Short answer
Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG) is about 28 to 30 km south of the Old Town. The airport coach costs around ¥20-25 and takes 40 to 50 minutes, but it does not stop inside the Old Town — it ends at the Lantian (Blue Sky) Hotel in the new town, roughly 2 km short. A taxi straight to a gate is ¥80-150 and 25 to 40 minutes. A DiDi lands around ¥70-90.
Lijiang Railway Station is about 10 to 11 km south of the Old Town. Buses 4, 16 and 18 run from the station square for ¥2-4 in 35 to 50 minutes and drop you at a gate area. A taxi is ¥30-45 for 20 to 30 minutes. A direct tourist bus to the South Gate is reported at ¥8.
The catch at both ends is the same: the Old Town is pedestrianised. No vehicle reaches most guesthouses, so arrange the nearest gate with your host and expect to walk the last few minutes over cobbles.
Getting to Lijiang in the first place
Most visitors arrive on the Kunming–Dali–Lijiang corridor or fly in from a larger Chinese city. Lijiang Sanyi is also one of Yunnan's approved entry ports for the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme, which matters if your passport is not on the 30-day visa-free list.
| From | Best option | Time | Cost signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kunming | High-speed train | About 3 to 3.5 hours, up to 5 on slower services | Second class roughly ¥166-220 |
| Dali | High-speed train | 1.5 to 2.5 hours, fastest about 1h 44m | Second class ¥48-80 |
| Shangri-La | Bus, or train on the newer line | Bus 3.5 to 4.5 hours | Bus ¥60-80 |
| Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Xi'an | Flight into LJG | Varies | Direct flights, or via Kunming |
Two Kunming stations serve this route and they are far apart. Most Lijiang departures leave from Kunming Railway Station in the centre; around four a day leave from Kunming South in the southern suburbs. Dali is simpler — the Dali–Lijiang trains run from Dali Railway Station, roughly seven to ten pairs a day between about 06:00 and 21:00.
Book on 12306.cn/en or the 12306 app with your passport. Third-party sites charge a service fee rather than finding cheaper seats. If a train is sold out, the free waitlist (候补) in the app costs nothing to join and you are only charged if a seat is secured.
From Sanyi Airport (LJG)
The airport coach
The coach is the default choice and the cheapest. It runs from the airport to the Lantian Hotel on Fuhui Road, roughly 1 to 2 km west of the Old Town waterwheel, and takes 40 to 50 minutes over about 30 km.
| Detail | What sources say |
|---|---|
| Fare | ¥20 in most reports, one guide says ¥25. Carry ¥25 and you are covered. |
| Destination | Lantian (Blue Sky) Hotel, new town. Some 2026 guides describe it reaching Blue Moon Valley Square or the South Gate; the Lantian Hotel terminus is the better-attested one. |
| From the city | 06:30 to 22:00, every 30 minutes from the Lantian Hotel |
| From the airport | Timed to flight arrivals rather than a clock, until the last flight lands |
| Payment | On board, cash, Alipay or WeChat Pay. No advance booking. |
From the Lantian Hotel terminus it is about 2 km to the Old Town, a ¥7-10 taxi, or a walk with luggage if you are feeling optimistic.
Taxi and DiDi
| Option | Fare | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi to the Old Town | ¥80-150, reported ¥100-120 after 22:00 | 25 to 40 minutes |
| DiDi | ¥70-90 | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Shared minibus to the Old Town | About ¥50 a head, seven seats, leaves when full | Similar to a taxi |
| Taxi to Lijiang Railway Station | About ¥70, 21 km | About 25 minutes |
Use the official rank outside arrivals, insist on the meter, and ignore anyone who approaches you inside the terminal offering a car. Set up DiDi before you fly; it has an English interface and shows the fare up front, which makes it the most predictable option for a first arrival.
From Lijiang Railway Station
The station sits 10 to 11 km south of the Old Town and both public buses and taxis are straightforward. Reports differ on the exact bus numbers and fares, so the table below shows the spread.
| Option | Fare | Time | Where it drops you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 4 | ¥1-4 depending on source | 40 to 50 minutes | Zhongyi Market, Bailong Square, Old Town Entrance, Red Sun Square |
| Bus 16 | ¥4 | About 45 minutes | Bailong Square, then a short walk to the E entrance |
| Bus 18 | ¥1-4 | 35 to 45 minutes | Zhongyi Market, Bailong Square, south side |
| Direct tourist bus | ¥8 | About 30 minutes | South Gate of the Old Town, from the station square |
| Taxi | ¥30-45 | 20 to 30 minutes | Any vehicle-accessible gate you name |
| DiDi | ¥25-45 | 20 to 35 minutes | Your specified gate |
| Guesthouse pickup | ¥40-80 | 25 to 40 minutes | Someone meets you and helps with the bags |
Bus 4 is the more useful of the public routes because it serves both the north side near the waterwheel and the south side at Zhongyi Market, so it works whichever end you are staying. Fares are quoted anywhere from ¥1-2 to ¥3-4; the higher figures come from airport and station guide sites and the lower from general transport summaries, and the difference may be a change in fares or a difference between ordinary and air-conditioned services. Pay by phone or with small cash.
