Lijiang is located in the northwest of Yunnan Province, about 527 kilometers away from Kunming. It is an ethnic minority ancient city that rarely well preserved in China. You can get there by plane, train and long-distance bus.

Get In and Out

◎By Plane

There are many flights to Lijiang, mainly from Kunming, Chengdu, Xishuangbannan and Chongqing, but also flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Nanjing, and Hangzhou (which may or may not stop en route at Kunming airport). The Kunming-Lijiang route has flights from early morning to late at night. The flight is only 50 minutes. At present, the Lijiang Sanyi International Airport only has international flights to/from Hong Kong, Bankok and Seoul. The airport is 35 minutes from the city. You can take a taxi - 80-100 yuan - or outside the arrivals hall you will find the airport bus, which leaves regularly when full, for 20yuan, to the Blue Skies Hotel near the Guangfung hotel and 1km from the old town. A taxi to the old town will be 10-15yuan from the Blue Skies car park. Buses to the airport leave about 100 minutes before flights, giving you enough time to check-in one hour before your flight.

◎By Train

There are daily services to Dali and Kunming. A ticket booking office is located on the north side of the road several hundred meters west of the bus station. The train station is an impressive structure about 7km south of Lijiang Old Town. Several public bus lines serve the station, including the number 18 and some number 4 buses. Taxis are reluctant to use the meter and will demand high fares of 30-40 yuan, though with bargaining 15 yuan may be possible. Be aware that taxis are not easy to come by in Lijiang. An alternative is the small SUV-type vans which cruise around offering a share-taxi service.

A hard sleeper berth from Kunming to Lijiang costs ¥130 and runs from 10PM to 7AM. The soft sleeper car would cost you about ¥205 on the same train. If you travel by a small family, parents and a kid, consider the VIP chamber which is at the price of ¥614, one less than purchasing three individual tickets in a four bed standard room. You may feel a bit tight for luggage storage space, but you gain more valuable privacy, with your own family. From Dali the train is a faster, cheaper alternative to the crowded buses: Hard (padded) seat is about 31Y, and the journey takes only 2 hours from Dali city.

Train Schedule from Kunming to Lijiang

Train Schedule from Dali to Lijiang

◎By Bus

The bus station is located south of the old city. Regular services to/from Shangrila and overnight service from Kunming stop here. You can take the bus 8 in front of the bus station to the old town.

There is a direct bus from Chengdu which starts at 11:20 at Xinnamen Station in Chengdu. It takes about 24 hours to do the trip, and cost about 280RMB.

Getting Around Lijiang

◎By bicycle

Bicycle is a very popular way. Bicycles are forbidden in the old town, but can travel to nearby ethnic villages, towns and to visit some of the scenic spots in the area. Tourists can rent Bikes from 70 Mishi Xiang on Xinyi Street, beside the river and opposite Mamafu's. All the bikes are mountain bikes, it costs RMB15/day.

◎By Bus

Bus is a very convenient way to get around the city. For most bus, the ticket fare is 1 Yuan. The mini-buses are the same price as the public bus within the city. They will have the number of the bus on the front windshield. To nearby village will charge you ￥2-5 by a mini-bus .

◎By Taxi

Taxi is also a good way to travel around. The starting fare is 6 Yuan or 7 Yuan during the daytime. If you want to travel inside the small city by taking a taxi, 8 Yuan would be enough. It should cost about RMB300 to hire a taxi for the entire day.