Yunnan is the one province we tell first-time China travellers to protect with at least ten days, because it is not one place — it is a vertical slice of the country from subtropical lowland to Himalayan foothills, with a dozen ethnic groups and four climates stacked on top of each other. This Yunnan 10 day itinerary is the route we hand to clients who want the classic north-run: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La, China, linked by train and bus, climbing in altitude as you go so the thin air of the plateau never surprises you. We’ve run this loop with families, cyclists and a 70-year-old who did Tiger Leaping Gorge at a stroll; the order below is the part that makes it work.
Why This Route, in This Order
The single most important planning rule for Yunnan is the altitude order of travel: start low, end high. Kunming sits at 1,900 m, Dali at 2,000 m, Lijiang at 2,400 m, and Shangri-La at 3,200 m. Climbing gradually lets your body adjust and keeps altitude sickness off the itinerary. If you flew straight to Shangri-La you would feel it; arrive there on day 9 and you barely notice. This is the Yunnan travel route Kunming to Shangri-La done the safe way. For the city base, our Kunming travel guide covers the airport and the food streets you’ll hit on day one.
Best Time for Yunnan 10 Days
March–May and September–November are the two windows we recommend. Spring brings camellia and peach blossom on the plateau; autumn gives clear views of the snow mountains and the least rain. Summer (June–August) is green and dramatic but wet, with afternoon storms on the gorge. Winter is cold but sunny in the north and cheap — a good shoulder choice.
Avoid the 1–7 October and Chinese New Year peaks: trains fill, Dali and Lijiang guesthouses triple, and the old towns turn into queues.
The 10-Day Plan
Days 1–2 — Kunming
- Day 1: Arrive, Green Lake (翠湖), Yuantong Temple, night market food.
- Day 2: Stone Forest (石林) day trip (1.5 hr by bus/train), or the Yunnan Provincial Museum if rain. Evening train or next-morning train to Dali.
Days 3–5 — Dali
- Day 3: Train to Dali (2 hr). Settle in Dali old town; walk the walls at dusk.
- Day 4: Erhai Lake loop by e-bike or car — Xizhou village, the morning market, and the tie-dye workshops. Our Dali Yunnan travel guide maps the full lakeshore.
- Day 5: Cangshan Mountain cable car, or a slow morning before the 2-hr train to Lijiang.
Days 6–8 — Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Day 6: Train to Lijiang (2 hr). Explore Lijiang old town travel guide territory — the UNESCO-listed old town, the Naxi music, and the Black Dragon Pool.
- Day 7: Tiger Leaping Gorge day hike (high trail, 2–3 hrs one way, or the easier lower road). The Tiger Leaping Gorge guide has the trailhead and shuttle details.
- Day 8: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (cable car to 4,500 m) or a rest day in Lijiang before the climb north.
Days 9–10 — Shangri-La, China
- Day 9: Bus or flight north to Shangri-La (3.5 hr bus, or 50-min flight). Songzanlin Monastery, old town, Pudacuo National Park if the season allows.
- Day 10: Ganden Sumtseling at first light, then return south via Lijiang or fly out of Diqing airport.
Yunnan Itinerary by Train and Bus
The backbone is the Kunming–Dali–Lijiang high-speed line, completed in full and fast: Kunming→Dali 2 hr, Dali→Lijiang 2 hr. Trains are clean, frequent, and bookable on 12306 or Trip.com with a passport. The Lijiang→Shangri-La leg is the one weak link: the new railway now reaches Shangri-La (about 1 hr by train as of 2023), which removed the old 3.5-hour bus ordeal — check current service when you book. Within Dali and Lijiang, hire a car or use the frequent tourist shuttles for gorge and lake day trips (¥150–300 / US$21–42 per day shared).
Yunnan 10 Day Trip Cost
Per person, mid-range, shared double room:
| Item | Budget | Mid-range |
|—|—|—|
| Hotels | ¥120–250 (US$17–35)/nt | ¥350–700 (US$49–97)/nt |
| Food | ¥60–120 (US$8–17) | ¥120–250 (US$17–35) |
| Trains/bus | ¥400–700 (US$55–97) total | ¥700–1,200 (US$97–167) total |
| Tickets | ¥300–500 (US$42–70) | ¥500–900 (US$70–125) |
| 10-day total | ¥3,000–5,500 (US$415–760) | ¥6,500–11,000 (US$900–1,525) |
The biggest swing is Shangri-La lodging and the Snow Mountain cable car (¥180–300 / US$25–42 just for the ride). Dali and Lijiang guesthouses are cheap and excellent; Shangri-La is pricier and books out in autumn.
Food Along the Route
Yunnan’s kitchens change with altitude. In Kunming, eat across the 过桥米线 (crossing-the-bridge rice noodles, ¥12–25) and the smoky street bbq. Dali’s Bai minority cooks serve 乳扇 (grilled milk fan, ¥10–15) and sour fish from Erhai; Lijiang’s Naxi kitchens lean on cured pork and a peppery 腊排骨 hotpot (¥80–140 for two). Shangri-La, China, shifts to Tibetan food — butter tea, yak meat, and 糌粑 (roasted barley flour). Vegetarians do well in Dali and Lijiang; the plateau north is heavier on meat. Budget ¥60–150 (US$8–21) per day for food if you eat local.
Practical Tips
- Altitude is real at Shangri-La. Ascend gradually (the route does this for you), hydrate, and skip heavy alcohol on night 9. Our Shangri-La Yunnan travel guide covers the symptoms and the clinics.
- Pack layers. Dali can be 25°C; Shangri-La drops near freezing at night even in May. A shell, a fleece, and sunblock (UV is fierce at altitude) are essential.
- Old-town stays. Lijiang and Dali old towns are pedestrian; luggage carts are limited, so pack light for those two nights.
- Sun and skin. The plateau sun burns fast; a hat and SPF 50 are non-negotiable.
- Heritage context. Lijiang’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site — background at UNESCO’s Old Town of Lijiang page helps you read the timber architecture before you go.
FAQ
Can I do this route in reverse?
Technically yes, but we advise against it — dropping from 3,200 m to 1,900 m is fine, but starting at altitude risks sickness on day one. Low-to-high is safer.
Is the Kunming–Shangri-La train fully open?
The line to Shangri-La opened in 2023 and runs, but service frequency changes seasonally. Confirm the Lijiang–Shangri-La schedule when you book; a bus backup still exists.
How fit for Tiger Leaping Gorge?
The high trail is a half-day walk on a wide path — moderate, not technical. The lower road is flat and drivable. Most travellers manage it.
Do I need a guide?
Not for the towns and trains. The gorge and Snow Mountain are signed; a guide helps only if you want deep Naxi or Tibetan context.
When is the cheapest time?
Winter (Dec–Feb) outside Spring Festival: hotels in Dali and Lijiang drop 40–60%, though Shangri-La gets very cold.
Written by Karl, China Travel Places — updated August 2026.