Yunnan
Yunnan is the most varied of China's provinces and is one of the most alluring destinations in the entire country. It is also the sixth-largest province and home to a third of China's ethnic minorities (nearly 50%). There are 55 minorities in China, 25 of them live in Yunnan and the province also boasts half of China's plant and animal species. Yunnan is also well known for its year-round mild climate and the word Yunnan actually means 'South of the Clouds. There are numerous excellent areas for bird watching in Yunnan

Kunming
Kunming, 'Spring City', the capital of Yunnan province, has a population of four million. The city is surrounded on three sides by the mountain ranges of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau while the huge Lake Dian is located to the south. With an elevation of 1891 meters Kunming has a mild climate and can be visited at anytime of year. There is a fairly even spread of temperatures from April to September, winters are short, sunny and dry while in summer (June to August) Kunming offers cool respite, although rain is more common at that season.

Western Hill (Xi Shan)
Xi Shan lied in South of Kunming, it range of mountains spreads across a 40 long-long wedge of parkland on the western side of Lake Dian. It is known as the 'Green Peacock Mountains' or the 'Sleeping Beauty Hills'. A reference to their undulating contours resembling a reclining woman with tresses of hair flowing into the sea they are a good and easily accessible birding site.
Birds on Xishan include Himalayan Wood Owl; Black-breasted, Chestnut and Chinese Thrushes; Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Buff-throated Warbler, White-browed Laughing thrush, Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Spectacled Fulvetta, Red-tailed Minla, Vinaceous Rosefinch. There are even recent records of Giant Nuthatch, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, Blanford's Rosefinch and Crimson-browed Finch. The park is free and easily reached by taxi or public bus from Kunming but weekends and holidays are best avoided.

Lijiang
Lijiang, load in northwest of Kunming and in a region that borders Tibet, the wonderfully picturesque old town are another great spot. It boasts Naxi, Tibetan, Mosu, Lisu and Pumi nationalities, breathtaking mountain and lake scenery, Tibetan monasteries, deep gorges and the backpacker comforts of Lijiang's lovely old town. There are proposals to create the Chinese equivalent of Yellowstone Park. A 66,000 square long Three Great River National Park, where the Yangtze, Mekong and Salween all pass within 70 kilometers of each other. Lijiang is a popular tourist resort. There are numerous hotels of all conceivable standards and even more restaurants.
There are several good areas to go birding around Lijiang.

Lashihai
A sizable lake 20 kilometers almost directly west of Lijiang that holds large numbers of wintering waterfowl (often including small numbers of Falcated Duck), Common Cranes and occasional birds of prey such as White-tailed Eagle.

Heilongtan (Black Dragon Pool Park)
Heilongtan is right on the northeastern edge of Lijiang town. This is the best site in China for Giant Nuthatch - search the 'relict pines' near the second pavilion/pagoda near the stepped track around Elephant Mountain.
 

  

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Xueshan)
Yulong Xueshan is about 35 kilometers (50 minutes drive) north of Lijiang. In winter its largely inaccessible but spring visits can produce Buff-throated Partridge, White Eared; Lady Amherst's Pheasants, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, White-throated Redstart, Giant Laughing thrush, Rufous-tailed Babbler & both Alpine & Maroon-backed Accentors here. There are several chair lifts up the mountain – the one at Yun Shan Ping Suo Dao starts at 09:00 & goes up to Yun Shan Ping (4700 meters) and is the best for birding.

Itinerary:

D1 Arrive in Kunming, meet at airport and transfer to hotel.

D2 Morning feed of the seagulls in Green Lake, then move to the Xishan for birding. Form Xishan, you can enjoy a birds-eye-view of Kunming and the big Dianchi Lake.
 

  

  

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