Guide to Visiting Yunnan - Kunming, Dali, Lijiang

Yunnan Province Travel Guide

If you have enough time, you'd better miss these 4 destinations: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la. 

You can explore in Kunming – the capital of Yunnan also being the gateway to Stone Forest and Dongchuan Red Land; Dali – Bai ethnic group inhabited as well as a historic center of the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms; Lijiang - a Naxi minority city which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Itinerary: Kunming - Dali - Lijiang

Kunming Travel Guide

Located at the center of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, featured in mountainous landscape and karst landscape, Kunming is the capital city of Yunnan Province. Reputed as Spring City, each season in Kunming seems like spring. There is always a radiant and enchanting spring scene in Kunming – warm sunshine, azure and transparent sky, and fresh flowers spreading all over.

There are three must-visit destinations in Kunming: Stone Forest, Dian Lake, and Green Lake Park.

Dianchi Lake

Dianchi Lake is also called Kunming Lake. It is the sixth largest freshwater lake in China. It has the nickname of "Sparkling Pearl Embedded in a Highland". The lake is wide and spectacular. Every winter, a large flock of red-billed gulls migrate here from Siberia, making it a good place for bird watching and bird feeding. There are different ways to explore Dianchi lake. You can stroll around the lake, cycle, or ride a boat. You can also climb up to the Dragon Gate overlooking Dianchi Lake to get a better view of the entire lake.

• Location: 1318 Dianchi Road, Xishan District, Kunming City

• Entrance fee: free

• Opening hours: all day

• How to get there: There are 3 ways to Dianchi Lake from Kunming City.

  1. By Bus 

   Take the No.24 or No.44 bus and get off at Haigeng Park (海埂公园), you can arrive the lake.

  2. By Taxi

  Taking a taxi to the Haigeng Park (near Dianchi Lake)costs about RMB25 yuan, it is about 12 kilometers from the Nanping pedestrian street of Kunming.

  3. Bicycle for Rent

  You can rent a bike and cycling around the Dianchi Lake, the bicycle renting is available at the lake.

Green Lake Park

Located in the northern part of Kunming city and opposite to Yunnan University, Green Lake Park is a beautiful city park in Kunming and is also the first choice for many tourists to visit in Kunming. Diverse summer lotus flowers and black-headed gulls in winter are really worth appreciating. With Cuihu as the center, Cuihu Park divides Chui Lake into five scenic spots. Among them, Huxin Island scenic spot is dominated by Qing Dynasty buildings, such as Mid-lake Pavilion and Fish Viewing Pavilion. 

• Location: No. 66, Cuihu South Road, Wuhua District, Kunming

• Entrance fee: free

• Opening hours: all day

• How to get there: Taking bus is the main way to Green Lake Park from Kunming City.

  By Bus  

  Take Bus No.1 and get off at the Yunnan University Station

  Take Bus No.101 and get off at the Green Lake Park (Cuihu Lake) Station

  Take Bus No.4, 5, 26, 69, 83, 96 and get off at the Parkway Mall Station

  Take Bus K2, 54, 61 and get off at the Small West Gate Station

  Take Bus No.133 behind Carrefour plaza, close to the pedestrian street in Kunming city center and you can have a bus tour around the perimeter of Green Lake Park. 

Stone Forest

The Stone Forest is one of Kunming’s must-see sites. Boasting a classic karst topography, the Stone Forest is full of rocky peaks, jagged rocky outcroppings, water caves, and underground rivers. The Stone Forest is centered around the Major Stone Forest and Minor Stone Forest scenic areas. The Minor Stone Forest is thick with outcroppings of rocky peaks, and the Ashima Stone stands here, named after the legendary Yi maiden who turned into the stone when she was forbidden to marry the one she loved. At the Major Stone Forest scenic area, visitors can enjoy the reflection of the Stone Forest in the Lion Pool, or take a boat ride on the Stone Forest Lake.

• Location: Shilin, Kunming, Yunnan, China

• Entrance fee: 130 yuan (on site). Tickets from Qunar.com as low as 75 yuan.

