Yunnan & Nonggang Birding Tours, China

Pale-billed Parrotbill on our Yunnan & Nonggang Birding Tour, China — Pale-billed Parrotbill © Summer Wong

Tour Overview

Our 15-day Yunnan & Nonggang Birding Tour combines two of southern China’s finest birding regions, from the limestone forests of Nonggang to the incredibly diverse forests of western Yunnan. Visiting famous birding sites including Baihualing, Yingjiang, Ruili, Shiti Village, Tengchong and Lijiang, the tour offers excellent chances of recording more than 300 bird species, including an impressive selection of Chinese endemics, pheasants, parrotbills, laughingthrushes, hornbills and Indo-Burmese specialties, with star birds such as Nonggang Babbler, Yunnan Nuthatch, White-speckled Laughingthrush,Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, Grey Peacock-Pheasant, White-cheeked Partridge, Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler, Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Spot-breasted Laughingthrush, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Eye-ringed Parrotbill, Brown-winged Parrotbill, Pale-billed Parrotbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Ward’s Trogon, Striped Prinia, White-hooded Babbler, the highly sought-after Naung Mung Scimitar Babbler, and many more.

One of the greatest strengths of this itinerary is the large number of well-established bird hides, especially at Nonggang, Lijiang, Baihualing, Ruili and Shiti Village. These hides provide superb views and outstanding photographic opportunities for many normally elusive forest birds, making this a relatively easy-paced, hide-based tour with less strenuous walking than many traditional birding trips while still delivering exceptional bird diversity.

For those seeking an even greater challenge, we offer a 5-day Sclater’s Monal Extension to the remote Dulongjiang area. Sclater’s Monal is regarded as one of the world’s most sought-after and difficult pheasants to see, and this extension offers an excellent opportunity to search for this legendary Himalayan species, alongside a selection of other scarce high-altitude birds.

Tour Schedule & Departure Dates

2027 March 10-23 (14 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , private tour, tour is full

2028 March 1-15 (15 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 10 pax, cost: 3600 USD

2028 March 16-20, Sclater’s Monal Extension (5 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 10 pax, cost: 1200 USD

2029 March 1-15 (15 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 10 pax, cost: 3800 USD

2029 March 16-20, Sclater’s Monal Extension (5 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 10 pax, cost: 1200 USD

Besides our scheduled and private tours, we also offer budget-friendly birding tours. If you are an international birding company looking for a reliable ground operator in China, please feel free to contact us for rates and further details.

Deposit : USD 500 per person

Yunnan & Nonggang Tour Single Room Supplement (14 nights) : USD 450 per person

Sclater’s Monal Extension Tour Single Room Supplement (5 nights) : USD 200 per person

Tour Cost Includes:

All ground transportation by private car/van/coach
Accommodation in twin-share or single rooms, all with private facilities
All meals (including daily bottled water, packed breakfasts, and lunches/dinners mostly at local restaurants)
All necessary entrance tickets, hide fees, cable car/shuttle bus fees on tour and nature reserve permits
All guide and driver expenses (meals, accommodation, and service fees)
Domestic flight from Nanning to Lijiang

Tour Cost Excludes:

International flights
Visa and Travel insurance
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Tips for local staff

Detailed Daily Itinerary & Highlight Birds

Day 1 (Arrival Day) — Nanning

Airport pickup at Nanning Airport and transfer to Nonggang Village.

Overnight: Nonggang

Day 2 — Full day Nonggang

All-day birding in Nonggang limestone forests with multiple photo hides arranged according to bird activity.

Nonggang highlight birds: Nonggang Babbler, Pale-throated Wren-Babbler, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Chestnut-capped Babbler, Indochinese Green Magpie, White-winged Magpie, Limestone Leaf Warbler, Blue-rumped Pitta, Streaked Wren Babbler, Buff-breasted Babbler.

Overnight: Nonggang

Day 3 — Nonggang (AM) → Nanning → Flight to Lijiang (PM)

Morning birding to tick off remaining Nonggang targets, then transfer back to Nanning Airport for the flight to Lijiang.

Overnight: Lijiang

Day 4 — Lijiang → Laojun Mountain → Lijiang

Morning drive to Laojun Mountain for mountain birding, return to Lijiang in the evening.

Laojun Mountain highlight birds: White-speckled Laughingthrush (Endemic), Yunnan Nuthatch (Endemic), Spotted Laughingthrush, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Elliot’s Laughingthrush (Endemic), Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Black-headed Sibia, Yellow-throated Bunting.

Overnight: Lijiang

Day 5 — Lijiang → Shigu → Lijiang

Early morning birding around Shigu, then head back to Lijiang.

