Dalian-Yunnan 9-day free travel

Number of days：9 days
Time: June
Average cost: 7500 yuan
With whom：parents and children
Updated: 2023.07.18

On June 30th, I went on a nine-day trip to Yunnan with my family and the elderly. I'm sharing my itinerary with you.

From 9:35 to 15:05, we flew from Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport to Kunming Changshui Airport (with a stopover at Shiyan Airport). Due to heavy rain in Dalian on the 29th, the plane was delayed by half an hour. We didn't get off the plane at Shiyan Airport and took off half an hour later.

We booked a hotel with airport transfers in advance through China-TravelNote. After getting off the plane, we called the hotel to arrange a pick-up. The wait was only 20 minutes or so, and a minivan arrived from the hotel to pick us up. It was very convenient.

After checking into the hotel, I rested for half an hour, followed the AutoNavi navigation system to Dabanqiao Metro Station, took Line 6, transferred to Line 3, and got off at Wuyi Road Metro Station (5 yuan per person). We exited at Exit D and walked to Kunming Old Street Food Street for shopping and dining.

Then we walked to Biji Square to take photos of the night view. There wasn't much to see there, but the two building signs were ablaze with light and looked magnificent at night. I recommend going at night; there's really not much to see during the day.

Nanping Pedestrian Street/Jinma Biji Square

Finally, we took the subway back to Dabanqiao Station and took a Didi back to our hotel.

We rented a Trumpchi M6 the day before. The rental company drove the car to the hotel at 9:00 a.m. for the normal vehicle inspection and signature confirmation.

We drove to Xishan Park with our family (tickets can be purchased on China-TravelNote one day in advance for 75 yuan per person, with half-price tickets available for seniors aged 60 to 70 and students under 18). We recommended taking the cable car up and the electric car down.

After our visit, we enjoyed a meal at Flower Street, located at the entrance to Xishan Park. There's a wide variety of food, featuring local specialties.

We then drove straight to the Yunnan Nationalities Cultural Village. The elderly and children were a little tired when we arrived, so we rested in the parking lot for 40 minutes. We didn't have enough time to enter the park again, so we wandered around the outskirts of the village and headed straight to Haigeng Park (Dianchi Lake) for another hour. (There's a nighttime bonfire party at the Yunnan Nationalities Cultural Village at 5:30 PM, and tickets are much cheaper than the regular price, but you can only see five ethnic groups, so we decided to give it a try.)

Dianchi Lake Xishan Scenic Area

Driving directly back to the hotel took about an hour, and you could have easily followed the directions using AutoNavi.

That evening, we had dinner at a Yijia restaurant near the hotel. The five of us ordered a special Yunnan set meal for four, which included three meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a soup. It was truly delicious, and we even had the steamed chicken I'd longed to try. I highly recommend it when visiting Yunnan.

Driving for over an hour to the Stone Forest, I found a guide there (160 RMB) and toured until 1 PM, then drove to Kunming Station to return the car. (You can negotiate with the car rental company and add an extra 30 RMB pickup fee to drop the car off directly at the train station. This is more convenient. Your luggage will be in the car from the moment you leave the hotel in the morning, so you don't have to go back to the hotel. Not only does this save time, but the Didi and subway costs for 5 people are more than 30 RMB.)

Stone Forest Afterwards, we found a restaurant near the station for dinner and headed back to the station at 4:00 PM to buy our high-speed rail tickets to Dali (note: if possible, buy your tickets in advance; don't let the frequent trains scare you off). Sadly, even the latest train tickets were sold out. Since our Dali hotel was already booked, we ended up having to take a business car back to Dali. Not only did it take up much more time than the high-speed rail, but it also involved quite a few hassles (I won't go into the details here; if you're interested, check out "Travel Together" on China-TravelNote Community and search for [Beware of the Return Train from Kunming to Dali, You'll Be Scammed]). So, it's best to buy your high-speed rail tickets in advance.

We checked into our hotel in Dali Ancient Town at 11:30 PM. While the journey wasn't smooth, the hotel's ambiance, comfort, and the hospitality of the owner instantly made our bad mood vanish.

