How to Explore Lijiang Ancient Town in Yunnan — Fun, Hassle-Free, and the Ultimate Money-Saving Guide

Travel tips: The main must-see attractions in Yunnan include Kunming, the Stone Forest, Lijiang, Dali, Shuhe Ancient Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Blue Moon Valley, Lashihai, Erhai Lake, Luoquan Peninsula, and more. Since we had plenty of time, we chose a 6-day itinerary. Our original budget was over 3,000 yuan per person, but with Ashima's planning, we actually spent just over 1,500 yuan each, saving quite a bit. She arranged our pick-ups, hotels, tickets, and meals—so worry-free. The 6-day trip was delightful and went smoothly; the photos we shared on social media were very popular. If you're heading to Yunnan, you can contact her directly to customize your itinerary—her social media feed is full of Yunnan videos and info. It's a great safeguard for your trip! Take a look!

Yunnan really has a ton of attractions; to see them all takes a lot of effort, and if not planned well, it can be exhausting. I wholeheartedly recommend Ashima, a local in Yunnan. She's friendly and provides excellent service. Before the trip, we discussed many details with her, and she patiently answered all our questions without getting tired. Ashima arranged a fantastic itinerary for us this time—the schedule was quite flexible and very relaxing. If you want to visit, just consult Ashima. Yunnan's attractions are scattered; for example, going from Dali to take a boat on Erhai Lake or visiting the ancient town, there's some distance between them, and arranging transportation on your own isn't very convenient.

Here are some photos I took—slightly touched up, but honestly, the scenery is just that beautiful.

D1: Pick-up at Kunming airport, check into hotel (a special hot spring hotel)

D2: Stone Forest scenic area + afternoon tea (Yiliang roast duck, wild mushroom hot pot)

D3: Open-top jeep tour around Erhai Lake + Instagram-worthy spots + private yacht 360-degree lake loop + Dali Ancient Town (traditional local 'Eight Bowl' feast)

D4: Lashihai Wetland Park + Lijiang Ancient Town + Lishui Jinsha performance (fire pit chicken)

D5: Shuhe Ancient Town + Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Park cable car + Blue Moon Valley + return to Kunming

D6: Visit Kunming Flower Market + airport drop-off as per flight

The above itinerary covers Yunnan's main must-see popular attractions. The hotel arranged is inside the ancient town, so getting around is very convenient. Yunnan has many fun spots: like Erhai Lake, Lugu Lake, Lijiang Ancient Town, Shangri-La flower fields, Tiger Leaping Gorge, etc. They focus on quality independent travel, paying great attention to quality throughout—accommodation, tickets, itinerary, transport all arranged meticulously. The guide is kind, caring, humorous, very attentive, and a skilled driver, making the whole trip feel relaxed and enjoyable.

The advantage of having a local guide for independent travel is that you can stop and go as you please, depending on the weather and your mood. When it's hot, you can go back to the hotel to rest; when you're hungry, head straight to the food street. 'In the city of Yunnan, the wind you feel is culture, and the ground you walk on is all history.' So sometimes, putting on your earphones, listening to your favorite music, and strolling through the ancient town is a treat for yourself. Of course, you need someone to show you around to feel this carefree! After all, planning travel routes is a professional task, best left to the pros!