Short answer
Run the route south to north: Kunming → Dali → Lijiang → Shangri-La. Every leg has a train, the longest is about two hours, and going in this direction means the altitude climbs gradually instead of dumping you at 3,300 m on arrival day.
Budget 9 to 12 days for all four: two in Kunming, two to three in Dali, three in Lijiang including a full day at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and two in Shangri-La. Seven days is the shortest version that still works, and it means cutting Dali to one night. Five days covers Kunming, Dali and Lijiang only, and it will feel rushed.
The two mistakes that ruin itineraries here are treating Lijiang as the finish line and squeezing Shangri-La into a day trip, and flying straight into Shangri-La or Lijiang instead of climbing by train. Both are about the same thing: this is a highland corridor, and it punishes hurry.
Why the order is not optional
Yunnan's headline destinations sit on a single line running north-west out of Kunming towards the Tibetan plateau. It is a corridor, not a loop. That shape forces the order, and the elevation profile gives it a second reason to go north rather than south.
| Leg | By train | Altitude change |
|---|---|---|
| Kunming → Dali | About 2 hours | 1,900 m → about 2,000 m. Barely noticeable. |
| Dali → Lijiang | 1.5 to 2.5 hours | about 2,000 m → about 2,400 m. Sleep can suffer. |
| Lijiang → Shangri-La | About 1 hour 20 | about 2,400 m → about 3,300 m. The big jump. |
| Shangri-La → back to Kunming | Long, or fly | Descending. Easy. |
Run it backwards and you start at 3,300 m, which is where altitude sickness actually happens, then descend through places that would have acclimatised you. Some people do it in reverse to finish in Kunming for a flight home. You are trading comfort on day one for convenience on the last day.
How many days at each stop
| Stop | Minimum | Comfortable | What the extra day buys |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kunming | 1 night | 2 nights | Stone Forest as a full day trip, plus Western Hills and Dianchi Lake |
| Dali | 1 night | 2-3 nights | A partial loop of Erhai Lake and a slow day in the villages |
| Lijiang | 2 nights | 3 nights | A dedicated day for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain |
| Shangri-La | 2 nights | 2-3 nights | Pudacuo National Park without rushing the monastery |
Two things drive these numbers. Both Dali and Lijiang keep their best sights outside the town, so a single night gives you the old streets and nothing else. And every arrival day is partly lost to travel, so a one-night stay is really half a day.
Kunming, 2 nights
Kunming is the arrival city and most people undersell it. It sits at about 1,900 m with an annual average around 15°C, which is why it is called the Spring City. Use one day for the Stone Forest, a karst landscape about 120 km south-east, and the other for Western Hills, Dianchi Lake and an evening on the old streets. See the best time to visit Kunming for how the seasons shape this.
Dali, 2 to 3 nights
Dali is three places that people confuse. The walled old town, the Bai villages strung along Erhai Lake, and the modern city where the station is. They are real distances apart, and staying in the wrong one for your plans costs you time every day. Two nights gets you the old town and Three Pagodas. Three lets you ride or drive part of the lake and still have an unhurried day.
Lijiang, 3 nights
Lijiang is the emotional centre of most Yunnan trips: a UNESCO-listed old town of cobbled lanes and canals, with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on the horizon. Two days covers the Old Town, Shuhe and Baisha. The third is for the mountain, a 5,596 m peak about 15 km north reached by cable car, where the altitude is serious and tickets need booking ahead through official channels.
Lijiang sits at about 2,400 m, and it is where people start waking with headaches or sleeping badly. Take the first afternoon gently. The town's own details are in the Lijiang Old Town guide.
Shangri-La, 2 nights
A Tibetan-culture town at about 3,300 m that feels like a different province. Songzanlin Monastery, the Dukezong old town and Pudacuo National Park are the three reasons to come, and each is a half-day minimum once you account for moving slowly at this altitude. One night is a wasted journey.
Three worked itineraries
| Days | Shape | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Kunming 2 · Dali 1 · Lijiang 3 · Shangri-La 1, or drop Shangri-La and add the day to Dali | Working with a fixed week. Tight but doable. |
| 10 | Kunming 2 · Dali 2 · Lijiang 3 · Shangri-La 2, plus one travel day | The sweet spot. Everything gets a proper day. |
| 12-14 | The ten-day shape plus Tiger Leaping Gorge, or a detour south to Yuanyang's rice terraces | Anyone who does not want to move every second day. |
On the seven-day version, the choice is between a single night in Shangri-La and an extra night in Dali. One night in Shangri-La at 3,300 m is the harder option: you arrive, sleep badly, and leave before your body settles. Dropping Shangri-La and giving Dali the extra night is the more comfortable trip.
