Health checkup tours · Yunnan 云南
Yunnan
Nature & Healing
Start with a TCM-integrated checkup in Kunming, then travel by high-speed train to Dali's Erhai Lake and Lijiang's UNESCO-listed old town for a slower, nature-focused stay with wellness therapies.
Trip length
9 days / 8 nights
Default checkup tier
Basic Executive Physical
Best time to go
March–May and September–November (Kunming is mild year-round)
Best for
Travellers from Europe and North America
Overview
A TCM checkup in the Spring City, then mountains, lakes and old towns.
Yunnan, in China's far south-west, is known for its mild climate, mountain scenery, ethnic minority cultures and its tradition of medicinal herbs. This route starts with a checkup in Kunming, the provincial capital, then heads into the mountains for a slower stay.
Wellness therapies continue along the way, and the final results are reviewed by video call, so you never need to go back to the hospital.
This route is ideal for
- Independent travellers who want nature, hiking and minority cultures
- Travellers interested in TCM and herbal medicine (Yunnan is a major herb-growing region)
- Anyone who wants a longer, lower-intensity trip
- Photographers and slow travellers
Health program · TCM-integrated checkup + wellness retreat
What the checkup covers
Physical in Kunming
Done at the start, before travelling to higher altitudes.
- Complete blood count
- Liver and kidney function
- Fasting glucose and HbA1c
- Lipid panel
- Thyroid function
- Tumour markers (e.g. CEA, AFP; PSA for men, CA-125 for women)
- ECG
- Abdominal and thyroid ultrasound
- Low-dose chest CT
- Body composition
TCM consultation
At the provincial TCM hospital.
- Constitution assessment
- Pulse and tongue diagnosis
- Wellness plan
Wellness therapies
Scheduled in Dali and Lijiang.
- Tuina massage
- Acupuncture
- Herbal foot soak
Remote results review
No need to return to Kunming.
- Video consultation with the physician
- Written English report
- Altitude advice based on your results
Default tier: Basic Executive Physical. See what each tier includes and costs in our health checkup guide. Final tests are confirmed by the hospital physician after reviewing your history.
Not sure which tests you need?
Send us your age, history and any recent reports. A physician reviews them and recommends the right tier for your Yunnan trip — free, with no obligation.
Checkup day
A typical morning
| 07:30 | Meet your coordinator at the hotel or hospital; registration and ID check (bring your passport). |
|---|---|
| 08:00 | Fasting tests first: blood draw, urine sample, abdominal ultrasound. |
| 09:00 | Imaging (CT/MRI) and cardiac tests; breakfast once fasting tests are done. |
| 10:30 | Specialist exams — eye, ENT, dental, gynaecology or urology as relevant. |
| 12:00 | Most physicals finish by lunchtime. Sedated endoscopy needs an extra hour or two of recovery. |
Preparation
Before the checkup
- Fast for 8–12 hours before the checkup (small sips of water are usually allowed — your coordinator will confirm).
- Avoid alcohol and heavy, fatty meals for 2–3 days beforehand.
- Bring your passport, a list of current medications and any previous reports or imaging.
- Take essential medication (e.g. blood pressure) as advised; diabetes medication is usually adjusted for fasting — ask first.
- Wear comfortable clothes without metal; leave jewellery at the hotel for MRI.
- Women: avoid scheduling during your period if gynaecological or urine tests are included.
Itinerary · 9 days / 8 nights
Day by day
- Day 1
Arrive in Kunming
- Transfer from KMG
- Rest — Kunming sits at roughly 1,900 m
- Fast from late evening
Overnight: Central Kunming
- Day 2
Checkup
- Morning: physical with your coordinator
- Afternoon: TCM consultation
- Evening: Green Lake Park
Overnight: Central Kunming
- Day 3
Stone Forest
- Day trip to Shilin (about 1.5 hours)
- Evening: Yunnan rice-noodle dinner
Overnight: Central Kunming
- Day 4
To Dali
- High-speed train to Dali (about 2 hours)
- Afternoon: Dali Old Town walls and Three Pagodas
- Evening: old-town food streets
Overnight: Dali Old Town
- Days 5–6
Erhai Lake
- E-bike along Erhai Lake
- Xizhou Bai village and tie-dye workshop
- One wellness therapy session
Overnight: Dali or Erhai lakeside
- Day 7
To Lijiang
- Train to Lijiang (about 1.5 hours)
- Old town at dusk
Overnight: Lijiang Old Town
- Day 8
Lijiang + results call
- Morning: video results review with the physician
- Afternoon: Baisha village, or the Snow Mountain if cleared
- Second therapy session
Overnight: Lijiang Old Town
- Day 9
Depart
- Fly out of Lijiang or connect via Kunming
Make this itinerary yours
Change the dates, add days, upgrade hotels or combine it with another route. Your coordinator sends a revised plan and itemised quote.
