Yunnan DIY Travel Blog — 10 Days in Kunming, Lijiang & Dali

Our DIY trip to Yunnan, China, covering Kunming, Lijiang and Dali. We share our actual experiences, hotel prices, food, transport costs and useful travel tips.

✈️ Flight & Hotels

China Eastern Airlines

– Return flight: SGD 1,063

Hotels

1. Mengjing Xiyue Hotel 梦景·喜月 — SGD 72.68

2. Lijiang Puzhi Designer Holiday Villa — SGD 246.87 for 3 nights (approximately SGD 82 per night)

3. Dali Yueshan Yuehai Villa — SGD 117.82

4. Dali Ancient City Heyiju Holiday Courtyard 和意居 — SGD 247.68 (SGD 82.56 per night)

5. Best Yuehang Hotel near the airport — SGD 35

Day 1 — 26 June 2026, Friday

Arriving in Kunming & Exploring Nanping Pedestrian Street

We arrived at Kunming Airport at around 6pm and took a Didi to our hotel.

• Distance: Approximately 28km.

• Travel time: 30–40 minutes.

• Didi fare: RMB 72.90, including RMB 10 toll.

We stayed at Mengjing Xiyue 梦景·喜月 Hotel.

After checking in, we headed to Nanping Pedestrian Street and the old town area.

One important tip: We initially walked to Mengjing Wangyue 望月 instead of our actual hotel. Google Maps was not accurate enough for this area.

If you are travelling in China, I recommend using Amap (Gaode Maps). It is much more useful for checking locations, walking directions and navigating around the city.

Dinner at 蔼若春

We ordered a set meal for two from Meituan.

• Set meal for 2: RMB 99

• Additional chrysanthemum walnut dessert: RMB 24

• Biscuits and bread: SGD 26.18

• Peach: SGD 5.90

• Mango taro dessert 多芒芋圆: RMB 18

We also bought two handmade pouches for RMB 110 (RMB 85 + RMB 25).

It was a simple first evening after arriving in Kunming. We had time to eat, explore the streets and settle into our hotel.

Day 2 — 27 June, Saturday

Kunming Green Lake & High-Speed Train to Lijiang

We planned to have breakfast at 7:30am.

Breakfast choices:

1. Rice noodles with braised pot.

2. Douhua rice noodles.

Morning Visit to Green Lake 翠湖

After breakfast, we took a Didi to Green Lake.

• Hotel → Green Lake: RMB 3.60

• Green Lake → Hotel: RMB 3.60

• Hotel → Kunming Railway Station: RMB 3.20

We bought a horse keychain for RMB 15 and enjoyed a short walk around the lake.

Lunch at Kunming Railway Station

Before boarding our train, we had lunch at the station.

We ordered:

1. 青椒肉丝 — Shredded pork with green pepper.

2. 回锅肉盖饭 — Twice-cooked pork with rice.

Total: RMB 58 for two.

High-Speed Train to Lijiang

Important train station tip: Kunming has three different railway stations:

• Kunming Railway Station.

• Kunming South Railway Station.

• Kunming North Railway Station.

Make sure you check the correct station on your ticket before leaving the hotel.

When entering the station, use your passport to scan and access the platform. Check the train information and carriage number on the display.

We booked our train tickets for two people.

Checking In at Lijiang

Our hotel:

朴致·设计师奢享度假·花园酒店 Holiday Villa（丽江古城南门店）

Address:

云南省丽江市古城区大研街道办事处义尚居委会义尚街文华巷17号

Room price: Approximately SGD 82 per night.

We took a Didi from Lijiang Railway Station to the hotel, costing SGD 21.10.

The hotel was a pleasant surprise. Besides the accommodation, it offered several services and facilities that made our stay more comfortable.

Hotel Highlights

• Dyson hair dryer.

• Large projector for watching movies.

• Afternoon tea from 2:30pm to 5:00pm.

• Free fruits, cakes and drinks.

• Smoke-free restaurant compound.

• Non-smoking signs in the breakfast and dining areas.

