kunming →Wuding →Lufeng →Kunming

 

Three Day Travel Route

Kunming →Wuding →Yuanmou →Mouding →Chuxiong→Lufeng →Kunming

 

Five Day Travel Route

Kunming →Wuding →Yuanmou →Yongren →Dayao →Yaoan →

Nanhua →Chuxiong →Lufeng →Kunming

 

First station：Wuding

Wuding has 64 kilometers away from Kunming city, about one hour drive from Kunming. In Wuding, there is the Shizi Mountain, known as the "first mountain in the southwest China", and the Great Rift Valley called the "earth scar".

 

Shizi Mountain is unique for its beautiful natural scenery, long and splendid history and culture, and profound Buddhist cultural heritage.  as well as the peony boutique garden is famous all over the country.

 

The Jiyi Rift Valley is about 12 kilometers long. The widest part is about 200 meters and the narrowest part is about 6 meters. The two sides of the rift can hear each other, but it is difficult to pass through. The deepest part of the rift valley is more than 300 meters. Forming a thrilling and peculiar cliff wonder. At the narrowest part of the rift valley, a natural boulder stretches across it, forming a natural bridge.

 

Second Station: Yuanmou

Yuanmou is the birthplace of mankind, rich in ancient creatures, and ancient cultural relics. The main attractions include the earth forest wonders, the sunlit sands, and the Longchuan River for rafting.

 

Yuanmou County is the place where the earliest human "Yuanmou Ape Man" was discovered in China, and it is the "Hometown of Eastern Humans".

 

Third Station: Yongren

The clothing competition festival of the Yi people in Zhiju area, Yongren County, Yunnan, is commonly known as the "Clothing Festival". In order to inherit the beautiful, magical, and seductive legend, the Yi family put on new clothes embroidered on the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar every year, sing and dance, and imitate them to find someone they like. In this way, it has been passed down from generation to generation, forming a traditional Yi costume festival.

 

Fourth Station: Dayao

Dayao County is the famous "Hometown of Chinese Walnut". It has China's first walnut bio-industry base, and also it is the Walnut Trading Center in southwest China. 

Dayao has the highest waterfall in the southwest China—Santan Waterfall, Dayao White Pagoda has built in the Tang Dynasty, and the largest existing bronze statue of Confucius in the world.

 

 

Fifth Station: Yao’an

Yao'an has a long history, beautiful natural scenery and many  tourist attractions. The ancient town of Guanglu, located in Yao'an, is known as the "Famous State of Yixi Culture" and the "Hometown of Lanterns".

"A Yaozhou city, half of the history of Yunnan", as the most important ancient town, the Guanglu Ancient Town, is like a recorder of Yunnan's thousand-year vicissitudes. It records the history of Ancient Dali Kingdom. If you have the opportunity to come to Yao'an, you must come to Guanglu Ancient Town, because every inch of land here hides a little secret of Yunnan history.

 

Sixth Station: Nanhua

Nanhua has the reputation of "wild mushroom kingdom", where more than 540 varieties of wild mushrooms such as matsutake, truffles, porcini mushrooms. Miyilu Customs Valley is an ethnic minority settlement area with profound Yi cultural heritage and well-maintained folk customs.

 

 

Seventh Station: Chuxiong

Chuxiong City is the state capital of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, where the cultures of various ethnic minorities blend with each other and gradually form the