Lijiang to Kunming by High-Speed Train
Fastest 3h · from ¥166 second class · 10 daily trains · Train wins vs flight
By China for Travelers · Published 2026-04-25 · Updated 2026-05-30 · Verified against 12306 on 2026-04-30
The Lijiang to Kunming corridor is 440 km of G/D-class high-speed rail. Trains run from Lijiang Railway Station to Kunming Railway Station, with the fastest service taking 3h and the longest about 4h. Second-class seats start at ¥166 – ¥199. Opened 2023. Flight is similar door-to-door but train goes through Yunnan highlands.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 440 km
- Train types
- G, D
- Duration
- 3h – 4htypical mainline services
- Daily departures
- 10 trains
- Service window
- 07:50 → 17:26
- Second class
- ¥166 – ¥199
- First class
- ¥265 – ¥318
- Business class
- ¥496 – ¥596
- Scenery
- ★★★★☆our editorial rating
Train vs flight
| Metric | Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest | 3h | 1h |
| Door-to-door | ~4h | 4h |
| Price | ¥166 – ¥199 | ¥400 – ¥1000 |
Editor: Opened 2023. Flight is similar door-to-door but train goes through Yunnan highlands.
Stations
- Departing fromLijiang Railway StationLijiang · G/D-class · ~25 min to city centre
HSR line from Kunming opened 2023. Buses 16/18 to Lijiang Old Town in 25 min; taxis ~¥40.
- Arriving atKunming Railway StationKunming · D/T-class · ~15 min to city centre
Downtown station, much closer to Green Lake + old town than Kunming South. Handles the direct Lijiang D-trains plus conventional services (T/K). Use this for Lijiang unless you're connecting from another HSR line.
How to book
Two paths for foreign travelers — either the official Chinese system at face price, or a Western OTA for an English-first checkout with a small markup.
- 12306 (official): face price, no booking fee. Requires a passport-bound account. Step-by-step 12306 walkthrough →
- Trip.com: English UI, foreign cards work, small markup. Best when 12306 frustrates you. Search Lijiang → Kunming on Trip.com →
- Compare the two: read 12306 vs Trip.com →
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the Lijiang to Kunming train?
- The fastest high-speed train covers the 440 km in 3h, with most services in the 3h–4h range. Trains are G/D-class.
- How much is a Lijiang to Kunming train ticket?
- Second class is ¥166 – ¥199, first class ¥265 – ¥318, business class ¥496 – ¥596. Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band.
- How many trains run from Lijiang to Kunming each day?
- About 10 trains a day each way, with the first around 07:50 and the last around 17:26.
- Is the train or the flight better for Lijiang to Kunming?
- Opened 2023. Flight is similar door-to-door but train goes through Yunnan highlands. Door-to-door the train is ~4h vs ~4h flying.
- How do I book Lijiang to Kunming tickets with a foreign passport?
- Two ways: the official 12306 English app (face price, passport-bound account, no booking fee) or Trip.com (English UI, foreign cards accepted, small markup). Tickets open exactly 15 days before departure.
Related routes
Other trips to Kunming
- Chengdu → Kunming · 6h 20m
Or explore the full interactive HSR map with all 24 cities and 36 corridors.