--- url: "https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-lijiang/" updated: 2026-10-23 --- ![Lijiang Station facade with the 丽江站 sign and the entrance forecourt](https://yunnan.guide/assets/responsive/lijiang-station-kcx36-20260622-1600.avif) # Reach Lijiang from Kunming or Dali, right to your hotel Choose your overnight stops first, then connect the station or airport to the right old-town entrance. Updated 2026-10-23 Photo by [Kcx36](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E4%B8%BD%E6%B1%9F%E7%AB%99_%E7%AB%99%E6%88%BF_2026-06-22.jpg) A direct daytime train is a simple choice when Lijiang is your next base. A Dali stop earns its place when you want time by Erhai. Finish either journey at the entrance your hotel uses, with a plan for your luggage and the return pickup. Train destinations 昆明 or 昆明南 → 丽江; 大理 → 丽江 for a Dali stay Old-town bases Dayan 大研古城, Shuhe 束河古镇 and Baisha 白沙古镇 need distinct transfers Airport Lijiang Sanyi, LJG, 丽江三义国际机场 Luggage handoff Agree the vehicle entrance, walking route and hotel meeting point ## On this page On this page 1. [Choose the journey that reaches your Lijiang hotel](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-lijiang/#task-t05) 2. [Go direct or make Dali a stay](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-lijiang/#section-1) 3. [Compare rail examples and book the actual stations](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-lijiang/#section-2) 4. [A road journey from your Dali base](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-lijiang/#section-3) 5. [Flying into Lijiang](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-lijiang/#section-4) 6. [From Lijiang Station to Dayan, Shuhe or Baisha](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-lijiang/#section-5) 7. [Two different airport bus services](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-lijiang/#section-6) 8. [Reach your hotel door and plan the return transfer](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-lijiang/#section-7) ## Choose the journey that reaches your Lijiang hotel ### Go direct or make Dali a stay Take a direct daytime train from Kunming when Lijiang is your next overnight base. You can watch the countryside on the way and make one hotel move. Compare departures from **Kunming Station, 昆明站**, and **Kunming South, 昆明南站**, with the journey from your hotel or airport. The fastest train on the screen can involve a longer trip to its departure station. ![Visitors walking between tiled houses on a stone street in Baisha](https://yunnan.guide/assets/responsive/l01-baisha-street-yumeto-1600.avif) Photo by [Yumeto](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20240503_Baisha.jpg) Stop in Dali when you want time in the old town or around Erhai. Book Kunming → Dali and Dali → Lijiang around that stay. **Dali Station, 大理站**, and **Dali Old Town, 大理古城**, are separate places; include the trip to and from your Dali hotel. A Dali visit gives you a second base, while a direct Kunming–Lijiang service carries you through without a required change there. For a party with large bags or someone who wants less walking, compare all train tickets plus both hotel transfers with one car quotation. The number of people, luggage space and walking distance matter as much as the intercity journey. ### Compare rail examples and book the actual stations These Ctrip quotations were checked on **13 October 2026**. Prices are **CNY per person, one way, second class**. The date column is the travel date; times are selected services or the range displayed for that date. | Journey | Travel date | Rail time in the checked results | Price | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Kunming → Lijiang | 13 Oct 2026 | Selected trains: 3 hr 29 min–3 hr 35 min | CNY 166–190 | | Kunming South → Lijiang | 13 Oct 2026 | Selected trains: 4 hr 40 min–4 hr 52 min | CNY 199 | | Dali → Lijiang | 13 Oct 2026 | 1 hr 36 min–2 hr 30 min | CNY 56–80 | | Lijiang → Kunming | 14 Oct 2026 | C88: 3 hr 23 min | CNY 190 | | Lijiang → Dali | 14 Oct 2026 | C988: 1 hr 56 min | CNY 80 | Search your travel date using **昆明** or **昆明南**, **大理**, and **丽江**. Read the station on each result and issued ticket, including when a Kunming South search also offers a Kunming departure. Choose your seat category and add each traveler with the document they will carry. Tickets go on sale within a 15-day window including the travel day. Use the [train booking and station guide](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/china-train-tickets/#task-p14) for name fields, identity verification, baggage and boarding. ### A road journey from your Dali base The **瓦猫号** station bus links visitor areas in Dali with Lijiang. Open **滴滴出行 → 站点巴士**, then choose