Route guide · Yunnan bullet train
Kunming to Lijiang by Bullet Train (2026)
440 km, about 3h 29m, 11 bullet trains a day — through the Yunnan highlands past Dali and Erhai Lake. Two decisions make the difference: which side to sit for the views, and staying over (Lijiang is a destination, not a day trip).
China for Travelers EditorialUpdated Published Rail data refreshed monthly
- 2nd class
- ¥166 – ¥199
- what everyone buys
- Frequency
- 11/day
- 07:50 – 17:26
- Train type
- C
- intercity 动车 (no G/D)
- Stay over
- 2–3 nights
- a base, not a day trip
For the Erhai Lake and snow-mountain views, sit on the LEFT (A-seat) heading to Lijiang — the scenery is the reason to take the train over the plane.
The route at a glance
Kunming to Lijiang is one of Yunnan’s great train rides: 440 km in about 3h 29m on the fastest service, with roughly 11 trains a day from about 07:50 – 17:26. The line opened through to Lijiang in 2023 and runs via Chuxiong, Dali and Heqing, so it doubles as a scenic tour of the Yunnan plateau. A short flight exists, but once you add airport transfers it ties the train door-to-door — and the train wins on price and scenery. First time in the region? See getting to Yunnan.
Which Kunming station — check before you go
Lijiang has a single station, so the arrival end is simple. The decision is at the Kunming end, where two stations sit on opposite sides of the city:
Kunming Railway Station 昆明站most trains
Downtown, on Metro Line 1. Most Lijiang trains start here, and it is far handier if you are staying in the city. The default — and the one to aim for.
Kunming South 昆明南站check first
The high-speed hub out in Chenggong, ~25 km south-east on Metro Lines 1 & 4 (allow 45–60 min from the centre). A couple of Lijiang trains start here — fine if you know, a long detour if you don’t.
In short: most departures use Kunming Railway Station downtown, but a few use Kunming South — so glance at the departure station when you book, the same way you would check a terminal before a flight. Both arrive at Lijiang Railway Station, about 10 km south of the old town (more on that below).
Which side to sit for the views
This is the part worth planning. The line climbs across the Yunnan plateau, and the best of it — the Dali plain, Erhai Lake and, near the end, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain — falls on one side. Heading to Lijiang, that is the left, the A-seat (Chinese coaches seat three on the left, A/B/C, and two on the right, D/F, so A is the left-hand window).
| What you’ll see | Sit on | When |
|---|---|---|
| Cangshan & Erhai Lake (the Dali plain) | Left · A-seat | ~2–2.5 h in (Chuxiong → Heqing); best mid-morning |
| Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 玉龙雪山 | Left · A-seat | ~30 min before Lijiang; clear mornings catch the gold |
| Tiger Leaping Gorge / Jinsha River side | Right · F-seat | better on the return to Kunming |
Catch an early departure if you can — the morning light is clearest and you arrive with the afternoon free for the old town. On the way back to Kunming the views simply swap sides: take a right-hand F-seat.
Classes and price
For a 3.5-hour ride second class is plenty. The fares (12306, checked 2026-06-27):
| Class | Price | Worth it? |
|---|---|---|
| Second classmost buy | ¥166 – ¥199 | What nearly everyone buys; a window A-seat is all you need. |
| First class | ¥265 – ¥318 | A little more legroom for the 3.5-hour ride; a modest treat. |
| Business class | ¥496 – ¥596 | Available, but spend it on a Jade Dragon Snow Mountain ticket instead. |
There is also an overnight tourist sleeper (Y-category, e.g. Y752): it leaves Kunming Railway Station around 21:30 and reaches Lijiang about 07:55, hard sleeper from ~¥123, soft sleeper ~¥186. It saves a hotel night and gets you in for sunrise — but the carriages run cold and noisy and you miss the daytime scenery, so it is a budget/time pick rather than the default. The daytime C-train is the better ride.