Shigu highlight birds: Striped Prinia (Endemic), Eye-ringed Parrotbill, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Rufous-tailed Babbler (Endemic).

Overnight: Lijiang

Day 6 — Lijiang → Baihualing (6 hours drive)

Early departure from Lijiang, around six hours’ drive to Baihualing; roadside birding stops en route.

Overnight: Baihualing

Days 7–8 — Full days Baihualing

Two full days combining hide photography and field walking; schedule flexible based on bird activity.

Baihualing highlight birds: Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, Ward’s Trogon, Golden-throated Barbet, Black-throated Parrotbill, Brown-winged Parrotbill, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Black-headed Shrike-babbler, White-browed Shrike-babbler, Black-eared Shrike-babbler, Streaked Wren Babbler, Gray-bellied Wren-Babbler, Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Moustached Laughingthrush, Scaly Laughingthrush, Assam Laughingthrush, White’s Thrush, Chinese Thrush, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Hume’s Treecreeper, Fujian Niltava, Himalayan Shortwing, Purple Sunbird, Black-throated Sunbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, etc.

Overnight: Baihualing

Day 9 — Baihualing (AM) → Drive to Tengchong (PM)

Morning birding at Baihualing for missed highland species, then long drive to Tengchong for overnight.

Overnight: Tengchong

Day 10 — Tengchong Laifeng Mountain (AM) → Qushi → Yingjiang (PM)

Morning birding at Tengchong Laifeng Mountain. One-hour drive to Qushi, then continue to Yingjiang.

Tengchong highlight birds: Slender-billed Oriole, Hume’s Treecreeper.

Qushi highlight birds: Brown-winged Parrotbill.

Yingjiang wetland highlight birds: Small Pratincole, River Tern, Collared Myna, Indian Spot-billed Duck, White-tailed Stonechat.

Overnight: Yingjiang

Day 11 — Yingjiang Wetland Park (AM) → Ruili hides → Return to Yingjiang (PM)

Early morning birding at Yingjiang Wetland Park. 2–3 hours drive to Ruili birding hides, then drive back to Yingjiang.

Yingjiang highlight birds: Alexandrine Parakeet, Striated Grassbird, Chestnut-tailed Starling.

Ruili highlight birds: Blossom-headed Parakeet, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Golden Babbler, Red-billed Scimitar Babbler, Rusty-capped Fulvetta, Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, Black-throated Laughingthrush.

Overnight: Yingjiang

Day 12 — Yingjiang (optional AM birding) → Shiti Village

Optional early morning birding around Yingjiang. 2–3 hours drive to Shiti Village, local forest birding upon arrival.

Shiti highlight birds: Wreathed Hornbill, Oriental Hobby, Collared Falconet, Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, Crested Treeswift, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Blue-throated Barbet, Greater Flameback, Black-hooded Oriole, Slender-billed Oriole, Asian Fairy-bluebird, etc.

Overnight: Shiti

Days 13–14 — Full days Shiti Village

Two full days of field birding and hide photography; daily timings adjusted for bird vocalization and feeding patterns.

Shiti highlight birds: White-cheeked Partridge, Rufous-throated Partridge, Kalij Pheasant, Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Greater Yellownape, Great Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Brown-crowned Scimitar Babbler, Red-billed Scimitar Babbler, Naung Mung Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Pale-billed Parrotbill, White-hooded Babbler, Spot-breasted Laughingthrush, White-crested Laughingthrush, Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Grey-sided Laughingthrush, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Rusty-fronted Barwing, Rufous-backed Sibia, Yunnan Fulvetta, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Lesser Shortwing, Streaked Wren Babbler, Large Niltava, Rufous-bellied Niltava, White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Sapphire Flycatcher, plus various bulbuls and babblers, etc.

Overnight: Shiti

Day 15 (Departure Day) — Shiti (AM) → Baoshan Airport send-off

Morning final birding in Shiti to complete the target list, then drive back to Baoshan. Guests joining the Sclater’s Monal Extension Tour will overnight in Baoshan, while other participants will be transferred to Baoshan Airport for their onward flights. End of the main tour.

Sclater’s Monal Extension Tour — 5 days

Day 1 — Baoshan → Fugong (6–7 hours drive)

Long-distance driving from Baoshan to Fugong.

Overnight: Fugong

Days 2–4 — Full days Dulongjiang area birding

Three full days dedicated birding in the Dulongjiang region, focusing on searching for Sclater’s Monal and a wide range of rare montane bird species. Flexible schedule based on bird activity and weather conditions.

Overnights: Fugong

Day 5 — Fugong → Baoshan & Departure

Morning departure from Fugong, drive back to Baoshan. Transfer to Baoshan airport for outbound flight. End of extension tour.