Woke up in the morning and went straight to the hotel's 3rd floor terrace to look out at Cangshan Mountain. All I could see was blue sky and white clouds, with the mountain's peak towering into the clouds. A wonderful mood began early in the morning.

Cangshan Scenic Area Dali Qingting Inn

After breakfast, the family took a Didi to Cangshan Scenic Area (around 15 yuan). Tickets were half price for seniors and students as usual (the ticket included admission to the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Movie Studio). We took two cable cars directly up to 3900 meters above sea level (we didn't buy oxygen cylinders or rent down jackets. Well, going up to 3900 meters will cause some altitude sickness, and different people react differently. I had a migraine, which was slightly better after taking two painkillers. Some of my family members couldn't walk, and some had difficulty breathing). Seeing that they were not feeling well, my wife and I climbed to Ximatan, which was above 3920 meters, and didn't climb any higher. I think the highest point was 3966. You can use this altitude reaction to decide whether you can climb Jade Dragon Snow Mountain later. Anyway, we passed Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. I recommend everyone climb to at least Ximatan when visiting Cangshan. The scenery there is worth seeing. When we first arrived, it was still foggy, and it felt like a cartoon. You could vaguely see a small bay of water in front of you. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, the fog dissipated, and the lake suddenly appeared, and then the lake slowly disappeared into the fog again...

Cangshan Scenic Area Ximatan

After descending the mountain, I rested and visited the filming location for "The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils." I took a Didi back to Dali Ancient Town for some local specialties, then immediately took another Didi to the Three Pagodas Temple (I later learned that if you have dragon or snake attributes, avoid them. You can ask the locals why). From the Three Pagodas Temple, you can take a three-wheeled scooter back, which is affordable and features local specialties.

We dined in the ancient town again that evening, and then enjoyed a nighttime tour of the city—a truly unique experience. Back at the hotel, I bought a beer and sipped it on the terrace, smoking a cigarette and gazing at the night view. I didn't even want to sleep. This felt like life, a cozy and comfortable life.

The weather wasn't great. We had planned to charter a car to visit Erhai Lake at 9:00 AM, but it started raining before 8:00 AM. We waited until 9:30 AM, when the rain finally subsided, before we finally set off. The rain stopped once we reached the S-bend. Honestly, I didn't find the S-bend that special. Perhaps we were used to seeing the ocean in Dalian, so it didn't really matter. The kids, however, had a blast riding their bikes.

As we boarded the car at the S-bend, the rain started to fall again, getting heavier. We stopped by Yan's House for a stroll, which was a good place to take shelter. The rain had eased a bit when we emerged, so we headed straight to the north gate of Shuanglang Ancient Town (the car would wait at the south gate). We strolled around Shuanglang Ancient Town, had a meal, and then boarded a boat for a tour of Nanzhao Fengqing Island. The trip took over three hours, and once we were in the car, we really didn't want to get off. We had the driver drive the rest of the way (we simply stopped by Xiao Putuo and Santorio without getting off), then headed back to the hotel to rest. I recommend planning your itinerary to see all the Erhai Lake attractions. One day isn't enough time, and even if you could, you wouldn't be able to handle it.

Back at the hotel, I was so exhausted I didn't feel like moving. I bought instant noodles to cover my dinner.

I rented a car through China-TravelNote a day in advance. I could use the car rental discount coupon included with my flight, which was a great deal. Since I booked a round-trip flight from Kunming (which was more affordable), I booked a car pick-up at Dali Station. After my tour, I'd pick up the car at Dali Station and take the high-speed rail back to Kunming. To prevent any future mistakes, I also bought the high-speed rail ticket back to Kunming.

After picking up the car at Dali Station, I followed the navigation instructions to pick up my family and luggage at the hotel. After checking out, I headed straight to Shaxi Ancient Town. To reach Shaxi Ancient Town, you must take the Niusha Line, which is the free national highway route shown on Gaode Maps. While there are some narrow roads and village roads, the scenery along the way is definitely worth it. We stopped at the second highest point on the winding mountain road to admire the view. There was a green pickup truck parked there, selling freshly ground coffee. The owner, a native of Shenyang, chatted with him, drank coffee, and gazed at the beautiful scenery below. The fatigue from driving disappeared without a trace.

