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Travel to Yunnan – A Complete Guide to The South Western Province

travel to yunnan

This article is a travel guide to Yunnan Province, in the South West of China. It was written by Harley Greenberg, who works with a local travel agency (WindhorseTour) in China.

Travel to Yunnan – Index

Yunnan basic travel facts.

  • Possible itineraries
  • The Stone Forest near Kunming
  • Dali Ancient Town

Lijiang Ancient Town

  • Yuanyang Rice Terraces

Frequently asked questions

Yunnan Province is famous for its diverse scenery and for being home of a third of all China’s ethnic minorities. It has lots to offer any traveler!

A trip to Yunnan province realistically takes at least one week. However, if you want to cover all the highlights I encourage you to spend twelve days or longer.

A trip to Yunnan is a breathtaking view of some of the most spectacular and overwhelming scenery within China. You can watch the sun rise and set on the magnificent Yuan Yang rice terraces; escape the crowds and enjoy the days exploring the less visited Lugu Lake, or get lost among the canals and cobbled lanes of Lijiang ancient town or Dali Cang Mountain.

Yunnan’s climate is diverse as its terrain, for many places such as Dali there is an ideal temperature – an eternal spring – that attracts tourists all year-round. The northwestern region around Shangri-la is situated on the Tibetan plateau and can be very cold during winter.

I find the best time and also peak season for traveling Yunnan is from April to October, when the vegetation is a lush green and flowers are in bloom.

Yunnan can be easily accessed by air, bus and trains from most cities across China. Kunming, the capital, is served by all Chinese airlines and has daily flights to most cities.

Other popular attractions such as Lijiang, Dali and Shangri-la also have airports with connecting flights offered from Kunming and other major cities in China. Another option is to take the train – or the bus – that goes from Kunming to Lijiang (via Dali).

yunnan map

Itineraries

Here some possible itinerary to visit Yunnan Province:

  • Kunming – Stone Forest – Dali – Lijiang – Shangri-La and then back to Kunming or up to Sichuan.
  • Kunming – Stone Forest – Dali – Lijiang -Lugu Lake and then back to Lijiang or up to Sichuan.
  • Kunming – Yuan Yang and then back to Kunming, East to Guanxi Chinese Province or South to Vietnam.

stone forest yunnan

The Stone Forest

The Stone Forest (or Shilin, in Mandarin) is a beautiful park composed by limestone formations.

You can get there by private car, taxi or taking the bus that leaves from Kunming every hour (the trip takes about ninety minutes). The Stone Forest is quite popular, especially among Chinese tourists. This means that most days by nine am it will be jam packed, this is one reason why clients that visit the forest tend to don’t recommend it. However when asked if they are glad they went the answer is “yes”. So there you have it.

A hint on how best to enjoy the Stone Forest is to travel there with an agency that brings you early on or head to Lunan – the near by town – the night before so you can wake up early and visit it before the buses from Kunming start to arrive (normally around nine am). For more info you can read this story published here on the site longtime ago.

Dali Yunnan

Dali Ancient City

Dali is one of those few places in China with an infectious ambiance, an environment that seem to attract many Chinese backpackers. Don’t be surprised when you find some of them sitting around strumming their guitars and telling tales of their travels.

With over 2,000 years of history, Dali shares a glorious past of being the former capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom, a powerful entity separate from China. It lies on the western edge of Erhai Lake at an altitude of 1,900 m (6,234 ft.), with a backdrop of the imposing 4,000 m (13,123 ft.) tall Jade Green Mountain (Cang Shan in Chinese). You can climb it using the stairs but be careful to do not lose yourself.

Flights are probably the most popular transportation to get to Dali. You can also choose an overnight sleeper train from Kunming or take a bus, always from Kunming, that will take around four hours.

Within the heart of Dali still lives the ancient city that retains a historical atmosphere that is hard to come by in other parts of China.

A short distance northwest from the old town stand the Three Pagodas (you can walk till there). Like 3 guardians this landmark is a definite “can’t miss” attraction in the city. The tallest of the three has 16 tiers, reaching 72 m. (234 ft.), and was originally constructed in the 9th century.

dali three pagodas

The countryside around Dali can also be dazzling, with small fascinating temples, and the occasional village showcasing exquisite traditional local architecture.

A good start is to visit the Zhonghe Temple. You can climb the paths that snake their way up and see the marvelous views of Erhai Lake.

Other way to explore Erhai Lake is by either renting a bike or zipping across the water on the many ferries that crisscross the lake. Roads now encircled the lake so it is possible to do a loop of the lake by mountain bike. There are some small villages dotted along the way for you to buy food and water.

24 km. (15 mi.) north of Dali, the old town of Xizhou is a must-see to extend your cultural trip in Dali. Much of the original Bai architecture is well preserved. Here you will witness the local courtyards with children play, chickens squawk, dogs fight, and all the rhythms of family life play out.

When the night falls, find a bar at the Foreigner’s Street, sit back with foaming cappuccinos and banana pancakes, there is another singer telling his stories in Dali.

Click here to read SDC’s hotel recommendation in Dali .

Lijiang Yunnan

In the foothills of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau lies Lijiang, a splendid little town that is home to the Naxi people. Filled with a maze of cobbled stone streets, rickety old wooden buildings and gushing canals makes it one of the most visited sites in northern Yunnan. Here you will find the stunning Jade Dragon Snow Mountain that presents a splendid backdrop viewable from across Lijiang.

Beyond Jade Dragon Snow Mountain lies one of the most popular backpackers destination in Yunnan, Tiger Leaping Gorge. Most travelers will spend two days hiking within Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Lijiang can be easily accessible by air, bus and trains from Kunming and other big cities in China.

A visit here requires at least two days to take a glimpse of the highlights this town has to offer. However, I would suggest you arrange a local guide either local or along with a private tour. This will help your to better understand the rich culture of the region and history of the nearby Baisha and Shuhe Villages.

Here the most popular attractions in Lijiang:

  • Dayan ancient Town: It is one of the main draws for people coming to Lijiang. The whole town is crisscrossed by canals, bridges and a maze of narrow streets. Dayan is full of traditional Naxi architectures that still today fills the town. As you walk through the narrow street you will observe the many wooden doors that are left open to reveal the interiors of both Naxi and Western restaurants.
  • Black Dragon Pool: As you head towards the north you will reach the Black Dragon Pool. One of the most popular vantage points of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
  • Dongba Culture Museum: If you fancy museums stop and visit the Dongba Culture Museum dedicated to the Shamanistic Dongba religion.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain : A visit to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a must-do in Lijiang. 34 km. (21 mi.) north of Lijiang, this mighty mountain rises raggedly above the ancient town. The mountain’s summit soars to 5,596 m. (18,354 ft.), encrusted with snow and set against a sharp, blue sky.

Located at 4,506 m (14,784 ft.), Cloud Fir Meadow is the highest point you can ascend to at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The walkways provided to help protect the environment lead you to some awesome glacier views.

Be warned that the elevation here can make some people feel uncomfortable. Mind your health and tell your guide immediately if you start feeling queasy.

Tiger Leaping Gorge : For further exploration in Lijiang, head over to Tiger Leaping Gorge. A hike here is a “can’t miss” experience of Northern Yunnan.

The gorge is considered one of the deepest in the world. With Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the back, the Jinsha River flowing through the gorge and later swelling into the Yangtze River it offers a dramatic and thrilling journey to travelers.

The nightlife in the ancient town is lively! Chinese people believe this is one town filled with romance. Also, there are many bars and western cafes in the old town. With a cold beer in your hand and exotic music in the air, it offers you a great place to experience the Lijiang nightlife and perhaps find your true love.

Click here to read SDC’s hotel recommendation in Lijiang .

mount meli shangri-la

Traveling along the northern route of Yunnan, Shangri-la is the last stop for most travelers . It is home to several remote temples, rugged scenery and is the start of the Tibetan world.

Originally called Zhongdian, this place has attracted travelers since it was declared the location described on the novel The Lost Horizon written by the British writer James Hilton .

While we cannot confirm or deny James Hilton intention, the real Shangri-la exists today. The real scenery you will witness here is awe-inspiring, and the people are some of the warmest heartiest in the world.

If you cannot make a Tibet tour , Shangri-la is a pretty popular runner up to get a taste of Tibetan cultures. However, I would still suggest a trip into western Sichuan if you are craving Tibetan culture and cannot travel into the Tibet Autonomous Regional.

shanghi-la monastery

Within Shangri-la there are Tibetan towns, named Gyeltang or Gyalthang, where you can experience the daily life of Tibetan people.

About an hour’s walk north of the town is the Ganden Sumtseling Gompa. One of the main reasons people to come here is to see the little Potala Palace. This monastery was built based on the layout of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, and is home to countless Tibetan Buddhist treasures.

The view of town from the top of Ganden Sumtseling is gorgeous. A sunset from here is particularly picturesque among the tinkling bells and fluttering prayer flags.

Shangri-la is a wonderful place to get off the beaten track.

I encourage you to spend some time trekking or horse riding to explore the surrounding areas. There are many less visited monasteries and villages.

Shangri-la

There is a severe lack of reliable public transportation in these remote areas, so be prepared to hire a local driver for a couple of days or consider organizing a private tour with a local guide who will share with you the intricate details of her culture.

When visiting in Shangri-la, I suggest you spend a day at Pudacuo National Park, which is composed by two beautiful lakes, Bita Hai and Shudu Lake.

Fed by small streams from the snow mountains encircled, Bita Hai Lake resembles a trumpet shell. The picturesque scenery of the pure green water with snow mountains and trees reflecting in it will offer you a great photography chance. The Shudu lake is home to lush plants and various wild animals.

Shangri-la is also popular for being the “backdoor” access to Yunnan Province from Sichuan (the main and easier route being the train Chengdu-Kunming). Be aware that for enter (or exit) Yunnan from Shangri-la you’ll have to travel by bus through the Tibetan Plateau, which isn’t always opened to foreigners and it may take up to two days.

SDC’s cheap hostel recommendation in Shangri-la: Shangri-La Lamtin Youth Hostel .

SDC’s hotel recommendation in Gyalthang (it’s not that cheap but it’s were I slept and it’s awesome, check the pics of the bedrooms!): Shangri-la Gyalthang Dzong Hotel .

lugu lake yunnan

This forest lined lake overlaps the remote border between Yunnan – Sichuan provinces . It is home to several Tibetan, Yi as well as Mosuo minority villages.

The stunning scenery and ethnic cultures are two main features that attracts thousands of visitors.

A visit to the Lugu usually can be started from Luoshui. The lake, was formed by two sinking faults, and this high alpine lake sits 2,685 m. (8,809 ft.). Most people say it is shaped like a horse’s hoof – long from north to south, and narrower from East to West.

The lake which is surrounded by hills is filled with inviting clear water, that makes it easy to see the fish swimming within. The forest that protects the lake if full of dense trees and fresh mountain.

Lugu Lake is a place that has not been disturbed by the other economic developments and pollution; its’ natural beauty has been retained.

The weather is pleasant – it is cool in summer and warm in winter.

From Luoshui you can visit several islands on the lake by dugout canoe: Liwubi Island is the largest island where you can practically wade across to a spit of land in Sichuan; Heiwawu Island is in the center and has a variety of birds living on it; the smallest is Nixi Island, an oblong rock covered with shrubs and moss.

mosuo lugu lake

One of the main reason Lugu Lake has maintained its’ mystery and charm is because the Mosuo people who live here. The Mosuo are the last practicing (almost) matriarchal society in the world .

Mosuo women never marry and never cohabit, instead they are free to choose as many lovers as they like throughout their lives.

Children are brought up by women, and use the surname of their mothers. Families are composed of the members of the matrilineal kind. Women hold the principal positions in the society, forming a modern day ‘woman’s kingdom’, which adds mystique to this magical place.

The best time to visit Lugu Lake are April to May, and September to October, when the weather is dry and mild.

In order to reach Lugu Lake you’ll have to take a bus or private minibus from Lijiang (it should take around seven hours to arrive here).

p.s. You can enter Sichuan also through Lugu Lake. You’ll have to take a bus till Xichang (the trip takes about seven hours) and then a train till Chengdu (you may want to stop at Emei Shan, one o the holy Buddhist mountains and Leshan, where you can admire the biggest statue of Buddha in the world).

yuan yang

Yuan Yang Rice Terraces

Yunnan is a destination that is never lacking of natural beauty. However the last place I want to recommend to you is famous for its spectacular man made sights.

The famed rice terraces are slopes claimed from nature for cultivation in these hilly and mountainous areas. Some are hundreds or even thousands of years old.

Yuan Yang, located in the south of Yunnan, is one of the two most popular places to capture this unique sight in China. Fashioned over hundreds of years by the ancient Hani people, Yuan Yang Rice terraces cover roughly 125 sq. km. (48 sq. mi.).

A proper trip to the rice terraces can be done in two days when driving from Kunming. For those willing to spend more time a three days visit offers a chance to explore deeper into the local culture.

The scenery here is amazing and each year Yuan Yang attracts numerous photographers who flock here to capture the spectacular sunrise and sunsets that convert the terraces into pools of gold, red and silver.

Even in poor weather the views can still be breathtaking! When the fog rolls into the terraced valleys leaving only the hilltop village visible, the effect is dramatic. Many describe it as islands floating in the clouds.

Xinjie is the traditional starting point near Yuan Yang to reach the rice terraces. It is the recommended place to start any trip.

The terraces around each of the dozens of villages that you will find here have their own special characteristics which vary from season to season. Having a local guide helps to determine which terrace matches with your interest and helps to find the best ones given the time of year you visit.

To help you plan your trip, here are several popular photography places within Yuan Yang Rice Terraces:

  • Duoyishu, about 25 km. (16 mi.) from Xinjie, has the most spectacular sunrises and is one you should not miss.
  • Bada and Laohuzui are two of the best places to capture the sunsets. The scenery can be mesmerizing.
  • Longshupa Scenic Spot is famous for its closest views of the terraces, while Mengpin is splendid for the bird’s eye view of the terraces.

Besides these landscapes, the unique mushroom-shape Hani houses and Hani costumes are also great for photography.

The rice harvest will traditionally occurs in early September and the fields will remain dry till December when flooded again. The fields are then again filled with water in December.

I advise you to plan your trips from January to March, when the seas of clouds above the terraces are most likely to be witnessed. In early spring according to the Chinese lunar calendar (from late February to March), the terraces are filled with wild flowers, including pink peach blossom and white pear blossom.

Yuan Yang lies on the Tropic of Cancer, so the climate is neither extremely hot nor cold.

However, it is cooler in morning and evening, and the sun is very strong at noon. So pay attention to the sun and wear proper protection. Moreover, T-shirts and shorts can be worn all year round, but you are advised to take a jacket.

In addition to capturing the picturesque scenery, exploring the unique Hani ethnic cultures at the surrounding villages is also an interesting experience not to miss. Participate in a local country fair, during which the entire minority people dress in colorful ethnic costumes, you will find it is very lively.

p.s. Here you find all you need to know to book your hotel (or hostel) in China .

Also, bring some sunblock and sunglasses as the sun is strong. You should also try to buy a hat or a cap beforehand or when arriving. Preferably, you should also buy medicine which prevents high-altitude disease and also oxygen, if you’re to ascend the mountains.

