Photos courtesy of John Perry

Backroads China
Day 5-In the Footsteps of Marco Polo along the Burma Road

In the Footsteps of Marco Polo along the Burma Road - Today we will embark on our over land journey in the footsteps of Marco Polo along the Burma Road. Rich in history as a trade route followed by Marco Polo, the Burma Road served for centuries as a connection between India and China. This "Southern Silk Road" was the gateway for spices, foods, ideas, and people for centuries. We continue westward on the Burma Road, crossing the eastern outliers of the great Himalayan Range. Inter-mountain valleys support farming villages where we will glimpse the lives of some of China's 800 million peasant farmers. As we approach the 13,000 foot Cangshan Mountains we will notice the distinctive marble homes of the Bai people. As we drive along the edge of Er Hai Lake, we pass the 1,200 year old "snake bone" pagodas just before entering the orange gates of the walled city of Dali. Dali Hotel (3 nights).