• Opening hours: 7:00 am-6:00 pm

• How to get there: There are 3 ways to Dianchi Lake from Kunming City.

  1. By Bus 

  There are buses departing to Stone Forest Scenic Area at Kunming Eastern Bus Terminal every day. Kunming Eastern Bus Station is located between Hongqiao Flyover and Liangmiansi Flyover on East Third Ring Road, Panlong District. The bus ticket is 26RMB/Per. It takes about 1.5 hours from Kunming Eastern Bus Terminal to Stone Forest Scenic Area.

  2. By Train

  You can choose to take a train to Shilin at Kunming Train Station. Kunming Train Station is located on No.1 Beijing Road, Guandu District, Kunming. You can get off the train at Shilin Train Station and then transfer to a public bus to get to Stone Forest Scenic Area. The train ticket price ranges from 8 to 20RMB.

Where to stay in Kunming?

We recommend 2 places for you. One is a hotel from Booking.com, another is a homestay from Agoda. 

Green Lake Hotel

Located beside Kunming Green Lake Park, also known as Cuihu Park, Green Lake Hotel features an indoor pool, a business center and 2 dining options. Free WiFi access is provided throughout the property.

Yan Xi Si He Homestay

Whether you're a tourist or traveling on business, Yan Xi Si He Homestay is a great choice for accommodation when visiting Kunming. From here, guests can make the most of all that the lively city has to offer. With its convenient location, the property offers easy access to the city's must-see destinations.

Book hotels with great deals, you can visit Agoda, Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Priceline. Plus don't forget to earn up to 5.2% cashback from Extrabux! You can also book your flights for this trip from these websites.

Dali Travel Guide

Dali is one of those few places in China with an infectious ambiance, an environment that seems 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.

Must-visit destinations in Dali: Erhai Lake, Chongsheng Temple and Three Pagodas.

Erhai Lake

Dali Erhai Lake (Ear-shaped Sea), at 1972 meters above sea level, is the second largest highland lake of Yunnan, after Dianchi Lake. With crystal clear water and the charming landscape, Erhai Lake is reputed as "Pearl of Plateau". Hence, "Silver Cangshan Mountain and Jade Erhai Lake" is used to depict the amazing scene of Erhai Lake.

Usually, there are two fantastic ways to explore Erhai Lake - by boat and by hiking. Taking a boat to sailing on the Erhai Lake can have leisure sightseeing about the islands in the lake while riding a bicycle is an enjoyable way to explore historical sites along Erhai Lake.

Two Popular Ways to Tour the Erhai Lake

1. Taking a Boat Cruise

Taking a cruise is an enjoyable way to immerse yourself in the beauty of Erhai Lake. There are three piers around the lake, Xiaguan Pier, Taoyuan Pier, and Longkan Pier.

The cruising routes usually start from one pier and end at another pier, taking guests to visit Little Putuo Island and Nanzhao Folk Island. The duration is 3–4 hours. The cost is about 200 yuan.

2. Cycling

If you are not short of time and energy, cycling around the lake is great option. You can tour at your pace, stopping to visit the villages and take photos for as long as you want.

The best section for cycling is the west bank of the lake considering its scenery and road condition.

Route One: Cycle the west bank of Erhai Lake, 46 km, 1 day

• Dali Ancient Town – Three Pagodas – Xizhou Town – Zhoucheng Village, and back to Dali Ancient Town via the same route.

Route Two: a circuit of Erhai Lake, 128 km, 2 days

• Day 1: Dali Old Town – Three Pagodas – Xizhou Town – Zhoucheng Village – Taoyuan Dock – Shangguan Town – Shuanglang Village (Nanzhao Island). (Around 50 km, 4 hours)
  

• Day 2: Shuanglang Village – Wase Town (Little Putuo Island) – Haidong Village – Jinsuo Island – Huanhai Road – Airport Road – Erhai Dock – Haixi Village Highway – Caicun Dock – Dali Old Town. (Around 80 km, 6 hours)

You can rent a bike in Dali Ancient Town. The cost is about 30 yuan per day.

Where to stay in Dali?

