Most economical: 10-day Yunnan travel guide for 1300 yuan, starting with Kunming World Expo Garden
Kunming is known as the "Spring City" and a famous tourist city. However, if you stay too long, it may not seem like there are many interesting places to visit. If your time is limited, two days should be enough. When traveling independently, the first thing to do is arrange for food and accommodation. The cost of living in Kunming is not very high, and the prices for eating and staying are reasonable. To save money, when you arrive in Kunming, you can choose to stay near Yunnan University (or other universities in the area such as Kunming University of Science and Technology, Yunnan Normal University, or Yunnan Minzu University). The hostels around here are mainly for students who cannot return to their dormitories on time, offering great value for money.
Specific routes:
1) Kunming Wujiaba Airport:
Method A: Take a taxi to Yunnan Minzu University; during the day, it costs about 20 yuan, at night about 24 yuan.
Method B: Take a bus from the airport (Kunming airport is close to the city center, one of the few airports in China with direct bus access) to Kunming Railway Station for one yuan (prepare coins). Then transfer to bus No. 64 and get off at Minzu University.
2) Kunming Railway Station
Method A: Take bus No. 64 to Minzu University (the boarding point is not at the exit of the railway station, so ask for directions).
Method B: Take bus No. 2 to Construction Road (boarding point is at the railway station exit, but after getting off, ask for directions and walk to Yunnan Minzu University, about two stops away).
Method C: Take a taxi directly to Yunnan Minzu University for approximately 16-18 yuan RMB.
After arriving at the main gate of Minzu University, casually ask passing students where there are cheap and clean hostels nearby, and most will enthusiastically recommend them to you. (PS: Most local people in Yunnan are warm-hearted and honest, so feel free to ask for directions throughout Yunnan.)
Hostels in this area generally offer standard rooms,不分淡旺季，每床每天价格为10-15元。
If it's still early after settling in, you can have dinner nearby since most small restaurants around here are student-run, so overcharging is less likely. Be prepared for possible short-changing when buying fruit nearby. After dinner, take a stroll through the Yunnan University campus to翠湖Park (red-beaked gulls reside here from December to March every year, creating a magnificent sight). For safety reasons, return to the hostel before 24:00.
Day One: World Expo Garden - Golden Temple
World Expo Garden was built in 1999 and has been open to the public after the competition through commercial operations. Although all man-made, due to its great fame, it's still worth visiting. People interested in gardens or architecture will find something to appreciate.
Ticket price: 100 yuan, half-price with a student ID (always bring your student ID when coming to Yunnan, as almost all major attractions offer half-price tickets, but checks are strict).
Transportation: Walk from the main gate of Minzu University to Construction Road, then take bus No. 69 to the terminal (return trip is the same).
A quick look at the World Expo Garden takes about half a day. If there’s still time, you can take the cable car within the park (not recommended) or take a bus outside the park to the Golden Temple scenic area (ticket price 15 yuan, no student ticket). The Golden Temple was built by Wu Sangui in the early Qing Dynasty, with its body made entirely of bronze. Apart from the Golden Temple, there’s little else of value in the scenic area. After leaving the Golden Temple, take bus No. 10 back to Minzu University.
Day Two: Stone Forest
A famous geological park, world-renowned, definitely worth a visit.
The Stone Forest is not in the city, so transportation and accommodation can be troublesome. On the previous day, based on advertisements distributed at the train station or in front of the World Expo Garden, you can sign up for a one-day Stone Forest tour (quoted price around 100 yuan, bargain if it exceeds that, the quote includes admission fees, lunch, and transportation).
Make sure the tour includes the "Big Stone Forest" scenic area (the picture on the Stone Forest cigarette box).
The one-day Stone Forest tours are cheap, but regardless of whether the travel agency is formal or not, there are many tricks involved, so be extremely careful. Personally, I recommend Yunnan Guangda Travel Agency and Yunnan International Travel Agency.
Tricks of one-day Stone Forest tours:
A: Stop at the "Seven Color Yunnan" shopping point. "Jadeite Jade" shopping point. Remember: No matter how beautiful the items are, don't buy them. Otherwise, you'll regret it.
B: Passing by temples, never draw lots, fortune-tell, burn incense, or worship Buddha inside (also true in other parts of Yunnan except Songzanlin Temple in Shangri-La. It's not that we disrespect gods and Buddhas, but the gods and Buddhas in these small temples have been defiled by worldly monks and Taoists.)