Photo Credits: Photos by Harley Greenberg

About The Author

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Harley Greenberg

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23 thoughts on “travel to yunnan – a complete guide to the south western province”.

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Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂 zinbeauty

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This website is great, thank you! I’m planning to visit Yunnan this summer. I’ve read info on the Chinese Embassy in my country about Covid-19 policies, and it says that one should refer to the dispositions given by the local authorities. I’ve tried to find out whether in Yunnan some rules still apply, but I couldn’t find anything – I can’t speak Mandarin *that* well. Do you know something about this issue? Where should I seek info?

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As far as I know at the moment, there aren’t any restrictions and it’s unlikely that the situation will change this summer. However, here in China the situation can change really fast.

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I have never been in Yunnan before, but spent quite some time in south east Asia. It is different word, but those are the places in my opinion worth visiting. Culture, people, way of living and the way of thinking if you want. It is great you not only visited Yunnan, but also described you journey in details here. Thank you!

Yunnan is an incredible place and culturally close to Southeast Asia

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Yunnan is an extremely beautiful destination to visit also Yunnan is full of natural beauty. Next month, gonna plan to visit here. This travel guide is full of useful travel information. Thanks for sharing this informative post. Keep sharing the good work ahead……Bookmarked for the future read. If you are planning to visit Morocco, Visit us here. We are best hotels in Marrakech, Morocco

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Visiting Yunnan is probably the part of my Asia trip Im the most excited about! It just seems as if there are so many beautiful places :) Im planning to visit Feilai si in Deqin, you have any tips for doing so? The mountains there seem absolutely incredible!

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Hello Niclas,

the only tip I can give you for a specific spot is the following: sometimes in Yunnan is difficult to find public transportation for short trips. In this case the best way is to rent a car with a driver for a day (usually is not expensive). You can ask to your hotel reception to help you finding a driver, it shall not be too difficult

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Hi. My husband and I are thinking of going to Yunnan from September 30th until October 4th. We are thinking of just going to one place so we are not rushing on one place to another. Which one would you recommend? Our choices are Dali, Shangri La and Lijiang.

Probably Dali is the best choice. Lijiang is too crowded and Shangri-La had a big fire on 2014 so I don’t know if it’s still a beautiful place to visit

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Are night buses between Kunming and Yuanyang safe for two female travelers!?

Hello Jaimie,

yes, there are night buses

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Your article has been a great help in me deciding to travel Yunnan for ten days with my boyfriend. I am living in Shanghai for three months and this is the only big trip that we will take. If I am coming from Shanghai and only have ten days.. do you recommend a specific set of places to visit? You have provided three options in this article, I wonder if you could say which you think would be most suitable? I want to spend as little time as possible travelling and being on buses (I get very travel sick). I’m aware that a lot of travelling will need to be done between places but want to keep it to as much of a minimum as possible. Maybe you could recommend routes that have night trains for example? We are most interested in seeing beautiful nature and wonderful scenery. We are both very fit so lots of climbing, hiking, cycling etc would be wonderful. Thanks so much, looking forward to hearing your advice!

Hello Lucy,

if you have troubles traveling, the easiest itinerary is Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri La.

I think the longest trip by bus is Kunming-Dali, which is just 4 hours.

You will find a ton of nature near all these 3 cities!

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Dear Furio,

I am planning a trip in spring next year.

Arrive in Kunming (one day), onwards to Dali (one night), then Lijiang (one night), Tiger Leaping Gorge, then back to Lijiang. Onwards to Zhongdian. Have not decided whether to go onwards to Chengdu or back to Kunming to catch an international flight out of China.

I know I won’t be able to see all recommended places so my priorities will be Lijiang, TLG and Zhongdian.

Due to a tight schedule and budget, what’s the fastest way, other than flights? Train or bus? Will I be able to save if I take overnight buses or trains?

Hello Audry, you really have a tight scheduling here…

If your priority is Lijiang, I’d catch a night train Kunming – Lijiang to save time (although personally I prefer Dali to Lijiang).

Zhongdian is only 2-3 hours by bus from Lijiang, and the Tiger Leaping Gorge is on the way, thus in this case a night train / bus is not needed.

Yes, China is pretty safe.

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Dear All, I would like to visit Yunnan for 5 days arriving on 31 December 2017. I would like to include in the itinerary : (1) Shillin Stone Forest (2) Black Dragon Pool Park (3) Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (4) Tiger Leaping Gorge and (5) Zhongdian/Shangri-la. Please add other destinations which you think should be included. It will be for 2 adults. We would like to stay at the Intercontinental in Kunming, then Grand Hyatt in Lijiang and the Songtsam in Zhongdian/Shangri-la. Is December and January a bad time to visit the places in my itinerary for Yunnan? Will cold, icy weather and snow interfere with travel? What percentage of shops and restaurants will be closed at this time of year? I look forward to your reply.

Hello Maria,

the itinerary seems ok, maybe even too much for only 5 days!

In winter Shangri-la may be cold as it’s on the Tibetan plateau

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Awesome info – thank you for sharing! Is there a faster way to get to the Yuanyang area? Wondering if there’s a closer airport if we’re flying in from Beijing so we don’t have to spend as much time on a bus. Yunnan looks spectacular!

Shannon, there’re several regular flights from Beijing to different Yunnan’s cities as Kumming (the capital), Dali, Shangri-la and Lijiang. Beijing-Kumming is normally the cheapest. You can check it out in the ctrip website.

China is the safest country I’ve visited so far. And I’ve visited quite a few countries : P

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Harley Greenberg is a teacher? Please tell me he isn’ t teaching English. The article is littered with mistakes.

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Wow thank you for the constructive comment Ruby; keep them coming : )))

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Yunan Travel Planner

How to Plan a Trip to Yunnan - Travel Advice and Best Travel Routes

Yunnan is located in the southwestern part of China and is known for its ethnic diversity . the variability of the Transverse mountain range crosses the whole Yunnan Province which makes the scenic spots located afar each other. It is hard to fully see Yunnan if you don’t have enough time and well-plan.

The exotic culture of Yunnan attracts travelers from all over the world. Let me show you how to plan the trip all around Yunnan.

Best Time to Visit Yunnan

The best time to visit Yunnan is from October to April , with dry and pleasant weather. The rainy season is mostly concentrated in July and August, and the hottest month in Yunnan is May, June has received 60% of its average rainfall of the year.

Summer Holiday Visit with Kids

July and August are school holidays for Chinese kids, many families choose to visit Yunnan during this time. The temperature is very comfortable and suitable for any outdoor sightseeing. Meanwhile, you can pack light for the tour.

Peak Season to Visit Yunnan is from October to November

The Autumn peak season is starting from the Chinese National Day Holiday, the weather is cool and dry and often sunny with a clear sky. The first week of October is golden week, many tourists rush to Yunnan, the price for hotels, flights & train tickets are much higher than on ordinary days. Suggest booking as early as possible.

Top Things to Do in Yunnan

Yunnan is dotted with different nature scenery that you could expect (except deserts). Mountains, lakes, grasslands, virgin forests, snow-capped mountains, plateaus, historical cultural sites , etc.

Cities You Must Visit

Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La are classical tourist cities that should be on the bucket list, especially for the first-timer.

Those classical cities are diverse in ethnic cultures, traditions, and scenery, and you can explore the way of hiking, biking, or ethnic group discovering.

Top 10 Things to do in Yunnan

  • No. 1 See the blue lake and feed the lovely seagulls in Dianchi
  • No. 2 See the shocking holy snow scene in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
  • No. 3 See the show of "Lijiang Impression performing at the backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
  • No. 4 Ride around the beautiful Erhai Lake along with the Cang Mountains for company
  • No. 5 Experience the Mosuo wedding culture at Lugu Lake
  • No. 6 Laid back and enjoy sunbathing at Shuhe ancient town 
  • No. 7 Experience the craftsmanship of Bai grandmother's tie-dye
  • No. 8 Encounter the oil painting-like mountains and lakes in Pudacuo Nature Reserve
  • No. 9 Shock by Tibetan culture and scenery in Shangri-La
  • No. 10 Meet Thai culture and tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna

Kunming, Dali, Lijiang & Shangri-la, How Many Days?

Spending  8 days is enough to visit the classical tourist cities of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang & Shangri-la .

Take a 2 days visit to Kunming to Stone Forest, local ethnic minorities villages; 2 days in Dali: relax and ride at Erhai Lakeside, strolling Dali Old Town; 2-3 days in Lijiang: Lijiang Ancient Town, visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and hike to Tiger Leaping Gorge; 2-3 days in Shangri-La: experience the authentic Tibetan life-style and historic relic.

How to Get to Yunnan

Visitors usually take a plane or train to the provincial capital city - Kunming and then take a plane, train or bus to other tourist destinations.

There are 15 airports in Yunnan Province , Kunming Changshui International Airport being the most important transportation hub in Yunnan, and the airports in Lijiang, Diqing, Dali, Xishuangbanna, and Tengchong being the main networks connecting cities in between.

1. Direct Flights to Kunming

There are many direct flights to Kunming from 134 domestic cities , including all municipalities and provincial capitals in China.

2. Direct Flights to Lijiang

The city of Kunming, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Guiyang, Nanjing, Yinchuan, Tianjin, Chongqing, Xi'an, Wuhan, Hefei, Lanzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou has direct flights to Lijiang.

3. Direct Flights to Dali

The city of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, Xishuangbanna, Chengdu, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Changsha, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Xi'an, and Wuhan have direct flights to Dali.

4. Direct Flights to Xishuangbanna

Domestic cities with direct flights to Xishuangbanna are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Changsha, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Tianjin, Guiyang, Anshun, Guilin, Kunming, Lijiang, Diqing, Dali, Tengchong.

5. Direct Flight to Diqing (Shangri-La)

The cities with direct flights to Shangri-La are Kunming, Chongqing, Lhasa, Guangzhou, Xishuangbanna, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guiyang.

Good to Know

During the time of Covid-19, there are fewer flights than usual. Flights changed or canceled due to insufficient passengers at short notice, please kindly check the flight schedule before departure.

Yunnan high-speed railway was officially opened at the end of 2016, which shorten the trip from/to most cities in China. At present, the train routes basically cover most cities in the Southwest, Central, East, North, and Pearl River Delta regions. ?

Shanghai-Kunming High-Speed Railway

Connects six major cities: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanchang, Changsha, Guiyang, and Kunming. It takes only about 6 hours from Changsha to Kunming, 11 hours from Shanghai to Kunming, and about 13 hours from Xiamen to Kunming.

How to Get Around Yunnan

By plane: There are direct flights between Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, Xishuangbanna, and Tengchong in Yunnan, Kunming has more flights among them. The flight tickets to Kunming are relatively lower and more flexible options.

If you want to travel in an economic way, you can choose to fly to Kunming first and then transit to your travel destination . If you want to see as many places as possible in a limited time, flying directly to the terminal cities is a wise choice.

There are high-speed trains from Kunming to Dali and Lijiang . It takes about three hours from Kunming to Dali and two hours from Dali to Lijiang.

The highway network is well connected to the cities in Yunnan, but travel by bus takes a long time and is not as comfortable as flights and trains. It is only suggested when you travel on a low budget, or as an alternative choice for sometimes the train tickets have been sold out. 

Travel Hours by Different Transportations between Major Tourist Cities in Yunnan

  • Kunming-Dali: two hours by high-speed rail; four and a half hours by car.
  • Dali-Lijiang: two hours by train; half an hour by car.
  • Lijiang-Lugu Lake: four and a half hours by car.
  • Lijiang-Shangri-La: three hours by car.
  • Dali-Tengchong: four hours by car.

Accommodations in Yunnan

There is a large selection of hotels ranging from star-rating hotels, to world-class boutique hotels, or the low-budget guest house are all you can book through the internet.

Most hotels are located in the city's center. Some of the high-end luxury hotels like Banyan Tree Lijiang, Grand Hyatt Lijiang, and Amandayan are built near Yunnan's most famous scenic spots in the remote area with gorgeous views, and guests can enjoy a tranquil stay there.

What to Eat in Yunnan

Yunnan cuisine is also called Dian cuisine, composed of the cuisines of the Han Chinese and other ethnic minority groups in Yunnan Province. It is also influenced by halal cuisine and the flavor in southern Yunnan.

Notable Food of Yunnan that You Must Try

  • 1. Kunming cuisine: cross-bridge rice noodles 过桥米线 Streamed Pot Chicken 汽锅鸡, sweet flower cake 鲜花饼
  • 2. Dali cuisine: Dali three-way tea 大理三道茶, eight bowls 八大碗, Dairy Fan 乳扇, Dali Earthen Pot Fish 大理砂锅鱼, Xi Zhou Glutinous Rice Cakes 喜洲粑粑, and fresh yogurt酸奶.
  • 3. Lijiang cuisine: salmon 三文鱼, Pork ribs hot pot 腊排骨火锅
  • 4. Shangri-La cuisine: featured Tibetan flavor. barley wine 青稞酒, butter tea 酥油茶, and yak meat hot pot 牦牛肉火锅.

Recommended Yunnan Travel Itinerary

8-day classic tours to kunming, dali, lijiang, and shangri-la.

  • Day 1 Kunming Arrival
  • Day 2 Kunming: Black Stone Forest(Naigu Shilin), Yuantong Temple, jump public square dancing in Green Lake Park
  • Day 3 Kunming to Dali by bullet train, Ancient City of Dali, Xizhou Town, Erhai Lake
  • Day 4 Dali to Lijiang by bullet train, Lijiang Ancient Town, Black Dragon Pool
  • Day 5 Lijiang: Naxi Village, family visit in Naxi Village, Yunshanping on Jade Snow Mountain
  • Day 6 Tiger Leaping Gorge, Our guide and driver will escort you from Lijiang to Shangri-la
  • Day 7 Shangri-la: Pudacuo National Park, Visit Tibetan Family, Songzanlin Lamasery
  • Day 8 Shangri la Departure

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  • 6 Days Kuming to Yuanyang
  • 8 Days Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-La
  • 10 Days Vietnam to China
  • 15 Days Yunnan - Guizhou

Lijiang Old Town

  • Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
  • Tiger Leaping Gorge
  • Stone Forest

Dali Ancient City

Yuanyang rice terraces.

  • Meili Snow Mountain
  • Potatso National Park
  • 10 Special Foods to Try
  • Zhangjiajie

Top 10 Things to Do in Yunnan

Located at China southwestern border, Yunnan has always been known as a mysterious land attracting tourists from all over the world. With thousands of years of history, it has bred the marvelous ancient towns and unique minority folk culture; Kunming, Dali and Lijiang stand out most. Its plateau monsoon climate and exceptional topography make what it is now: the criss-cross mountains and valleys, dotted lakes and running wild rivers, a variety of plants and animals, unusual karst landscape… What are the top things to do in Yunnan and the must-see places? Here comes the tour list for you to explore in person.

