"I'm dreaming of escaping the usual tourist trails to explore a lesser-known world of wild mountains and deep history. I want to walk the footsteps of ancient merchants by traversing parts of the 1,000-year-old Tea Horse Road, visiting former hubs like the Dali Kingdom and Xizhou. Beyond that, I'm eager to venture out to the magnificent Stone Forest (Shilin), a truly breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site. Basically, I'm looking for a trip filled with ancient towns and amazing, off-the-beaten-path landscapes!"