the date, direction and offered pickup/drop-off points. The 2026 operator report lists **大理古城苍山门** at Dali Old Town, **喜洲古镇** at Xizhou, **双廊客运中心** at Shuanglang, and **丽江古城南门**, Lijiang Old Town's south gate. A stop near your Dali accommodation can save the trip back to Dali Station. Read the chosen departure's meeting pin, arrival time and fare before booking, then add the Lijiang hotel transfer. A private car suits a group with luggage or a deliberate village stop such as Shaxi. Send your date, people, bag sizes, Dali hotel entrance, stops in order and final Lijiang hotel entrance. Ask for the total vehicle price and suitable luggage space. Use the [driver and tour comparison](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/independent-travel-drivers-tours/#task-p09) to arrange that journey. Allow the village visit its own time when comparing it with a direct train. ![Stone-paved Sideng square with Shaxi’s wooden theatre](https://yunnan.guide/assets/responsive/d09-sideng-theatre-1600.avif) Photo by [Lovethefish\_cat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E6%B2%99%E6%BA%AA%E5%85%B4%E6%95%99%E5%AF%BA%E6%88%8F%E5%8F%B0-2570280.jpg) ### Flying into Lijiang Compare a Kunming Changshui **KMG** → Lijiang Sanyi **LJG** flight when it fits an airport connection. Count baggage collection, the next check-in, security and the Lijiang hotel transfer. A short flight can still take a large part of your travel day. If you are booking the whole trip, also compare arrival directly at LJG and departure from your final town in the [Yunnan airport guide](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-yunnan/#task-t01). ![Lijiang Sanyi Airport terminal at dusk](https://yunnan.guide/assets/responsive/t01-lijiang-airport-roniius-20210722-1600.avif) Photo by [Roniius](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lijiang_Sanyi_International_Airport.jpg) ### From Lijiang Station to Dayan, Shuhe or Baisha ![Visitors on the stone-paved Qinglong Bridge in Shuhe](https://yunnan.guide/assets/responsive/l01-qinglong-bridge-yumeto-20240503-1600.avif) Photo by [Yumeto](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20240503_Qinglong_Qiao,_Lijiang.jpg) **Lijiang Station, 丽江站**, is separate from all three old-town bases. Its forecourt has the bus boarding area. For a car, use the entrance supplied by your hotel. * **Dayan, 大研古城:** the **古城快速直通车** serves 古城南门, 忠义市场, 古城口 and other city stops. Choose 南门/忠义市场 for a south-side hotel, or 古城口/大水车 for a north-side approach. Bus 104 also serves the old-town car park near 大水车; bus 105 serves 白龙广场, 忠义市场 and 古城南门街. * **Shuhe, 束河古镇:** the **束河快速直通车** serves 西部客运站, 束河北门 and 束河南门. Match the north or south gate to your accommodation. * **Baisha, 白沙古镇:** for a bus journey, reach 古城口, then use the **白沙古镇旅游专线** through 红太阳广场 and 束河北门 to Baisha. Its published first city departure is 08:00. A direct car is useful with large bags or an early departure. Station shuttles are arranged around arriving trains. Query **掌上公交** for your arrival; for a late train, agree your hotel reception and pickup before traveling. ### Two different airport bus services The airport bus to **福慧路蓝天宾馆**, Lantian Hotel on Fuhui Road, costs **CNY 20 per person one way**, with about **50 minutes** published journey time. China Southern's service page, checked 13 October 2026, gives city departures every 30 minutes from **06:30 to 22:00**, and airport departures serving arrivals through the final flight. Buy aboard. Continue from Lantian Hotel to your actual Dayan, Shuhe or Baisha hotel. The separate **丽江汽车客运站** airport coach uses the route **丽江客运站 → 古城南门 → 古城北门 → 丽江火车站 → 丽江三义机场**. Its schedule published on 3 July 2025 was hourly, city departures **07:00–19:00** and airport departures **08:30–20:30**. Select the offered service for your date through **丽江交运** on WeChat or **滴滴出行 → 站点巴士**, or at the ticket window/boarding point. Use that service's own fare and stop information. ### Reach your hotel door and plan the return transfer Dayan and Shuhe's interior lanes exclude vehicles, including bicycles and other nonmotor vehicles. Baisha's core old street has vehicle restrictions **09:00–21:00**; the surrounding accommodation area has separate access. Request the hotel's Chinese name/address, car entrance pin, walking route and luggage meeting point. At arrival, reach that entrance, meet any arranged luggage assistance, then walk to reception. Ask the hotel about the service and its price. For less suitcase handling, choose accommodation with road access. On departure, collect stored bags after sightseeing and meet the car or bus at the agreed road point. Work back from your booked train or airline check-in deadline, including the walk out, road transfer and station/airport