Lijiang Old Town, Yunnan

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang

Erhai Lake, Dali

Erhai Lake, Dali

Hiking along Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yunnan

Potatso National Park, Shangri-La

Potatso National Park

Meili Snow Mountain, Deqin

Meili Snow Mountain

Kunming Stone Forest

Stone Forest, Kunming

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CHINA – A two-week Yunnan itinerary travel guide: Kunming to Shangri-La

Table of Contents

Chinese visa

A summary of this yunnan travel guide for your private use to copy paste, yunnan itinerary day 1 & 2: arrival & kunming, yunnan itinerary day 3: shilin stone forest, yunnan itinerary day 4 & 5: to dali & city trip, yunnan itinerary day 6: to lijiang via shaxi, yunnan itinerary day 7: jade dragon snow mountain hike, yunnan itinerary day 8: lijiang, yunnan itinerary day 9: tiger leaping gorge hike, yunnan itinerary day 10: yuhu, baisha and shuhe old towns, yunnan itinerary day 11: to shangri-la, yunnan itinerary day 12: shangri-la, yunnan itinerary day 13: potatso national park hike, yunnan itinerary day 14: departure.

Yunnan is one of China’s most diverse provinces and this two-week Yunnan itinerary will take you to all the highlights. I have been to China plenty of times and this travel guide describes my trip from Kunming to Shangri-La. It’s suitable for a first time visit to China but best recommended for a second visit unless you do not care about China’s big five sights. I’ll give you some ideas on how to combine this China itinerary together with other area’s at the end too. Yunnan is so large that it’s impossible to cover every single point of interest but those I did cover are all the must-see places. I’ll give a few ideas on how to extend the trip too. When you read my day trip reports please note that I have re-scheduled this itinerary for better planning after my own experiences. Now join me by car, train and plane on this Yunnan travel adventure.

Planning a Yunnan itinerary

Planning a Yunnan trip is a lot of fun and there are many varieties. This Yunnan itinerary however does contain all the highlights along the Kunming to Shangri-La route. Keep in mind Shangri-La is sometimes called Zhongdian or Diqing. The latter is also the name of the airport.

This itinerary can be done in both ways but unless you’re already in China you probably arrive in Kunming. Kunming Changshui International Airport has several international flights worldwide and if that doesn’t suit you, you might want to check Chengdu. From Chengdu it’s a 1:30 hour flight to Kunming or you can combine the trip with a Sichuan itinerary from Chengdu. Diqing Shangri-La Airport doesn’t offer international routes but only to a few airports in China including Lhasa, Tibet. If you want to visit Tibet too that’s easily combined  with my 7 days in Lhasa Tibet itinerary . If you don’t combine further trips in China, you can return to Kunming with a direct flight from Shangri-La and return home from there.

For the rest of the trip you must book the following:

  • Kunming hotel: In Kunming I recommend staying at the Intercontinental Kunming or Crowne Plaza Kunming .
  • Kunming to Dali: Book the train in advance and have the tickets delivered to your hotel. At the time of my travel there wasn’t a highspeed option yet but there will be in the future. My trip took about 6-7 hours.
  • Dali hotel: In Dali make sure to stay in a hotel in one of the old houses that are hotels now.
  • Dali to Lijiang to Shangri-La: If you want to visit Shaxi on the way from Dali to Shangri-La as a half day trip you must hire a car with driver for this part. You can keep the driver also for the day trips in Lijiang and the transport to Shangri-La.
  • Lijiang & Shangri-La hotels: In Lijiang the Intercontinental Lijiang or the Indigo Lijiang are great choices located in the old city. In Shangri-La try a homestay!

That’s all! In all the cities you can use local taxi’s as they are very cheap. Now let’s look at a day by day description of this perfect Yunnan itinerary.

Several cities in China have the option for 24-144 hours visa on arrival but if you do a road trip they won’t be of any use. You can’t leave that city and you must continue to another country and not return to the same. I’m from the Netherlands and getting a Chinese tourist visa is straightforward and usually takes just a few days to approve. This should also be the case for other European Union countries. I recommend checking with the Chinese Embassy in your country for specific information as they know the best.

Yunnan itinerary day 1 & 2: Kunming, Yunnan itinerary day 3: Shiling Stone Forest, Yunnan itinerary day 4 & 5: to Dali & city trip, Yunnan itinerary day 6: to Lijiang via Shaxi, Yunnan itinerary day 7: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain hike, Yunnan itinerary day 8: Tiger Leaping Gorge hike, Yunnan itinerary day 9: Lijiang & small towns, Yunnan itinerary day 10 & 11: Lijiang town and to Shangri-La, Yunnan itinerary day 12: Shangri-La, Yunnan itinerary day 13: Potatso National Park hike, Yunnan itinerary day 14: departure

Kunming is the logical place to start a Yunnan itinerary as the city can be reached by international flights. I never like to do much on the day of arrival and normally just go to a spa for a massage, sleep early and be fit the next day without jetlag.

Kunming is also called the City of Eternal Spring because weather is nice year-round. Spending a day in Kunming should be enough to explore the places of interest. In the morning I recommend going to Guandu Old Town which is a well restored old town. There are two Buddhist temples, pagoda’s, and many shops in the old streets. You can take lunch there in one of the many outlets that serve street food.

In the afternoon go first to Yuangtong Temple in downtown Kunming. It’s a temple that’s famous throughout South East Asia as it has a unique layout. You’ll probably spend an hour there. After that it’s time to explore modern Kunming. Go shopping or just relax. I spend the remainder of the day at the pools of the Intercontinental Kunming .

Read all about my Kunming day trip in my trip report: CHINA – A day in Kunming, the City of Eternal Spring

The Shilin Stone Forest UNESCO World Heritage Site day trip from Kunming is one that you must include on your Yunnan itinerary. It’s not a real forest of course but has stones that look like they “grow” from the earth. Getting there takes 2-3 hours by car/taxi so make sure to depart early and arrive around 9-10AM if possible. The area is large and expect to walk around for 3-4 hours to get a good impression.

The formations at the Shilin Stone Forest were formed millions of years ago when and old sea evaporated, and the surface lifted. Soft stone has eroded leaving the hard ones behind. This formed arches, caves, and all kinds of sculptures. One looks just like an elephant!

After the visit you can either return to Kunming or explore a bit more of the area. There are more caves, lakes, and interesting small rural towns. Suogeyi town is part of the UNESCO inscription and a nice non-touristic rural town. From there continue to Changhu Lake before heading back to Kunming. Alternatively go to one of the other places of interest; directions are easy.

Want to know more about the Shilin Stone Forest UNESCO site ? Check my complete day trip report: Shilin Stone Forest UNESCO World Heritage Site day trip from Kunming

EXTEND YOUR TRIP : Are you a history buff? Or a UNESCO site collector? Then check my 520 million years of history at Cambrian Chengjiang Fossil Site day trip report. This site can be reached as a day trip from Kunming, but I only recommend doing this if it interests you. Decide yourself if you want to extend your trip by a day.

The trip from Kunming to Dali takes 7 hours by soft sleeper train. There will be a highspeed connection some day in the future too reducing time to just 2 hours. I’ll update this article once it’s finished. I recommend spending 2 nights in Dali so that you have a full day to explore town. To be honest I rushed my Yunnan itinerary with just a night stay, and I can’t recommend that. On the day of arrival, you won’t have much time left to explore town. Just go out for street food but I can’t directly recommend one place as places change so often and thus, I don’t cover them in this Yunnan blog.

Dali is a beautiful “new” old town. This means that most houses are restored and rebuild in traditional way. That doesn’t matter much as the atmosphere is great. If you want real old towns then  Xidi and Hongcun (in east China) are two worth checking out. Before exploring Dali go first in the morning to the Chongsheng Temple 3-pagoda temple. It’s a must see just outside of Dali. Then go for lunch back to Dali and check out the gates, temples, the narrow streets, and other Yunnan highlights. If you go during Chinese holidays you can walk over the people as you can see in the photo below. Try to avoid that as it ruined my visit a bit as I could not enjoy this lovely town to the fullest.

Want to know more about the Dali day trip and Shaxi day trip then check my complete in depth trip report: CHINA – Exploring beautiful Dali & Shaxi on the way from Kunming to Lijiang

The best way from Dali to Shaxi (2 hours), and further to Lijiang (1.5 hours) is by car. This allows you to visit Shaxi on the way to Lijiang for a few hours and if you go early even have an early morning stop at Erhai Lake too. I recommend to hire the car for the next days too until arrival in Shangri-La. It will make your trip much more convenient then looking for transport each day again.

Shaxi is a beautiful authentic town and one of the oldest surviving horse Caravan towns in China. The streets are lined with shops and restaurants where you can see what locals do. It’s not over touristic. Make sure to visit the Bai Buddhist Xingjiao Temple and the arch bridge. Two iconic sights in Shaxi. I wandered around Shaxi for several hours after which I continued to Lijiang where I would stay at the Intercontinental Lijiang which is located inside the old town.

I love to make a hike now and then and that’s why I added some great Yunnan trekking in this itinerary too. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain hike is the first just 30 minutes outside of Lijiang. With an altitude up to 4800 meters it’s a long hike but the first part is by cable car as otherwise it wouldn’t be possible to go up and down in a day. A tough hike the last 1000 meters as oxygen is low. If you’re not used to altitude you can buy oxygen at the entrance which will help you get there.

The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain gets its name from the 13 peaks resembling a jade dragon. At the top the altitude is almost 6000 meters, but you can’t go there unless you are an experience mountain climber. Once you reach the top make sure to buy a medal engraved with your name. You did well! Just a few stairs down you can make a slide in the snow but keep in mind it’s not actually allowed. Be carefully of rocks below the snow. It’s on your own risk. If you have energy left, you can go hiking in the country side. The scenery is amazing there. I went back to Lijiang where I changed hotels to Indigo Lijiang where I had a private BBQ in my villa.

Check my day trip report about Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for more information: CHINA – A Jade Dragon Snow Mountain day trip from Lijiang

With a history of over 1000 years Lijiang wasn’t known to the outside world until after the earthquake of 1996. The old town was mostly destroyed but reconstructed quickly. In 1997 it got the UNESCO World Heritage Site status together with the small towns Yuhu, Baisha and Shuhe. These events made Lijiang a Yunnan highlight and known to the world and within China. Lijiang has a beautiful old town where I stayed in luxury at both the Intercontinental Lijiang and the Indigo Lijiang .

Lijiang was once part of the Old Tea Horse Caravan Trail and ruled for five centuries by the Mu family. The Mu family complex is the main attraction in Lijiang old town. All streets are lined with beautiful typical Naxi houses. Walking through the narrow streets will get you “lost” at some point but that’s the beauty of exploring. A day is easily spent in Lijiang old town which is one of Yunnan’s highlights.

Read all about Lijiang Old Town including all highlights in my day trip report: CHINA – Two days in Lijiang old town and outlying small villages

Tiger Leaping Gorge is located between two snowcapped mountains called Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain. Each of them are holy mountains and Haba Snow Mountain area is part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gorge is one of the deepest in the world with a length of 15 kilometers. A true Yunnan highlight. To reach Tiger Leaping Gorge it takes just over an hour by car from Lijiang. A taxi is not a good option as it can’t cross into the Shangri-La county so make sure to have a private driver.

This Tiger Leaping Gorge hike is amongst the best Yunnan trekking you can get. First make a short stop at the start of the gorge and see the spot where legend says a tiger jumped across the river escaping a hunter. The full hike is difficult to do in a day, so I went with car all the way up to Halfway Guesthouse. I had a very early lunch there and hiked from there to the end at Tina’s Guesthouse. The 2 nd half of the full trail is the most beautiful part and takes up to 4 hours. I went back to Lijiang for the night.

Read all about my Tiger Leaping Gorge hike in my day trip report: CHINA – A day trip from Lijiang: the Tiger Leaping Gorge Hike

EXTEND YOUR TRIP: It’s possible to hike the full gorge too. You can extend this Yunnan itinerary by going to the Tiger Leaping Gorge before the day you go to Shangri-La. Do the first part of the trek the first day. Stay overnight in the gorge and finish the second part (the part I did) the next day and go to Shangri-La. If you want to go trekking in Yunnan the Tiger Leaping Gorge hike is the most famous to do.

On day 10 of this Yunnan itinerary you will explore Naxi minority villages and see rural China. There are 3 small old towns inscribed together with Lijiang as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. I visited Yuhu, Baisha and Shuhe on a day trip from Lijiang by car. Yuhu is famous for its Naxi houses made of stones and mud. It doesn’t see many visitors and kept its authentic look. Baisha Old Town was once the center of the Naxi people before they moved to Lijiang. It’s about 10 kilometers away. It’s not yet fully commercialized but Shuhe Old Town is. Shuhe is just 2 kilometers from Lijiang. Each town has family houses, temples, and workshops you can visit. Expect to spend 2-3 hours in each. You won’t have time to explore each single street but the core area you can see. If you want more time, I recommend skipping Baisha even though Shuhe is more commercialized. I always enjoy going away from the tourist and therefore Yuhu is my favorite.

Read all about Yuhu, Baisha and Shuhe in my day trip report: CHINA – Two days in Lijiang old town and outlying small villages

SHORTEN YOUR TRIP : If you want to shorten your trip by a day, I recommend visiting one of the small towns after your trip to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Do go early to the mountain preferable before opening time to be in the front of the queue. You won’t be able to visit more as one in this case.

I started the day with relaxing in the morning at the pool of the Intercontinental Lijiang . After lunch the driver picked me up for my transfer to Shangri-La. The drive from Lijiang to Shangri-La takes probably 4-5 hours which can be faster as this totally depends traffic. During the drive you’ll pass various food stalls along the road selling dried Yak meat. Make sure to buy some. It’s delicious. The altitude increases throughout this Yunnan itinerary so that altitude sickness won’t be a problem. One more reason to start in Kunming. I arrived late evening at my hotel in Shangri-La. Traffic was bad.

Check also my Lashi Lake day trip report if you extend your trip: CHINA – Lashi Lake from Lijiang: horseback riding & canoeing

EXTEND YOUR TRIP : You for sure have time to make a stop at Lashi Lake if you go in the morning to Shangri-La but to fully experience the area you won’t. My original Yunnan itinerary was longer as I planned a full day leisure at Lashi Lake . The area is famous for horseback riding which I did in the morning. After lunch I enjoyed various water activities including canoeing at the lake. A completely different day compared to most other days of this Yunnan itinerary.

Day 12 was a day off for me. I did check out a bit of old Shangri-La including the Golden Temple. The rest of the day I used to catch up with work emails. I did that because I combined this Yunnan itinerary with a Tibet itinerary which totaled over 3 weeks. This day was in the middle. I have plans to return to the area anyway but if you don’t make sure to go to Songzanlin Monastery. It’s a Tibetan monastery just 30 kilometers away. I will visit another time when I’ll go deeper into the mountainous Tibetan area. In the evening I went with the driver to a local place for Yak meat. That was the spiciest yet delicious dish I ever had. I don’t know where it was exactly but just ask around and you’ll find a great place too.

If you arrive at Potatso National Park (also called Pudacuo National Park) you might think I have added a weird street food place on this Yunnan itinerary. The entrance is a kind of alley with many food stands. A good place to buy some local yak dishes to have new energy for the walk ahead. The altitude is 3600 meters so you might want to buy some chocolate too. It will help with the lack of oxygen.

