Guangzhou Self-Driving Tour - Chongzuo - Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-La - Congjiang - Sanjiang

Number of days: 12 days
Time: January
Average cost: 6,000 yuan
With whom：a person
Updated: 2023.02.01

Travel Route Map

Distance: Approximately 5,000 kilometers

Route: Guangzhou - Chongzuo - Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture - Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-La - Congjiang County - Sanjiang County

Cost: Approximately 5,500 yuan

First stop: Chongzuo (2 days, cost approximately 1,000 yuan)

8:00 Guangzhou - 17:00 Chongzuo (800 kilometers, estimated driving time 9 hours)

After arriving, you can head to Taiping Ancient Town for dinner and a night market. The atmosphere is quite pleasant. Chongzuo's Taiping Ancient Town district is a second-batch national-level nighttime cultural and tourism consumption cluster, offering affordable prices and free admission.

You can stay in a nearby hotel for the night; it's quite affordable at 76 yuan per room.

The next day, you can head to Detian Waterfall (110 yuan). The recommended duration is three hours. The waterfall is unique in that it's located on the upper reaches of the Guichun River, on the border between China and Vietnam. It's the largest transnational waterfall in Asia and the fourth largest in the world, making it a worthwhile experience.

Detian Cross-border Waterfall Scenic Area

After the tour, we drove to our second stop, Kunming. The distance is 616 kilometers and the estimated driving time is 8 hours. Upon arrival, you can choose to stay in Guandu District, Kunming. It is not far from several attractions and the cost is not expensive, 71 yuan per room. It is recommended to stay for 2 consecutive nights so that you can do some laundry. The bathroom of the hotel I stayed in had a heater that could reach 40℃, which I used to dry clothes, hahaha.

Kunming Hongjian Hotel

Second stop: Kunming (1-2 days, cost around 500 RMB)

After waking up, you can visit Dianchi Lake first. This is one of the must-see attractions. From November to March every year, many seagulls come here to spend the winter. Being able to have an up close and personal encounter with the seagulls is truly a unique and delightful experience! Feeding the seagulls is also very cheap. 10 RMB gets you three bags, which is enough for playing and taking photos.

Dianchi Lake

Afterwards, you can take a walk in the nearby Haidong Wetland Park, which is also a place where great photos can be taken. Ladies who like taking pictures should not miss it.

At noon, you can go to Guandu Ancient Town for lunch. There are quite a lot of Yunnan snacks. After eating, you can take a walk and slowly experience the characteristics of Yunnan from here.

Guandu Ancient Town

At 5 or 6 o'clock in the evening, you can go to Nanping Pedestrian Street, Nanqiang Pedestrian Street, and Kunming Old Street. These streets are very close to each other, so you can definitely spend hours strolling around and taste the delicacies from all over Yunnan. Many of them are not available in Guangdong. It is very addictive. The pedestrian street will be very crowded during the holidays and there are few parking spaces, so park early. If you still have the energy, you can enjoy a couple of drinks in the old street.

Third stop: Dali (2-3 days, cost around 1,300 RMB)

Dali has many attractions, including Erhai Yue Wetland Park, Sansheng Island, Longkan Ancient Ferry, Dali Ancient Town, Cai Village, the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, Cangshan Mountain, the Corridor Bridge, Xizhou Ancient Town, Haishe Ecological Park, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Wase Town, Xiao Putuo, Jinsuo Island, and Yinsuo Island. Due to time constraints, I didn't visit all of them in one go, so here are just a few recommended places and itineraries.

After waking up around 8 or 9 in Kunming, I navigated to Dali Binhai Avenue (you can also go directly to Sansheng Island, but I think this is the beginning of Erhai Lake and offers a different kind of scenery). After finding a suitable place to park and have lunch, I was able to get up close and personal with Erhai Lake. Seeing Erhai Lake reminded me of the song "Even if you have no money, you still have to go to the edge of Erhai Lake." Its beauty cannot be described in words.

Erhai Lake

First, here's a map of my walking route.

There's a forest near Xiajia Village. It's a very pleasant place to take photos, and you'll capture unique beauty.

