Best 6-Day Yunnan Itinerary, Super Practical, Save It If You Like
For our first trip after cross-provincial travel, my bestie and I decided to go to Yunnan. The entire 6-day trip included 5 nights in star-rated hotels, plus a hot spring hotel, a sea-view room right on Erhai Lake, attraction tickets, local transportation, local guide fees, meals, insurance—everything was covered! When we added it up, the two of us ended up spending just over 1,000 yuan per person for the 6-day trip!
We went to Yunnan and had our itinerary planned by a top-notch guide named Ashima. All the little hassles—star hotels, attraction tickets, transport, guide, meals—were taken care of by Ashima, which was a huge relief.
Even better, this year Ashima’s company is running a promotion to support the tourism recovery, so the deal was almost too good to be true!
As a seasoned traveler, I have to warn you: Yunnan’s tourist spots are way too spread out. Planning routes and dealing with buses is a pain, and booking hotels and tickets yourself is a hassle. Without a local to show you around and explain the sights, you won’t really experience the best parts. And it’s so easy to end up taking unnecessary detours or backtracking.
That’s why I’m really grateful to Ashima for designing our travel plan and sorting everything out, making the trip so relaxing. This Yunnan trip took us through all the must-see places: Kunming, Dali, Erhai Lake, Shilin, Lijiang Ancient City, Shuhe Ancient Town, and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain!
I’ll share our exact itinerary below—hope it helps you!
Day 1: Arrive in Kunming, 24-hour airport pickup, transfer to hotel.
Day 2: Morning at the 5A National Scenic Spot – Stone Forest + Chuxiong Yi Ancient Town. Afternoon: sample the local wild mushroom hotpot, evening bonfire party.
Day 3: Full-day Erhai Lake tour: open-top jeep, luxury private yacht + cormorant fishing show + Luoquan Peninsula. Afternoon: Cangshan Mountain, Butterfly Spring. Evening: traditional Bai “Eight Bowl” feast and Erhai claypot fish.
Day 4: Dali Ancient Town, Foreigner Street, Lashihai Lake. Afternoon: view Lijiang Ancient City from Mu’s Residence, enjoy the Lishui Jinsha cultural show. Evening: Naxi wedding banquet.
Day 5: Morning stroll through tranquil Shuhe Ancient Town. Afternoon: ascend to 4,680m Jade Dragon Snow Mountain via Glacier Cableway + Blue Moon Valley + White Water River.
Day 6: Asia’s largest flower market. Transfer to airport or station according to your flight time, 24-hour service.
The whole 6-day trip cost just over 1,000 yuan per person. Personally, I thought it was a fantastic deal. The pace was super relaxed, and there was absolutely no forced shopping or hidden costs. Everything was arranged before we even landed in Kunming.
Our guide Ashima was very responsible and attentive. If you’re thinking of visiting Yunnan, just add her on WeChat to learn more.
PS: Only Ashima’s itinerary in all of Yunnan includes all four ancient towns, and there’s even a professional travel photographer to capture beautiful photos for you to take home. Those two points are really important!
Let me show you our detailed day-by-day trip, which can serve as a route reference for your own Yunnan journey:
Day 1: Kunming Changshui Airport pickup → hotel check-in → Yunnan nightlife
We arrived in the afternoon, a little delayed, but Ashima’s pickup driver was still waiting for us, which was so thoughtful. After checking into the pre-arranged hotel, we had free time to wander the streets and alleys. Places like Cuihu (Green Lake), Dongsi Street, Xisi Pagoda, and the old military academy (Jiangwu Tang) were all great to explore.
Day 2: Visit Shilin – experience “World Natural Heritage” scenery + Shilin Yi-style lunch
After breakfast, we drove to the 5A Stone Forest Scenic Area. We explored the karst wonders, listening to the stories each stone tells. Sights: Ashima Rock, Sword Peak Pond, Wangfeng Pavilion, Two Birds Feeding, Stone Forest Lake, and more. Lunch was a Yi-style meal—delicious! In the evening, we arrived in Chuxiong for dinner: wild mushroom hotpot, followed by a bonfire party.
