Short answer
Most foreign visitors arrive by high-speed train from Kunming, which takes about two to two and a half hours and runs from early morning until late at night. It is the cheapest, the most frequent and the most predictable option. Lijiang to Dali is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours on the same network.
Dali also has its own airport, Fengyi (DLU), about 12 to 15km from Xiaguan. It handles domestic flights only, so flying in usually means connecting through Kunming or another Chinese city.
The part that catches people out: the airport and the railway station are both in Xiaguan, the modern city, not the Old Town. Both are 15 to 20km from it, so add 30 to 60 minutes and one more transfer. A 2h20m train is a three-hour journey to your guesthouse.
Dali Old Town and Xiaguan are 15km apart
Get this straight before you book anything. "Dali" is used for two separate places.
Dali Old Town (大理古城) is the walled town under the mountains, where visitors stay. Xiaguan (下关) is the modern city to the south, at the lake's southern tip, holding the railway station and the long-distance bus stations.
The last leg of every journey is therefore a transfer, not a walk. Buses 4 and 8 and the tourist direct lines run between the two. Many guesthouses sit inside the walls where cars cannot reach, so ask which gate is closest.
By train from Kunming
This is the standard route and the one most travellers take. It runs on the Kunming-Chuxiong-Dali railway, a 291km line with a 200km/h speed limit that opened in July 2018.
| Detail | What is reported |
|---|---|
| Journey time | Commonly 2h to 2h30m. The shortest services are quoted at under 2 hours. |
| Frequency | Booking platforms list around 117 departures a day, from shortly after midnight until around 23:47. |
| Departure stations | Both Kunming Station and Kunming South, and they are 28km apart. Check which one your ticket names. |
| Second class fare | Sources disagree. Commonly quoted around ¥145-155; one guide says ¥100-160. Platforms advertise discounted seats from far less on some departures. |
Fares on this line are dynamic, adjusted by season and demand, so the same seat can cost different amounts on different days. Book ahead for Chinese New Year and National Day week.
By train from Lijiang
| Detail | What is reported |
|---|---|
| Journey time | Roughly 1h30m to 2h on the faster services. The slow tourist train takes about 3 hours. |
| Frequency | Around 20 services a day are listed, spread across morning, afternoon and evening. |
| Second class fare | Reported from about ¥110 on C and D trains. Hard seat on the slower Y-class tourist train is quoted much lower, around ¥50-75. |
| Arrival station | Dali Station, in Xiaguan. Same transfer to the Old Town as everyone else. |
The Yunnan route guide covers how Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La chain together.
By air to Dali Fengyi (DLU)
Dali Fengyi Airport (大理凤仪机场, IATA: DLU) sits at the junction of Fengyi township and Haidong, roughly 12 to 15km from Xiaguan and 28 to 30km from the Old Town by road. It is a small regional airport with domestic routes only, so it is useful only if you are already inside China.
Reported routes include Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Shenzhen, Changsha and Xishuangbanna, and they change with the season. The Kunming flight is about 40 minutes, which beats the train only if you ignore the airport time at both ends.
| From DLU to | Option | Fare | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dali Old Town, South Gate | Airport shuttle bus | Commonly ¥25 | 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic and stops |
| Dali Old Town | Taxi or DiDi | Sources quote ¥60-70 and also ¥80-120 | 40 to 50 minutes |
| Xiaguan city centre | Taxi or DiDi | ¥50-80 | 20 to 30 minutes |
The shuttle route is reported as airport, airport road, Dali Railway Station, Meideng Hotel, Cangshan Road, Xingsheng Road, Xingsheng Bridge, Dali Road, then the South Gate of the Old Town. One source says it drops at the East Gate instead, so confirm when you board.
Return shuttles from the Old Town run to a timetable rather than to flight times, with reported 2026 departures roughly half-hourly from 06:30 to 16:00 and a gap over midday. Confirm on the day, and take a taxi if your flight is early or late.
