1,000 RMB per Person: 6-Day Classic Kunming-Lijiang Tour
Yunnan is a place to yearn for, filled with romance and freedom: Dali Erhai Lake, the romantic cities of Dali and Lijiang, the mysterious and colorful world of Shangri-La, Lugu Lake, a place for couples to leave beautiful memories hand in hand.
Yunnan is undoubtedly one of China's most attractive tourist provinces, with magnificent mountains and rivers, numerous historical sites, and diverse ethnic minorities, all of which are fascinating. Everyone preparing for a trip will have various expectations. Imagine experiencing the charm of small bridges and flowing water in Lijiang Old Town, listening to the gentle breeze by Dali Erhai Lake, heading to Shangri-La, the place closest to heaven... This is destined to be a romantic journey of wind, flowers, snow, and moon.
I. Super Transit: Visiting Kunming (1-2 Days) Yunnan has 14 airports, but the most cost-effective transit is through the provincial capital Kunming. 60% of tourists are willing to stop for 1-2 days to see this "Spring City." The essence of Yunnan is not in Kunming, so 1-2 days is indeed enough. How to avoid pitfalls and enjoy? Two keywords: quick IP check-in + slow-paced wandering.
(A) Must-Visit: Stone Forest and Jiuxiang
1. Super IP: Stone Forest The Stone Forest is Kunming's iconic landmark, with promotional images everywhere at the airport and train station (the classic old movie "Ashima" is set here). As a world natural wonder, it's hard to resist (karst landforms are found in many places? Don't worry, the Stone Forest is an international masterpiece!). Getting to the Stone Forest is a bit troublesome (1-hour drive); you need to transfer from train to bus or take a shuttle from the station. The best way is to join a tour group (saves money, checks in, and includes commentary). A group tour can finish in half a day, and there are also dedicated one-day Stone Forest tours that are more relaxed.
2. Visit Jiuxiang Along the Way Since Jiuxiang is very close to the Stone Forest, one-day tours usually include it. Although both are karst landforms, one is above ground and the other underground. Jiuxiang looks like a place where monsters live in Journey to the West, and the magical cave in the movie "The Myth" was filmed here. It's worth visiting along the way.
3. Dianchi Lake + Western Hills (Popularity: ☆☆☆☆☆) Kunming's largest lake. In winter, seagulls from Siberia come, and locals like to feed and photograph them on the dam. We don't recommend taking a boat ride (boring), but instead take the cable car to the Western Hills on the opposite side of the lake. You can climb up to Longmen to overlook Dianchi Lake, or walk on the Haigeng Dam to see the Western Hills, which locals call "Sleeping Beauty." Dianchi Lake and Western Hills are in the south of Kunming. It takes about 40 minutes by taxi from the city center, or you can take a bus. At the foot of Western Hills, there is a snack street called "Chama Huajie" for tourists, with some local snacks at reasonable prices. Tickets: Dianchi Dam is free, Western Hills cable car + ticket: 85 RMB. Suggested visiting time: half a day.
[Must-Do Around Kunming]
1. Overlook Dianchi Lake from Western Hills, then take the high-altitude cable car to Haigeng Park to feed black-headed gulls. Tickets: Free entry, but scenic spots inside charge separately: Longmen 40 RMB, Huating Temple and Taihua Temple combined ticket 20 RMB, Nie Er's Tomb 1 RMB, Longmen cable car one-way 25 RMB, round trip 50 RMB. Local transport: (1) Near Yunnan Ethnic Village, take a high-altitude cable car directly to Western Hills Longmen, one-way fare 35 RMB/person. (2) From the city center's Art Theater, take a tourist bus directly to Western Hills, every 30 minutes, daily 8:00-16:30.
2. At Jinma Biji Archway, walk to Nanping Street and eat cross-bridge rice noodles at Qiaoxiangyuan.
3. Explore the majestic,奇特, dangerous, and secluded landscape of the Stone Forest, Ashima's hometown. Reference ticket: 130 RMB/person.
The romantic Dali fascinates countless people. Xiaoxiao and I made an appointment as early as March last year to go west to Dali in September 2019 to participate in a jeep photoshoot tour. Indeed, we both arrived as promised in mid-September and joined the Lemon Note Dali one-day photoshoot tour. Not only did we ride the trendy jeep around Erhai Lake, but we also got beautiful photos from the photographer. The fellow travelers were also fun. It was really cost-effective.
Highly recommend Lemon Note Dali open-top jeep 360° around Erhai Lake photoshoot one-day tour (unlimited photos. Shoot until you don't want to shoot anymore).
Arriving at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, you will be amazed by this sacred mountain in the hearts of the Naxi people. From the barren summit to the vibrant mountainside, how should you explore Jade Dragon Snow Mountain? What is the difference between it and the Greater Jade Dragon Scenic Area? What are the transportation options to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain? What are the headache-inducing fees like? Don't worry, this guide will answer all your questions.