After your initial attraction, you can choose to stay near Dali Ancient Town. We strongly recommend against staying inside the Old Town (expensive, inconvenient transportation, and noisy at night). I stayed just outside the Old Town's north gate, about a 10-minute walk into the Old Town, and easily accessible by car. The room cost 153 yuan per room.

After a short rest, you can head to Dali Ancient Town for some shopping. The Old Town is quite large, so if you're not familiar with it, you'll need to consult a map.

Boai Road, Renmin Road, Huguo Road, and Guangwu Road are the busiest areas for people and stalls. Yu'er Road is the main thoroughfare, so there's not much point in wandering around. I had plenty of energy, so I explored all the major city gates. There is still no shortage of distinctive Dali Bai cuisine in the ancient city. As an outsider, I find everything new and, having watched too many TV dramas, I particularly want to try "Water Yanghua" and the Bai ethnic specialty "Slate BBQ". It's just that my stomach capacity is small when traveling alone.

Dali Ancient Town

The next day, after waking up, you can choose to climb Cangshan Mountain or Sansheng Pagoda (about 300 yuan in total). Due to the schedule, I did not climb Cangshan Mountain.

After waking up and having breakfast, I went to Sansheng Island first. The seaside trails and unique B&Bs on Sansheng Island made people feel happy.

Afterwards, you can embark on a circular Erhai Lake tour, taking you from Longkan Ancient Ferry to the Covered Bridge, Xizhou Ancient Town, Haishe Ecological Park, and finally Shuanglang Ancient Town.

You'll need to park on the roadside in advance in Shuanglang Ancient Town. The entrance to the ancient town faces the highway, so parking is scarce. Shuanglang Ancient Town offers a more pleasant atmosphere than Dali Ancient Town. The seaside B&Bs are exquisite, and there are cruises around the island. It's a must-see in Dali. The fragrant pineapples here are small and delicious—definitely worth trying. A word of caution: Dali's high altitude means strong UV rays, so be sure to use sunscreen.

Shuanglang Town

It took me longer than I expected to explore Shuanglang Ancient Town, more than three hours.

After eating and drinking, we drove along the Ring Road all the way to Xiao Putuo in Wase Town. Seagulls are quite common this season, so to avoid accidentally hurting people, we recommend not flying drones. Xiao Putuo is a unique little island, but it was so crowded that I couldn't find parking and couldn't take any photos.

For a more in-depth tour, you can continue to Jinsuo Island (by boat). I've heard the scenery there is also amazing. The route between Haidong Town and Wase Town is perfect for taking sunset photos. Cangshan Mountain is across the way, and the coastal road is also very beautiful.

Stop 4: Lijiang (2-3 days, cost approximately 1,200 RMB)

The journey from Dali to Lijiang is 220 kilometers, and takes 2.5 minutes. You'll pass through the famous Shaxi Ancient Town along the way, where you can spend a few hours strolling before continuing on to Lijiang.

Enjoy the beauty of Lijiang! Wander through Cangshan and Erhai Lake to experience nostalgia! Staying near Lijiang Old Town is recommended. Staying inside is not recommended unless you're staying there for a while. The old town is huge, and the roads are intricate. I used Amap to navigate the entire way, otherwise it's easy to get lost. Cars are definitely inaccessible. If you're staying inside, you can contact the B&B owner to bring a cart out to help with your luggage and guide you. Room rates around the old town are usually 90-150 RMB on weekdays, but they typically increase by over 50% on holidays.

The ancient city has numerous entrances and exits. I entered and exited through the southeast gate because it's right next to the scenic area parking lot, which is quite convenient. Parking is limited, and during holidays, unless you arrive very early, there won't be a spot. Another important point: If you're planning to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, make sure you book your tickets well in advance. I couldn't get one. I heard you can get up at 7 a.m. every morning to grab a ticket, as the scenic area releases a limited number of tickets daily. Therefore, I missed out on visiting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain this time.

Because I arrived early, the scenic area wasn't crowded yet, so I decided to fly a drone to get a full view of the ancient city.