The Potatso National Park was the first national park in China and for sure a Yunnan highlight. It is home to both the Bita and the Shudu lakes of which the first is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hike goes along the two lakes over a wooden walkway so that you really get close to the nature without having to climb over trees or walk through mud. The area is magnificent with crystal clear water, smelling pine trees and fields full of yaks.

Read all about the short hikes in Potatso National Park in my day trip report: CHINA – A hike through the Potatso national park near Shangri-La

Everything comes to an end and so does this Yunnan itinerary. I hope my selection of Yunnan highlights, Yunnan trekking and everything else Yunnan will make you want to go to. This Yunnan travel guide for sure covers all the main places of interest. I continued to make a 7 days trip in Tibet but if you must return home you can catch a flight back to Kunming. You can also fly elsewhere in China as it’s a huge country. I’ll add more China itineraries over time!

If you don’t want more China, I recommend checking my 2 weeks Vietnam itinerary , 2 weeks Thailand itinerary , 2 weeks Japan itinerary or my 3 weeks in Indonesia itinerary . Completely different cultures but just a few hours away. Do let me know how you travelled in Yunnan after you have visited in the comments below!

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Did you visit Yunnan province in China too or do you have questions? Please leave a comment at the bottom of the page. Love to hear from you!

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Unusual Traveler

10 Days Itinerary for Yunnan, the most diverse province in China

By Author Christian L.

Posted on May 25, 2021

Categories Asia , China , Destinations

China is an incredible country, brimming with epic sights, exciting experiences and a fascinating history spanning back thousands of years. However, with so much to see and so many  places to visit in China , it’s best to focus on one area when deciding on an itinerary, rather than trying to see too much. If you have only 10 days and want to see China at its most vibrant, a Yunnan itinerary is hard to beat.

Blue moon valley Yunnan China

Why you should travel to Yunnan province?

Yunnan province in southwestern China is one of the most varied and diverse provinces in China, both in terms of natural beauty and cultural experiences. This province is incredibly diverse, with steaming jungles with elephants in the south, all the way to the borders of the Tibetan plateau in the north.

Between these extremes, you’ll find some of the finest attractions in China. Whether you’re looking to explore ancient towns, see ethnic minority groups, hike the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge,   be blown away by the incredible  Blue Moon Valley , or want to indulge in unique Chinese food, Yunnan truly has it all.

Yunnan has a very pleasant climate, and can be visited throughout the year. With good infrastructure, visiting Yunnan is easy and can easily be done independently.

If you’re looking for the best Yunnan itinerary for 10 days, you can’t go wrong with the Kunming – Dali – Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge route.

How to get to Yunnan

The gateway to Yunnan province is the capital city of Kunming (also known as The Spring City due it’s fantastic climate).

Kunming Changshui International Airport is well connected with the rest of China, as well as other Asian countries such as Thailand , Korea, Vietnam , Nepal and Indonesia . Lijiang also has an airport, but it’s often cheaper and more convenient to fly to Kunming.

Chinese high speed train

Kunming can also be reached from all over China with high-speed trains which make traveling to Kunming easy and comfortable, there are 10 high-speed trains between Kunming and Chengdu each day with the faster only taking 5hours and 8min. 3 high-speed trains from Beijing each day with the faster only taking 10 hours and 49 min to travel the 1,700 miles (2,735 km) distance between the two cities. 4 high-speed trains between Shanghai and Kunming each day, taking 10 hours and 39 min for the 2,266 km (1, 408 miles) long journey. This is also China’s longest east-west high-speed rail line And Kunming has more than 20 high-speed trains to Guangzhou everyday, with the fastest only taking 6 hours and 32min to complete the 1658km (1,030 miles) long journey. Once in Kunming, regular bullet trains will whisk you off to destinations further afield in Yunnan province.

10 Days Itinerary for Yunnan Overview

Day 1: Arrive Kunming – Dali

Day 2: Dali

Day 3: Dali

Day 4: Dali – Lijiang

Day 5: Lijiang

Day 6: Lijiang

Day 7 Blue Moon Valley

Day 8: Tiger Leaping Gorge

Day 9 Tiger Leaping Gorge

Day 10 Lijiang – Kunming

Day 1: Kunming to Dali

With only 10 days, you will unfortunately not have much time to spend in Kunming. Instead make your way to Kunming Railway station right away to catch a bullet train to Dali.

To get from the airport to Kunming Railway Station, take the airport shuttle bus from just outside the arrival terminal. Bus number 2 or 6 both go to the station, and should take about 45 minutes depending on traffic. Buses run every half hour and cost RMB 25.

Kunming Yunnan China

There is a train to Dali every 20 minutes or so, and the journey takes about 2.5 hours. For convenience, it’s best to book your train tickets online at Trip.com.

Once you arrive in Dali, make your way to Dali Old Town, which is about 30 minutes by bus away from Dali station.

Day 2,3: Dali

The  Old Town of Dali  has been a favourite amongst local and international visitors for years, yet it still retains a lot of its laid back charm and atmosphere. Dali is known as somewhat of a backpacker heaven for its laid back atmosphere, lakeside setting and great weather. People often end up staying longer than they planned. That being said, Dali has not been spoilt by mass tourism, and that is perhaps the best thing about Dali.

daily city gate yunnan

Surrounded by a city wall and 4 gates leading into the old town, Dali is a great little town to explore on foot. Spend your first day leisurely exploring the old town.  

The cobblestoned streets of the old town are filled with quirky shops selling souvenirs such as amber, Bai minority tribe handicrafts and wild mushrooms which Yunnan is famous for. Trying wild mushroom hotpot is also an excellent idea. Another snack you must try in Dali is grilled yak cheese, which Bai women grill over hot colals right on the street all over the old town.

On the second day, rent an electric scooter and head out to explore the lovely countryside around Dali.

daili Yunnan

The imposing Three Pagodas just outside town should be your first stop. These three ancient pagodas dating back to the 10 th  century are magnificent, and the setting right in front of the Changsan Mountains are a sight to behold. The main pagoda is 16 stories high and almost 70 meters tall. Surrounding the pagodas are lovely gardens and ponds, which are perfect for getting photos with the reflections of the pagodas.

Dali 3 pagodas Yunnan

After spending a few hours admiring the gardens, ponds, temples and pagodas, jump back on your e-bike and follow the signs to Lake Erhai.  The drive along the shores of the lake will take you past strawberry farms, mountain scenery and pretty rural villages.

Dali countryside Yunnan china

Notice the cat statues on the roofs of the houses as you explore the villages of Lake Erhai. The cat statues, with the mouths wide open, have a dual purpose: scare away evil spirits, and catch good luck and wealth in their wide-open mouths.

Day 4, 5, 6 : Lijiang

Catch the morning train from Daili at 10:00 to Lijiang and you should arrive in Lijiang before 13:00.

The picturesque old town of Lijiang is perhaps the most popular attraction in the whole of Yunnan province – for good reason.

Lijiang streets Yunnan China

This well-preserved ancient town dating back to the 11 th  century is drop dead gorgeous with wooden architecture, cobble stoned streets, canals running through town, friendly Naxi minority people – all backed by the snow- capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain not far away.

Old town Lijiang Yunnan China

Word of advice: Beautiful Lijiang has been popular with Chinese tourists for decades and, as a result, it can get incredibly busy. This does not mean that you should avoid visiting Lijiang. Just keep your expectations in check. To best enjoy Lijiang, get up early and enjoy the stunning town before the crowds descend. Also remember that most tourists stick to certain areas, which leaves other areas beautifully undisturbed. All things considered, Lijiang is a great place to visit, and the large number of visitors actually contribute to a lively atmosphere.

Lijiang old town in Yunnan China

Spend the next few days walking all over Lijiang and discover hidden alleys, cute teahouses and more than enough options for street food. Over the next few days, make sure to check out the following places of interest:

Lijiang yunnan china

The Black Dragon Pool

Just outside the old town of Lijiang, this incredible park has some of the most iconic views of Yunnan. At various points in the park, you’ll get a beautiful view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with an arched, stone bridge and pagoda in front of it, and the Black Dragon Pool in the foreground.

Black Dragon Pool Lijiang Yunnan

Almost as spectacular as the views and the serenity of the park is the fish in the crystal-clear ponds. Thousands of fish in all sizes and colours will keep you mesmerized for quite a while. You can also buy some fish food to join the locals in feeding these beauties.

fish yunnan china

Wangu Tower

Sitting on the highest point in Jiliang, the area surrounding the Wangu Tower offers a sweeping view over the black tiled roofs of the Lijiang Old Town. Pop into one of the many tea houses for a drink to rest your feet and enjoy the view.

Wangu Temple Lijiang Yunnan China

Dance in the town squares

You’ll find people of the local Naxi minority group dancing in the town squares throughout the day. Everyone is free to join in, and it’s good fun. This continues into the night, and it’s much livelier after dark. It’s very acceptable to get a cold beer from a convenience store and drink it in the squares while enjoying the entertainment.

Visit the Tea Market

There are hundreds of Tea houses and shops scattered all throughout Lijiang Old Town. You can pop into any of them, and you’ll be treated with a little tea ceremony and the chance to try various teas.

Yunnan province is well known for its high-quality tea, of which Pu-erh tea is the most famous.

For a less touristy (and cheaper) experience, head to the Tea Market, located just outside the old town. Vendors will be quite surprised seeing foreigners here and will go out of their way to sell you some tea. Like at the tea shops in the old town, they will put on a tea ceremony and keep the good stuff coming until you’ve found what you were looking for.

Suhe Old Town

When the crowds in Lijiang get too much, jump in a taxi and drive out to Suhe Old Town. Suhe is only 4km away from Lijiang but is a world away. Although Suhe is much smaller than Lijiang, it makes for a very enjoyable half-day trip. The Tea Horse Road Museum, set in a handsome old building offers informative displays on the history of the area and how the trade in tea has formed the history and culture in this part of Yunnan.

Day 7: Blue Moon Valley

For once, the Blue Moon Valley is more than just a catchy name and is indeed as cool as it sounds. This incredible valley, located at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain makes for an excellent half or full-day trip from Lijiang.

Blue moon valley Yunnan China

The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain scenic area is home to various surreal landscapes, of which the Blue Moon Valley is perhaps the most unbelievable. A series of ice-blue lakes sit right in front of the snow-capped mountain behind it, and you’ll be excused if you thought that you were dreaming and woke up somewhere in the Rockies.

An incredible sight to see it submerged trees standing like skeletons in that surreal and crystal-clear water. If you are looking for a unique photo opportunity, you could also dress up in the local Naxi attire and ride a yak in that unworldly scene.

As to be expected of one of Yunnan’s most beautiful attractions, it can get unbelievably busy. To enjoy this amazing sight, come here first thing in the morning, before the tour buses arrive.

Blue moon valley Yunnan China

Other than the blue lakes, you could also visit meadows and grasslands, or ride a cable car to the glacier on top of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Day 8,9: Tiger Leaping Gorge

Two hours by bus north of Lijiang, the  Tiger Leaping Gorge  is one of China’s most spectacular (and accessible) adventures. The Tiger Leaping Gorge is the deepest gorge in the world, with a height of almost 3000 meters from the river at the bottom of the gorge to the mountain tops beside it.

Tiger Leaping Gorge Yunnan China

Hiking the Tiger Leaping Gorge usually takes two full days, but if you’re pressed for time, or don’t want to walk that long, it’s possible to cut it down to only a one-day walk.

If walking for two days, start walking at Qiaotou where the bus will drop you. From here it will take most of the day to reach the stunning Tea Horse Guesthouse where you can spend the night. Otherwise, get a taxi in Qiaotou to take you to Tea Horse Guesthouse. You could spend the rest of the day enjoying the spectacular mountain scenery, or take short walks in the area.

After a comfortable sleep, some delicious mountain food and bright starry skies, hike from Tea Horse Guesthouse to Tina’s Guesthouse.

Tiger Leaping Gorge Yunnan

The hike between these two guesthouses is the most beautiful stretch of the gorge, and known as the Middle Gorge, takes about 6 hours to walk, and the scenery just keeps on getting better around every bend in the path. Along the way you’ll walk past waterfalls, farmers herding sheep, sheer drop-offs and you might even spot rainbow clouds if you’re lucky.

You should reach Tina’s Guesthouse around lunch, so grab a bite to eat and perhaps something stronger to celebrate the end of hike. The bus back to Lijiang leaves from Tina’s Guesthouse at around 15:30 in the afternoon. If all goes well, you should be back in Lijiang just before sunset.

Day 10: Lijiang – Home

Today is the last day of our Yunnan itinerary. You could get a flight from Lijiang Sanyi Airport, which has good connections to most major cities in China. Alternatively, you could backtrack to Kunming in about 3 hours by fast train.

Lijiang yunnan

Yunnan Itinerary Conclusion

A 10-day itinerary for Yunnan is just the right amount of time to see the highlights of northern Yunnan, without rushing it. This itinerary allows you to see the best sights and attractions in the province. With more time, you could extend your trip to include Shangri la on the eds of the Tibetan world, or perhaps spend a day or two in Kunming or travel to the southern part of Yunnan to visit either the Yunnan Stone Forest or the Yuanyang Rice Terraces , which are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. With fewer days, consider culling a day from Lijiang.

Yuanyang rice terraces in yunnan china

A journey through Yunnan is sure to be an enjoyable and interesting experience and something that will stay with you forever.

travel guide to Yunnan china

Tuesday 27th of June 2023

Is it necessary to drive? Will it be easy to find taxi ?

Christian L.

Taxis will be very very expensive for that whole route

  • ✉️

The complete travel guide to Yunnan (云南), the most diverse Chinese province

  • March 20, 2024

Yunnan is one of the most beautiful and diverse provinces in China. You can find the top things to do and see in this article.

yiliang yunnan yi woman

Yunnan Province in China is a beautiful, diverse, landlocked region known for its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and delicious cuisine. With its vibrant cities, picturesque countryside, and unique ethnic minority groups , Yunnan offers travellers a unique and unforgettable experience.

One of the main reasons why Yunnan is such a unique province is its border position, far away from Beijing. There is a local saying: “Yunnan, where the Mountains are High, and the Emperor is Far, Far Away.” Even though this is an easily accessible province, historically, this wasn’t the case, making the local culture so different from the rest of the country.

Getting to Yunnan

travel in yunnan

Yunnan is located in southwestern China and is easily accessible by air, train, or bus. The province’s capital city, Kunming , is a central transportation hub with several daily flights to and from all major Chinese cities. Alternatively, you can also get to Kunming by train. As always, when travelling in China, the best website in English to book trains, hotels, and flights is Trip.com. Other websites have fewer options and are generally more expensive .

In the past few years, the government has built new high-speed railways that connect most of the province. You can now get to Shangri-la in the north, Xishuangbanna in the south, and almost every city. In short, travel to and from Yunnan and all around the province has never been easier.

