Cities
Yunnan in 8 days: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La by high-speed train
An 8-day Yunnan route by high-speed train: Dali's lake and old town, Lijiang and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Shangri-La.
Yunnan, in China’s far south-west, has snow mountains, old towns, rice terraces, and dozens of ethnic minority cultures. High-speed rail now links the classic route, Kunming → Dali → Lijiang → Shangri-La, so you can travel it without long bus rides.
Train times on the route
| Route | Time | Second class |
|---|---|---|
| Kunming → Dali | about 2 hours | about ¥145 |
| Dali → Lijiang | about 1.5 hours | about ¥60–80 |
| Kunming → Lijiang (direct) | about 3–3.5 hours | about ¥220 |
| Lijiang → Shangri-La | about 1.5 hours | — |
Book on 12306, Trip.com, or Klook with your passport. See how to book trains.
Altitude: Kunming is about 1,900 m, Lijiang about 2,400 m, and Shangri-La about 3,200 m. Travelling in this order lets you adjust gradually. Take it easy on your first day in Shangri-La, drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol.
Day 1: Kunming
Kunming is the “Spring City”, mild all year. Visit Green Lake Park and the Yunnan Provincial Museum, and try guoqiao mixian (“crossing-the-bridge” rice noodles). Optional day trip: the Stone Forest, a field of limestone pillars.
Days 2–3: Dali
- Walk Dali Old Town, with its city gates and Bai-style houses.
- Cycle or take an e-bike along Erhai Lake, with the Cangshan mountains behind. Xizhou village is famous for Bai architecture and its xizhou baba flatbread.
- Visit the Three Pagodas, Dali’s landmark.
Days 4–5: Lijiang and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- Lijiang Old Town: cobbled lanes, canals, and Naxi wooden houses. Busy by day; beautiful early in the morning. The quieter Shuhe and Baisha old towns are close by.
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: the glacier cable car climbs to a viewing platform at about 4,500 m. Cable car tickets are limited and sell out days ahead in peak season: book as soon as your dates are fixed, through an agent such as Klook or Trip.com. Go in the morning, bring warm clothes, and come down if you feel unwell; portable oxygen is sold everywhere.
Day 6: Tiger Leaping Gorge
One of the world’s deepest gorges, with the Jinsha River roaring between snow peaks. Experienced hikers can walk the two-day high trail; for a shorter visit, drive to the viewpoints on the river. A guided day trip from Lijiang is the easiest option.
Days 7–8: Shangri-La
- Dukezong Old Town and the giant prayer wheel at Guishan Temple.
- Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, often called the “little Potala Palace”.
- Pudacuo National Park: lakes, meadows, and forest boardwalks.
Return to Kunming by train (about 4.5 hours) or fly home from Shangri-La or Lijiang.
When to go
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are best: clear skies and mild days. Summer is the rainy season, and winters in Shangri-La are cold.
Where to stay
Stay inside or just outside each old town: courtyard guesthouses are a highlight of Yunnan. Check they accept foreign guests, and compare prices on Trip.com or Agoda.
