Short answer
Kunming to Lijiang is roughly 470–520 km depending on the routing, and the C-class bullet trains that work the line cover it in about 3 hours 30 minutes at best. Most services run between 3.5 and 4.5 hours, and a few slower ones take up to about five. There are roughly a dozen to twenty direct trains a day, from early morning to late afternoon — enough that you can usually travel on the day you want.
Most trains leave from Kunming Railway Station (昆明站), which is in the city centre and is the right choice for nearly everyone. A handful depart from Kunming South (昆明南站) in the southern suburbs instead. All arrive at Lijiang Railway Station (丽江站), about 8–10 km south of the Old Town — a 25–40 minute taxi ride, or a local bus.
A second-class seat costs roughly ¥166–220, first class roughly ¥265–351 and business class roughly ¥496–596. Tickets are released on a rolling basis weeks ahead, and booking early genuinely matters here: it is popular with domestic tourists and sells out around weekends, the July–August holiday, National Day and Chinese New Year.
Why this route is worth knowing about
Lijiang is one of China's great travel destinations — a UNESCO-listed Old Town of cobbled lanes, canals and Naxi minority culture, sitting on the edge of the Yunnan highlands with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on the horizon. It is also the gateway to Dali and Shangri-La, which is why so many visitors end up on this corridor during a Yunnan trip.
The line was upgraded to bullet-train service in January 2019, cutting a journey that previously took the better part of a day down to an afternoon. Intermediate stops vary by service — Chuxiong is the one most commonly cited, so check the stop list for your departure in the app rather than assuming a fixed pattern.
Which stations to use
Kunming has two stations serving this route and they are far apart. Getting the Kunming end right saves an hour at the start of your trip.
| Station | Role on this route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kunming Railway Station (昆明站) | Where most Lijiang trains depart | City centre, on the metro, close to Green Lake and the downtown sights. Right for most travellers. |
| Kunming South (昆明南站) | A handful of daily services — around four trains | In Chenggong in the southern suburbs, with metro access. Useful if you just arrived on a long-distance high-speed train, since those pull into Kunming South. |
| Lijiang Railway Station (丽江站) | Where every train on this route terminates | About 8–10 km south of the Old Town; also the departure point for trains to Dali and Shangri-La. |
Journey times
Journey time here is driven almost entirely by how many intermediate stops a train makes.
| Service | Typical duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest C-class trains | About 3h 30m | The quickest option; usually a mid-morning departure |
| Most C-class trains | About 3h 45m – 4h 30m | The bulk of the timetable |
| Slower services | Up to about 5h | More stops, or a departure from Kunming South |
| Overnight sleeper | About 10h 30m | A single overnight service; saves a hotel night but misses the scenery. |
The overnight option suits a tight budget, but the daytime run through the highlands is the better experience, take a morning train and have the whole afternoon in the Old Town.
Ticket prices and seat classes
Fares are set by China Railway, so you will not find a cheaper ticket on a third-party site, only a service fee on top. The one variable is the Kunming station you leave from, since Kunming South departures cost slightly more.
| Class | Approximate fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Second class | About ¥166–220 | 3+2 layout with power sockets at every row. Comfortable for four hours. Fares from Kunming Railway Station sit at the lower end; Kunming South departures around ¥199. |
| First class | About ¥265–351 | 2+2 layout, more legroom, quieter. Nice but not necessary at this distance. |
| Business class | About ¥496–596 | Airline-style reclining seats. A significant premium for a half-day trip. |
| Overnight sleeper | About ¥123–200 | Hard sleeper roughly ¥123–141, soft sleeper roughly ¥186–200, on the single overnight service. |
How to buy a ticket with a foreign passport
Book on 12306, the official China Railway platform, at 12306.cn/en or in the 12306 app. Both have an English interface and accept foreign passports. Your passport is your ticket; nothing to print or collect.
- Register before you arrive in ChinaPassport verification is normally quick but blocks booking when it fails, do it from home.
- Match your name to the passport exactlyUse the Latin spelling from the machine-readable zone. A mismatch between the booking name and the document is the most common cause of a gate rejection.
- Add a passenger profileAn account is not enough, you need a passenger record with your passport number and expiry.