Tiger Leaping Gorge, and where it fits
Tiger Leaping Gorge sits on the corridor between Lijiang and Shangri-La, roughly 80 km from Lijiang. It is one of the deepest gorges in the world, and it fits naturally on that leg rather than as a separate trip.
The upper gorge is a boardwalk visit taking a few hours, doable in transit. The classic trek is a two-day, one-night route with a night in a guesthouse inside the gorge, which adds a night to the itinerary. Buses run from Lijiang to the gorge area, and fares vary by operator, so check at the bus station rather than relying on a figure.
What it costs, roughly
| Item | Typical | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kunming → Dali train, second class | About ¥140-160 | Check 12306 for your date |
| Dali → Lijiang train, second class | About ¥60-90 | Short hop, frequent |
| Lijiang → Shangri-La train, second class | About ¥70-110 | Fewer departures than the other legs |
| Mid-range hotel or guesthouse | ¥250-500 per night | Doubles in Lijiang and Dali during Golden Week |
| Stone Forest, including transport | About ¥200 for the day | Admission plus the in-park cart plus getting there |
Fares are set by China Railway and vary by service, so treat these as a budget shape rather than a quote. The Kunming–Lijiang train guide has the detailed breakdown for that leg.
Practical notes
- Book the trains on 12306. Register with your passport before you leave home, add yourself as a passenger, and pay through Alipay or WeChat Pay. The process is in booking trains as a foreigner.
- Pack for three climates. Kunming is mild, Lijiang is cool, and Shangri-La in winter is properly cold.
- Use DiDi for the last mile. Guesthouses in Lijiang and Dali often sit at the end of lanes no car can enter. Ask your host which gate to aim for.
- Check your entry paperwork first. China runs several visa-free schemes, and which one applies depends on your passport and route. See the current entry rules.
- Avoid the holiday peaks. Lunar New Year and the first week of October fill every train on this corridor. See the festivals and holidays guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best order for a Yunnan trip?
Kunming, then Dali, then Lijiang, then Shangri-La. This is both the geography and the altitude profile: each stop is a little higher than the last, so your body adjusts on the way up. Running it in reverse is possible, but you start at 3,300 m with no acclimatisation.
How many days do I need in Yunnan?
Nine to twelve for the four-city route, with ten as the sweet spot. Seven works if you cut Dali to one night or drop Shangri-La. Five days covers Kunming, Dali and Lijiang only, and will feel rushed.
Do I need to fly between these cities?
No. All three legs have train services, and the longest is about two hours. Trains are cheaper, more punctual, and drop you closer to the centre than the airports do.
Will I get altitude sickness in Shangri-La?
Some people feel it and most do not, but at around 3,300 m it is a real possibility. Coming up gradually by train is the best mitigation. Take the first day slowly, drink more water than usual, skip alcohol, and treat a headache or poor sleep as a signal to rest rather than push on.
Is Lijiang or Dali the better stop?
They do different jobs. Dali is a lake town with a relaxed pace and villages to explore. Lijiang is a dense historic town with a serious mountain on its doorstep. If you have to cut one, cut Dali to a single night rather than losing Lijiang's mountain day.
Can I do this route in one direction?
Yes, and it is the standard shape. Fly into Kunming and fly out of Shangri-La, or out of Lijiang if you skip Shangri-La. There is no need to backtrack to Kunming.
Where does Tiger Leaping Gorge fit in?
On the Lijiang to Shangri-La leg, about 80 km from Lijiang. The upper gorge can be visited in a few hours in transit. The classic two-day trek needs an extra night and a guesthouse inside the gorge.
What is the best time of year for this route?
Late March to May and mid-October to November, when skies are clearest across the corridor and temperatures are mild at every stop. Summer is the rainy season and cloud often hides the mountains. Winter is cold, dry and sunny, which suits Lijiang and Shangri-La better than most people expect.
Related reading
Train durations, elevations and stop-by-stop day counts were compiled from several independent route and itinerary sources and cross-checked against each other; where they disagree, the spread is shown rather than averaged. Fares on this page are budget estimates for legs without a dedicated guide and are set by China Railway, confirm them on 12306. Schedules, ticket release windows and attraction arrangements change. Current as of September 2026.