Yunnan is located in southwest China and is the most diverse province in China. In addition to many amazing natural landscapes, it also has unique cultural customs and exquisite architecture, making it the best travel destination. However, for friends who plan to travel to Yunnan for the first time, it is a big challenge to formulate a Yunnan travel guide. This article carefully organizes the latest Yunnan travel guide for you. Through the following ten-step Yunnan travel guide, you can easily plan a perfect Yunnan trip. Best way to find the Customizable China city tours.
Step 1: Understand why you want to travel to Yunnan.
Reason 1: Yunnan is a world heritage site in China, with rich world heritage sites, such as the Old Town of Lijiang, the Stone Forest Karst Landform, and the Yuanyang Rice Terraces.
Reason 2: Yunnan has a variety of natural wonders, such as Tiger Leaping Gorge, the First Bay of the Yangtze River, Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, etc. These attractions will make you marvel at the wonders of nature;
Reason 3: Yunnan has a colorful ethnic culture, with 25 ethnic minorities living here. Here you can experience the unique cultural customs of China’s ethnic minorities;
Reason 4: Yunnan has a comfortable climate, mild winters and cool summers, making it a great place for tourism and vacation all year round;
Reason 5: Yunnan has many well-preserved ancient towns and villages with exquisite and distinctive architecture, where you can experience different ancient town styles;
Reason 6. Yunnan is a paradise for photography, where you can take intoxicating photos of the charming Dongchuan red soil, colorful terraces, beautiful sea of clouds, sunrise, sunset and other blockbusters.
Step 2: Understand the Yunnan tourist map
Yunnan is well-known for its beautiful natural scenery and rich ethnic culture. It has many national scenic spots and world heritage sites, such as the Stone Forest Scenic Area ,Lijiang Ancient Town , and Yuanyang Rice Terraces . In addition, the national 5A-level scenic spots such as Yulong Snow Mountain ,Pudacuo National Park, Meili Snow Mountain and Puzhehei have attracted countless domestic and foreign tourists, witnessing the prosperity of Yunnan tourism every year.
Yunnan tourist map
Step 3: Learn about the top ten must-see attractions in Yunnan
NO.1 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Yulong Snow Mountain is about 5,596 meters above sea level. It is a famous snow mountain in China and a national 5A-level scenic spot. It consists of 13 snow peaks. The natural resources on the snow mountain are very rich, and there are many rare and magnificent natural landscapes. It is a tourist destination for sightseeing, hiking and adventure.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
NO.2 Erhai Lake
Erhai Lake is the second largest lake in Yunnan and one of the four famous scenic spots in Dali. It has charming scenery, including 3 islands, 4 continents, 5 lakes and 9 bends. It is recommended to visit Erhai Lake by boat or bicycle.
Dali Erhai Lake
NO.3 Lugu Lake
Lugu Lake is located at the junction of Yunnan and Sichuan. It is one of the deepest freshwater lakes in China and the lake with the highest altitude in Yunnan. The beautiful natural scenery of the lake and the unique Mosuo matriarchal culture add a touch of mystery to it. It is recommended to ride an electric car around the lake to better appreciate the beauty of its scenery.
Lugu Lake
NO.4 Lijiang Ancient Town
Lijiang Ancient Town is one of the best-preserved ancient towns in China and one of the most famous towns on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1997. The ancient town has a long history and is mainly composed of various ancient buildings, which are residential buildings with distinctive characteristics and styles.
NO.5 Dianchi Lake
Dianchi Lake is the sixth-largest freshwater lake in China and the largest lake in Yunnan. It is also a national tourist resort in China. Its scenery is very beautiful and its tourist facilities are very complete. You can take a boat trip and feed seagulls.
No.6 Tiger Leaping Gorge
Tiger Leaping Gorge is the most beautiful canyon in China and one of the deepest canyons in the world. It is divided into three parts: Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge and Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge. It is famous for its surprise, strangeness, and danger. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain stand on both sides of the canyon, respectively, and the scenery is very magnificent.
Tiger Leaping Gorge
No.7 Stone Forest
Stone Forest is known as the “No. 1 Wonder in the World”. It is a world geological park with the most unique karst landform in the world. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007. The formation of Stone Forest has a long history, complete types, large scale, and spectacular scenery.
Yunnan Stone Forest
NO.8 Puzhehei
Puzhehei is a rare karst landscape in China. It is famous for its six major landscapes: water countryside, Yi water village, lotus world, karst wetland, lakes and peaks, and fish and bird paradise. It is a national scenic spot with very beautiful scenery.