Stay over — Lijiang is a base, not a day trip
A same-day round trip is technically possible but not worth it — the train alone is ~3.5 hours each way, and the old town is at its best in the evening, when the lantern-lit canals and bar street come alive. Plan on 2–3 nights and treat Lijiang as a base. The old town (Dayan, 大研古城) sits at about 2,400 m — a moderate altitude where most people are fine; take the first day gently, drink water, and mind the strong sun (general advice, not medical guidance).
When to go
March–May for blossom and mild days; January–February for the clearest snow-mountain views (avoid Spring Festival week). Summer (Jun–Aug) and the Oct 1 holiday are the busy, pricey peaks. In high season book a guesthouse 1–2 months ahead; in low season a week or two is plenty. Winter days are sunny (15–20°C) but nights drop near freezing and rooms have no central heating — pick one with a heated mattress or underfloor heating.
Using Lijiang as a base
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Shuhe / Baisha are easy day or half-day trips. Shangri-La is now ~1.5 hours on by bullet train (¥49–70), and Dali ~2 hours back down the line — so you can string Dali–Lijiang–Shangri-La by rail. Lugu Lake is a worthwhile add-on but ~4 hours by road each way, so give it an overnight. To stay in the quiet, sleep in Shuhe or Baisha rather than central Dayan.
How to book with a foreign passport
12306 English app — the official China Railway channel: face-value fares, no booking fee. The trade-off is hassle — passport registration must be approved before you can buy (often slow), and customer service is Chinese-first and limited if a booking goes wrong.
Trip.com ↗ — the same China Railway seats, booked in English with a foreign Visa or Mastercard, no verification wait and 24/7 multilingual support. Prices track 12306, and with new-customer promotions Trip often comes out level or cheaper. As China’s largest OTA you can also add hotels, attraction tickets and tours to the same trip. See the booking walkthrough.
Seat & real-name tips — choose a left-hand A-seat for the views, and book ~15 days ahead in peak season (the snow-mountain run sells out). The name and passport number on the ticket must match what you present; e-tickets are scanned at the gate, no paper pickup needed.
Book on Trip.comNASDAQ: TCOM
The international arm of Ctrip — one of the few platforms selling real China Railway tickets in English, to a foreign passport and card. (Is it legit? — 12306 vs Trip.com )
Booking through our Trip.com links costs you nothing extra and helps fund our independent research — we earn a small commission. How we’re funded.
Arrived at Lijiang — getting to the old town
Lijiang Railway Station 丽江站 is about 10 km south of Dayan Old Town, and there is no metro in Lijiang — so it is the shuttle, a city bus or a taxi. Pick by where you are staying:
| Where you’re staying | Bus / shuttle | Taxi / DiDi |
|---|---|---|
| Dayan Old Town 大研古城 (where most stay) | No. 104 shuttle — direct, ¥8, ~20 min. Or bus 4 (north gate) / 18 (south gate), ¥5–8, ~25–30 min. | ¥20–25, ~20 min (~10 km) |
| Shuhe Old Town 束河古镇 (quieter) | Shuhe express shuttle from the station forecourt. | ¥30–40, ~30 min (~17 km) |
A bag-friendly alternative is the 古城直通车 old-town shuttle (~¥39.9 via the “在旅行” mini-program), which links the airport, station and the old-town gates — handy with luggage, though pricier and slower than the No. 104. Whichever you take, you are dropped at a gate: the old town is pedestrian-only and the lanes are stone-paved, so a guesthouse near the south or north gate saves dragging a case far.
Ignore the touts — the people offering a ¥5–10 lift in a blue minivan run unlicensed cars that detour and overcharge, and the “free map / free info” approach usually ends at a jade shop or a hard-sell tour. Take the official taxi rank or a DiDi, insist on the meter, and buy attraction tickets (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, shows) through official channels, not a QR code a stranger hands you.
Distances and drive times via Amap (高德地图) routing, checked 2026-06-27; the bus lines, the No. 104 shuttle, the old-town transfer and the tout warning are cross-checked against recent traveller reports (小红书).
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Kunming to Lijiang train?