C: Do not participate in entertainment projects involving marriage ceremonies with ethnic minorities within the Stone Forest scenic area, otherwise, you'll lose hundreds of yuan.
D: During the trip, the travel agency will arrange for visits to ethnic minority homes. Feel free to drink any wine or tea they offer, but remember to hold onto your wallet and absolutely do not buy anything.
The entrance fee for the Stone Forest scenic area is 70 yuan (students pay 50 yuan), and the travel agency's quoted price offers almost no profit, so the above tricks are understandable. Understanding these things yourself means they can't trick you. There's no need to argue with them; if others in the group look wealthy, let them fall for the tricks. We're not saviors; after all, tour guides need to eat. Nevertheless, the Stone Forest is still stunningly beautiful.
If you really don't want to join a group, take a bus to Kunming Train Station and ask for directions to board a relevant bus to Shilin County (one-way fare around 15 yuan).
Second stop: Dali
Historically, the Nanzhao Kingdom and Dali Kingdom were both located here, the base of the Dali Duan family in "The Celestial Masters". However, times have changed, and there's not much historical accumulation left here. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple still struggle to bear the weight of history. You can spend a day and a half touring Dali.
Transportation:
A: Fly from Kunming, full price 430 yuan, usually discounted.
B: Take the train: Even during peak season without extra trains, there are four daily trains from Kunming to Dali: N982, N986, N992, N996. Except for N996, all are overnight trains. However, their tickets are mostly pre-booked by travel agencies (a disdainful glance at China Railways). Therefore, tourists usually end up buying tickets for N996. If you decide not to stay in Kunming for too long, purchase tickets upon arrival in Kunming.
N996 hard seat 35 yuan (no air conditioning), departs at 9:02 AM, arrives in Dali at 15:40.
Other three are overnight trains, all departing in the evening and arriving in the morning, hard seat ticket around 45 yuan, but as mentioned above, chances of getting tickets are slim.
PS: Extra trains may be added during peak seasons, confirm at the train station.
Option C: Take a high-speed express bus from Kunming Train Station to Dali, fare around 110 yuan, but the cost-effectiveness is low, consider your budget.
Dali is a prefecture-level administrative region, officially named Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. Our destination is Dali City (locally called "Xiaguan"), while tourist attractions are in the suburban Ancient City of Dali.
After arriving at Dali Train Station (the last station in Southwest China on the national railway map, Lijiang railway under construction), take bus No. 8 directly to "Eryuan Park" and get off, fare one yuan (except for bus No. 8, all other buses in Dali cost five jiao, prepare coins). Upon reaching Eryuan Park, you will already be in the Ancient City of Dali.
After getting off the bus, many middle-aged women will ask if you want to tour Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. Remember their phone numbers or activity areas, as they might be useful tomorrow.
Day One (Accommodation):
Accommodation in Dali is cheap, standard rooms cost about 40-45 yuan per room per day, regular rooms cost about 10-15 yuan per bed per day. After getting off the bus at Eryuan Park, ask for directions and walk to Dali Cinema. The road in front of the cinema leads to the busiest street in the ancient city. Stay at a hotel along this street according to the aforementioned prices.
If you depart in the morning, arranging accommodation in Dali will likely be around five o'clock in the evening. If you're not hungry, quickly head to "Three Pagodas." Facing the main entrance of Dali Cinema, turn left and stroll down to the South Gate of the ancient city, Zhengyang Gate. Take a photo here, then take bus No. 19 to the Three Pagodas.
The Three Pagodas are located within the Chongsheng Temple (also known as Tianlong Temple). Among them, only the Three Pagodas are ancient relics; the rest are reconstructions. Ticket price is 52 yuan (half-price with a student ID). Considering Beijing's Forbidden City charges 60 yuan during peak season, I personally believe this attraction is not worth it.
Depending on personal preference, if you don't intend to spend this ticket money, you can take bus No. 19 and get off at the Reflection Park of the Three Pagodas. This is a good place to photograph the Three Pagodas. Entrance fee is four yuan (however, the managers of the Three Pagodas have bundled the Reflection Park tickets to force visitors into the Three Pagodas scenic area. But if you negotiate with the ticket seller at the Reflection Park, you can buy a separate ticket for four yuan).
