Chengjiang: 530 Million Years of Life

Kunming-Chengjiang

2days / 1nights

$ 220 USD

Chengjiang Fossil Site Tour: Cambrian Fossils & Fuxian Lake

Looking for the best Chengjiang fossil site tour? This UNESCO World Heritage site preserves Cambrian sea creatures from 518 million years ago — here's the full itinerary.

Yunnan has abundant resources of World Heritage sites. Yunnan has the largest number of natural reserves in China based on its diverse topography and advantageous natural resources. By the end of 2012, there had been 158 nature reserves in China.

On this Chengjiang fossil site tour, you'll visit the Chengjiang Fossil Museum and see the "explosion of life" fossils that rewrote evolutionary history.

Over 85% of Yunnan's rare wild animals and plants are effectively protected in nature reserve areas. These reserves feature distinctive biological systems, historical relics, and endangered plants and animals highly valued for tourism and scientific research.

Fuxian Lake is located south of Chengjiang, 70 kilometers from Kunming. It is famous for its crystal clear water, beautiful surroundings, particular local fish, and the best-known biota fossil, the Cambrian Explosion.

This Chengjiang fossil site tour pairs the fossil site with a lakeside stop at Fuxian Lake, China's deepest highland lake.

“Chengjiang Fossil present the most complete record of an early Cambrian marine community with exceptionally preserved biota, displaying the anatomy of hard and soft tissues in a very wide variety of organisms, invertebrate and vertebrate,” cited from the UNESCO’s website. It shows the diverse geological evidence with the high-quality of preservation and record.

Highlights

Start: KunMing

End: KunMing

Airports & Travel details

Unveil Cambrian Fossils

Marvel at the Chengjiang Fossil Museum’s pristine specimens, a UNESCO treasure showcasing life’s origins from 530 million years ago.

Itinerary Summary

2days / 1nights

Activity Level 4

Boutique Hotels

Private trip

Day 1: Kunming — Fuxian Lake

Chengjiang Fossil Museum, Lake View Café, and Town Exploration

Your journey begins at 9:00 AM with a warm pick-up in Kunming (hotel, airport, or train station), followed by a 1.5-hour drive to Fuxian Lake, Yunnan’s deepest lake and gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Chengjiang Fossil Site. Visit the Chengjiang Fossil Museum, where exquisitely preserved Cambrian fossils—trilobites, anomalocarids, and soft-bodied creatures—unveil life’s dawn 530 million years ago. Most Attractive Moment: Stand before a glowing fossil display, guided by experts, as the delicate imprints spark awe, connecting you to Earth’s ancient seas under Yunnan’s summer skies. Savor fresh Fuxian fish stew at a Lake View Café, the lake’s turquoise expanse shimmering beyond. Stroll a nearby town, where local markets hum with Yi crafts and seasonal fruits. Sleep near Fuxian Lake, dreaming of prehistoric oceans.

Day 2: Fuxian Lake — Kunming

Lake Exploration by Hiking, Boating, or Biking

Awake to Fuxian Lake’s serene glow, its shores cradling the ancient seabed of the Chengjiang Fossil Site. Choose your adventure: hike scenic trails to fossil-rich cliffs, yacht across crystal waters, or bike along lakeside paths, each revealing Yunnan’s Ever-Blooming Canvas—lush in June’s summer greenery. Most Attractive Moment: Pedal a bike along the lake, the breeze carrying scents of wildflowers as your guide points to fossil-bearing hills, a vibrant link to the UNESCO site’s geological legacy, the lake sparkling like a mirror of time. Enjoy a Yunnan rice noodle lunch before a 1.5-hour drive back to your Kunming pick-up point by afternoon (around 3:00–4:00 PM), carrying memories of Earth’s ancient masterpiece.

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High Altitude Reaction:

1. the average altitude in Yunnan is 1894 meters. Kunming: 1890 meters. Dali: 2050 meters. Lijiang: 2400 meters, Jade Dragon Mountain: 4506 meters. Shangri-La: 3280 meters. We strongly suggest our consumers thoroughly prepare for high-altitude reactions and intense ultraviolet rays. By preparing these, you can take high-altitude reaction medicines or bring some Oxygen Can before you depart.

2. If you suffer any diseases, please advise your doctor before you depart.

There are various kinds of heart disease, high blood pressure, blood diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, diseases of the respiratory system, and so on.

3. We don’t suggest our guests take showers in the first two days in a high-altitude area. If they get cold, it may easily lead to pulmonary edema and encephaloma.

4. Please don’t drink any alcohol, especially any strong liquids, since alcohol will lead to a high severe altitude reaction.

The price excludes：

1. Other personal expenses during the journey.

2. Our accommodation prices are for twin rooms (two people live in one room, with a separate bed/one bed). There will be an extra cost if consumers require a separate room for each person.

3. Chinese Visa Fees.

4. The extra expense is due to transportation delays, cancellations, wars, natural accidents, and strikes.

5. Meals (lunch and dinner)

Accommodations

We pick suitable and tasteful hotels for your requirements.

Transfer

We provide your own private and comfortable vehicle.

Guide/Driver service

Professional driver and Chinese/ English speaking guide.

Activities

All the activities listed in this program.

Local Knowledge

Our staff are locals with true love and knowledge of our hometown.

Entrance tickets for the sightseeing places listed in this program.

Tickets

Personalized Consultant Service

we provide one-on-one professional consultant service to all travelers to meet your demands.

Insurance

Travel accident insurance and Travel Agency’s Responsibility insurance.

How’s the weather? What should we wear?

Yunnan is dominated by the subtropical monsoon climate. Integrating low latitude, highland, and monsoon, the climate in Yunnan has four characteristics: first, there is a slight difference in annual temperature but a significant difference in daily temperature. Second, there is a big contrast between the rainy and dry seasons. Third, the climate alters according to the change in altitude. Fourth, the frost-free period is extended.
When you travel to Yunnan, the best advice for your wardrobe is to bring all kinds of clothes. A jacket, scarf, raincoat for the rainy season, and sunglasses are essential.

How’s the accommodation?

We believe that staying in a beautiful boutique hotel is one of the most essential parts of the journey. We strongly advise guests to choose hotels with comfortable service and tasteful design. Due to the diversity of ethnic culture, Yunnan has some extraordinary hotels that can bring you the most unforgettable memories. We offer various accommodation choices, from famous international brands to local boutique resorts.

How’s the road?

Because the significant landscape in Yunnan is mountainous, the mountain area has bumpy roads and steep slopes. Even on the expressway, there are always sharp turns. So we strongly suggest our guests fasten their seat belts before they depart.

How’s the meal?

Most hotels will provide breakfast in both American and Chinese. During the travel, we will recommend featured local dishes and street food for our consumers. We also encourage our consumers to explore the local food they like since eating is essential for a journey. Our guide will suggest a suitable restaurant to our consumers.

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Quality Guide Of KiKi

Accommodations

Being in a beautiful boutique hotel is one of the most essential parts of a journey. We strongly advise guests to choose hotels with comfortable service and tasteful design. Due to the diversity of ethnic cultures, Yunnan has some extraordinary hotels that can bring you unforgettable memories. We offer various accommodation choices, from famous international brands to local boutique resorts.