Things to do in Kunming, the spring city

travel in yunnan

Kunming, the capital, is known for its mild climate. The city is also home to several cultural and historical attractions. Here are some of the top things to do and see in Kunming:

  • Stone Forest 石林: The Stone Forest is a natural geological wonder made up of towering karst formations. It is a popular attraction in Kunming and is a must-see for anyone visiting the city.
  • Kunming Old Town 古城: Kunming’s Old Town is a charming area full of narrow streets, ancient temples, and traditional shops and restaurants. It is a great place to wander and explore, and you can learn more about the city’s history and culture, although, like many other similar places, the town is not old: it has been recently renovated.
  • Western Hills 西山: The Western Hills are a series of picturesque hills and forests on Kunming’s western edge. The area has many temples, cultural attractions, and beautiful city views.
  • Golden Temple 金殿: The Golden Temple is a Buddhist temple on the top of Mingfeng Mountain. It is known for its beautiful architecture and intricate gold leaf decorations and is a popular destination for tourists and locals.
  • Yunnan Provincial Museum 云南省博物馆: The Yunnan Provincial Museum is a great place to learn more about the history and culture of Yunnan province. It has an extensive collection of artifacts and exhibits that showcase the region’s diverse history and culture and is free of charge.
  • Green Lake Park 翠湖: Located in the city’s center, Green Lake Park is a popular spot for locals and tourists. It is beautiful in early spring when all the trees bloom.

Interesting places around Kunming

travel in yunnan

  • Luoping 罗平: One of the most interesting places to visit is Luoping. Famous for its huge rapeseed flower fields, remember that it’s worth going there only between February and April. I wrote a detailed guide about it that you can find here.
  • Yiliang 宜良: Yiliang is a small town located only 1 hour by bus from Kunming. It’s famous for its Roast Duck , the Colored Rice Fields and the beautiful Jiuxiang caves.
  • Mile 弥勒 : another small town located only 30 minutes from Kunming, has become popular thanks to a new art park called Dongfengyun (东风韵). Here you can read my travel guide.
  • Fuxian Lake 抚仙湖: Fuxian is the third largest lake in Yunnan and the third deepest in China. If you’re planning a trip without straying too far from Kunming, Fuxian is the right option. Here you can find my detailed travel guide.
  • Puzhehei 普者黑: famous for the typical karst hills, the numerous rivers and ponds, and many caves. Summer is the best season to visit when the ponds are filled with lotus plants in full bloom, which makes the landscape even more beautiful. You can find my travel guide here.

Top things to see in Southern Yunnan

travel in yunnan

  • Yuanyang Rice Terraces 元阳: these are my favorite rice terraces in China. Since 2013, they have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Keep in mind that the best season is during winter. Here you can find more info.
  • Xishuangbanna 西双版纳: located on the border between Myanmar and Laos and crossed by the Mekong River, Xishuangbanna is often considered the Thailand of China. Due to its remote location in a province, Yunnan, which historically is also one of the remotest in China, not many people have heard about this place. Here you can find my travel guide.
  • Pu’er 普洱: you might have heard about this place if you like drinking tea. In the past few years, it has become one of the most popular types of tea in China. The city, formerly known as Simao, doesn’t offer that much, but you can explore the surrounding tea and coffee plantations. Fun fact: 99% of the coffee produced in China comes from Yunnan, and Pu’er is an important production center.

Top things to see in Northern Yunnan

travel in yunnan

  • Lijiang 丽江 : this is likely the most famous place in Yunnan. Some people think it’s too touristy, and they have a point. Nevertheless, a visit to Yunnan is incomplete until you visit the Old Town ( here is my guide ). The good thing about Lijiang is that it can be used as a starting point to explore other nearby places like Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 玉龙雪山.
  • Tiger Leaping Gorge 虎跳峡 : at a maximum depth of approximately 3,790 meters (12,434 feet) from the river to the mountain peak, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyons in the world. It can be visited with a day trip (but 2 days are better) from Lijiang.
  • Dali 大理: along with Lijiang, Dali is the other most famous place in Yunnan. The old town used to be the capital of the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom. It’s a touristy spot like Lijiang, but it’s worth visiting ( here is my guide ).
  • Shangri-La 香格里拉: the principal city of the Tibetan area, Shangri-La lies at an elevation of over 3000 meters. You can visit the ancient town, destroyed in a fire a few years ago, that has since been rebuilt. It still attracts many tourists, especially during the summer when people try to escape from the scorching heat in the rest of China. Here is my Shangri-La travel guide . I recommend spending a few days there to explore more remote areas, such as Yubeng . You can find my guide to Shangri-La here.
  • Shigu 石鼓: located along the ancient Tea Horse Road, Shigu is also famous for the 140-degree bend of the Yangtze River. You can hike a small hill to have a beautiful aerial view of the landscape. Here is my detailed guide.
  • Baisha 白沙 and Shuhe 束河 old towns: these two old towns are located a few km from Lijiang, and you can visit both of them with a day trip. Recommended. Here is my guide to Baisha.
  • Shaxi 沙溪: halfway between Lijiang and Dali, Shaxi is a small village almost forgotten by tourists. It’s a city of farmers, but since 2000, the local government has started a program of renovation of the most important buildings. In my opinion, it’s worth spending a night there. Here you can find my guide.
  • Dashanbao 大山包: one of the less known places in Yunnan, this is the right place to visit if you are mainly interested in visiting remote places with a lot of nature. Here is my travel guide.
  • Dongchuan 东川: also called Dongchuan red land, this area is quite interesting to visit around autumn when the crop is harvested, and you can see the red soil, rich in iron. Here is my travel guide.
  • Dulongjiang 独龙江: This is one of the most remote areas in the province where you can find the last women of the Dulong minority with tattooed faces. I’ve talked about it here.

travel in yunnan

If you decide to visit Shangri-La and are interested in wildlife, don’t forget to check out Baima, where you can observe the rare Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkey. I wrote an extensive article about the conservation efforts in the area. You can check it out here.

Safety and Health

travel in yunnan

Yunnan is generally a safe place to travel. One thing to keep in mind is related to its geography. The province is mainly located at a high elevation , so you may experience altitude sickness if you are not used to it, especially if you fly from other places in China. Kunming, the capital, lies at an elevation of 1800 meters, and Shangri-La is well over 3000 meters.

In terms of personal safety, Yunnan is pretty safe. I lived there for several years, and I’ve never heard of anything particularly scammy (unlike bordering Vietnam ). This being said, always pay particular attention to your phone.

Yunnan is a beautiful and diverse region that offers travelers a unique and unforgettable experience. Whether you are interested in exploring the vibrant cities, experiencing the rich culture and traditions of the ethnic minorities, or taking in the stunning natural beauty of the province, Yunnan has something for everyone. If you must pick only ONE province to visit in China, I’d recommend Yunnan.

Here, you can find my complete travel guide to China.

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Jonistravelling

Backpacking in Yunnan, China: Costs, Tips and Places to See

By Author Jon Algie

Posted on Last updated: January 5, 2016

Categories Blog , China , East Asia

Backpacking in Yunnan, China: Costs, Tips and Places to See

Choosing a destination to travel to in China can be daunting. There is so much to see and do, but rather than try and cram too many places into a short trip it’s better to focus on one area. I chose Yunnan ( followed by a week relaxing in Yangshuo ) and it was a great decision. I weaved my way through old towns, amazing mountain scenery and otherworldly karst formations – it’s not an easy to place to travel though, so hopefully this guide to backpacking in Yunnan helps.

Getting there

I flew from Malaysia to Kunming, the biggest city in Yunnan. It was a cheap flight (around $150 1 way), which makes it a budget-friendly detour. Another common way to get into Yunnan is through the land borders with Laos and Vietnam. I talked to some travellers who did it and it seems like a pretty painless experience.

Getting a Visa

You’ll have to organise this in advance. I saw so many signs in Laos and Vietnam offering to take care of it for you, so if you decide last-minute to head north to China it shouldn’t be a problem. I got mine in Singapore. It took 3 days and cost about $100 SGD (80 USD).

How much does it cost to travel in Yunnan?

$1000 USD a month is my rough budget while travelling long term. During my month in China (Yangshuo included) I spent around $1400, including flights to and from Malaysia and the visa. Day to day expenses aren’t too bad, but entrance tickets to attractions really start to add up. The stone forest cost about $30, and the ticket to visit Yubeng was around $35. Almost any attraction you visit will have a fee that’ll make you think twice about whether to actually pay it, but the attractions and scenic areas are almost always worth it.

I’m not a fan of Chinese food, so I ate western food quite a lot and it added up. Accommodation was fairly cheap, but I slept in more dorms than ever before which wasn’t really ideal. Dorms cost anywhere between ¥30-60 ($5-10 USD), with single rooms usually priced between ¥60-150 ($10-25 USD). Keep reading for more specific information on accommodation in Yunnan.  Buses and trains are pretty expensive. A typical 4 hour bus ride costs around ¥65 ($10USD).

Yunnan (and I’m assuming China in general) is a tough place to travel, mainly due to the language barrier. It’s hard to get around if you don’t speak Chinese, and in some towns it seems like you’re the only one who speaks English. The people are generally friendly though, and will usually help as much as they can. Once you get out of the bigger towns you’ll notice a drop in the quality of bathrooms, until eventually a toilet with a working door feels like luxury. Attractions and tourist towns in Yunnan often get swamped by local day-tripping tourists, so try and get places early and avoid popular attractions on weekends.

Transport while backpacking in Yunnan

Transport in Yunnan is quite expensive, especially the buses. Trains are far more comfortable and surprisingly a lot cheaper, so try and travel by train as much as possible. I took 2 overnight trains and 1 overnight bus – the nights spent on the trains were 2 of the best night’s sleep I got in Yunnan, and the night on the bus was a cramped, uncomfortable experience.

The best places to visit in Yunnan fall into 2 categories: Old towns and places with amazing scenery.

This is the most westernised town in Yunnan and makes for a great place to relax for a few days. It was a former backpacking heavyweight which has been taken over by Chinese tourists in recent years, but it still retains its backpacking roots. English is widely spoken and you can find pretty much any food you might happen to be craving. The scenery around Dali is really nice, and I’d recommend shelling out for the 3 Pagodas. I stayed at the Tibetan Lodge, which was right on the main tourist street in Dali. It did get a little loud, but it was such a nice room, the staff were friendly and spoke excellent English, and it only cost ¥80. Read a full article on Dali here .

Dali is a popular stop-off while backpacking in Yunnan, China

On purely superficial terms, Lijiang is better than Dali. The streets are among the nicest you’ll see in any old town in Asia, but with beauty comes admirers, and there were just too many tourists stalking the streets of Lijiang to make it enjoyable. It becomes bearable on the outskirts of town, but the whole atmosphere of the town was a little off, so I left pretty quickly. The scenery surrounding Lijiang is great, and it’s definitely worth heading to the Black Dragon Pool to catch the view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. I stayed in a nice guesthouse for ¥80 but the staff didn’t speak any English, which made it difficult to organise onward travel.

Lijiang is one of the busiest towns you'll see while backpacking in Yunnan

I’m sure Shangri-la was once nice, but the fire that ripped the heart out of the old town in early 2014 put an end to that. There isn’t much of the old town left, and the new city that grew up around it is completely unappealing. The best thing about Shangri-la is Helen’s Pizza. It’s run by an Italian guy and has some of the best pizza and calzones money can buy. Accommodation in Shangri-la consists mainly of dorms and isn’t particularly memorable. Expect to pay between ¥30-40 for a bed, and over ¥80 for a room.

Further reading : The legend of Shangri-la (this town definitely isn’t it though!)

Shangri-la was destroyed by a fire, but you'll probably still end up there while backpacking in Yunnan, China

Mind-blowing scenic areas

Tiger leaping gorge.

It takes 2 or 3 days to trek from one end of Tiger Leaping Gorge to the other, and it really is a must-do if you are backpacking in Yunnan. It’s a fairly easy trek and there are some great little guesthouses along the way. I stayed at the Naxi Family Guesthouse and got a tiny private room for ¥30. It is one of the coolest guesthouses I have slept in during my travels in Asia, and I’d recommend the trek for this guesthouse alone.  I also stayed at the Tea Horse Guesthouse, which was almost as good. Read a full article on Tiger Leaping Gorge here .

Tiger Leaping Gorge is a great trek while backpacking in Yunnan, China

If someone asked me to recommend them 1 place in Asia that they had to visit, I’d probably say Yubeng. It’s home to some of the best scenery I’ve ever seen, and is also one of the most peaceful places I’ve been. A fairly gruelling trek is required to get to the village, but those willing to put in the hard yards are richly rewarded. Read a full article on Yubeng here .

Yubeng was my favourite place when I was backpacking in Yunnan, China

The Stone Forest

Are you writing a screenplay set on a far-off planet? Visit the Stone Forest for some inspiration. It’s an amazing place and is definitely worth the high price tag. You can visit the Stone Forest on a day trip from Kunming; it’s a bit of a hassle though. Read a full article on The Stone Forest here .

The Stone Forest is one of the coolest things to see while backpacking in Yunnan, China

Kunming: The unavoidable big city

If you are backpacking in Yunnan you’ll almost definitely end up in Kunming. It isn’t such a bad place; it actually reminded me a lot of where I used to live in Taiwan. It’s very clean and has a couple of great hostels. I stayed at both The Hump Hostel and The Kunming Cloudland International Youth Hostel, which both had dorms for around ¥50. The Hump Hostel is in a slightly better location and has better beds and more helpful staff, but the food and common areas of the Cloudland were a lot better. I didn’t really check out the sites in Kunming, but I heard there is a temple that’s worth seeing, and some decent hiking in the surrounding hills.

Kunming, the biggest city you'll see while backpacking in Yunnan, China

Places I didn’t get time to visit

Yunnan is huge, and it’s not possible to go everywhere you want unless you have a few months. I had my heart set on seeing the Yuanyuang Rice Terraces, but my detour to Yubeng meant I ran out of time. There are also heaps more old towns to explore, and so many more scenic areas that I’ve heard are amazing.

Have you been backpacking in Yunnan, or do you want to know any other details? Leave me a comment!

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Wednesday 11th of July 2018

Great post Jon! Im visiting the Yunnan province in November and cam definately take something useful with me from your article! Besides fron the places you mentioned I also plan to spend some time by the Yuanyang rice terracces, and Deqin :)

Monday 16th of July 2018

Hey Niclas, yeah I had planned to visit those rice terraces and a few other places but ran out of time. Enjoy the trip and let me know how it goes if you remember!

Bernard chan

Monday 2nd of April 2018

Hi I am traveling to yunnan in May. Is my first trip I will be spending 8 day in Yunnan. 1. Can you give me some information how do I make use of my stay over in Yunnan. 2. Or can you cater a simple itinerary for me and my friends. 3. Possible to recommend us a local guide to bring us around. 4. We are all retired travel on a budget holiday. Looking forward to hear from you. Have a blessed day😇.

Monday 9th of April 2018

Hi Bernard -- it really depends on what you like doing. Tiger Leaping Gorge / Lijiang / Dali could be done in 8 days, or you could head straight up to Yubeng and spend most of your time in that region. You could even do both Tiger Leaping Gorge and Yubeng if you really loved hiking. Good luck with the trip!

Sanne Nijsten

Friday 29th of September 2017

Hi Jon, i've been in China before. Once for 7 months and once for 2 weeks. During july/august 2018 I want to return and I want to visit the Yunnan province. Do you need to book everything in advance? I also so a trip from a travelingagency, but it will cost me around 3000 euros for 25 days. In my opininion this is very expensive for China. Like to hear your point of view on this.

