Inside Kunming, Dali and Lijiang, walk the compact cores, and use official taxis or DiDi where it operates. Between cities, prefer 12306 trains or a clearly contracted licensed driver. We do not print intercity times or fares. Dali and Lijiang’s old towns are walkable and also heavily rebuilt for tourism — we will say that honestly. Altitude rises as you go north.
Last verified on · First published · 4 sources
Key facts
| Between cities | 12306, or a licensed driver with a written scope |
|---|---|
| Old towns | Compact, crowded, and commercial |
| Mountains | Official tickets; Jade Dragon and Shangri-La are not Kunming |
| Last verified | National payment rules: 2026-11-12 |
The short version
Inside Kunming, Dali and Lijiang, local buses, official taxis, DiDi where it operates, and walking in the compact old-town cores are the usual tools. Between those cities, prefer 12306 trains or a clearly contracted licensed driver. We do not print intercity times or fares — they depend on the train you book.
Old towns, real distances, hired drivers
Dali’s old town (大理古城) and Lijiang’s old town (丽江古城) are compact and walkable at their cores, and they are also heavily visited and heavily rebuilt for tourism — we will say that honestly. The Erhai lake circuit and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain area are separate, official, longer outings, not “a quick walk from the guesthouse.” Confirm tickets and access on official pages. Altitude rises as you go north; Jade Dragon and Shangri-La are not Kunming. For a mountain road, a licensed driver can be safer than a first-time self-drive. Agree the day, the stops, tolls and what happens if a road is closed. We do not recommend a named company here, and we will not invent a price.
Daily life runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay bound to a foreign card. Official 2026 operator wording (Tenpay, 15 January 2026): a single international-card payment of ¥200 or below (inclusive) is waived; above ¥200, a 3% fee on the full amount. Promotional first-bind waivers are not the standing rule. Read the fee line on the confirmation screen. Keep a small cash backup and a physical card for hotels. Shenzhen’s official contactless gate rule (UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB, from 10 September 2026) is Shenzhen-specific — do not assume the same card set works at this city’s metro gates. Last verified: 2026-11-12.
Frequently asked questions
Should I hire a driver?
For a mountain road, a licensed driver can be safer than a first-time self-drive. Agree the day, tolls and closures in writing. We will not invent a price or name a company.
Can I walk around Erhai in an hour?
No. The lake circuit is a longer official outing.
Sources and a honesty note
Visa, arrival-card and payment rules on this page follow our national guides, last verified on 12 November 2026 against official sources (National Immigration Administration; Tenpay / WeChat Help for the ¥200 inclusive / 3% structure). City transport times, fares and attraction hours are not frozen here — confirm them on the official operator or park page, and on 12306 for trains, on the day you travel. We do not invent restaurants, prices, quotes or first-person anecdotes. Last verified (national rules): 2026-11-12.