The 5-day circular road from Dali to Lijiang is a romantic ribbon that connects the essence of Yunnan. The copper bell at the corner of the ancient city's eaves rings lightly in the wind, and the shattered silver waves of Erhai Lake jump between the wheels. This 3000 word guide will take you into the Yunnan in my lens - the quiet and undisturbed Mu Fu in the morning, the Jesus light suddenly breaking into the picture frame while cycling at noon, and the lingering sound of hand drums drifting from the bar street at night. If you have any questions or would like to customize your trip, please contact us! 

Recommended Guided Tours

Kunming Culture Trip

3 Days | Kunming

Kunming City Walking Tour

1 Days | Kunming

Day1： Lijiang Old Town

Transportation:

● After flying directly to Sanyi Airport, take the airport shuttle bus for 25 yuan/person directly to the south gate of the ancient city (about 40 minutes)

● High speed railway to Lijiang Station, Didi taxi to Gucheng for about 15 yuan (located at Gucheng Management Bureau, avoid dragging luggage along the stone slab road)

Deep gameplay:

● 07:30 Mu Fu Morning Tour: Avoid the tour group and touch the vermilion pillars of the 600 year old Tusi Dynasty under the plaque "Palace Museum to the north, Mu Fu to the south". The guide will reveal the ruins of the Naxi people's custom of "men not marrying women not marrying" in walking marriages.

● 10: 00 Zhongyi Market Exploration:

Rose Sauce Bait Blocks for Grandma Yang (5 yuan/piece)

Freshly baked Lijiang rice cake paired with crispy oil tea (recommended at Zhongyi Snack Shop)

Matsutake sashimi during mushroom season (July August)

● 14: 00 Handmade Pottery Experience: Learn to make black pottery from intangible cultural heritage inheritors at the Dongba Workshop on Sifang Street, and personally make Naxi "Three eyed Well" shaped tea cups (128 yuan including firing and mailing)

● Night tour Tips:

20: After the 2000s, the lanterns on Sifang Street are all lit up. We recommend listening to folk songs on the second floor of "Sakura House Gold" near the river

At 22:00, I switched to the "Hope You're Here Too" bar and coincidentally met an original singer for an impromptu performance

Accommodation recommendations:

High end selection of 'Anyu Hotel' (butler style service+goodnight sweet soup)

Cost effective option: "Listening to Flower Hall" landscape room (with independent balcony and view of snow capped mountains)

Day2： The Dual Sky of Ice and Fire in Yulong Snow Mountain

Pre departure essentials:

● Oxygen cylinder: Ancient City Pharmacy 15 yuan/bottle (sold in scenic areas for 60 yuan)

● Sunscreen three piece set: ice sleeves+sunglasses+SPF50+sunscreen (UV radiation is twice that of plain)

● Energy Pack: Chocolate+Glucose (to quickly replenish energy while climbing)

Glacier Park Guide:

● Secret of ticket grabbing: grab tickets at the official account of Lijiang Tourism Group at 20:00 one day in advance (choose the 140 yuan cableway package ticket)

● Dressing formula: fleece inner tank assault suit+anti slip hiking shoes (mountain top temperature is around 0 ℃ all year round)

● Best time slot: Choose the cable car from 10:00-10:30 to avoid tour groups and minimize fog and fog

Blue Moon Valley Avoiding Pits Guide:

● Don't buy a 50 yuan electric scooter! Walk from the cableway exit to Blue Moon Valley for about 15 minutes, passing through Jingtan Lake and Yuye Lake, each with a different Tiffany blue gradient

● Rent ethnic clothing for photography: 20 yuan/set (half cheaper than in the scenic area)

Day3： Erhai Lake Cycling Record (Caicun → Shuanglang)

Cycling equipment:

● Car Rental: Recommended "Dali Changxing Car Rental" (Mountain Bike 80 yuan/day, including helmet and belt)

● Navigation: Download "Aowei Map" in advance (some sections around the sea have poor signal)

● Supply: Each person should prepare 1.5L of water and Snickers (there are fewer convenience stores along the way)

Detailed explanation of road sections:

● Caicun Wharf: Eat crispy rice cake and breast fan rice noodles (15 yuan per serving) at the "Haiyan Hotel" before departure

● Qianxi S-bend: Arrive at the contracted unmanned bay before 9:00, rent a transparent boat for 50 yuan/30 minutes to take photos

● Xizhou Ancient Town:

The best parking spot on the corner building is outside the yellow wall of "Xilin Garden"

Taste the milk popsicle from 'Cool House' (4 yuan/stick, with rose brown sugar flavor)

Visit the "Yan Family Courtyard" Bai ethnic architecture (admission fee of 25 yuan including explanation)

● Sea Tongue Park: The bench under the husband and wife tree is the filming location for "Heart Flower Road Release". It is recommended to stay for 30 minutes

● Double Corridor Terminal: Order a cup of Yunnan small grain coffee at the "Fushi" seaside restaurant and watch the sunset over Erhai Lake turn the Cangshan Mountains red

Day4： Literature and Art Roaming in Dali Old Town

● 09:00 Zhoucheng Tie Dyeing: Learn how to make square scarves from the inheritor of the "Puzhen Tie Dyeing Museum". Works can be mailed (experience price 98 yuan including materials)

● 13: 00 Bai Ethnic Family Banquet: Reservation for "Cloud Hidden Kitchen"'s carved plum braised pork and Nuo Deng ham (80 yuan per person, 1 day in advance reservation required)

● 15: 00 Bed Sheet Factory Art Zone:

dolphin Ad Bookstore is searching for out of print books

Viewing Yang Liping's Private Collection Exhibition at Dali Photography Museum

The "Kinoshita Gallery" regularly holds contemporary art exhibitions

● 19: 00 March Street Night Market:

Buy Yongping Braised Chicken Seasoning (10 yuan/pack)

Bargain to buy dyed fabric (cut in half at the open price)

Try "Jianshui Roasted Tofu" (1 yuan/piece)

Day5： The closing ceremony at the foot of Cangshan Mountain

Light hiking route:

● Gantong Cableway: one-way 80 yuan, final destination Jizhao Temple (succulent plant paradise, vegetarian meal 20 yuan/person, meal starts at 11:30)

● Yudai Yunyou Road: Walk from Jizhao Temple to Qilong N ü chi (about 2 hours), passing through the "Qingbi River" waterfall group

Accompanying gift:

● Xiaguan Tuo Tea "Cang'er Tuo (aged for 5 years, 100 yuan/piece)

● Dali Tie Dyeing Factory Table Flag (Machine Tie Dyeing is more organized, 80 yuan/piece)

● Vacuum packaging of "Milk Fan" (recommended "Yangji Milk Fan", 35 yuan/bag)

This journey is like an endless three-dimensional book - the bluestone slab of the Old Town of Lijiang will remember the rhythm of your heel, and the spray of Erhai Lake will collect the marks of your ruts. The significance of Yunnan's tourist destinations lies not in the destinations on the check-in list, but in the moments of mountains and seas that make one's heart skip a beat.