Dali Railway Station to the Old Town
Dali Station is in the middle of Xiaguan, about 15 to 20km south of the Old Town. After a 2026 renovation the station connects directly to a transport hub at the exit, with separate zones for ride-hailing and taxis. Sources give the distance to the Old Town variously as 15km, 17.5km and 20km.
| Option | Fare | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 8 | ¥2 | 40 to 70 minutes | The cheapest route, from the station plaza. Dense stops, no luggage space. Reported to run roughly 06:30 to 21:00. |
| Tourist direct bus, Ancient City line | ¥15 in one 2026 report, ¥5 in another | 35 to 45 minutes | Sold at a counter at the exit or on 12306. Stops at the South Gate and other gates. Sources disagree sharply on the fare, so check at the counter. |
| Taxi or DiDi | ¥40-60 | 30 to 40 minutes | DiDi is preferable: the fare is fixed in advance and you enter the destination in the app. Reported at ¥42-55 off-peak in 2026. |
Direct bus services are reported to be synchronised with train arrivals, with the first around 07:30 and the last extended for late trains. Night buses for arrivals after 23:00 carry a small surcharge. This is operational detail that changes, so ask at the counter.
By long-distance bus
Coaches connect Dali with Kunming, Lijiang and towns across the prefecture, though Kunming by road is four to six hours and the train beats it. Where buses matter is inside the prefecture: services to Jianchuan for Shaxi and Shibaoshan, and to Weishan, generally leave from Xiaguan, while lake villages are served from the Old Town. The day trips guide covers those routes and fares.
About Xiangyun Station
Booking sites sometimes show Xiangyun (祥云站) as a cheaper way into the area. It sits on the same Kunming-Chuxiong-Dali railway, in Xiangyun county, 37km east of Dali Station. The hop between the two takes about 24 minutes and costs ¥19 in second class. One 2026 guide describes fares to Xiangyun as roughly 25% lower than fares to Dali.
That is real and also not useful for most visitors: Xiangyun is a county town well east of Dali city, and you would still have to reach Dali and then the Old Town from there. Buy to Dali Station unless you have a specific reason to be in Xiangyun.
Booking, and what to sort before you arrive
- Book on 12306 or a platform, with your passport number.Tickets open around 15 days ahead, and you must travel on the passport you booked with. See buying train tickets.
- Check which Kunming station your ticket names.Kunming and Kunming South are 28km apart. The wrong station is a missed train.
- Decide your base.Dali Old Town for almost everyone. Xiaguan only if you arrive very late or leave very early. See hotels that take foreign guests.
- Set up payment before you fly.Bind your card to Alipay or WeChat Pay and finish passport verification at home. See paying in China.
- Sort out data.An eSIM or local SIM gets you DiDi, maps and translation on arrival. See eSIM options for China.
- Save your guesthouse address in Chinese characters.Plus the phone number, and ask which gate is nearest.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to get to Dali?
The high-speed train from Kunming. It runs all day, takes two to two and a half hours, and costs around ¥145-155 in second class. Flying into Dali Fengyi is only worth it if you are already in China.
How long is the train from Kunming to Dali?
Commonly two to two and a half hours, with the fastest services under two hours. Booking platforms list around 117 departures a day.
Does Dali have an airport with international flights?
No. Dali Fengyi Airport (DLU) is domestic only, with routes to Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai among others. International visitors fly into Kunming Changshui (KMG) and take the train.
How far is Dali Airport from the Old Town?
Roughly 28 to 30km by road, or 40 to 50 minutes by taxi. The airport shuttle takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on stops and traffic, and is commonly quoted at ¥25 to the South Gate.
How do I get from Dali Railway Station to the Old Town?
Bus 8 for ¥2 and 40 to 70 minutes, a tourist direct bus for ¥5-15 and 35 to 45 minutes, or a taxi or DiDi for ¥40-60 and 30 to 40 minutes. The station is in Xiaguan, 15 to 20km away.
Is there a train from Dali to Lijiang?
Yes, roughly 1h30m to 2h on the faster services, with around 20 departures a day in each direction. Second class is reported from about ¥110.
What is Xiangyun Station and should I use it?
It is a county station on the same railway, 37km east of Dali Station, with fares reported around 25% cheaper. It is not a substitute for Dali Station for a tourist, because you would still have to reach Dali and then the Old Town. Buy to Dali.
Related reading
Rail times, frequencies and fares follow the Kunming-Chuxiong-Dali railway timetable as published by Chinese rail booking platforms and travel guides for 2026. Airport transfer times and fares follow Dali Fengyi Airport transport information and several independent 2026 reports: sources disagree on the taxi fare to the Old Town, on the airport shuttle fare to Xiaguan, and on the cost of the tourist direct bus from Dali Station, and all three are listed with the disagreement intact rather than averaged. Fare levels on this line are dynamic and adjusted by season and demand. Confirm times and prices on the operator's official channel before you travel.