The fastest C-train does it in about 3 hours 29 minutes; most run 3.5–4.5 hours, stopping at Chuxiong, Dali and Heqing along the way. It is a single-seat ride — no change of trains.
Is the Kunming to Lijiang train a high-speed (G) train?
No. The line is served by C-category 动车 (intercity bullet trains, top speed ~200 km/h) — there are no G or D-trains on it yet. There are around 11 a day, so it still feels frequent, just not the 300 km/h trunk-line experience.
Which Kunming station do Lijiang trains leave from?
Most leave from Kunming Railway Station (昆明站) in the city centre, on Metro Line 1 — handy and the default. A couple start from Kunming South (昆明南站), the high-speed hub out in Chenggong, about 25 km south-east on Metro Lines 1 and 4. They are on opposite sides of the city, so check your departure station before you set off.
Which side of the train has the best views, Kunming to Lijiang?
Heading to Lijiang, sit on the LEFT — the A-seat (the 3-seat side). Roughly two to two-and-a-half hours in, between Chuxiong and Heqing, the left windows look onto the Dali plain, Cangshan and Erhai Lake; about 30 minutes before Lijiang, the left side catches Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山), best on a clear morning. On the return to Kunming it reverses — take the right-hand F-seat.
Can I do Lijiang as a day trip from Kunming?
Not really worth it. The train alone is ~3.5 hours each way, so a same-day round trip leaves under four hours on the ground, and Lijiang Old Town is at its best in the evening once the lanterns come on. Plan on 2–3 nights and use Lijiang as a base for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shuhe and onward Shangri-La.
Is the altitude a problem in Lijiang?
Lijiang Old Town sits at about 2,400 m — a moderate altitude where most people feel fine. Take the first day slowly, drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol, and mind the strong UV. Shangri-La onward is higher (~3,300 m) and warrants more care. This is general travel information, not medical advice.
How do I get from Lijiang Railway Station to the old town?
The station is about 10 km south of Dayan Old Town and there is no metro in Lijiang. The simplest option is the No. 104 shuttle, which runs straight to the old town for about ¥8 in ~20 minutes; city buses 4 (north gate) and 18 (south gate) cost ¥5–8; a taxi is roughly ¥20–25 and ~20 minutes — insist on the meter, as some drivers quote a flat ¥38+. Ignore the touts in blue minivans offering a cheap lift.
Is there an overnight train from Kunming to Lijiang?
Yes — a Y-category tourist sleeper (such as Y752) leaves Kunming Railway Station around 21:30 and reaches Lijiang about 07:55, roughly 10.5 hours, with hard sleeper from ~¥123 and soft sleeper ~¥186. It saves a hotel night and lands you in time for sunrise on the snow mountain, but the air-conditioning runs cold and noisy, and you miss the daytime scenery — most visitors take the daytime C-train instead.
How much is the Kunming to Lijiang train ticket?
Second class is about ¥174–199, first class ¥278–318, and business class ¥520–596. Second class is what nearly everyone buys; first class buys a little more legroom for the 3.5-hour ride.
Should I fly or take the train from Kunming to Lijiang?
They tie on door-to-door time — the flight is about an hour in the air, but once you add getting to the airport, checking in and the transfer from Lijiang Sanyi Airport (~28 km out), it comes out similar to the ~3.5-hour train. The train is cheaper, leaves from the city centre, and the Yunnan-highlands scenery is the whole point. Fly only if a fare is unusually cheap or it fits a tighter schedule.
Verification scope
Route data — distance, journey time, fare bands and daily frequencies — is sampled from China’s national rail system and refreshed monthly; the train type, fares and departure-station split were cross-checked on 12306 (2026-06-27). Lijiang station distances are from Amap (高德地图) routing. The scenic side, the day-trip-vs-overnight call, the old-town transfer, the touts and the onward connections are cross-checked against recent traveller reports (小红书).
Confirm before booking: exact schedules, fares and which Kunming station a given train uses vary by departure — check the departure station and the seat side at booking time.
Once the train gets you to Lijiang
The ride is the easy part — here is how to plan the days at the other end.