- Bind Alipay or WeChat Pay12306 does not take foreign credit cards directly. Both wallets accept foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard after passport verification.
- Book early if your dates fall in a peak windowWeekends, the July–August holiday, National Day Golden Week and Chinese New Year are all busy. Check the app for your release date.
At the station: the step-by-step
- Security screening on entryBags through the X-ray, you through the metal detector. Standard at every Chinese station.
- Passport scan at the gateYou scan or present your passport. If an automated gate will not read it, walk to the staffed lane, do not keep retrying the machine.
- Find your gate in the departure hallNote the gate number from the board and position yourself near it. Allow time for the walk to the platform.
- Board when the gate opensThe gate opens for a window before departure and closes before the train leaves. Departure time is not boarding time.
- Take your seatSeat numbers are on the booking. There is no luggage check-in, bags go on the overhead racks or the racks at the end of each carriage.
Arriving 30–40 minutes before departure is comfortable at Kunming Railway Station; add more during holidays.
The last mile: Lijiang station to the Old Town
Lijiang Railway Station is not in the town; it sits roughly 8–10 km south of the Old Town, the part of the journey most visitors underestimate.
- Taxi or ride-hailing takes about 25–40 minutes depending on traffic and costs roughly ¥25–50, the recommended option with luggage.
- City buses connect the station with different edges of the Old Town, taking roughly 35–50 minutes for around ¥1–2. Routes do not all stop at the same gate, so check the destination sign.
- Know which entrance you want. "Lijiang Old Town" normally means Dayan Old Town; Shuhe and Baisha are separate towns with different routes.
- Cars cannot reach every address inside the Old Town. Many guesthouses sit down pedestrian lanes, ask your host which gate to aim for.
Onward from Lijiang
Lijiang Railway Station is not a dead end, trains run south to Dali and Kunming and north towards Shangri-La, making it a practical hub for a Yunnan loop rather than a one-way stop.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Kunming to Lijiang train?
The fastest C-class bullet trains take about 3 hours 30 minutes. Most run between 3h 45m and 4h 30m depending on intermediate stops, with a few slower departures up to about five hours.
Which Kunming station should I leave from?
Kunming Railway Station (昆明站) for most trains, city centre, metro access, right if you are staying downtown. About four daily services leave from Kunming South (昆明南站) in the southern suburbs, useful if you just arrived on a long-distance high-speed train. Check the station name on your booking; they are far apart.
How much does a second-class ticket cost?
Roughly ¥166–220. Departures from Kunming Railway Station sit at the lower end; trains from Kunming South are around ¥199. First class is roughly ¥265–351 and business class roughly ¥496–596.
How far is Lijiang Railway Station from the Old Town?
About 8–10 km south of Dayan Old Town. A taxi takes roughly 25–40 minutes and costs around ¥25–50; city buses take roughly 35–50 minutes for around ¥1–2 but stop at different edges of the town.
Is there an overnight train from Kunming to Lijiang?
Yes, a single overnight sleeper leaves Kunming late in the evening and arrives early the next morning, taking about ten and a half hours. Hard sleepers run roughly ¥123–141 and soft sleepers roughly ¥186–200. It saves a hotel night but misses the highland scenery.
When should I book?
As soon as your dates are fixed if you are travelling in a peak window. This route is popular with domestic tourists and sells out around weekends, the July–August summer holiday, National Day Golden Week and Chinese New Year. Outside those periods, a few days ahead is usually enough.
Can I get to Dali or Shangri-La from Lijiang by train?
Yes. Lijiang Railway Station serves trains south to Dali and Kunming and north towards Shangri-La, so it works as a hub for a Yunnan loop. Check current schedules in the app, since the pattern of services changes.
Do I need a Chinese bank account to book?
No. Register on 12306 with your passport and pay through Alipay or WeChat Pay, both of which accept foreign-issued cards after passport verification.
Related reading
Journey times, station assignments and fare ranges on this page were compiled from multiple independent route guides and cross-checked against each other; where sources disagree, the spread is shown rather than averaged. Train numbers, exact departure times and fares change and are set by China Railway, confirm your specific journey on 12306 before you rely on any figure here. Current as of September 2026.