We recommend 2 places for you. One is a hotel nearby the Erhai Lake (from Hotels.com) , another is a homestay in Dali Ancient Town (from Priceline.com). 

1. Dali Jiuxiao Stars with Seaview Inn, Dali

Situated near the airport, this luxury guesthouse is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from Erhai Lake and within 32 miles (52 km) of Nanzhao Folk Island and Dali Wenxian Road.

2. Dali Yanyuan Mountain Retreat

Featuring free WiFi, a restaurant and a barbecue, Dali Yanyuan Mountain Retreat offers accommodations in Dali, at the foot of Mount Cangshan. Dali Ancient Town is 5 minutes' walk away. 

Lijiang Travel Guide

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.

Must-visit destinations in Lijiang: Lijiang Old Town,  Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. We 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.

Lijiang Old Town (Dayan Old Town)

Lijiang Old Town is a well-preserved Naxi ancient town, listed as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. It is one of the four best-preserved ancient cities in China. The town is full of ancient wooden buildings, stone roads, and small bridges. It is the only old city built without a city wall. Standing in the city, you can see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Several television series were also shot here. The former mansion of the Tusi people (Mu Mansion) and the Naxi ancient music performances should definitely be on your checklist.

• Location: Dayan Ancient City, Gucheng District, Lijiang City

• Entrance fee: 50 yuan (on site)

• Opening hours: all day

• How to get there from Dali

  1. By Bus 

  Take bus from Tourist Bus Station near the South Gate of Dali Ancient Town, Dali North Bus Station or Dali Express Bus Station to Lijiang Bus Station in the Lijiang Old Town.

  2. By Train

  Take fast trains from Dali Railway Station. Train ticket prices are CNY 34 for a hard seat, CNY 69.5 for a hard sleeper and CNY 104. 5 for a soft sleeper. It takes around 1.5 to 2.5 hours. After arriving, use local public bus to reach the old town.

Shuhe Ancient Town is located in the ancient city of Lijiang, which is the northwestern part of Dayan Ancient City. The scenery is similar to Lijiang Old Town.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is not far from the ancient city of Lijiang. It is a sacred mountain range of the Naxi people and has 13 interconnected peaks with a breathtaking view. You can take a cablecar up the mountain while observing the vegetation changing from bottom to top. The foot of the mountain is a ranch. During the spring season, there will be a large number of flowers blossoming. The Yunshan Ping on the mountain side is regarded by the Naxi people as a romantic place. The top of the mountain is covered in snow all year round, and you can absorb the glorious sight of the glaciers when you are up there.

• Location: 15 km north of Lijiang Old Town, Yulong County, Lijiang City

• Entrance fee: tickets from ly.com(同程旅游) from 188 yuan

• Opening hours: 07：00 am - 6:00 pm

• How to get Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from Lijaing

  1. By Bus 

  Take a bus at Yuhe Parking Lot near the northern gate of Lijiang Old Down. You can buy the ticket in Tourist Service Center at the northern end of Lanhua Street, opposite Tianyu Hotel. The bus leaves for the Snow Mountain at 8:30 and returns at 16:30; the bus fare costs CNY40 per person.

  2. Take a taxi / car/ mini-van or carpool

  Take a taxi / car/ mini-van or carpool together from the downtown area. The distance is around 15 kilometers (10 miles). It takes around 40 minutes. The round-trip charter rate is around CNY 200.

Where to stay in Lijiang?

We recommend 2 places for you. One is a hotel in downtown (from Booking.com) , another is a homestay in Shuhe Villages (from Eexpedia). 

1. Lost Horizon Resort

Located in Lijiang, a 6-minute walk from Black Dragon Pond Park, Lost Horizon Resort offers a garden and terrace. Featuring a shared lounge, the property combines Thai and traditional Naxi design style. The tour desk is available to assist guests in planning their days out.

2. WU ER INN Shuhe

WU ER INN Shuhe is located in Lijiang. Mu Family Mansion and Wang Gu Lou are local landmarks and Yufeng Temple of Lijiang is one of the area's attractions. 

That's all! Hope you have a good trip. 

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