• Free red bean soup at night.

These small details made the hotel feel more welcoming, especially after a long day of travelling.

Dinner & Evening Drinks

Dinner: 自由菌火锅 — RMB 197.88

After dinner, we bought an animal pink bag for RMB 138.

Later, we visited 樱花 Pub.

• One beer and one pear juice: RMB 71.

• At around 10pm, we enjoyed complimentary red bean soup from our hotel.

It was a relaxed evening in Lijiang, without needing to plan too many activities.

Day 3 — 28 June, Sunday

Lijiang Breakfast, Photoshoot & Lijiang Romance Show

We had breakfast at 8:00am.

Breakfast choices:

• 过桥米线 — Crossing-the-bridge rice noodles.

• 馄饨 — Wontons.

Traditional Costume Photoshoot

One of the fun experiences during our Lijiang trip was taking photos in traditional-style clothing.

• Additional edited photos: RMB 30 each.

• Total: Approximately SGD 77.

• Additional photos: 14 pieces, with 1 free.

If you enjoy taking travel photos, this is an experience worth considering. Just confirm the photo package, additional photo charges and the number of edited pictures before booking.

Lunch

We had a simple lunch consisting of:

We returned to the hotel at around 1:00pm.

Afternoon Tea at the Hotel

At 2:30pm, we enjoyed the hotel’s complimentary afternoon tea, including fruit, cake and drinks.

This was one of the advantages of staying at a hotel that offers complimentary refreshments. We could take a break before heading out again.

Lijiang Romance Show 丽江千古情

We took a Didi to the show.

• Didi to the venue: Rmb 15.80.

• Tickets for two: SGD 110.51. Booked via Trip.com

• Didi back to the hotel: RMB 23.80.

The show is a popular cultural performance in Lijiang. If you plan to attend, check the show schedule and ticket availability ahead of time.

Dinner Near Lijiang Old Town

We had dinner at 鲜云集, a restaurant located just outside Dayan Ancient Town.

• Dinner: RMB 86.

• Beef snack: RMB 39.90.

• Two pastries: RMB 19.60.

We also bought two mini blind boxes and one umbrella from Miniso in Lijiang ancient town, costing RMB RMB187.90.

It was another full day of sightseeing, food and shopping in Lijiang.

Day 4 — 29 June, Monday

Baisha Ancient Town, Shuhe Ancient Town & Horse Riding

We had breakfast at 8:00am, with porridge and noodles.

Baisha Ancient Town 白沙古镇

At around 9:00am, we visited Baisha Ancient Town.

• Fresh hair flower: RMB 10.

• Matcha milk tea: RMB 48.

• Didi to Baisha: RMB 38.30.

Baisha is a good place to include in a Lijiang itinerary if you want to explore an old town with a different atmosphere from the main Dayan Ancient Town.

Baisha → Shuhe Ancient Town

We took a Didi from Baisha to Shuhe Ancient Town 束河古镇.

• Didi: RMB 11.70.

• Mixue passion fruit drink: RMB 10.

Lunch & Coffee Break

We had Sichuan food for lunch.

Dishes:

• 蒜泥白肉 — Sliced pork with garlic sauce.

• 鱼香茄子 — Fish-fragrant eggplant.

Two dishes: RMB 80.

Later, we stopped at a restaurant for a latte, costing RMB 48.

Horse Riding

We tried a 40-minute horse-riding experience.

• RMB 200 per person.

• Total: RMB 400 for two.

If you’re travelling with older family members, check the riding route and horse-riding conditions beforehand to make sure the experience suits everyone.

Returning to Lijiang Old Town

• Didi from Shuhe to Lijiang Ancient Town: RMB 24.40.

• Dinner at 隔壁老王: RMB 90.50.

• Food: 烤鱼 (grilled fish) and one bowl of rice.

It was a busy day exploring two ancient towns and trying a horse-riding activity.

Day 5 — 30 June, Tuesday

Lijiang to Dali — Hotel Upgrade & Local Exploration

We took a Didi to the railway station.