After leaving the Reflection Park, walk to the entrance of the Three Pagodas, take a glance from outside the gate, it's just okay.
After returning from the Three Pagodas, you can still take bus No. 19 to "Foreigner Street" and get off. If there are many companions, you can also take a horse-drawn carriage from the entrance of the Three Pagodas, average cost per person one yuan, needs bargaining. It's still daylight, enter Foreigner Street and continue downhill, cross a road, and have some barbecue for dinner.
PS: Avoid having a proper meal in restaurants within the ancient city. Restaurant owners have strong small-farmer mentality, rude, and provide bad service. Instead, barbecue prices are relatively fair here, highly recommend grilled fish and shrimp.
After dark, you can wander around or hang out in bars on Foreigner Street. Only then will you truly understand the meaning of coming to Dali.
Return to the hotel before 24:00, ending the first day in Dali.
Day Two:
Get up early, have breakfast (recommended second shop at the northeast corner of the crossroads facing the cinema, 2 yuan per bowl, very tasty).
While having breakfast, middle-aged women mentioned earlier may ask if you want to tour Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. Bargain with her, generally boat tour 20-30 yuan per person, large cable car 50 yuan per person, small cable car 30 yuan per person (if going up Cangshan Mountain, better take the large cable car).
Absolutely do not go to the scenic spot entrance to buy tickets, they will be much more expensive.
In my opinion, Erhai Lake is worth a visit. However, the boat will stop at two scenic spots halfway, tickets not included. Among them:
Tianjing Pavilion/Guanyin Pavilion: Ticket 10 yuan, half-price for students (personally, I think it's unnecessary to linger here).
Jinsuo Island: Ticket 3 yuan. (This island is inhabited by native Bai people, you can visit and solve lunch here, but make sure to confirm prices beforehand. Additionally, Bai grandmothers may invite you to drink three-course tea, you can try it, but she asks for 15 yuan per person, bargaining to 3 yuan per person will work fine.)
After touring Erhai Lake, it's roughly noon. You can take bus No. 2 from the pier to Foreigner Street and return to the ancient city. In the afternoon, continue touring Cangshan Mountain.
If you plan to go to Lijiang next, you can skip Cangshan Mountain and instead visit Yan Family Courtyard in Xizhou (take bus No. 2 to Lida intersection and get off, bus No. 2 usually doesn't announce stops, so inform the driver beforehand to transfer to a minibus bound for "Xizhou", ticket 2 yuan per person).
Yan Family Courtyard: Ticket 10 yuan, half-price for students. Yan Family Courtyard is divided into New Courtyard and Old Courtyard, 10 yuan ticket allows access to both courtyards. Layouts are similar, photography looks better in the New Courtyard, but authenticity lies in the Old Courtyard.
Xizhou's rice cakes are quite famous. The ones at the alley entrance leading to Yan's Old Courtyard are authentic, 2 yuan each. If you don't mind, buy a couple for dinner.
Not far from Yan Family Courtyard is Butterfly Spring, but butterflies are no longer there, only an old well remains amidst throngs of tourists. Ticket: 20 yuan. Specific route can be asked to the minibus attendant or locals.
Whether it's Cangshan Mountain, Xizhou residences, or Butterfly Spring, for tourists, it's just for leisure. Since Dali is a stop on the Yunnan journey, once here...
If you find it troublesome, on the second day in Dali, you can join a one-day tour locally, around 120 yuan per person, but vigilance must be heightened again.
After touring Dali, you can choose to go to Lijiang or directly to Shangri-La.
I personally suggest taking a night sleeper bus (ticket 70 yuan, bookable at private booking points within the ancient city, I recommend the booking point downstairs from Jin Hua Hotel at the entrance of Foreigner Street, the boss is very enthusiastic) directly to Shangri-La, arriving in the morning. With this arrangement, you can save a night's time and accommodation cost, and later save the 120 yuan mountain entry fee for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (see below). Additionally, the itinerary in Lijiang will be more flexible afterward.
If you want to go to Lijiang first, book the next morning's ticket, ordinary minibus 35 yuan per person, luxury express 50 yuan per person. Four hours later, you arrive in Lijiang.
