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7-Day Kunming Itinerary

7-Day Kunming Itinerary

TL;DR — Seven days in Kunming (昆明) is the right window for a Kunming + Dali (大理) + Lijiang (丽江) combo, the classic Yunnan trio. Three nights in Kunming covers the city's main sights, two nights in Dali adds the Cangshan Mountain (苍山), Erhai Lake (洱海), and Dali Old Town (大理古城), and two nights in Lijiang adds Lijiang Old Town (丽江古城), Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山), and the Naxi culture. The Kunming–Dali HSR (2 hours) makes this loop fast and cheap. Best months: March–May, September–November.

Day 1: Kunming Arrival + Old Town

Afternoon (14:00–18:00)

  • 14:00 — Metro Line 6 from Kunming Changshui Airport (昆明长水国际机场) to Dongfeng Square (东风广场), ¥7, 30 min. Or taxi ¥120.
  • 15:00 — Check in, lunch at Jianxinyuan (建新园): Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles (过桥米线), ¥40.
  • 16:00 — Yuantong Temple (圆通寺), ¥6. The largest Buddhist temple in Kunming, 1,200 years old. 1.5 hours.
  • 17:30 — Walk to Cuihu Park (翠湖公园) (Green Lake). Locals dance, play chess, and feed seagulls in winter (Nov–March).
  • 19:00 — Dinner at Fuzhuang Lu (福照楼): Steam Pot Chicken (汽锅鸡), Wild Mushroom Hot Pot (野山菌火锅) in season (June–October), Fried Goat Cheese (炸乳扇). ¥100–150/person.
  • 21:00 — Optional: Dynamic Yunnan (云南映象), the dance show choreographed by Yang Liping. Tickets ¥280–580. Buy at the theater or hotel concierge.

Day 2: Stone Forest (石林) + Yunnan Ethnic Villages

Full day (07:30–18:00)

  • 07:30 — Bus to Stone Forest from East Bus Station (东部汽车客运站), ¥35, 1.5 hours, every 20–30 min.
  • 09:30 — Stone Forest (石林), ¥130 + ¥25 electric shuttle. The 270-million-year-old karst formation, 2,345 caves and pillars over 400 km². Major Stone Forest (大石林) is the famous maze; Minor Stone Forest (小石林) has the Ashima (阿诗玛) stone. Allow 3 hours.
  • 12:30 — Lunch at the on-site restaurants: Yiliang Roast Duck (宜良烤鸭), Sour-Spicy Fish (酸辣鱼). ¥60–100/person.
  • 14:00 — Return to Kunming (~1.5 hours).
  • 15:30 — Yunnan Ethnic Villages (云南民族村) next to Dianchi Lake, ¥90. 25 ethnic minority groups represented in 5 themed villages. 2 hours.
  • 17:30 — Sunset at Haiyan Village (海埂大坝), the Dianchi Lake embankment. Red-beaked Siberian seagulls (Nov–March).
  • 19:00 — Dinner at Nanqiang Street (南强街巷), a restored lane with food stalls. ¥50–80/person.

Day 3: Western Hills (西山) + Kunming Departure → Dali

Morning (08:00–12:00): Western Hills

  • 08:00 — Metro Line 3 to Xishan Park Station (西山公园站).
  • 08:30 — Western Hills Forest Park (西山森林公园), ¥40 + ¥40 cable car round trip. The 2,000-step climb is brutal; the cable car brings you to the Longmen (龙门) Dragon Gate — a series of cliff-face grottoes carved 100+ years ago with views over Dianchi Lake. 2 hours.
  • 11:00 — Descend, lunch at the foot of the mountain.

Afternoon (13:30–17:00): Travel to Dali

  • 13:30 — Taxi to Kunming Railway Station (昆明站), 30 min, ¥80.
  • 14:00 — HSR (Dali-bound train) from Kunming to Dali (昆明 → 大理), 2 hours, ¥145 second class.
  • 16:00 — Arrive Dali (大理). Taxi to Dali Old Town (大理古城), 30 min, ¥80.
  • 17:00 — Check in. Stroll the old town.
  • 18:30 — Dinner at Yang's Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles (杨记过桥米线), ¥40.
  • 20:00 — Walk the Renmin Road (人民路) bars and cafés. Dali Old Town is more relaxed than Lijiang and has a strong expat scene.