• Didi fare: RMB 22.

• The driver was waiting outside the old town and agreed to our displayed Didi fare.

Travel tip: When leaving an old town, check your Didi pickup location carefully. Some roads are restricted, and drivers may wait outside the pedestrian area.

Train Journey to Dali

Before boarding the train, we had KFC at Lijiang Railway Station.

– KFC: RMB 82.

We then took the train from Lijiang to Dali.

Check-In at Dali Yueshan Yuehai Hotel

We stayed at Dali Yueshan Yuehai Hotel 大理悦山海酒店. SGD 118.

Our check-in was delayed, but the hotel upgraded us to a sea-view room. While waiting for the room to be ready, the hotel provided tea and drinks.

We finally checked in at around 4:00pm.

Although we had to wait, the complimentary refreshments and room upgrade helped make the delay a more pleasant experience.

Exploring Dali University

After checking in, we went out for a walk and visited Dali University.

We bought some local snacks:

• Three pieces of bread: RMB 10.

• Egg tart.

• Durian puff.

• French toast.

• Fruits: RMB 31.50, including yellow berry and peach.

Dinner — 老堂口重庆火锅

Dinner was at 老堂口重庆火锅.

Total: RMB 131.

It was our first evening in Dali, and we kept the evening simple after travelling from Lijiang.

Day 6 — 1 July, Wednesday

Three Pagodas, Cangshan Mountain & Meizijing Restaurant

We had breakfast at 8:00am.

Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas 崇圣寺三塔

After breakfast, we took a Didi to the Three Pagodas.

• Didi: RMB 10.90
• Entrance ticket: RMB 90 per person
• One-way tram: just choose one way tram and exit from north gate.

Tip: We only took the one-way tram. If you plan your route properly, there is no need to buy a return tram ticket.

For lunch, we ate vegetarian food inside the temple.

• Vegetarian lunch: RMB 18 per person

The food was simple. We were told to take our own vegetables.

We also bought a soft toy for RMB 38.

Cangshan Mountain 苍山

After the Three Pagodas, we continued to Cangshan Mountain.

• Didi to the cable car: RMB 21.10
• Mixue peach drink: RMB 10
• Cangshan ticket + cable car: SGD 242.05 for 2 people
• Didi back to hotel: RMB 20.50

Cangshan was one of the highlights of our Dali trip. There are different cable car routes, so check carefully which one you are buying before paying.

Dinner at 梅子井

For dinner, we went to 梅子井 Restaurant.

• Dinner: RMB 186
• Dish: 烤芦山
• Dessert: Milk and sesame in old town — RMB 28

We also bought some dog accessories for RMB 50.

After a full day of sightseeing, we headed back to the hotel and rested.

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Day 7 — 2 July, Thursday

Longkan Harbour 龙龛码头 & Dali Show

We started the morning with a walk to the old town.

Around 9:00am, we went for breakfast.

Breakfast was simple rice noodles.

Longkan Harbour 龙龛码头

At around 11:00am, we headed to Longkan Harbour 龙龛码头.

• Didi: RMB 11.30

We spent some time walking around and enjoying the scenery before having lunch.

• Lunch: RMB 88

After lunch, we took a Didi back to the hotel.

• Didi: RMB 13.60

We also bought a Mixue grape drink for RMB 11.

While walking around, I bought a blue skirt for RMB 78.

Dali Lisong Banquet Show

Later in the day, we went to watch a show.

• Didi to the show: RMB 12.40
• Another Didi ride: RMB 10
• Dinner + show tickets: SGD 189.78 for 2 people

It was a nice way to spend the evening without having to plan too many separate activities.

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Day 8 — 3 July, Friday

Xizhou 喜洲 & Shuanglang 双廊

We started the day with breakfast.

Breakfast

We had:

• Beef noodles: RMB 20
• 豆浆 — Soy milk: RMB 4
• Steamed dumplings: RMB 15

Total breakfast: RMB 39

We also bought a pair of rain shoes for RMB 15.