NO.9 Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple
The three pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are landmark buildings in Dali with a long history. Chongsheng Temple was a royal temple during the Dali Kingdom period. It is large in scale and is a national 5A-level scenic spot integrating Cang’er scenery, Buddhist culture, cultural relics and historical sites, and leisure and vacation.
Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple
NO.10 Yuanyang Rice Terraces
Yuanyang Rice Terraces are the central area of the Red River Hani Rice Terraces. They have a history of thousands of years and are known as the “most beautiful earth sculpture”. Here you can enjoy the amazing scenery of the terraces and experience the unique culture of the Hani people.
Learn more: Must-see attractions in Yunnan
Step 4: Choose the best Yunnan travel route and travel method
Yunnan is a popular tourist destination in China. It has natural scenery that is not found in other parts of China and has preserved the customs and habits of ethnic minorities. Here you can feel the magical sight of the integration of natural landscape and ethnic culture and appreciate the charm of colorful Yunnan. If you don’t know how to plan your Yunnan travel route, here are 3 Yunnan itineraries carefully planned for you to choose from.
1. 6-day tour of Kunming, Jianshui and Honghe Hani nature and culture
Highlights: The entire trip is mainly based on sightseeing and photography, taking you to explore the beautiful scenery of Xishan Mountain, the exquisite Longmen Grottoes, the unique Stone Forest Karst landform, the magical Yuanyang Terraces, the historic Jianshui Ancient Town and other colorful Yunnan scenery, feel the charm of nature and culture, and experience the local tie-dyeing craftsmanship.
Yuanyang Rice Terraces
2. 8-day trip to Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La
Highlights: The entire trip will take you to explore the best tourist attractions in Yunnan, including the unique Stone Forest Karst landform, the beautiful Erhai Lake, the majestic Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, the exquisite Xizhou Bai architecture, the historic Lijiang Ancient Town and Dali Ancient Town, the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge, the charming Pudacuo National Park and other highlights of Yunnan.
Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Area
3. 12-day Yunnan Panoramic Tour – Kunming, Yuanyang, Jianshui, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La
Highlights of the trip: The whole trip is mainly to explore the beauty of Yunnan’s natural wonders, experience the colorful ethnic minority culture, and taste the unique Yunnan cuisine. You will visit popular tourist cities such as Kunming, Yuanyang, Jianshui, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La to enjoy the beautiful scenery. In addition to appreciating the unique karst landforms, the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge, the amazing Yuanyang Terraces, the charming Dukezong Ancient City and other famous attractions in Yunnan, you can also appreciate the cultural customs of many ethnic minorities such as the Hani, Bai, Yi, Naxi and Tibetan.
Step 5: Decide how to get to Yunnan? Plane, train or road
Transportation in Yunnan is very convenient. You can reach Yunnan by plane, train, or car. Among them, planes and high-speed trains are the preferred modes of transportation to and from Yunnan.
1. Aircraft
There are about 14 airports in operation in Yunnan, of which Kunming Airport and Lijiang Airport are the most frequently operated airports, with direct flights to major cities in China and some foreign cities. You can choose the appropriate flight according to your city and itinerary.
2. Train
There are many ordinary trains or high-speed trains from Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Changsha, Guangzhou and other cities in China to Yunnan, but it is recommended to take a train from cities around Yunnan, which is better because the journey is shorter.
3. Highway
Yunnan has a convenient road system. You can choose to take a long-distance bus or drive to Yunnan and enjoy the scenery along the way, but it takes a long time and is suitable for tourists with plenty of time.
In addition, during the peak tourist season in Yunnan, it is difficult to buy air or train tickets. If you choose our Yunnan travel service, we can help you book air or train tickets and help you travel in Yunnan easily.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Blue Moon Valley
Step 6: Find out what is the best time to travel to Yunnan?
Yunnan has a mild, comfortable and pleasant climate throughout the year, making it a suitable destination for travel all year round. However, the scenery you see in different seasons is different. You can choose the best time to travel to Yunnan according to your preferences.
1. Spring in Yunnan (March to May)
This is the season of spring flowers, and you can see different flower scenes, such as the rape flowers in Luoping and the peach blossoms in Kunming. We recommend you to visit Kunming, Dali, Luoping, Yuanyang and Xishuangbanna.
2. Summer in Yunnan (June to August)
This is the season for summer vacation and flower viewing, such as the azalea and lotus scenery in Laojun Mountain in Lijiang, and the summer resort of Lugu Lake in Lijiang. We recommend you to visit Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La and Puzhehei .
