Kunming 昆明
A provincial arrival base with parks and Yunnan cooking.
- Plan around
- City stay
- Combine with
- Dali or a deliberate southern extension
All destinations
Southwest China
Yunnan travel guide
Plan a regional journey through Yunnan rather than treating the province as one destination. Kunming, Dali and Lijiang form one popular route; Yuanyang’s terraces and the tropical south need a different travel plan.
Include Yunnan in my trip ↗
What to see in Yunnan
Choose your main sights, then group nearby visits together. Allow a separate day for longer excursions.
Dali and Erhai 大理与洱海
Lakeside landscapes and Bai towns.
- Plan around
- Multi-night base
- Combine with
- Kunming and Lijiang
Lijiang 丽江
Naxi heritage, waterways and mountain scenery.
- Plan around
- Multi-night base
- Combine with
- Dali
Yuanyang rice terraces 元阳梯田
A working agricultural landscape with changing seasonal views.
- Plan around
- Separate regional extension
- Combine with
- A southward journey
More places to consider in Yunnan
Xishuangbanna 西双版纳
Tropical landscapes and Dai cultural contexts.
· Separate regional stay
Shangri-La / Diqing 香格里拉／迪庆
A different highland setting and Tibetan cultural context.
· A slower northwestern extension
Watch before you go
Yunnan on film
Watch a few places and experiences you can include in your own visit.
1:10Yunnan
Yunnan: landscapes and culture
A regional film of landscapes, Dianchi Lake and cultural scenes in Yunnan.
Read the Yunnan guide ↗
0:56Lijiang
Lijiang and its wider region
Culture, landscapes and the wider Lijiang region, with English captions.
Read the Lijiang guide ↗
1:25Lijiang
Lijiang: Dongba culture and old-town life
Dongba artwork, local culture and the lanes of Lijiang’s old town.
Read the Lijiang guide ↗At the local table
What to eat in Yunnan
Build food into the day: a local breakfast, a market snack or a relaxed shared meal can become part of the experience.
Crossing-the-bridge rice noodles 过桥米线
A rice-noodle meal served with separate ingredients.
Rushan 乳扇
Bai dairy sheets, often grilled.
Naxi grilled fish 纳西烤鱼
A regional fish preparation associated with Lijiang.
Dai bamboo rice 傣味竹筒饭
Rice prepared in bamboo in southern Yunnan traditions.
For allergies or dietary needs, explain the requirement clearly and discuss ingredients with the kitchen. English–Chinese support can help you communicate.
Where to stay
Compare these areas by transport, nearby sights and the type of stay you prefer.
| Area | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Kunming | Air and rail access plus city experiences | Not a base for day trips across the whole province |
| Dali and Lijiang | A coherent northwestern circuit | The hotel moves and excursions need real travel time |
| A separate southern base | Terraces or tropical landscapes | Add it only with enough time for a different geographic direction |
Getting there & around
Choose an arrival and departure city that fit the direction of the journey. Kunming, Dali and Lijiang have separate airports and railway stations; a provincial map label is not a hotel base. Mountain and highland extensions should be discussed with the group’s comfort and mobility in mind.
Choose your time, then make it yours
How many days do you have?
Start with a day in Yunnan or connect it with a wider journey. Every route can be adjusted to your interests and pace.
A day in the destination
One Yunnan day: choose Kunming
Yunnan is a province. This one-day idea stays in Kunming and assumes you are already there.
Make this my own 1-day trip ↗- Day 1
Green Lake and old Kunming
Walk around Green Lake, then explore nearby streets at a comfortable pace. Continue to the old-city lanes for lunch, with space for a café and browsing.
This is an itinerary idea. We can change the places, pace and services to suit your trip.
A short stay
Three days around Kunming
Choose one base rather than squeezing several Yunnan cities into a short visit.
Make this my own 3-day trip ↗- Day 1
Green Lake and old Kunming
Walk around Green Lake, then explore nearby streets at a comfortable pace. Continue to the old-city lanes for lunch, with space for a café and browsing.
- Day 2
A day for the Stone Forest
Make Shilin Stone Forest your main outing, with travel time on both sides. Choose a walking loop that suits your group and keep the evening in Kunming relaxed.