Day 3: Erhai Lake tour: open-top jeep, luxury private yacht + cormorant fishing show + Luoquan Peninsula → Cangshan → Butterfly Spring
After breakfast, we started a new adventure on Erhai’s west shore. Riding in a cool open-top jeep, we snapped photos all the way—capturing the moment forever! This young-at-heart trip will be a lifelong memory. After lunch, we boarded a private yacht for the best views of Erhai. No crowds, no noise—360-degree panoramic views, a deep “encounter” with the lake. Then we visited Luoquan Peninsula, a national tourist area and the perfect spot to admire Cangshan and Erhai, one of Dali’s top scenic spots.
Day 4: Dali Ancient Town, Foreigner Street, Lashihai. Afternoon: view Lijiang Ancient City from Mu’s Residence, Lishui Jinsha show. Evening: Naxi wedding banquet.
Dali Ancient Town, also known as Yeyu City, the Forbidden City, or Zhonghe Town. The present old town was built in 1382 (Ming Dynasty), and the gate characters “大理” were inscribed from Guo Moruo’s calligraphy. Inside, the streets form a chessboard pattern; old houses, lush gardens, chirping birds, and murmuring streams still evoke times past. After lunch, we headed to Lijiang. The Lishui Jinsha show is a dance-and-poetry spectacle celebrating the highland culture of northwest Yunnan born from Lijiang’s unique landscapes—a treasure of the ancient Naxi kingdom. It captures the most representative cultural images of Lijiang’s ethnic groups, using water, mountains, and emotion to reveal the region’s vast and profound heritage. Then we freely explored Lijiang Ancient City, a 4A national tourist area, national historical and cultural city, World Heritage site, and national civilized scenic spot—especially the Square Street area. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Tranquil Shuhe Ancient Town, then Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (4,680m) via Glacier Cableway + Blue Moon Valley + White Water River
After breakfast, we went to Shuhe Ancient Town, a key stop on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. “Shuhe” in Naxi means “a place of water,” one of the earliest Naxi settlements on the Lijiang basin. It’s a well-preserved trade post and a living example of transition from farming to commerce, a model of caravan-shaped town development. Shuhe is part of the Lijiang World Heritage site and was named one of CCTV’s “Charming Towns of China” in 2005. Then we drove to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain scenic area, often called the “Oriental Switzerland.” We took the Glacier Cableway, starting at 3,356 meters and climbing to 4,506 meters, with a length of 2,914 meters and 1,150 meters of vertical rise—one of China’s highest tourist cableways. Blue Moon Valley, White Water River, and Ganhaizi: the flowing water from the snow mountain changes color due to minerals, creating an enchanting palette. I’ve seen the emerald pools of Miao villages in western Hunan and the colorful waters of Jiuzhaigou, but compared to Blue Moon Valley, they all lack a touch of ethereal grace.
Day 6: Asia’s largest flower market. Transfer to airport or station based on your flight schedule, 24-hour service.
This Yunnan trip was truly joyful. Heartfelt thanks to Ashima for her warm service and thoughtful planning. If you want a worry-free and budget-friendly trip, you can contact her on WeChat.
Most importantly, Ashima knows Yunnan inside out. She never took us on detours, no shopping stops, no hidden costs. She was super enthusiastic and answered every question. Leave professional matters to professionals—it’s far less hassle than exploring on your own.
And best of all, spending just over 1,000 yuan for 6 days and 5 nights was such great value, covering all the essential Yunnan highlights. This trip left truly no regrets.
Our expenses included:
1. All attraction tickets (guide handled purchasing, convenient and hassle-free)
2. All transportation (clean, comfortable private vehicle)
3. 4 nights in quality, comfortable hotels (excellent locations)
4. 5 breakfasts and 6 meals, including Yunnan specialties: wild mushroom hotpot, Bai “Eight Bowl” claypot fish, Naxi wedding banquet
5. Guide service fees (your go-to person for any trouble)—the most crucial part of the journey
I personally thought it was incredibly cost-effective, especially with Ashima’s current promotion—I’m almost tempted to go back again!
[If you need her WeChat, ask in the comments or send me a private message]