3. Autumn in Yunnan (September to November)
This is the most pleasant tourist season in Yunnan, and the scenery is also very charming, such as the large tracts of ginkgo trees in Tengchong, the Emerald Lake in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Pudacuo National Park and other golden autumn beauty. We recommend you to visit Dongchuan, Shangri-La and Tengchong.
4. Winter in Yunnan (December to February)
The winter in Yunnan is not very cold. It is the best season to enjoy the snow-capped mountains, rainforests and mirror-like terraces, such as the Xishuangbanna tropical rainforest, Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shangri-La Meili Snow Mountain, etc. We recommend you to visit Xishuangbanna, Yuanyang, Tengchong and Nujiang.
Learn more: Yunnan Weather
Lugu Lake
Step 7: Find out what to eat in Yunnan
Yunnan cuisine is mainly sour and spicy with a unique taste. Yunnan people are particularly good at using local ingredients, such as fruits, flowers, wild mushrooms, insects, etc. The taste of food made in different regions and different ethnic groups is also different. Therefore, you can have a novel taste experience in Yunnan. Here are some Yunnan delicacies recommended for you.
1. Kunming Food
Cross-bridge rice noodles, various wild mushroom soups, steamed chicken, tofu, flower cakes, etc.
2. Dali Food
Bai ethnic group’s three-course tea, roasted rice cakes, milk fan, Xizhou baba, Erhai fish, etc.;
3. Lijiang Food
Cured pork ribs hotpot, Lijiang baba, salmon, black goat, Naxi grilled fish, etc.
4. Xishuangbanna Food
Tropical fruits, grilled fish with lemongrass, pineapple rice, fried bamboo worms, Menghai grilled chicken, etc.;
5. Shangri-La Food
Yak meat, Tibetan fragrant pig, butter tea, tsampa, highland barley wine, etc. Among them, the most recommended are the special delicacies such as cross-bridge rice noodles, steamed chicken, wild mushroom soup, Yunnan ham, coated tofu, and roasted rice cakes.
Learn more: Yunnan cuisine
Yunnan specialty food-Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles
Step 8: Understand Yunnan’s accommodation situation and how to avoid pitfalls
As a popular tourist destination in China, Yunnan has many accommodation options, such as business hotels, theme hotels, luxury hotels, special inns, homestays, etc., which can meet your different accommodation needs. It is recommended that you choose a special homestay or star hotel, which is both distinctive and comfortable.
In Lijiang and Dali, we recommend you to stay in the hotels in the ancient city, so you can see the different scenery in the ancient city at the first time; in Kunming, we recommend you to stay in the bustling area or the hotel close to the scenic spot. The bustling area is convenient for travel and close to the scenic spot, so you can have a longer time to play. In short, the purpose of choosing accommodation is: you can choose according to your itinerary, budget, preferences and other aspects.
How to avoid pitfalls when choosing accommodation
1. When choosing a hotel, you can look at more reviews and pictures from real users;
2. It is best to find a hotel with panoramic pictures so that you can see the hotel’s environment and conditions;
3. When staying in the ancient city, try to choose accommodation near iconic attractions so that you won’t get lost easily;
4. Don’t choose accommodation near bars as it will affect your sleep quality.
Step 9: Learn seven useful tips for traveling to Yunnan
1. The ultraviolet rays in Yunnan are very strong, so you must take good care of yourself and bring sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hats, parasols, etc. to avoid sunburn;
2. Yunnan is relatively dry, so you can bring some moisturizing masks to keep your skin moisturized and avoid your skin getting worse due to travel;
3. Yunnan has a big temperature difference between morning and evening, so you can wear something cooler and bring a warm coat to cope with hot or cold weather;
4. Prepare cash to avoid using your phone when it runs out of battery or can only accept cash;
5. Prepare some commonly used and necessary medicines, such as motion sickness medicine, painkillers, cold medicine, wind oil, band-aids, etc.;
6. If you plan to go to Shangri-La or other high-altitude areas in Yunnan, take good rest, avoid strenuous exercise, and prevent altitude sickness ;
7. There are many ethnic minorities in Yunnan. Please respect local customs and culture.
Step 10: Unlock the beauty of Yunnan with our agency
As a gold medal travel agency focusing on tourism in China, our company has carefully planned a number of interesting and distinctive Yunnan travel itineraries for you with many years of rich travel service experience . We will also provide you with experienced, professional and reliable drivers and tour guides to escort your Yunnan trip throughout the journey, so that you can have a safe, comfortable and unforgettable trip to Yunnan.
For more practical information on the latest China travel, please visit our travel website (chinaexpeditiontours.com), or add WhatsApp +86 139 7836 9041 to inquire about the latest China travel routes and quotes.