Thursday 2nd of November 2017

Hi Sanne, sorry for the late reply. I didn't book anything in advance, just flew from KL on Air Asia and didn't have much of a plan after that. 3000 euros seems expensive (unless that includes flights, still expensive though), and since you've been there before you shouldn't have trouble doing it independently. Let me know how the trip planning goes!

Thursday 1st of June 2017

Hey Jon! Love your blogg!! Im looking to travell to Yunnan next month. I need some diary catch up from work. (Thats the only way I can go on vacation). I was wondering if you have full phone signal. Hope for your answer, thank you!!!

Thanks! I don't think I even had a phone back then haha so I'm not sure, I assume you'll get a signal in the towns and cities though, but you might struggle in Yubeng etc. Enjoy your trip!

Thursday 12th of January 2017

Hi Jon! I was wondering how much time you would suggest spending in Yunnan?

Friday 13th of January 2017

Hey Clara, I think I spent just under three weeks there and I had to skip a few places that I wanted to see. I'd say a month would be perfect if you have the time.

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In China, the Hottest Travel Accessory Is a Tenured Professor

Xu Jilin, an intellectual historian at East China Normal University in Shanghai, spent the first week of March thousands of kilometers off campus in the southwestern province of Yunnan. Over the course of a six-day trip, he visited the site of the wartime National Southwestern Associated University, historical destinations like Chaoyang Tower and Shuanglong Bridge, and a major Confucian Temple.

The trip wasn’t for research purposes. Instead, Xu was helping guide a group of roughly 20 travelers who had paid roughly 9,000 yuan ($1,250) apiece for the privilege of hearing his unfiltered thoughts on the history of Chinese ideology in the 20th century. In addition to traveling and dining with the group and answering any questions they might have, Xu gave two scheduled lectures, both on the lives of intellectual refugees in Southwest China during the Second World War.

Known in Chinese as youxue , or “study tours,” such trips have exploded in popularity among well-to-do Chinese over the past two years. For onetime public intellectuals, the trips offer both a source of income and an all-expenses-paid vacation; for their fans, it’s a rare chance to reconnect with their idols after years spent out of the public eye and even pick their brains about topics of interest.

There are almost as many study tours as there are academic disciplines. With enough money, you can travel the Aegean with philosopher Chen Jiaying, visit the temples of Kyoto and Nara with preservation expert Shi Zhaozhao, or explore the ancient civilizations of Central Asia’s Silk Road oases with economist Liang Xiaomin.

While similar vacation packages exist elsewhere in the world, industry insiders in China point to a local source of inspiration: The term youxue appeared 2,100 years ago in Sima Qian’s “Records of the Grand Historian.” Some go back even further, arguing that Confucius, who roamed China with his disciples, was the original study tourist.

For Wang Keke, who managed Xu’s Yunnan tour, his interest in the concept began while he was still a student at East China Jiaotong University. After founding a student group — the Thoughtful Learning Society — in 2015, he reached out on a whim to Liu Daoyu, the ex-president of Wuhan University known for making radical education reforms in the 1980s, and asked if members of his group could travel to Wuhan and meet Liu in person.

To Wang’s surprise, the then 83-year-old Liu enthusiastically agreed. He arranged a classroom to meet in and spoke to Wang’s group for two hours. In 2018, not long after graduating, Wang decided to make organizing study tours his full-time job and founded Dajia Tan — “Everybody Talks.”

For the first few years business was slow, but after 2023 brought the end of pandemic-related travel issues, registrations suddenly spiked, Wang says.

According to Xu Yan, a study tour organizer and promoter at Xueren Youxue — “Scholar Study Tours” — the abrupt surge in interest in the trips can be attributed to a mix of factors. First, the revival of China’s cultural “fever” over the past few years. Previously overlooked museums are suddenly hot tourism destinations, and there’s been a renewal of interest in Chinese and international culture and history, especially among the middle class. Second, while group tours remain popular in China, more traditional alternatives involving long stretches of bus travel and perfunctory photo ops do not cater to the intellectual and spiritual interests of participants, opening a window for study tours. Finally, wealthier Chinese have shifted their consumption habits in recent years from material objects like luxury goods to more intangible pleasures, including study tours, live performances, and art exhibitions.

There’s also a bandwagon effect, Xu acknowledges. “Isn’t that how it is in China now?” she said. “Wherever there’s an opportunity, a trend quickly forms.”

A study tour is generally split into two components. The first is the actual tour, which requires organizing high-quality accommodations and itineraries. More complicated is the study element, which requires securing the right instructors. Although big names like Xu Jilin command a premium, the industry’s unique niche and the lack of competition from regular tour groups means an ordinary university lecturer is often enough to draw interest.

Participants pay a hefty price to take part. The price of a study tour is typically two to three times higher than that of a regular group tour to the same destination. This generally limits the market for study tours to the upper middle class and wealthy, with most coming from the ranks of entrepreneurs, lawyers, teachers, and retirees.

The chance to meet and interact with like-minded people and scholars is a key part of the appeal for 21-year-old Ding Yifan. A third-year political science student at East China University of Political Science and Law, he sees the two to three study tours he takes a year as a chance to socialize. But what he really values are the teachers. “At university, I always feel as though my courses aren’t enough, and even attending lectures in other departments isn’t sufficient,” he said. “Study tours give me the rare opportunity to learn from China’s top scholars.”

This almost fandom-like approach to academics is a big part of the study tour experience. Chen Xie, a 48-year-old owner of a software development company, sees the tours as a way to branch out from his leisure reading and actually meet his favorite authors. A longtime fan of Tsinghua University history professor Qin Hui, Chen has signed up for multiple tours involving the eminent historian in recent years, including one that involved hiking the eastern reaches of the Great Wall.

As for the guides, the pay is good — in addition to travel expenses, even ordinary academics earn anywhere from 5,000 to 6,000 yuan a day ($700 to $800), according to industry insiders.

It’s not just the money though. Some of the most sought-after guides have largely withdrawn from the public sphere in recent years. The tours offer them a chance to interact with fans and other like-minded people in safe, controlled settings while seeing the world. “The conversations I have on trips are often far deeper than what I can have with students,” Xu says.

“The academics sometimes even forego their fees if the destination appeals to them, as long as you cover their travel and accommodation expenses,” says Wang. “Sometimes, they’ll even suggest itineraries. For example, Lei Yi, a historian at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, likes to visit Jiangnan region around Shanghai in spring. So we designed tours through historic eastern cities like Yangzhou and Nantong based on his suggestions.”

Xu Jilin says demand for his services has increased over the past year. He generally agrees to as many tours as his schedule allows, though he prefers destinations he might not otherwise get the chance to visit, such as Iran, Cuba, or the Balkans.

His trip to Yunnan had special significance: His father was once a student at the National Southwestern Associated University. “Whether participants or guides, study tours offer emotional value to everyone involved,” Xu says.

(Header image: Xu Jilin (far left) on a study tour in Quanzhou, Fujian province, January 2024. Courtesy of Wang Keke)

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40m yuan in disaster relief funding allocated to Sichuan, Yunnan

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Two ministries will allocate 40 million yuan ($5.5 million) from natural disaster relief funds to support Sichuan province and Yunnan province in responding to forest fire and drought.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management said in a circular on Sunday they will allocate 20 million yuan to Sichuan for forest fire relief, while 20 million yuan will be allocated to Yunnan to tackle drought disasters.

The funds will be primarily used to address water shortages for urban and rural residents, and purchase or lease emergency equipment for water supply and purification.

Local authorities will use the funds to organize personnel to ensure water supply for residents, and provide assistance to those facing temporary living difficulties due to disasters.

The Ministry of Finance urged the finance departments of both provinces to expedite the disbursement of the funds to disaster areas and effectively strengthen fund management, the circular said.

In mid-March, a forest fire broke out in Yajiang county, Sichuan, while residents in Yunnan have experienced drought disasters and water shortage in recent days.

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Dali Travel Guide

Dali Travel Guide

Dali, a popular travel destination in Yunnan Province, attracts people from all over the world. Dali's peaceful vibe and stunning views will help you forget your worries and troubles. The profound Nanzhao-Kingdom and Bai culture make Dali interesting to explore.

Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake are the two most famous attractions in Dali. In addition, Dali has many ancient towns, villages, and enjoyable outdoor activities.

The Features of Dali

Dali is noted for its extraordinary natural scenery — its crystal and sparkling plateau lake, clear blue sky and white clouds, lofty and snow-capped Cangshan Mountains, the enchanting blossom, the gentle breeze that caresses the face…

Dali is the birthplace of Bai culture . In the 4th century, the ancestors of the Bai people were thriving there. It was also the medieval capital of both the Bai Nanzhao Kingdom (738–902) and the Kingdom of Dali (937–1094). Nowadays, their remains have become historical and cultural sites to explore.

Dali is a romantic and leisurely city . Many people suffering stress or sadness come to Dali, where genial sunshine, kind people, romantic scenery, and pleasant weather can cure everything.

Recommended Dali tours :

  • 4-Day Dali and Tea Horse Road Experience Tour
  • 7-Day Kunming, Dali, Shaxi, and Lijiang Tour
  • 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Highlights Tour

Top Attractions in Dali

  • Dali Old Town is widely acknowledged as a "backpackers' paradise". Foreign visitors, especially, like to stay there . Some live there for months, or even years, to observe and study the fascinating culture of the Bai nationality.
  • Erhai Lake is the most beautiful place in Dali. It is a plateau lake. The water of the lake is calm and blue. The soft and gentle wind by the lake will make you feel relaxed. In winter, don't forget to say hello to the seagulls from Siberia.
  • Cangshan Mountain massif has 19 peaks. Seven peaks rise to more than 4,000 meters (over 13,000 feet) above sea level. The tallest peak reaches 4,122 meters (13,523 feet). Its snow-capped peaks are the highlights.
  • Xizhou Town was an important military town in the Nanzhao Kingdom. The classic and elegant folk building complex there is the symbol of Xizhou and also the soul and treasure of Bai culture.
  • The Three Pagodas face Erhai Lake in the east and Cangshan Mountain in the west. They are the landmark of Dali and a symbol of its history. The three towers stand in a triangle. The tallest one is more than 1,100 years old.
  • Shaxi Town has a long history , dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period (770–221 BC) more than 2,400 years ago. Sideng Street in the town is a relatively well-preserved ancient market once on the Ancient Tea Horse Road.

See more Attractions in Dali >>>

We can design a trip plan based on your travel dates, group members, and other requirements and interests. Just contact us .

Top Things to Do in Dali

  • Wander in Dali Old Town , see ancient gate towers, temples, and Bai-style buildings. Discover local snacks and some gadgets with ethnic characteristics.
  • Cycle around Erhai Lake and capture the beauty of the landscape bathed in sunshine and breezes. You could bike on the west shore or its east shore. Whichever route you choose, you can feel the beauty of Erhai Lake.
  • Learn tie-dying in Zhoucheng — "the hometown of Bai tie-dye". It is a good way to learn about Bai culture. Tying up the white cloth with a thread according to a pre-drawn pattern, and dying it with their natural vegetable dye, can be a great cultural connecter.

See the Best 7 Things to Do in Dali to learn of more interesting and exciting activities in Dali.

Our recommended 4-Day Essence Dali Tour will take you to meet a dynamic Dali

The Bai Minority in Dali

As the 15th largest ethnic minority in China, the Bai ethnicity is mainly distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, and other provinces. Among them, the Bai minority in Yunnan Province has the largest population, and they mainly live in Dali.

Bai people are good at handicrafts, such as sculpture, painting, and tie-dying. The Bai people have their own ethnic language and written characters. The Bai language is their main communication language in their daily life.

Grand Festivals of the Bai

Month Three Street Festival is a traditional grand festival in Dali. It is held from the 15th to 21st of the third lunar month each year (in April/May). At first it was a religious activity, but later it gradually became a big fair. In addition, you will see all kinds of dances, horse races, and competitions there.

The Torch Festival is another important festival among Bai people. Every lunar month six day 25 (in July/August), the Bai people will put on their holiday costumes to celebrate the festival embracing their hopes of a good harvest and thriving future.

  • Recommended Dali tour: 6-Day Yunnan Ethnic Minorities Tour

Features of Bai Houses

A traditional Bai house has three rooms: one major room and two side wings. Facing the major room is a wall called the 'shining wall'. When the sun sets, the sunlight shines on the wall, which reflects the dusk colors into the yard, making the whole yard bright. Hence the wall is called the "shining wall".

Extensive decoration is another characteristic feature of traditional Bai houses. They decorate the gates to their gardens and houses. They like colorful pictures, woodcarvings, marble craft objects, and traditionally dyed cloth.

If you are interested in visiting a traditional Bai house, you could travel to Xizhou Town, Dali Old Town, or Zhoucheng.

  • Recommended tour: 7-Day Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour

The Best Times to Visit Dali

The best time to visit Dali is from March to October . Erhai Lake and the Cang Mountains are especially beautiful in March and April when the flowers are in full bloom, and many ethnic festivals are held in these months.

Dali has a relatively temperate climate year-round, with no extremes in summer or in winter. So, no matter when you travel to Dali, you are likely to have a good experience weatherwise (or at least better than most of the rest of China).

Recommended Dali Tours

  • Contact us if you have any questions or requirements.

Dali Transportation

Dali has a small airport — Dali Huangcaoba Airport, usually shortened to Dali Airport. It is 29 km (18 miles) from Dali Old Town, or about 1 hour's drive.

Several domestic cities have direct flights to Dali, such as Beijing (4 hours), Shanghai (4 hours), Guangzhou (3 hours), Chongqing (2 hours), Guiyang (2 hours), and Kunming (1 hour).

From Dali to Kunming , taking a high-speed train is usually more recommended than flight. It takes about 2–2½ hours.

From Dali to Lijiang , you could take a normal train journey, which is about 2 or 2½ hours. Booking private transport is recommended, as it would enable you to visit attractions along the way, such as Zhoucheng and Shaxi old towns.

Get Your Ideal Dali Tour Here

Dali is a land endowed with breathtaking natural scenery and colorful minority culture, which are captured expertly in these popular Yunnan itineraries:

  • 4-Day Essence Dali Tour — Feel a Dynamic Dali
  • 6-Day Yunnan Ethnic Minorities Tour

Or contact us to create a Dali tour according to your requirements.

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How to Get to & around Yunnan: by Flights, Trains & Buses

Yunnan Province (云南省) is located at the border area of the southwest of China, with Guizhou and Guangxi Provinces on the east, Sichuan Province on the north, Tibet on the northwest, and Laos, Vietnam and Burma countries on the south and west. Boasting comfortable weather, stunning natural splendors and amazing cultural charm of various ethnic minorities, the “Colorful Yunnan” intrigues traveling fans on the earth to experience her irresistible highlights.

So, how to get to Yunnan and transfer within this fabulous land ? You got a lot to choose! Frequent direct flights, high speed trains, normal trains, coaches, and so forth make your travel there without any blocks no matter from the famous domestic counties, places in other countries and regions, or the famous destinations in Yunnan. Let’s have a good brief of the transportation to and in Yunnan from here.