Third stop: Shangri-La
Shangri-La was originally a place mentioned by an American named Hilton in his novel "Lost Horizon". To develop tourism, the people of Yunnan renamed Zhongdian County to Shangri-La County with expert guidance. It belongs to the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province. The usual scope of tourism in Shangri-La is quite broad, including Meili Snow Mountain, Habo Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, etc., all part of this region. Not only is the altitude high here, but transportation is also inconvenient, so come prepared mentally. Here, I will only provide a brief version of the route guide.
Visiting Zhongdian County's attractions can be arranged in two days.
Day One
Generally, vehicles will mostly arrive at Zhongdian County by noon. After arrival, immediately find accommodation. I recommend a place called Fire Brigade Guesthouse (can take a taxi there). Although the environment isn't very hygienic, the beds are acceptable. Moreover, the price is incredibly cheap, 10 yuan per person. Most importantly, right outside the door is where chartered cars gather, making it very convenient.
If you arrive in Zhongdian in the morning, you can first take a minibus from the bus station (ticket 3-5 yuan) to Napahai (ticket 10 yuan) and return by noon. If you arrive in Zhongdian at noon, Napahai can be skipped, as there will be many similar landscapes ahead.
In the afternoon, ask for directions and walk to the No. 3 bus stop (fare 1 yuan) to the end of Gandan Songzanlin Monastery. Songzanlin Monastery is known as the Little Potala Palace, very much worth visiting. (Ticket 10 yuan, no student discount)
Songzanlin Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist temple. Here, you will meet real Buddhist monks, unlike the secular monks in the tourist groups' mentioned temples who try to earn or deceive tourists' money. Here, everything besides the entrance fee is voluntary. You can ask the living Buddha to touch your head and bless you, or pray in the main hall and receive a bracelet from a young monk. The amount of incense money you give is up to you, from a few cents to hundreds of yuan.
The entrance fee for Songzanlin Monastery is the cheapest among all attractions in Yunnan, and also the best value for money. However, tickets can be avoided. After entering the main gate of the monastery, follow the stone path forward through an iron gate to enter the scenic area. Save the 10 yuan and donate it to the temple or buy a prayer wheel (the smallest one costs 25 yuan), which has been blessed, bringing you closer to the Buddha.
Arrange the first day's itinerary in Zhongdian a bit loosely, as the altitude is over 2,000 meters, and altitude sickness may occur.
Day Two
Zhongdian's famous attractions include Bitahai and Baishuitai, both on the road from Zhongdian to Xiaohutiaoxia. However, public transportation is inconvenient, so chartered cars are basically needed. When chartering a car, it's best to gather more people, then tell the driver to go directly to Daju County (on the banks of the Jinsha River) instead of returning to Zhongdian after visiting Baishuitai. After walking this route, you will discover its brilliance.
Chartered car from Zhongdian to Daju County costs 350-400 yuan per vehicle.
Eat a hearty breakfast in the morning because lunch might be combined with dinner.
Bitahai: A plateau meadow, with grasslands right by the lake, very beautiful. Ticket 30 yuan, half-price with a student ID. However, to reach the lakeside, you may need to take a boat ride, 30 yuan per person, negotiable to 20 yuan per person. However, if you're not particularly fond of natural scenery, the boat ride can be skipped.
Baishuitai: A unique natural wonder formed by erosion. Ticket 30 yuan, half-price with a student ID. The attraction isn't worth that much, but still, since you've come...
There are many restaurants below the Baishuitai scenic area. Walk a bit further down the slope, and I highly recommend a small restaurant called "Flavor Food Shop". The boss is very honest, and you can slightly bargain with her. Best to order Yunnan specialty mushroom chicken truffle, which costs over 10 yuan here. Hmm, if in Kunming, five times as much. After eating, take two bottles of spring water from her backyard, it's no worse than bottled water.
After eating, get back on the car to Daju County. The road starts to become difficult, but after all, "Endless scenery is found in dangerous peaks." Along this road, you will pass by Habo Snow Mountain, and if lucky, you can see the snow on the mountain top.
Upon reaching the Jinsha River, you will see Xiaohutiaoxia, and all of this is free.
Chartered cars can only go as far as the Jinsha River. Find a ferry (5-10 yuan per person) to cross the river. By then, it will be late, but you still need to walk a few more steps to the surrounding area of the Daju Township Government for accommodation. I recommend a guesthouse called Snowflake Inn