The China Route
Yunnan Highlights: Dali and Lijiang in 6 Days: Dali, Lijiang
Old Towns and alpine air

Yunnan Highlights: Dali and Lijiang in 6 Days

Updated · By Carl

6 days Easy 2 cities Spring Balanced

Trip facts

Duration
6 days
Difficulty
Easy
Pace
Balanced
Best season
Spring
Budget
Mid-range
Cities on this route
2 cities

Six days exploring Yunnan's Old Town charm, alpine lakes, and Naxi culture with minimal backtracking and balanced pacing.

Overview

Who it is for

This route suits first-time Yunnan travellers who want Old Town atmosphere and mountain scenery without multi-day treks or hard sleeper trains. Six days gives you two full days in Dali, two in Lijiang, and a mountain day trip, with transit days kept short (under 3 hours each). Families, couples, and solo travellers over 50 make up the majority on this loop because the altitude (1,900-2,400 m) and cobbled lanes require moderate fitness but no technical skill.

How the route flows

You fly into Kunming, take a morning high-speed train west to Dali (2.5 hours, ¥145 second class), then continue north by intercity bus to Lijiang (1 hour 50 minutes, ¥79). This sequence avoids backtracking: Kunming sits 330 km east of Dali, which is 140 km south of Lijiang. You spend nights 1-2 in Dali Old Town, nights 3-5 in Lijiang Old Town, then return to Kunming by overnight train for your outbound flight. The entire route covers 900 km with no internal flights required.

Getting around

Kunming to Dali uses the high-speed rail (2.5 hours, trains every 40 minutes from 07:00 to 20:30). Dali to Lijiang requires an intercity bus from Dali Express Bus Station (大理快速客运站) because no direct train exists; buses leave every 30 minutes and take 1 hour 50 minutes on the G214 expressway. Inside each Old Town, you walk: Dali Old Town spans 1.5 km north to south, Lijiang's core is 1.2 km across. For Erhai Lake, rent an electric bike (¥50 per day). For Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, join a shared van tour (¥180 including transport) or hire a private car (¥400 round trip). The return to Kunming uses overnight train K9616, departing Lijiang at 22:16 and arriving Kunming at 07:01 (hard sleeper ¥152).

Route highlights

  • ◆Cycle 22 km along Erhai Lake's east shore stopping at Xizhou village and the Duan Family Courtyard (段家大院) for tie-dye workshops that charge ¥80 per person.
  • ◆Walk Dali Old Town's Fuxing Lu night market for grilled cheese (乳扇, ¥8), then climb the South Gate for rooftop sunset views over the Cangshan range.
  • ◆Navigate Lijiang Old Town's 354 stone bridges and timber guesthouses, staying inside the UNESCO zone on Wuyi Jie near Sifang Square.
  • ◆Ride the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain cable car (¥180 entry, ¥120 Glacier Park cable) to 4,506 m and descend through Blue Moon Valley's turquoise pools.
  • ◆Take a 2.5-hour high-speed train from Kunming to Dali (second class ¥145) and a 1 hour 50 minute intercity bus to Lijiang (¥79), minimising backtracking.

Day by day

  1. 1
    Day 1 · Kunming to Dali

    Arrive in Kunming, train to Dali

    Fly into Kunming Changshui International Airport and take airport bus Line 2 (¥25, 50 minutes) to Kunming Railway Station. Board a mid-morning high-speed train to Dali (train D8712 departs 11:38, arrives 14:04, second class ¥145). Dali Station is 15 km east of the Old Town: take bus No. 8 (¥2, 45 minutes) or taxi (¥40) to your guesthouse. Walk south along Renmin Lu to the South Gate (南门, free entry), climb the ramparts for sunset over Cangshan's 4,000 m peaks, then eat grilled cheese (乳扇) and rose cake at Fuxing Lu night market stalls (¥8-15 per item).