Best Yunnan Tours:

>> 6 Days Best of Yunnan Tour (Lijiang/Shangri-La/Kunming)

>> 8 Days Classic Yunnan Tour (Kunming/Dali/Lijiang/Shangri-La)

>> 11 Days Amazing Yunnan Tour (Kunming/Yuanyang/Jianshui/Dali/Lijiang/Shangri-La)

Get to & Away from Yunnan

To arrive in and departure Yunnan, flights and high speed trains are usually the top choices. Check the detailed information about cities connecting with Yunnan and the shifts of flights and trains at below.

Flights to / off Yunnan

Of course, flying to Yunnan is the best way to a large extent. By 2016, there are totally 14 airports for passengers scattered in Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, Xishuangbanna, etc. in Yunnan area, among which Kunming Airport and Lijiang Airport are the most frequently used for your arrival and departure.

Airport: Kunming Changshui International Airport (昆明长水国际机场)

Kunming (昆明) as the provincial capital of Yunnan is well connected by flights with major domestic cities and some famous foreign places. So you could feel free to take a plane from the places at below.

Also, there are daily flights to Yunnan from domestic cities like Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Nanjing, Lanzhou, Harbin, Yichang, Taiyuan, Sanya, etc. and international cities like Seoul (about 2 daily flights, about 5 hrs), Singapore (about 3 daily flights, 4 hrs), Bangkok (about 7 daily flights, about 2-3 hrs), Taipei (about 1 daily flight, about 3.5hrs), Kuala Lumpur (about 3 daily flights, 3.5-4 hrs), Phuket Island (about 2 daily flights, 2.5-3 hrs), etc. To know more flight information from your cities to Kunming , please contact us for details.

Transfer to Kunming Downtown: the Airport Shuttle Bus Line 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 that start every 20 minutes ~1 hour could take you to Kunming downtown area. Also, you can travel by metro line 6. If you go with a taxi, you will be in the downtown area in about 40 minutes ~ 1 hour. How to Get to City Center from Kunming Airport >>

Check more about How to Get to & around Kunming .

Kunming Changshui Airport

Kunming Changshui Airport

Airport: Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (丽江三义国际机场)

Lijiang (丽江), a really famous romantic old city in Yunnan. There are good reasons for its convenient access with other major cities in China by air.

Besides the above cities, you could also fly to Lijiang from Guilin (about 1 daily flight, about 1.5 hrs), Nanjing (over 3 daily flights, 2 hrs), Wuhan (over 2 daily flights, about 2.5 hrs), Changsha (about 4 daily flights, about 2.5 hrs), Zhengzhou (over 2 daily flights, about 2.5 hrs), and so forth. Besides, flights are also available between Lijiang and Taipei, etc.

Transfer to Lijiang Old Town: there are Airport Shuttle Buses that will take you to Liantian Hotel (蓝天宾馆) in Lijiang Downtown, from where you can get to Lijiang Old Town in about 10 minutes by taxi. Also, you could take a local taxi for about 40 minutes ~1 hour. Know more details of Lijiang Airport to Old Town >>

Check more about How to Get to & around Lijiang .

Airport: Huangcaoba Airport (大理荒草坝机场)

To benefiting your access to Dali Old Town and other highlights in this romantic city, flights have linked Dali (大理) with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu (about 5 daily flights), Xian (over 1 daily flight), Changsha (over 1 daily flight), Chongqing, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Lanzhou, etc.

Transfer to Dali Old Town: taking a local taxi is the best way, which costs about 1 hour to drive for about 30km.

Check more about How to Get to & around Dali .

4. Shangri-La

Airport: Diqing Shangri-La Airport (迪庆香格里拉机场)

To get to the fascinating Shangri-La (香格里拉) by air, you could leave from Chengdu (about 1.5 hrs), Chongqing (about 2 hrs), and Lhasa (about 1 hrs & 50 mins) that offer 1 daily flight there.

Transfer to downtown: from the airport, you could arrive at the downtown by taxi for less than half an hour. And if you transfer by bus, it would take about 1 hour and 20 minutes. So, consider your more time for break and sceneries, we advise you choose the taxi with speed.

Check more about How to Get to & around Shangri-La .

5. Xishuangbanna

Airport: Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport (西双版纳嘎洒国际机场)

Xishuangbanna (西双版纳), the enthusiastic botanic garden in Yunnan, is linked by flights with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, with daily flights but with a short stop by at another major city, like Kunming. However, there are also some direct flights from Chengdu, Chongqing (every day), Hangzhou, Changsha, Guiyang, etc.

Transfer to downtown: to get to the downtown area, you could take the local bus for about 50-70 minutes. Besides, local taxi needs only about 20 minutes to take you there.

Besides the above airports, you could also get to Yunnan by flying to the airport in Mangshi, Tengchong, Zhaotong, Puzhehei, Baoshan, Lincang, and Simao. To know more flight information from your cities to Yunnan, please contact us for details.

Trains to / off Yunnan

Want to take a train to Yunnan? Good idea! There are not only trains, but also the advanced and cool high speed trains from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guilin, Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Changsha, Zhengzhou, Guilin, etc. to Kunming so far. Check the high speed train information of popular cities with Kunming at below for your reference.

(Note: the prices of train tickets are varied based on the types of seats on high speed trains.)

Besides, if you are not transferring from the above cities and traveling with more time, you could take a high speed train from Beijing (10.5-13.5 hrs), Shanghai (11.5-12.5 hrs), Hangzhou (10.5-11.5 hrs), Wuhan (7-8.5 hrs), Changsha (5.5-7 hrs), Xiamen (13 hrs), etc. with the highest speed of 250-350km/h.

Transfer from Kunming South Station: from this high speed train station, you could take the local Metro Line 1 and bus K12 to the downtown area, which needs about 1.5 hours. Taking a taxi needs about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

>> Check more about Kunming High Speed Trains .

Apart from the high speed train, run some normal trains also run from many domestic cities. And there are usually 5 daily K trains from Kunming Railway Station to Hekou, from where you could go to visit Vietnam by passing the Entry & Exit Inspection with your valid passport and visa. To know more information of Kunming trains, please feel free to ask our Travel Consultant for help!

Transportation in Yunnan

After landing in Yunnan, how to transfer between the top favored destinations, like Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Yuanyang, Lugu Lake, etc.? Within this province, convenient distance coaches and trains would escort you among them with great efficiency. So let’s take a look of transportation in Yunnan at below.

  • Kunming to Lijiang

Lijiang is about 517 km northwest of Kunming. Travelers can get to Lijiang from Kunming either by high speed train (about 3-3.5 hours) or by flight (about 1 hour). Taking a high speed train is more popular than taking a flight.

By High Speed Train

There are about 6 daily bullet trains from Kunming Railway Station / Kunming South Railway Station to Lijiang Railway Station. The whole train ride takes about 3~3.5 hours. If you want a budget option, you can choose the overnight normal train, which will take you to Lijiang in about 9 hours.

Check Real-time Kunming to Lijiang Train Schedules >>

Check Real-time Lijiang to Kunming Train Schedules >>

>> 5 Days Kunming Lijiang High Speed Train Tour (Kunming / Lijiang)

There are also 5 around daily flights available, which depart from Kunming Changshui Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport in about 1 hour. However, since the airports are relatively farther from the city downtown areas than the railway stations, travelers prefer the high speed trains more.

>> 5 Days Kunming Lijiang Minority Tour (by Flight) (Kunming / Lijiang)

Kunming to Lijiang via Dali

Since Dali is settled just in between Lijiang and Kunming. You can also travel from Kunming to Dali first, and then make a transfer to Lijiang. Frequent high speed trains have already linked Dali and Kunming. From Dali, you can catch a car (about 2.5-3 hours) or a train (1.5~2 hours) to Lijiang. And once you are in Dali, you can have a 2~3 days tour there before heading to Lijiang!

Check More about Kunming to Lijiang >>

Kunming to Lijiang

Kunming Lijiang Transportation Map

Kunming to Dali Transportation

To fly from Kunming to Dali, you could choose from the about 7 daily flights. The whole flight takes only about 1 hour .

Bullet Trains are available between Kunming and Dali and need only about 2~2.5 hours for the whole riding ! Every day, there are usually more than 20 G/D trains under operation from around 06:30-21:30 between Kunming South Railway Station (昆明南站) / Kunming Railway Station (昆明站) and Dali Railway Station (大理站) for your convenient transfer. The prices are about 132.0-155.5 RMB for the Second Class Seat, and 210.0-247.5 RMB for the First Class Seat for each passenger according to different departure time of the train. Please check detailed Kunming Dali high speed train route & map .

See more Kunming to Dali high speed train schedule >>

See more Dali to Kunming high speed train schedule >>

Actually, taking a distance coach is the cheapest but cost-efficient way to transfer between Kunming and Dali. Usually, there are many coaches starting about from 08:00 to 18:50 from Kunming West Bus Terminal (昆明西部客运站) to Dali Bus Terminal (大理汽车客运站), Dali Xingsheng Bus Terminal (大理兴盛汽车客运站), and Dali Express Bus Station (大理快速汽车客运站), which needs about 4 hours to drive along the whole way and cost about 110-140 RMB/person.

If you go from Kunming to Dali by car, it needs about 4-4.5 hours to cover about 330 km long distance.

>> Check More about Transportation between Kunming and Dali

Kunming to Dali

Kunming Dali Transportation Map

Kunming to Shangri-La Transportation

From Kunming to Shangri-La (autonomous prefecture center of Diqing), there are usually about over 5 daily flights , and that takes about 75-85 minutes .

There are about 6 daily coaches from Kunming West Bus Terminal (昆明西部客运站) to Shangri-La Bus Terminal (香格里拉客运站). The whole distance needs about 9.5-15.5 hours according to different routes and bus types. And the cost is about 210-250 RMB/person.

If you are planning to arrive there by car, it will take about 8.5 hours with about 620km long distance.

There are about 3 daily bullet trains from Kunming Railway Station to Shangri-La Railway Station. The whole train ride takes about 4.5~5 hours.

>> Check More about Transportation between Kunming and Shangri-La .

Kunming to Shangri-La

Kunming Shangri-La Transportation Map

Kunming to Yuanyang Transportation

From Kunming to Yuanyang (元阳), you can take a distance coach. Every day, there are about 3 coaches starting from Kunming South Bus Terminal (昆明南部客运站) to Yuanyang Xinjie Bus Station (元阳新街客运站), which needs about 5-6 hours and costs about 140-150 RMB/person. And from the bus station in Yuanyang, you could take a local minibus to the scenic are for about 15-20 minutes.

Besides, if you want to drive from Kunming downtown to the center of Yuanyang County, it will cost about 4.5-5.5 hours to cover about 300-340 km. And if you want to drive directly to the terrace scenic spot, it may need about 5.5-6.5 hours for covering about 330-380km. Compared with all the other ways to Yuanyang Rice Terraces, traveling with the help of local driver is the best way, because you can get rid of the hassles like looking for the right bus station. Therefore, we would recommend you to go with a private car. If you need such services, please feel free to contact us .

>> Check More about Transportation between Kunming and Yuanyang .

Check more about How to Get to & around Yuanyang .

>> 5 Days Kunming, Jianshui & Yuanyang Rice Terraces Tour

Kunming to Yuanyang

Kunming Yuanyang Transportation Map

Lijiang to Dali Transportation

In 2024, from Lijiang to Dali, there are are several high speed trains (C/Y train) at present and  about 4 daily C trains available between Lijiang Railway Station and Dali Railway Station. You could choose one from about 09:00-22:00 and arrive in Dali for about 1 to 2.5 hours . And the tickets cost about 34.0-105.5 RMB/person.

Check Real-time Lijiang to Dali Train Schedules >>

Check Real-time Dali to Lijiang Train Schedules >>

To take a coach from Lijiang to Dali, you will have a lot of shift choices . From the early morning at about 07:00 to the late afternoon at about 17:00, the coaches start about every 30 minutes and arrive within about 3-3.5 hours to the bus terminals in the downtown area and the old town scenic spot. And among them, there are over 5 daily coaches departing from Lijiang Bus Terminal (丽江客运站) directly to Dali Old Town (大理古镇).

If you go from Lijiang to Dali by car, it will take you about 3 hours with a driving distance of about 170-210km. To drive to Dali Old Town, another 30 minutes is needed.

>> Check More about Transportation between Lijiang and Dali

Lijiang to Dali

Lijiang Dali Transportation Map

Lijiang to Shangri–La Transportation

From about 07:30 to 17:10, there are comfortable coaches departing from Lijang Bus Terminal (丽江客运站) to Shangri-La Bus Terminal (香格里拉客运站), which needs about 4 hours for the whole way and costs about 40-65 RMB/person according to the types of coach. After getting to the bus station in Shangri-La, you could take a local bus to Sumtsaling Monastery for about 30 minutes or a taxi for less than 10 minutes, take a taxi to Pudacuo National Park for about 40 minutes and to Napa Lake for about 10 minutes, etc.

To drive from Lijiang to Shangri-La, you would spend about 3.5-4 hours to drive for about 176km long way.

>> Check More about Transportation between Lijiang and Shangri-La

>> 5 Days Lijiang & Shangri-La Best Highlights Tour

Lijiang to Shangri-La

Lijiang Shangri-La Transportation Map

Kunming to Xishuangbanna

Xishuangbanna on the southwest border of Yunnan, Laos and Myanmar is about 320 km from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. The best way to get there is catching a flight from Kunming . Kunming Chsngshui International Airport operates many flights to Xishuangbanna every day. The flight ride needs only about 1 hour or so . There are also long-distance coaches running between the two cities. However, the coach journey is too time-consumption when compared with the flight. The coach ride needs about 8.5 hours.

Check more about How to Get from Kunming to Xishuangbanna (Jinghong) .

>> 5 Days Kunming Xishuangbanna Contrast Scenery & Culture Tour

Kunming to Puzhehei

Puzhehei is mostly notable for its large scale of beautiful lotus and natural country scenery. Tourists can take a bullet train to get there from Kunming in 1~1.5 hours. These trains depart from Kunming Railway Station / Kunming South Railway Station and arrive at Puzhehei Railway Station. And from Puzhehei Railway Station, you can ask a taxi to travel around.

>> Real-time Kunming to Puzhehei Train Schedules

>> Real-time Puzhehei to Kunming Train Schedules

>> 5 Days Puzhehei Lotus Flowers & Bamei Xanadu Tour with Kunming

Puzhehei

Kunming/Lijiang To Lugu Lake Transportation

From kunming.

From Kunming to Lugu Lake (泸沽湖), you could take a direct flight in the morning to Ninglang Luguhu Airport (宁蒗泸沽湖机场) for about 1 hour and 15 minutes . Usually, there are 1-2 daily flights available, so you could check the flight information in advance for your trip.

From Lijiang

There are usually 3 daily coaches from Lijiang Bus Terminal (丽江客运站) to Luguhu Bus Terminal (泸沽湖客运站), which needs about 5 hours and 65-80 RMB/person for arrival. Also, you could start from Lijiang downtown to Lugu Lake scenic area by car for about 4.5 hours , and the driving distance is about 200 m.