Day 4: Dali — Cangshan Mountain + Erhai Lake

Morning (08:00–13:00): Cangshan Cable Car

  • 08:00 — Taxi to Cangshan Cable Car (苍山索道), 20 min, ¥40.
  • 08:30 — Cangshan (苍山, Green Mountain) cable car, ¥280 round trip + ¥40 entrance. The 4,122-m peak has 19 snow-capped ridges, 18 streams, and 9 cliffs. The Ximatan Cable Way (洗马潭索道) climbs to 3,966 m — only open in clear weather (May–November). 3 hours at the top.
  • 12:00 — Return to old town, lunch.

Afternoon (14:00–18:00): Erhai Lake (洱海)

  • 14:00 — Rent an e-bike (¥80/day) or hire a car with driver (¥400/day) for the Erhai Lake loop, 130 km.
  • Highlights: Xizhou (喜洲) — Bai minority village with the Yan Family Compound (严家大院), ¥25. Haidong (海东) — the eastern shore. Shuanglang (双廊) — a 1-km fishing village on the lake with Yang Liping's Sun Palace (杨丽萍太阳宫). 4 hours.
  • 18:00 — Sunset at Shuanglang, the most photographed spot in Dali.

Evening

  • 20:00 — Dinner at Zai Yi Hui (再忆会): Sour-Spicy Fish (酸辣鱼) from Erhai Lake, Rushan (乳扇, fried goat cheese), Bai-style three-course tea (三道茶). ¥80–120/person.
  • 21:30 — Renmin Road night market for grilled rushan (乳扇烧烤) and Erkuai (饵块, rice cake).

Day 5: Dali → Lijiang + Lijiang Old Town

Morning (08:00–13:00): Travel to Lijiang

  • 08:00 — HSR from Dali to Lijiang (大理 → 丽江), 1.5 hours, ¥80 second class. Or the older Dali–Lijiang Expressway, 2.5 hours by bus, ¥80.
  • 10:00 — Arrive Lijiang (丽江). Taxi to Lijiang Old Town (丽江古城), 30 min, ¥50.
  • 10:30 — Lijiang Old Town, ¥80 (maintenance fee). A 1,000-year-old Naxi minority town, UNESCO World Heritage since 1997. Sifangjie (四方街, Square Street) is the center. Mufu Palace (木府) — the Naxi chieftain's mansion, ¥60. 3 hours.
  • 13:00 — Lunch at Heqing Snacks (鹤庆小吃): Naxi grilled fish (纳西烤鱼), chicken bean jelly (鸡豆凉粉), Lijiang baba (丽江粑粑, flatbread). ¥50/person.

Afternoon (14:00–18:00): Black Dragon Pool

  • 14:30 — Black Dragon Pool (黑龙潭), ¥60. The classic view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山, Yulong Xueshan) reflected in the pool, with the Moon-Embracing Bridge (得月楼) in the foreground. 1.5 hours.
  • 16:00 — Dongba Culture Museum (东巴文化博物馆), ¥30. The unique pictographic script of the Naxi people. 1 hour.
  • 17:30 — Sunset at Lion Hill (狮子山) in the old town, ¥30 (Wangu Tower entry).
  • 19:00 — Dinner at N's Kitchen (纳西厨房) or A Ma Yi Cafe (阿妈意咖啡), a Naxi household-style restaurant. ¥100–150/person.
  • 21:00 — Lijiang Old Town lit up at night is famous, but extremely crowded. Heads up: the lanterns on the canals are great photos, but most of the old town is a tourist mall. The quietest part is the Mu Fu Palace area in the north.