Are Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Meili Snow Mountain the same place?
No, they are completely different attractions. Although both are in Yunnan Province, they are more than 400 km apart. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is located in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, and is the southernmost snow mountain in China and in the entire Northern Hemisphere, with an altitude of 5,596 meters. Meili Snow Mountain is a large north-south trending snow mountain group in Deqin County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, with an average altitude of over 6,000 meters. Don't confuse these two snow mountains.
From Lijiang, which one should you visit: Jade Dragon or Meili?
Locals say that Meili Snow Mountain is for viewing—impressive in scale and grandeur but not climbable. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the only climbable snow mountain in China; standing at the 4,680-meter summit offers a breathtaking view. In terms of time, Meili Snow Mountain is near Feilai Temple in Deqin. From Lijiang, you need to transfer in Shangri-La to Deqin, then to Feilai Temple. So visiting Meili Snow Mountain takes at least 4 days. The best option is to join a pure tour group recommended by Lijiang Wang Sibao, costing 1,680 RMB/person. Before going, check road conditions; if bad, it's not recommended. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is in Lijiang City, close to the city, and can be visited in a day with convenient transport. So if time is limited, choose Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Blue Moon Valley is at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, famous for its majestic snow mountain, azure jade-like lake, and beautiful canyon scenery. It gets its name from the blue lake and crescent-shaped valley. Legend says it is the prototype of the Blue Moon Valley in James Hilton's "Lost Horizon." Blue Moon Valley is also known as "Little Jiuzhaigou," like a blue moon embedded at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a rising internet-famous spot.
Lijiang Old Town, as an ethnic minority city, integrates Han, Bai, Yi, and Tibetan architectural elements with unique Naxi style. With water as its core, Lijiang Old Town features a distinctive water alley layout.
The city has no regular road network or strict city walls. The layout uses three mountains as screens and one river to connect; water from Black Dragon Pool flows from the north gate through the entire old town. Three rivers pass through the city, with dense streets and bridges, and every household has flowing water and small bridges.
The big waterwheel at the old town entrance is a must-visit photo spot in Lijiang.
Heading north from Lijiang Old Town along the east side of Zhongji Sea for about four kilometers, you'll see a dense village at the foot of the mountains on both sides. This is Shuhe Ancient Town, known as the "Town of Clear Springs." Shuhe is at the core of all Lijiang attractions, a hub for visiting Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Blue Moon Valley, the First Bend of the Yangtze River, and the Three Parallel Rivers scenic area.
Historically, the "Tea Horse Road" opened in the Tang Dynasty, from southern Yunnan through Lijiang to Lhasa, Tibet. After more than a thousand years of operation from Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming to Qing dynasties, it promoted economic and cultural exchanges among ethnic groups along the route. Shuhe is a well-preserved驿站 on the Lijiang坝子. Today, Shuhe continues the function of a驿站 on the Tea Horse Road, with inns and hotels everywhere, receiving tourists from all over the country daily.
Lugu Lake, commonly called Zuosuo Lake, is located at the border between Yanyuan County, Sichuan Province, and Ninglang County, Lijiang City, jointly administered by Sichuan and Yunnan, 206 km from Lijiang.
Lugu Lake is the highest-altitude lake in Yunnan Province and the third deepest freshwater lake in China. Around Lugu Lake mainly live the Mosuo, Yi, and Pumi ethnic groups, with about 13,000 people from 7 ethnic groups including Mongolians. The most famous is the Mosuo "walking marriage" custom, a matriarchal society like the "Kingdom of Women" in Journey to the West, where women hold a dominant position in Mosuo families.
Spring Festival Travel Notes for Lijiang
[Note 1]: Transportation
1. Spring Festival is peak season in Lijiang, with heavy tourist traffic and increasing self-driving tourists, so traffic congestion is certain.
2. No matter which scenic spot you plan to visit, book tickets in advance and check traffic and parking info; sometimes parking spaces are unavailable.
3. During Spring Festival, tickets for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are very tight. At 8:00 am on the first day of the Lunar New Year, tickets for the scenic area are already sold out. Friends who want to visit must book tickets in advance.
[Note 2]: Accommodation
1. Based on past experience, during Spring Festival, hotel prices in Lijiang are 1.5 to 3 times the usual rate, sometimes you can't find a room even with money. So remind everyone to book tickets in advance, book in advance.
2. During Spring Festival, prices inside the old town may be much higher than outside. If you want to save money, stay outside the old town. Of course, wealthy people are not included.
[Note 3]: Clothing
1. In February, Lijiang is not that cold, but there is still a bit of chill in the morning and evening. You can carry a down jacket to wear in the morning and evening.
[Note 4]: Dining
1. During Spring Festival, most shops are closed, and the few open ones are crowded with tourists, but there will always be food. There are many restaurants outside the old town; you can find them if you look around.