What to expect at the last mile
- Get the gate name before you flyMessage your guesthouse and ask which gate is closest and whether someone can meet you. This single message saves more time than any transport choice.
- Accept that a car will not reach the doorThe Old Town is pedestrianised. Cobbles are hard on wheeled luggage, and some lanes have steps.
- Have the address in Chinese, screenshottedPhone maps are unreliable inside the lanes and not every driver reads pinyin.
- Decide on the taxi versus the bus by luggage, not by moneyThe saving on a
¥2bus is real but so is dragging a suitcase through a market at dusk.
Departing Lijiang
Going back, the airport coach leaves the Lantian Hotel from 06:30 to 22:00 every 30 minutes, which suits mid-morning and afternoon flights. For a very early departure, arrange a car the night before rather than relying on the first coach. For the train, allow 40 to 60 minutes from the Old Town gate to your seat: 20 to 30 minutes in the car plus station time. Lijiang Railway Station is a single station, so there is no risk of turning up at the wrong one.
Domestic check-in at Sanyi closes around 45 minutes before departure and international counters around 60 minutes, per the airport's own guidance as reported. Boarding gates close 15 minutes before departure on domestic flights.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Lijiang airport shuttle go to the Old Town?
Not to the lanes. The best-attested route ends at the Lantian (Blue Sky) Hotel on Fuhui Road in the new town, about 1 to 2 km from the Old Town waterwheel, which is a ¥7-10 taxi further. Some 2026 guides describe the coach reaching Blue Moon Valley Square or the South Gate, so confirm the current terminus when you buy the ticket.
How much is a taxi from Lijiang airport to the Old Town?
Commonly ¥80-150, with reports of ¥100-120 after 22:00, over 25 to 40 minutes and roughly 28-30 km. A DiDi is usually ¥70-90. Use the official rank, insist on the meter, and set up DiDi before you fly.
Which bus goes from Lijiang Railway Station to the Old Town?
Buses 4, 16 and 18 all serve the station. Bus 4 covers both the north side near the waterwheel and Zhongyi Market in the south. Bus 16 runs to Bailong Square. Fares are quoted between ¥1 and ¥4 and journey times between 35 and 50 minutes. There is also a direct tourist bus to the South Gate reported at ¥8.
How far is Lijiang Railway Station from the Old Town?
About 10 to 11 km, which is 20 to 30 minutes by taxi for ¥30-45. Allow 30 to 50 minutes door to gate with queueing, and 40 to 60 minutes to reach accommodation deep inside the old town.
Can I take a train from Dali or Kunming instead of flying?
Yes, and it is usually the better choice. Dali to Lijiang is 1.5 to 2.5 hours for ¥48-80 in second class. Kunming to Lijiang is about 3 to 3.5 hours for roughly ¥166-220. Both arrive at Lijiang Railway Station, 10 to 11 km from the Old Town.
Is Lijiang Sanyi Airport an international airport?
It is, with the code LJG, and it handles a limited number of international and regional routes alongside a large domestic network. Most international travellers arrive via Kunming and connect, or use it as a visa-free transit entry port under Yunnan's 240-hour scheme. Confirm your eligibility on the National Immigration Administration site before booking.
What should I do if I arrive after the last airport coach?
Take a taxi or DiDi. The coach runs from the city to the airport until 22:00, but the airport-to-city direction is timed to flight arrivals, so late arrivals are usually still served. A taxi after 22:00 is reported at ¥100-120.
Is there luggage storage at the station?
Stations and larger guesthouses in Lijiang commonly offer left luggage, and many travellers leave bags at their guesthouse while doing an overnight trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge or Shangri-La. Ask your host rather than assuming a station facility.
Related reading
Distances follow airport and railway operator guides and map routing. Coach, bus and taxi fares and journey times were cross-checked across several independent 2026 transport guides; where they disagree, the spread is shown rather than averaged, and the airport coach terminus and bus fare ranges are the two points where sources diverge most. Schedules change with the season, confirm the current timetable, terminus and fare with the operator or your guesthouse before travelling. Current as of September 2026.