    Travel: High-speed train Kunming to Dali, 2 hours 26 minutes, second class ¥145. Train D8712 departs 11:38, arrives 14:04.
    Stay: 2 nights, Dali Old Town. Linden Centre on Xizhou village Zhengyi Lu (near Erhai Lake, 20 km north of Old Town, taxi ¥60) or Landscape Hotel Dali Old Town on Fuxing Lu inside South Gate (100 m from South Gate, walk everywhere, doubles from ¥280).
  2. 2
    Day 2 · Dali

    Erhai Lake loop and Xizhou village

    Rent an electric bike (¥50, ¥300 deposit) from shops on Yita Lu near Caicun Wharf and ride the 22 km lakeside path north to Xizhou village (喜洲, 1 hour 15 minutes). Stop at Duan Family Courtyard (段家大院, entry ¥10) on Zhengyi Lu to watch Bai tie-dye workshops that sell scarves for ¥80 and offer hands-on sessions (¥120 per person, 90 minutes). Lunch on Xizhou baba flatbread (¥8) at roadside grills, then continue 5 km to Haidong Lu viewpoint (海东路观景台, free) for cross-lake photos of Cangshan. Return south by the same path, stopping at Longkan Wharf (¥2 entry) to see fishing nets and wooden boats. Evening dinner at Yi Ran Yuan restaurant (怡然园) on Boai Lu serves clay pot fish (¥68, feeds two). The restaurant sits 200 m west of the South Gate at 82 Boai Lu. Reserve by phone (0872-2663618) or walk in before 18:30 for tables.

    Stay: Dali Old Town, same location.
  3. 3
    Day 3 · Dali to Lijiang

    Dali to Lijiang by bus

    Check out and take a taxi (¥25, 15 minutes) to Dali Express Bus Station (大理快速客运站) on Jianshe Lu, 3 km east of the Old Town. Board the 10:30 intercity bus to Lijiang (¥79, 1 hour 50 minutes, arrives Lijiang Express Bus Station at 12:20). At Lijiang station (丽江快速客运站) on Shangri-La Avenue, take bus No. 8 (¥1, 30 minutes) or taxi (¥25) to Lijiang Old Town north entrance on Changshui Lu. Check into a timber guesthouse on Wuyi Jie near Sifang Square (四方街), walk the 354 stone bridges and willow-lined canals, then climb Lion Hill (狮子山, ¥35 entry) for rooftop sunset. Dinner at Mamafu Naxi restaurant (¥45 per person) on Xinyi Jie serves butter tea and yak jerky.

    Travel: Intercity bus Dali to Lijiang, 1 hour 50 minutes, ¥79. Departure 10:30, arrival 12:20.
    Stay: 3 nights, Lijiang Old Town. Blossom Hill Inn Lijiang on Wuyi Jie (50 m from Sifang Square, timber courtyard, doubles from ¥320) or Banyan Tree Lijiang on Yushuizhai (2 km north of Old Town near Jade Dragon Snow Mountain base, shuttle to town ¥20, suites from ¥1,800).
  4. 4
    Day 4 · Lijiang

    Jade Dragon Snow Mountain day trip

    Book a shared van tour (¥180 per person, includes transport and park entry but not cable cars) or hire a private car (¥400 round trip) departing at 07:00. The mountain sits 25 km north of Lijiang Old Town on Yulong Xue Shan Lu. Buy the scenic area ticket (¥100) and Glacier Park cable car ticket (¥120, ascends to 4,506 m) at the entrance; both require advance booking via the WeChat mini-program (丽江旅游集团官方平台, needs Chinese phone number) or through your guesthouse (¥50 service fee). Rent a down jacket (¥50) and oxygen canister (¥60) at the cable car base. Descend to Blue Moon Valley (蓝月谷, included in park entry) and walk the 4 km boardwalk past turquoise pools and limestone cliffs. Return to Lijiang by 16:00, rest at your guesthouse, then walk to Zhongyi Market (忠义市场) on Qiyi Jie for Naxi BBQ skewers (¥3-8 each).