procedures. Dayan's surrounding roads are busy **17:00–23:00**. For Lijiang → Kunming and an onward KMG flight, match the actual arrival station, 昆明 or 昆明南, to a separate airport transfer. Include an overnight stay when the selected connections call for it. Save the entrance and ticket details with the [maps and travel-app steps](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/internet-maps-travel-apps/#task-p13). ![Stone paving and shallow steps in a narrow lane in Lijiang Old Town](https://yunnan.guide/assets/responsive/l02-lijiang-stone-lane-aaron-zhu-1200.avif) Photo by [Aaron Zhu](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lijiang_Old_Town_Stone_Paved_Street_-_panoramio.jpg) Sources * [Ctrip: Kunming to Lijiang train quotations](https://trains.ctrip.com/trainbooking/kunming-lijiang/) 2026-10-13 * [Ctrip: Dali to Lijiang train quotations](https://trains.ctrip.com/trainbooking/dali2-lijiang/) 2026-10-13 * [Ctrip: Lijiang to Kunming train quotations](https://trains.ctrip.com/trainbooking/lijiang-kunming/) 2026-10-13 * [Ctrip: Lijiang to Dali train quotations](https://trains.ctrip.com/trainbooking/lijiang-dali2/) 2026-10-13 * [China Transport News: customised passenger transport, 5 August 2026](https://www.zgjtb.com/2026-08/05/content_531494.html) 2026-10-13 * [Lijiang Media: customised Lijiang Transport services, 3 June 2025](https://www.lijiang.cn/article/152124.html) 2026-10-13 * [Ctrip: Kunming to Lijiang flights](https://m.ctrip.com/html5/flight/kmg.ljg.html) 2026-10-13 * [Ctrip: Lijiang to Kunming flights](https://m.ctrip.com/html5/flight/ljg.kmg.html) 2026-10-13 * [Lijiang bus routes, 2 May 2025](https://www.lijiang.cn/article/150221.html) 2026-10-13 * [China Transport News: Lijiang bus operations, 20 November 2025](https://www.zgjtb.com/m/2025-11/20/content_494324.html) 2026-10-13 * [China Southern: Lijiang airport bus](https://www.csair.com/h5/cn/guonei/Lijiang/1aqokhkip2qn7.shtml) 2026-10-13 * [Lijiang Traffic Radio: coach-station airport service, 3 July 2025](https://www.lijiang.cn/article/154013.html) 2026-10-13 * [Kunming Information Port: Lijiang police and tourism notice on old-town vehicle access, 13 July 2026](https://www.sohu.com/a/1049721160_115092) 2026-10-13 * [12306: 15-day advance ticket sales, 31 May 2022](https://www.12306.cn/mormhweb/zxdt/202205/t20220531_37508.html) 2026-10-13 ## Related guides [ ![Kunming South railway station](https://yunnan.guide/assets/responsive/kunming-south-station-amin-20240812-1600.avif) ### China train tickets: book with your passport and board in Yunnan Match every passenger name to their passport, secure an issued ticket and keep the original document handy from check-in to exit. ](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/china-train-tickets/) Photo by [Amin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kunming_South_railway_station.jpg) [ ![Aerial view of Dali railway station’s curved roof, red station sign and front plaza](https://yunnan.guide/assets/responsive/dali-station-front-2026-1600.avif) ### Yunnan by train, private driver or small group Buy a car or a guide where it changes the day, and compare the total for your whole party. ](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/independent-travel-drivers-tours/) Photo by [瑞丽江的河水](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E5%A4%A7%E7%90%86%E7%AB%99_-_%E8%88%AA%E6%8B%8D_-_2026-05-15_02.jpg) [ ![Glass facade and stone airport sign at Terminal 1 of Kunming Changshui International Airport](https://yunnan.guide/assets/responsive/t01-kmg-terminal-kcx36-20260902-1600.avif) ### Getting to Yunnan: choose the airports that fit your route Start closer to your first stay and finish near your last, with connections and the first hotel planned together. ](https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-yunnan/) Photo by [Kcx36](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E6%98%86%E6%98%8E%E9%95%BF%E6%B0%B4%E5%9B%BD%E9%99%85%E6%9C%BA%E5%9C%BA_T1%E8%88%AA%E7%AB%99%E6%A5%BC_2026-09-02_01.jpg) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://yunnan.guide/#website","name":"yunnan.guide","url":"https://yunnan.guide/","inLanguage":["en","zh-Hant","th","fr","ru","ko","vi","ja","ms","de","es"],"publisher":{"@id":"https://yunnan.guide/#organization"}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","@id":"https://yunnan.guide/#organization","name":"yunnan.guide","url":"https://yunnan.guide/"} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-lijiang/","url":"https://yunnan.guide/en/guides/getting-to-lijiang/","name":"Kunming or Dali to Lijiang: trains, airport buses and hotel arrivals","description":"Choose a direct train, a Dali stay or a road transfer to Lijiang. 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