Travel
What you’ll see
Kunming & the Stone Forest
The "Spring City", plus the UNESCO-listed Shilin karst landscape of towering limestone pillars, about 1.5 hours away.
Tip: The Major Stone Forest is the highlight; the Minor Stone Forest is quieter.
Dali & Erhai Lake
A walled old town beneath the Cangshan mountains, Bai minority villages such as Xizhou, and a lakeside cycle path.
Tip: Rent an e-bike for the lake loop — it's flat and easy.
Lijiang Old Town
The UNESCO-listed Naxi old town, with canals, cobbled lanes and the quieter village of Baisha nearby.
Tip: Wander early in the morning before the shops open.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (optional)
A glacier park with a cable car reaching well above 4,000 m.
Tip: Only with your physician's clearance — see the altitude FAQ.
Hospitals
Where the checkup happens
First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University 昆明医科大学第一附属医院
Public Class A tertiary teaching hospital
Yunnan's leading general teaching hospital, with a full range of specialties, imaging and a health-checkup centre.
We use it for
- Western physical and imaging
- Specialist referral if anything is found
Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine 云南省中医医院
Public Class A tertiary TCM hospital · First Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine
The province's leading TCM hospital, in a region with a long tradition of herbal medicine.
We use it for
- TCM constitution assessment
- Herbal consultation
- Wellness therapies
The hospital is confirmed based on your checkup tier, dates and availability. An English-speaking coordinator accompanies you throughout.
Which hospital is right for you?
We match you to the hospital that fits your history, tier and travel dates, then handle registration and scheduling.
Practical tips
Before you go
- Do the checkup in Kunming at the start, before you go higher — Lijiang is around 2,400 m.
- If you have heart or lung conditions, ask the physician before visiting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which reaches well above 4,000 m.
- Days are warm but evenings are cool at altitude — pack layers.
FAQ
Yunnan checkup tour — answered.
- Is altitude a problem?
- Kunming, Dali and Lijiang sit at roughly 1,900–2,400 m, which most healthy travellers handle well. The optional Snow Mountain visit is much higher; the physician will advise you based on your checkup results.
- Why do the checkup in Kunming rather than at the end?
- Kunming has the largest hospitals in the province, and testing early means most results are ready for your video review in Lijiang.
- Can I add Shangri-La?
- Yes, but it sits at over 3,000 m. We'd add it only after the physician has reviewed your results.
- Will my results be ready before I fly home?
- Most lab, ECG, ultrasound and imaging results are ready within the trip, which is why every itinerary schedules the checkup early and the results consultation near the end. Biopsy pathology or genetic tests can take longer; those reports are emailed and reviewed by video call.
- How much does a checkup tour cost?
- The checkup is priced by tier (see the tier pricing on our health checkup guide); travel, hotels and guides depend on dates and comfort level. Send us your dates and we'll reply with an itemised quote.
- Can I change the itinerary or the checkup tier?
- Yes. Every route is a template. You can upgrade or downgrade the checkup tier, add days, or combine two routes — for example Beijing + Xi'an, or Shanghai + Hangzhou.
- What visa do I need?
- That depends on your nationality and how long you stay. Many travellers now qualify for visa-free entry or transit; check our visa guide or ask your coordinator before booking flights.
- Is there an English-speaking coordinator?
- Yes. A coordinator handles hospital registration, accompanies you on checkup day, translates during consultations and arranges transfers.
- What if the checkup finds something?
- The physician explains the finding and what it means. If further tests or treatment are needed, we can arrange them in China during your trip, or prepare an English summary for your doctor at home.
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Get your itemised quote.
Share your dates and who’s travelling. We’ll confirm the hospital, checkup tier and hotels, and adjust the itinerary to suit you.