Fully recovered, we continued on our way to Shaxi Ancient Town. Shaxi Ancient Town is absolutely worth a visit. If possible, I recommend staying there overnight; it's truly beautiful.

Shaxi Ancient Town

Leaving Shaxi Ancient Town, we used AutoNavi Navigation to head straight to Lijiang. Our hotel was in Lijiang Old Town. Here's a tip: if you're young and enjoy the hustle and bustle, stay there. If you're older and prefer a quieter environment, consider staying in Suhe Ancient Town. This is just a suggestion. Maybe I'm getting old, but listening to the clamorous music in the old town makes a peaceful sleep a luxury. I don't think I fell asleep until 3 a.m. But to be fair, Lijiang Old Town is still beautiful both day and night.

Lijiang Ancient Town

After checking out this morning, we drove straight to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Having already experienced altitude sickness at Cangshan Mountain, we forgot to climb it and instead spent some time exploring the Blue Moon Valley below. We took the bus from the Blue Moon Valley starting point to the return bus at the end. Blue Moon Valley is definitely worth a visit; even the underwater mirror is amazing. After exploring the area, we drove straight to Lugu Lake. After checking Amap, we saw a toll-free route with fewer miles and no tolls, so we decided to try it. In Dali, the hotel owner told me the route to Lugu Lake was winding and slower, but I didn't think much of it at the time, figuring Dalian Binhai Road had its fair share of twists and turns, so it wouldn't be a big deal. But the actual drive revealed countless twists and turns, one after another. I was driving pretty fast, around 60mph, and by the end, everyone in the car, except me, was feeling a bit carsick. So, for beginners who aren't in a hurry or have a short drive, it's recommended to take the highway instead of the toll-free route.

Once you arrive at Lugu Lake, you need to buy a ticket to enter. After entering, it takes more than 10 minutes to drive to the hotel. Some hotels include entrance fees, so you can ask in advance when booking a hotel to avoid wasting money. The hotel room I chose had a "garden balcony", which is absolutely my dream retirement home. There is no other. Opening the French window, you'll find a glass-enclosed balcony with an egg-shaped rocking chair on the side. There's also a small door through the glass partition, leading to a courtyard. From there, you'll find a lawn. Another 50 meters across the lawn brings you to the lake...

Lugu Lake

The night at Lugu Lake is quiet and peaceful, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It's a relaxing and comfortable experience.

I woke up at 6 a.m. to watch the sunrise, but the weather wasn't cooperating. The rosy glow of the sunrise was already visible, but the sun was hiding behind clouds, which was a bit disappointing.

Lugu Lake

Due to time constraints, after watching the sunrise and having breakfast, we quickly checked out and took our luggage to the Rige Peninsula Observation Deck to take in the panoramic view of Lugu Lake.

Rige

Then we drove straight to Dali Railway Station to return the car. On the way, we could take in the scenery and take photos at the Jinsha River Bridge Observation Deck.

Jinsha River

Back at Dali Station, I returned the car, had lunch, and immediately took the high-speed rail back to Kunming. From there, I took the subway and Didi to check into the hotel I'd booked in advance with airport transfers. Time was tight.

Woke up a little later, went downstairs for breakfast, packed my luggage, and boarded the hotel's minivan to the airport promptly at 12:00. My flight back to Dalian was in the afternoon.

The above is our itinerary. The attractions I think are worth recommending are Kunming's Stone Forest, Dali's Cangshan Mountain, Shaxi Ancient Town, Lijiang's Blue Moon Valley, and Lugu Lake. Our time was a bit tight, so I really didn't explore Lugu Lake enough. I didn't expect it to be so beautiful and comfortable. If I have time, I will fly directly to Lugu Lake and stay there for a week, playing and enjoying it slowly.