Flying during crowded times is not recommended to avoid accidental injuries. My walk started with Wangu Tower, which offers a panoramic view of the scenic area and is a great photo spot. The entrance fee is 26.7 yuan (purchase and use on China-TravelNote). This iconic building in Lijiang is worth a visit. In Dongba script, it means "Thousand-Year Tower," and in Naxi, it's called "Wengulun," meaning "to enjoy the view from a commanding height." The name "Wangu Tower" is a play on the sound of the two, making it a worthwhile visit. The view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from the back mountain is also excellent. Afterwards, we wandered around the city and headed to the Old Town Waterwheel. The ancient architecture of Lijiang Old Town is unique and breathtaking, and photography enthusiasts can also dress up in traditional ethnic minority costumes for stunning photos. It's truly a photogenic destination. Tickets to the centrally located Mufu Mansion cost 40 yuan (booked in advance on China-TravelNote). I had a thorough tour, spending seven hours. However, Lijiang Old Town still has a more commercial atmosphere, and dining is a bit pricey.

Lijiang Old Town

Besides the Old Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, other places in Lijiang are also worth visiting. You can refer to my route: ① Lijiang Old Town ② Jade Dragon Snow Mountain ③ Lashi Lake ④ Baisha Ancient Town ⑤ Shuhe Ancient Town ⑥ Wenbi Mountain. Spending 5 days here to experience the beauty of Lijiang will be very rewarding.

Fifth Stop: Shangri-La (2-3 Days)

Lijiang Old Town - Shangri-La, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is 170 kilometers away, about a 2-hour drive. You will pass through Tiger Leaping Gorge along the way, which you can also visit if you are interested.

I have to say that Shangri-La is much higher in altitude than Lijiang, and I had a slight case of altitude sickness on the second day. Arriving at Shangri-La, I need to elaborate on the room I booked. I stayed at the Millennium Boutique Hotel near Dukezong. There are three of these hotels on one street, so they're incredibly numerous. Here's a picture:

This hotel is newly decorated, with a predominantly gold color scheme. The rooms are spacious and clean, with air conditioning and underfloor heating. It's truly magnificent. Imagine staying there in -10°C weather and walking around in shorts. The best deal, of course, is the 198 yuan per two-night price – it's a great deal. I also really like the local girls' unique accents.

If you're staying longer, I recommend buying a combined ticket (which covers several attractions). Buying them individually is really not worth it. Some attractions are neither close nor far, making it inconvenient without a car.

It's been ages since I've been out in the mountains. My first choice was Pulacuo National Park (ticket: 138 yuan). It was freezing cold when I got off the bus. Some tourists bought long johns right there, but a rougher person like me just had to bear with it. Shangri-La is located on the edge of Tibet, and the area is predominantly Tibetan, so the architectural style here is distinct from the rest of Yunnan. In winter, only a portion of the scenic area at Pulacuo is open. The lake water is crystal clear, and the strong ultraviolet radiation transforms it into a turquoise blue, like a blue rose.

The only wildlife you can see now are yaks, squirrels, and wild horses. In spring, when everything is reborn and the grass is green, I'm sure the scenery would be even more beautiful. Because the scenic area isn't fully open, you can complete it in just three and a half minutes.

After another half-hour drive, we arrived at the Songzanlin Monastery scenic area (ticket price: 90 yuan). This is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province, one of the most famous monasteries in Kham, and the center of the Yellow Sect in the Sichuan-Yunnan region. It holds a pivotal position in the entire Tibetan region and is known as the "Little Potala Palace."

Many people donned Tibetan costumes and enjoyed taking photos here. The local makeup was truly stunning and eye-catching. Many birds flew above the temple, unafraid to avoid the crowds of tourists. Could this be Buddhist affinity?

Songzanlin Temple Scenic Area

If you're not lost in the photo ops, this area can be explored in an hour and a half. Next, drive half an hour to Dukezong Ancient Town, which is free to enter. As the oldest fortress on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, its unique location and the rich history of an ancient city graciously welcome the endless stream of merchants and travelers along the historic Tea Horse Road. The plateau beef hotpot here is perhaps even more delicious than the Chaoshan beef hotpot, and the price is very affordable. It was a luxury for me to have it alone. When you come here, you must go to the Guishan Park in the ancient city for a walk. There is a giant prayer wheel here that is 21 meters high and weighs 60 tons. It requires at least 20 people to push it, and you have to turn it at least three times clockwise. In the Dukezong Ancient City in Shangri-La, this Tibetan Buddhist practice has become a must-do for tourists to pray.