Day 6: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山)

Full day (07:00–18:00)

  • 07:00 — Taxi or tour bus to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山), 30 km north of Lijiang, ¥150.
  • 08:00 — Yulong Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山) ticket ¥130 (peak) / ¥100 (off-peak). The main cable car (大索道) climbs to 4,506 m at Glacier Park (冰川公园), ¥180 round trip. Book online 1 day ahead (ticket window often sells out by 11 AM in peak season).
  • 09:00 — Ride up. The summit has a "Blue Moon Valley (蓝月谷)" view and oxygen canisters are sold at the top, ¥40 (recommended for first-timers at altitude).
  • 11:00 — Descent. Lunch at the visitor center.
  • 13:00 — Blue Moon Valley (蓝月谷), included in the ticket. The terraced blue pools at the foot of the mountain, fed by glacier melt. The most-photographed spot in Lijiang. 1.5 hours.
  • 15:00 — Impression Lijiang (印象丽江) outdoor show, ¥280, directed by Zhang Yimou. 90 min. The show is performed by 500+ Naxi villagers in the open air at 3,100 m. Highly recommended, but bring a jacket — it gets cold.
  • 17:00 — Return to Lijiang.

Evening

  • 19:00 — Dinner at Lao Zheng's (老正) Naxi restaurant, ¥80/person. Try Naxi grilled pork skewers, yak cheese, butter tea (酥油茶).
  • 21:00 — Lijiang Old Town for a final stroll. Bars in Wuyi Street (五一街) are less touristy than the main canal.

Day 7: Lijiang → Kunming → Departure

Morning (07:00–13:00): Lijiang → Kunming

  • 07:00 — HSR from Lijiang to Kunming (丽江 → 昆明), 3 hours, ¥250 second class. The Lijiang-Shangri-La Railway (丽香铁路) opened 2023, faster than the older route.
  • 10:00 — Arrive Kunming.
  • 10:30 — Quick stop at Dounan Flower Market (斗南花卉市场), the largest flower market in Asia (24-hour operation, but vendors are busiest 14:00–22:00). Best in spring, when roses sell for ¥1/stem.
  • 12:00 — Last lunch: Guandu Old Town (官渡古镇), 30 min from Dounan. Guandu Ba (官渡粑粑) flatbread and small-pot rice noodles (小锅米线). ¥30–50/person.
  • 14:00 — Metro Line 6 to Kunming Changshui Airport (KMG).
  • 15:00–16:00 — Arrive airport 2 hours before international flight.

Practical info

  • Airports: Kunming Changshui (KMG) is the main hub. Lijiang Sanyi (LJG) and Dali (DLU) both have limited international service; most foreign visitors fly in/out of Kunming.
  • Hotels: Kunming near Dongfeng Square; Dali inside the old town (¥300–600/night); Lijiang inside or just outside the old town (¥400–800/night).
  • Best season: March–May, September–November. Summer (June–August) is the rainy season, but also the wild mushroom (野山菌) season — a Yunnan highlight. December–February is mild in Kunming (15°C days), cold at altitude (Lijiang -5 to 10°C).
  • Altitude: Kunming 1,892 m, Dali 1,950 m, Lijiang 2,400 m, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain summit 4,506 m. Hydrate for the first 2 days; avoid alcohol the first 24 hours.
  • Transport: Kunming has a metro. Dali and Lijiang are best by taxi or e-bike. The Kunming–Dali HSR and Dali–Lijiang HSR are both fast and cheap.
  • What to skip: The "Lijiang Songcheng (丽江宋城)" theme park — a Chinese-historical-fantasy show that's mostly a tourist trap. Stick with Impression Lijiang.

Budget estimate (7 days)

| Item | Per person (CNY) | |---|---| | Hotel (6 nights, mid-range) | 2,400–4,000 | | Food (7 days) | 800–1,200 | | Transport (metro + HSR + e-bike) | 700 | | Tickets (Stone Forest, Yulong, villages) | 1,200 | | Shows (Dynamic Yunnan, Impression Lijiang) | 600 | | Total (excl. international flight) | 5,700–7,700 |

Verify with: 12306.cn for HSR tickets (book Kunming–Dali and Dali–Lijiang at least 2 days ahead in peak season), kmg-airport.com for Kunming flights, and yulongxueshan.com for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain weather closures.