- Day 3
Dianchi and the Western Hills
Choose a selected Dianchi shore stop and a manageable Western Hills route. Avoid trying to circle the lake; leave time for lunch and the return to your hotel.
This is an itinerary idea. We can change the places, pace and services to suit your trip.
More time to explore
Kunming, Dali and Lijiang
A northwestern thread, with open-jaw arrival in Kunming and departure from Lijiang.
Make this my own 7-day trip ↗- Day 1
Arrive in Kunming
Settle into your accommodation before an easy Green Lake walk if time allows. Enjoy a noodle meal nearby and leave major sightseeing for a rested morning.
- Day 2
A day for the Stone Forest
Make Shilin Stone Forest your main outing, with travel time on both sides. Choose a walking loop that suits your group and keep the evening in Kunming relaxed.
- Day 3
Continue to Dali
Travel to Dali and settle into your chosen base. Spend the remaining afternoon in the old-town lanes, with an easy dinner rather than a lakeside circuit.
- Day 4
Xizhou and one lakeshore stretch
Give Xizhou time for Bai courtyard architecture and a local lunch. Pair it with one nearby Erhai shore section, keeping the return unhurried and the route compact.
- Day 5
Continue to Lijiang
Travel to Lijiang and settle in before a light old-town walk. Keep the first evening gentle, with time to rest after the journey and a nearby meal.
- Day 6
Dayan lanes and Black Dragon Pool
Explore Dayan’s canals and lanes, then visit Black Dragon Pool for a different perspective. Pause over a Naxi-style meal and keep the later afternoon open.
- Day 7
Leave Lijiang at your pace
Allow time for breakfast and packing, then transfer to the correct airport or station. Add a final nearby walk only when it fits the actual connection.
This is an itinerary idea. We can change the places, pace and services to suit your trip.
More time to explore
Northwestern Yunnan with room to linger
Three bases, with distinct days for landscapes and old towns instead of daily hotel changes.
Make this my own 10-day trip ↗- Day 1
Arrive in Kunming
Settle into your accommodation before an easy Green Lake walk if time allows. Enjoy a noodle meal nearby and leave major sightseeing for a rested morning.
- Day 2
Green Lake and old Kunming
Walk around Green Lake, then explore nearby streets at a comfortable pace. Continue to the old-city lanes for lunch, with space for a café and browsing.
- Day 3
A day for the Stone Forest
Make Shilin Stone Forest your main outing, with travel time on both sides. Choose a walking loop that suits your group and keep the evening in Kunming relaxed.
- Day 4
Continue to Dali
Travel to Dali and settle into your chosen base. Spend the remaining afternoon in the old-town lanes, with an easy dinner rather than a lakeside circuit.
- Day 5
Dali Old Town and the Three Pagodas
Explore Dali Old Town and the Three Pagodas as the day’s two main visits. Leave time for courtyards, a meal and rest instead of collecting more stops.
- Day 6
Xizhou and one lakeshore stretch
Give Xizhou time for Bai courtyard architecture and a local lunch. Pair it with one nearby Erhai shore section, keeping the return unhurried and the route compact.
- Day 7
Continue to Lijiang
Travel to Lijiang and settle in before a light old-town walk. Keep the first evening gentle, with time to rest after the journey and a nearby meal.
- Day 8
Dayan lanes and Black Dragon Pool
Explore Dayan’s canals and lanes, then visit Black Dragon Pool for a different perspective. Pause over a Naxi-style meal and keep the later afternoon open.
- Day 9
A mountain-area day near Lijiang
Choose a Jade Dragon Snow Mountain area route around weather, altitude and walking preferences. A Blue Moon Valley focus can shape a gentler plan; keep the evening free.
- Day 10
Leave Lijiang at your pace
Allow time for breakfast and packing, then transfer to the correct airport or station. Add a final nearby walk only when it fits the actual connection.
This is an itinerary idea. We can change the places, pace and services to suit your trip.
Make Yunnan part of your private journey.
Ask us to plan your visit or arrange an airport transfer, private driver or English–Chinese support. You can request a complete trip or one service.
Discuss my Yunnan plans ↗