    Stay: Lijiang Old Town, same location.
  5. 5
    Day 5 · Lijiang

    Baisha murals and Old Town lanes

    Take bus No. 6 from Lijiang Old Town north entrance (¥1, 25 minutes, every 20 minutes) to Baisha village (白沙), 10 km north. Walk to Baisha Murals Museum (白沙壁画, entry ¥30) on Baisha Old Street to see 15th-century frescoes blending Taoist, Buddhist, and Naxi Dongba motifs across 12 temple halls. Lunch at a courtyard cafe (noodles ¥20, yak butter tea ¥12), then return to Lijiang Old Town by 14:00. Spend the afternoon wandering quieter lanes east of Sifang Square: Qiyi Jie, Xinhua Jie, and Wuyi Jie have fewer tour groups and better light for photography. Buy Naxi embroidery (¥60-200) at shops on Xinyi Jie or Dongba paper scrolls (¥40) at stalls near the Mu Family Mansion (木府, entry ¥60, closes 17:30). Evening street food on Wuyi Jie: chicken bean jelly (鸡豆凉粉, ¥8) and fried potato cakes (¥5).

    Stay: Lijiang Old Town, same location.
  6. 6
    Day 6 · Lijiang to Kunming

    Return to Kunming by overnight train

    Check out and spend the morning at Heilongtan Park (黑龙潭公园, entry ¥50, free before 07:30) on Minzhu Lu, 1.5 km north of the Old Town. The pond reflects Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on clear mornings; walk the pavilion circuit in 40 minutes. Return to your guesthouse by 11:00, collect luggage, and take a taxi (¥30, 20 minutes) to Lijiang Railway Station on Shangri-La Avenue. Board overnight train K9616 departing 22:16, arriving Kunming at 07:01 the next morning (hard sleeper ¥152, soft sleeper ¥233). The train crosses high plateau with no scenery after dark; bring snacks and a sleep mask.

    Travel: Overnight train Lijiang to Kunming, 8 hours 45 minutes, hard sleeper ¥152. Train K9616 departs 22:16, arrives 07:01.
    Stay: Overnight on train K9616 (hard sleeper ¥152, soft sleeper ¥233). Arrive Kunming at 07:01 for same-day onward flights or extend with 1-2 nights in Kunming to visit Stone Forest (石林, ¥130 entry, 85 km southeast, 1.5 hours by bus from Kunming East Bus Station).

Cities on this route

Dali
Best in spring 3 to 4 days

Dali

Explore
Lijiang
Best in spring 3 to 4 days

Lijiang

Explore

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book trains or buses between these cities in advance?
Kunming to Dali trains run 19 times daily from 07:00 to 20:30 with advance booking rarely critical outside Chinese holidays. Dali to Lijiang buses depart every 30 minutes from 08:00 to 18:00 (12 daily services peak season), but buy tickets 1-2 days ahead during May and October Golden Week when seats sell out.
What is the exact station name for Dali buses to Lijiang?
Dali Express Bus Station (大理快速客运站, Dali Kuaisu Keyunzhan) on Jianshe Lu, 3 km east of the Old Town. Lijiang buses arrive at Lijiang Express Bus Station (丽江快速客运站) on Shangri-La Avenue, 6 km from Old Town (taxi ¥25, bus No. 8 ¥1).
Can I buy Jade Dragon Snow Mountain tickets on the day?
The scenic area caps daily visitors at 10,000 and sells out by 09:00 most days March through October. Book 7 days ahead via the official WeChat mini-program (丽江旅游集团官方平台, requires Chinese phone number) or through your guesthouse for a ¥50 service fee.
How much does bike rental cost around Erhai Lake?
Electric bikes rent for ¥50 per day, pedal bikes ¥30, from shops along Yita Lu near Caicun Wharf. Deposit is ¥300 or passport scan. Battery range is 60 km, enough for the 22 km lakeside stretch to Xizhou and back.
What is the best time of year for this route?
March to May brings azaleas on Cangshan, warm days (18-22°C), and fewer crowds than summer. Avoid July and August when Erhai algae blooms reduce water clarity and guesthouses in Lijiang raise rates by 40 percent.