An honest first circuit can be five or six days: a night or two in Kunming, two in Dali, two in Lijiang. This is a shape many travellers use, not a timed diary we have just walked for this page. Shangri-La needs extra days and a slower ascent. We will not invent train times — 12306 is the authority.
Last verified on · First published · 4 sources
Key facts
| Kunming | 1–2 nights; a reset and a noodle lunch |
|---|---|
| Dali | 2 nights; old town, and the lake as a real outing |
| Lijiang | 2 nights; old town, at most one official mountain outing |
| Not included | Shangri-La squeezed in, a trek, or a border run |
The short version
A first five or six days can be: a night or two in Kunming, two nights in Dali, two in Lijiang — or a slower version of the same shape. This is a circuit many travellers use; it is not a timed diary we have just walked for this page, and it does not include Shangri-La unless you add days and respect the altitude.
Kunming (1–2 nights)
Arrive at KMG, register, and use the city as a reset: a park, a crossing-the-bridge noodle lunch (dish type), and an early train onward. A longer Kunming stay can add an official museum or a day at a nearby official scenic area — confirm on that site’s page.
Dali (2 nights)
Transfer from the station to your stay, then walk the old town without trying to “do” the entire Erhai circuit in a hired-car blur. If you go to the lake, treat it as a half-day or a day on official transport or a contracted licensed driver, not as a sunset selfie stop. Eat regional dish types from a posted menu.
Lijiang (2 nights)
The old town is walkable and crowded. One official outing into the wider valley or a mountain area, on official tickets and hours, is enough; Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a serious, official, altitude outing — read the official rules, including any health restrictions, before you buy. Leave a margin for the train or flight out. This circuit is not a trek, not a border run into Laos or Vietnam, and not a “wild mushroom weekend.” If you want Shangri-La, add it as its own plan, with a slower ascent, and confirm transport on official pages.
Frequently asked questions
Is five days enough?
It is enough for this circuit at a honest pace. It is not the whole province.
Can I add Jade Dragon Snow Mountain?
As a serious official outing, with official tickets and any health restrictions read first — not as a casual hour.
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.