(PS: There are also some flights from Chengdu to Lijiang Sanyi Airport, which takes about 1.5 hours.)

>> 2 Days Magic Lugu Lake Tour with Mosuo Ethnic Culture

Lugu Lake Map

Lugu Lake Transportation Map

Note: all above information of the time, ticket prices, numbers, and stations of the flights, trains and coaches are only for your reference, since that would be adjusted according to practical situation. If you have any questions about transportation to/from/in Yunnan, please contact us for details.

Worry-free Travel with China Discovery

To travel Yunnan without any worry about the transportation, you can choose to enjoy our transfer service, and our local guide and driver would well arrange every step to pick you up at Yunnan, have easy and comfortable transfer between your ideal cities in this province, like Lijiang, Dali, Shangri-La, etc., and send you off to your next destination or home. Therefore, you could pay more attention to the wonderful highlights on the way. If you are interested, please feel free to ask our professional travel expert for details.

We have helped many global travelers enjoy their memorable trips to Yunnan for the past few years. Among them Mr. Elie & his wife from Belgium had 15 great days in Yunnan during their 69 days China trip customized with us and shared us their special travel story . Travel with China Discovery to create your wonderful Yunnan trip memories!

Travel Yunnan with China Discovery

Keep Reading on Yunnan Transportation

  • Kunming Transportation
  • Lijiang Transportation
  • Dali Transportation
  • Shangri-La Transportation
  • Yuanyang Transportation
  • Xishuangbanna Transportation
  • Kunming to Dali
  • Kunming to Shangri-La
  • Kunming to Yuanyang
  • Lijiang to Shangri-La
  • Lijiang to Kunming

Useful Yunnan Travel Articles

  • Yunnan Tours
  • Yunnan Travel Guide
  • Kunming Travel Guide
  • Lijiang Travel Guide
  • Dali Travel Guide
  • Shangri-La Travel Guide
  • Yuanyang Travel Guide
  • Xishuangbanna Travel Guide
  • Luoping Travel Guide
  • Tengchong Travel Guide
  • How to Plan a Yunnan Tour
  • Top 10 Places to Visit in Yunnan
  • Yunnan Attractions
  • Yunnan Weather & Seasons
  • Yunnan Maps
  • Yunnan Minorities
  • Yunnan Ethnic Festivals
  • Yunnan Ethnic Markets

Recommended Tours

Top 3 tours chosen by most customers to explore in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.

Carrie from China visited Black Dragon Pool Park in 2021

6 Days Best of Yunnan Tour (Lijiang, Shangri-La, Kunming)

Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming

Our customers TJ Maa's group from USA visited Three Pagodas in Dali, Yunnan, China in 2018.

8 Days Classic Yunnan Tour

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11 Days Amazing Yunnan Tour

Kunming / Stone Forest / Yuanyang / Jianshui / Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

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Wednesday, 27 March 2024

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Ambedkar's VBA not to ally with MVA; announces candidates for 1st phase LS polls in Maharashtra

Ambedkar's VBA not to ally with MVA; announces candidates for 1st phase LS polls in Maharashtra

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar on Wednesday announced candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, signalling that the outfit will not ally with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Addressing a press conference here, Ambedkar accused the MVA allies - Congress, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT) - of trying to use his outfit to promote dynastic politics. Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar, announced the names of eight candidates for the phase of elections, including himself from the Akola constituency.

"They (the MVA parties were trying to use VBA for promoting dynastic politics which we have tried to resist," Ambedkar said. The VBA fielded Sanjay Kevat from Bhandara Gondia, Hitesh Madavi from Gadchiroli, Rajesh Bele, Vasant Magar from Buldhana, Prakajkta Pillewar, Rajendra Salunkhe from Wardha, Khemsingh Pawar from Yavatmal-Washim.

The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) have announced candidates for most of these seats. He alleged that the MVA allies were refusing to consider the factor of Maratha activist Manoj Jarange. Jarange has announced support to VBA candidates in the first phase, he said.

Ambedkar also said the party's state committee had discussions that candidates will be fielded from OBC, Muslim, Jain communities and poor sections of the society.

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Russia detains suspects in an attack that left at least 115 dead in a Moscow concert hall

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Russia says 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility

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Excise policy case: ED to produce Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal before court

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State editions, commuters face hardship as bjp, aap protest, kejriwal issues another order from jail: minister, hospitals directed to ensure all cctv cameras functional, false information being spread, do not fall prey to it: government to delhiites, bjp terms reading of kejriwal message by wife unconstitutional, woman killed, son injured as speeding car hits their scooter, sunday edition, caa passport to freedom, chennai express in gurugram, the way of bengal, the pizza philosopher, astroturf | lord shiva calls for all-inclusiveness, interconnected narrative l forest conservation l agriculture l food security, e-mail this link to a friend..

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Four suspects in moscow attack charged with terrorism.

Attack: Reintroduction of death penalty discussed

A Moscow court has ordered the detention of four suspects in the largest terrorist attack in Russia in nearly two decades, as the country held a national day of mourning on Sunday for victims of the attack, which killed at least 137 people and injured 180.

The suspects, who are accused of shooting concertgoers at a 6,200-seat music hall in suburban Moscow on Friday evening and setting the building on fire, appeared before Basmanny District Court late on Sunday. Their identities were confirmed for the first time, and they were placed in custody pending trial.

The four were charged on Sunday at the court with acts of terrorism in connection with the attack.

All the suspects were identified as citizens of Tajikistan, the Tass state news agency said. Several of the men asked for translators, as they could not speak Russian.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon in a phone call, in which Rahmon condemned the attack and said the two countries would continue working closely together to fight terrorism and extremism, the Tajik government's press service said on Sunday.

The Russian Investigative Committee said it had found two Kalashnikov rifles, 28 magazines and more than 500 rounds of ammunition at the scene of the attack.

On Sunday, the suspects were led into the headquarters of the committee in Moscow for questioning, their hands tied and their eyes covered with bandages and scarves.

They were then transported to the Basmanny court, where they were accused of terrorism and placed in pretrial detention until May 22 as the investigation into the attack is conducted.

The suspects were brought before the court and media individually, each sitting in a glass box, and three of them pleaded guilty to all charges, Tass said.

The Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack. It shared a photograph taken before the attack of the four alleged assailants with a black ISIS flag, as well as a graphic video made by one of the attackers during the rampage.

Friday's attack was the deadliest on Russian territory since the 2004 Beslan school siege, when Islamist militants took more than 1,000 hostages. Over 300 people died, more than half of them children.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said Russia would target those behind the deadly shooting wherever they are from and whoever they are.

Medvedev had previously spoken of the need to meet "death with death", and some lawmakers have begun to discuss whether the death penalty should be reintroduced.

Russia's Federal Security Service said the gunmen had contacts in Ukraine and were captured near the border.

The claim was dismissed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a statement on the social media platform X on Sunday that "there is no evidence to support such claims".

The White House said that Washington had shared information with Moscow early this month about a planned attack, and issued a public advisory to United States citizens in Russia on March 7. It said Islamic State bore sole responsibility for the attack.

"Nothing was passed," Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov responded early on Sunday, saying that Washington did not share any specific information with the embassy before the terrorist attack.

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COMMENTS

  1. Yunnan Travel

    Yunnan Travel Guide. Yunnan, the South of Colorful Clouds, is the most southwestern province in China. It borders Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Guizhou in the east, Sichuan in the north, Tibet Autonomous Region in the northwest. Besides, Yunnan shares a borders of 4060 kilometers with Burma in the west, Laos in the south and Vietnam in ...

  2. 10 Best Places to Visit in Yunnan, Where to Go in Yunnan

    Lijiang is located in the northwest part of Yunnan Province, at an altitude of about 2,418m. Its iconic Lijiang Old Town, a sacred UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Four Best-preserved Ancient Cities in China, is somewhat always one of the big reasons driving us to Lijiang and even Yunnan.The ink black housetops stretching to the horizon are calling when we see them in photos, and it ...

  3. Yunnan travel

    Yunnan. Yunnan (云南, Yúnnán) is the most diverse province in all China, both in its extraordinary mix of peoples and in the splendour of its landscapes. That combination of superlative sights and many different ethnic groups has made Yunnan the trendiest destination for China's exploding domestic tourist industry.

  4. Yunnan Travel Guide: Diverse Cultures, Awesome Scenery

    Yunnan, home to 25 ethnic minorities, is a place to experience the unique cultures of China's ethnic minority groups. Yunnan has well-preserved old towns and villages, with ancient buildings, well-worn blue-stone streets, and rich histories. Visiting Local Minority Family in Lijiang. Cannot wait to visit Yunnan.

  5. Ultimate Yunnan Itineraries: 6 Top Tours Options and Side Trips

    8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour Meet the Amazing Beauty of Yunnan. 2. A 6-Day Lijiang to Shangri-La Adventure Tour (Good for Hiking Lovers) If you want to experience the atmosphere of adventure that the great explorer Joseph Rock pioneered, this itinerary would be good for you.

  6. Yunnan Travel Guide: Yunnan Tour, Map, Ethnic Minority Groups

    Yunnan travel information about location in China, ethnic minority groups, pictures, climate and attractions in cities like Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, Shangri-La and Xishuangbanna. ... Yunnan has the most ethnic minorities in China, which make up about 1/3 of the province's population. Of China's 55 ethnic minorities, the province is home to 51 ...

  7. Travel to Yunnan

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  8. How to Plan a Trip to Yunnan 2024

    Spring (March to May) in Yunnan is the season for oceans of flowers. We recommend a visit to Kunming, Dali, Luoping, and Xishuangbanna. See the 5-Day Spring Tour to Kunming, Luoping, and Wanfenglin. Summer (June to September) in Yunnan is a good season to escape China's heat. We recommend Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, and Puzhehei.

  9. The Ultimate Yunnan China Travel Guide: All You Need to Know

    Visiting Yunnan (云南) ticks all the right boxes. It is by far the most diverse of all of China's provinces. Planning a trip here means experiencing an extraordinary mix of landscapes and people.

  10. Must-see attractions Yunnan, China

    Mingyong Glacier. Yunnan. Tumbling off the side of Kawa Karpo peak is the 12km-long Mingyong Glacier. At over 13 sq km, it is not only the lowest glacier in China (around 2200m)…

  11. How to Plan a Trip to Yunnan

    Top 10 Things to do in Yunnan. No. 1 See the blue lake and feed the lovely seagulls in Dianchi. No. 2 See the shocking holy snow scene in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. No. 3 See the show of "Lijiang Impression performing at the backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

  12. Yunnan Attractions

    As Yunnan enjoys the respectable reputation of the "Colorful Yunnan" and it has both brilliant culture as well as profound history, you can enjoy the most unforgettable time taking a travel in this province in the South of China. Lijiang, Dali, Shangri-La, Yuanyang, Kunming, etc. there are too many destinations to pay a visit to see their ...

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  14. CHINA

    A summary of this Yunnan travel guide for your private use to copy paste! Yunnan itinerary day 1 & 2: Kunming, Yunnan itinerary day 3: Shiling Stone Forest, Yunnan itinerary day 4 & 5: to Dali & city trip, Yunnan itinerary day 6: to Lijiang via Shaxi, Yunnan itinerary day 7: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain hike, Yunnan itinerary day 8: Tiger Leaping Gorge hike, Yunnan itinerary day 9: Lijiang ...

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    High speed train in China. Kunming can also be reached from all over China with high-speed trains which make traveling to Kunming easy and comfortable, there are 10 high-speed trains between Kunming and Chengdu each day with the faster only taking 5hours and 8min. 3 high-speed trains from Beijing each day with the faster only taking 10 hours and 49 min to travel the 1,700 miles (2,735 km ...

  16. The complete travel guide to Yunnan (云南)

    The complete travel guide to Yunnan (云南), the most diverse Chinese province. March 20, 2024. Yunnan is one of the most beautiful and diverse provinces in China. You can find the top things to do and see in this article. Yunnan Province in China is a beautiful, diverse, landlocked region known for its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural ...

  17. Travel in Yunnan

    Popular destinations you can explore in Yunnan. Yunnan is one of the most ethnically diverse regions in China. Ethnic minorities make up 33.6% of the province's total population. Because of its location on the southwestern border, Yunnan also has its own unique natural geographical advantage, where there are multiple collisions of Chinese ...

  18. Top Things to Do in Yunnan

    Kunming Top Things to Do for First-Time Yunnan Travelers. 1. Explore the Towering Karst Pillars — the Stone Forest. The Stone Forest is praised as the " Stone Forest Museum " as you'll find countless awesome stone formations displayed like large-scale geological exhibits. The Stone Forest area is also the home of the Sani and Yi people.

  19. Travel in Yunnan

    Ancient Yunnan is your best choice to travel in Yunnan! Ксюша | Ukraine - Photography Tour of Yunnan (7-Day in Stone Forest, Yuanyang, Jianshui and Fuxian Lake) We travelled with Ancient Yunnan. They provide everything. We visited three of the big cities. Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La. And also a lot of little villages.

  20. How to Plan a Yunnan Tour

    Below are the recommended best time to visit the popular destinations in Yunnan and you can check for reference. Kunming (altitude: 1895 meters): It can be visited all year round. Lijiang (altitude: 2418 meters): The best time to travel is March ~ November. Shangri-La (altitude: 3300 meters): The best time to travel is May ~ October. Dali (altitude: 2052 meters): The best time to visit is ...

  21. Backpacking in Yunnan, China: Everything You Need to Know

    Transport while backpacking in Yunnan. Transport in Yunnan is quite expensive, especially the buses. Trains are far more comfortable and surprisingly a lot cheaper, so try and travel by train as much as possible. I took 2 overnight trains and 1 overnight bus - the nights spent on the trains were 2 of the best night's sleep I got in Yunnan ...

  22. Kunming to Lijiang flight or train?

    Mar 16, 2024. I highly recommend Steven Wen as a Lijiang-based driver Mar 13, 2024. HSR to Dali from Kunming Main Station in the City. Mar 13, 2024. Baoshan village Mar 04, 2024. Songtsam Lugu Lodge Feb 28, 2024. Weather in Yuanyang Rice terrace area Feb 28, 2024. Tiger Leaping Gorge Hike In March!. Feb 23, 2024.

  23. In China, the Hottest Travel Accessory Is a Tenured Professor

    His trip to Yunnan had special significance: His father was once a student at the National Southwestern Associated University. "Whether participants or guides, study tours offer emotional value to everyone involved," Xu says. (Header image: Xu Jilin (far left) on a study tour in Quanzhou, Fujian province, January 2024. Courtesy of Wang Keke)

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  26. 40m yuan in disaster relief funding allocated to Sichuan, Yunnan

    Two ministries will allocate 40 million yuan ($5.5 million) from natural disaster relief funds to support Sichuan province and Yunnan province in responding to forest fire and drought.

  27. Dali Travel Guide

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  28. How to Get To Yunnan

    To travel Yunnan without any worry about the transportation, you can choose to enjoy our transfer service, and our local guide and driver would well arrange every step to pick you up at Yunnan, have easy and comfortable transfer between your ideal cities in this province, like Lijiang, Dali, Shangri-La, etc., and send you off to your next ...

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