Xizhou 喜洲

Next, we went to Xizhou.

• Entrance/tour ticket: RMB 45 per person
• Lunch: RMB 70

For lunch, we had:

• Pot rice
• Tofu

We also tried the famous Xizhou Baba 喜洲粑粑 for RMB 15.

While exploring Xizhou, we bought:

• Bag: RMB 80
• Keychain with rafflesia design: RMB 50

Shopping total: RMB 130

Xizhou → Shuanglang

We continued to Shuanglang.

• Didi to Shuanglang: RMB 49.60
• Mixue pink guava drink: RMB 11

We also bought two mini blind boxes:

• RMB 89
• RMB 69

Back to Dali

Shuanglang is quite far from Dali Ancient Town, so the return Didi was much more expensive.

• Didi from Shuanglang to hotel: RMB 127.70

For dinner, we had:

• Pork and vegetable soup
• Peach alcohol drink
• Two desserts

Dinner: RMB 156

We also bought some medicine:

• Cold medicine × 2
• Ulcer medicine × 2
• Total: RMB 100

We were told these two medicines could be taken together.

Other small purchases:

• Snacks: RMB 19.80
• Mystery box and stationery
• Photo frame A4 size: RMB 20
• Small photo: RMB 2.50 each
• Big photo A4 size RMB 5
• Fruit: RMB 3.50

It was another long day, travelling from Xizhou to Shuanglang and then all the way back to Dali.

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Day 9 — 4 July, Saturday

Dali Railway Station & Airport Hotel

This morning was a little different.

I woke up with a stomach ache and watery stools after taking Chinese medicine.

At around 8:20am, I had breakfast but couldn’t eat much.

I drank warm water to keep my body warm and took it easy.

To Dali Railway Station

At around 10:00am, we took a Didi to Dali Railway Station.

We bought two cups of instant noodles at the station.

• Instant noodles × 2: RMB 18

Our train was at around 2:00pm, so we needed somewhere to keep our luggage.

Luggage Storage

We stored two medium-sized suitcases at the North Exit of Dali Railway Station.

• Two suitcases: RMB 20 total
• RMB 10 per suitcase

This was convenient because we wanted to go out for lunch before returning to the station.

Dayue Shopping Mall

We took a taxi to Dayue Shopping Mall.

• Taxi: RMB 13

We went to the 6th floor for a late lunch.

• Lunch: RMB 74.80

We also bought some bread.

• Bread: RMB 19.80

Pharmacy Stop

Because of the stomach problem, we went to a pharmacy to get medicine.

• Taxi to pharmacy RMB 11
• Stomach medicine and Other medicine: RMB 71.20

We then took a taxi back to Dali Railway Station.

• Taxi to North Exit: RMB 11

We collected our luggage and returned to the North Exit.

Be Careful With Airport Transfers

At the station, several people approached us offering a taxi to the airport for RMB 60.

We didn’t take them because they appeared to be unofficial taxis.

Instead, we booked a Didi.

• Didi to airport hotel: RMB 52.20
• Toll: RMB 10

We stayed near the airport Yuehang Hotel for our early flight the next morning.

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Day 10 — 5 July, Sunday

Early Morning Airport Transfer

We had arranged the hotel’s free transport to the airport.

5:00am — Free hotel transport to the airport.

This was one reason we chose to stay at an airport hotel for the final night.

Our Yunnan trip was coming to an end.

From Kunming to Lijiang and then Dali, we travelled completely on our own — booking our own hotels, taking high-speed trains, using Didi, exploring ancient towns and trying local food along the way.

The trip was not about rushing from one tourist attraction to another.

We wanted to experience Yunnan at our own pace, find local food, walk around the old towns and see what daily travel in China is really like.

Our Biggest Travel Tips From This Trip

1. Use Amap instead of Google Maps

Google Maps was not always accurate for finding our hotels and smaller roads.

Amap / Gaode Maps is much more useful in China.

2. Check your railway station carefully

Kunming has:

• Kunming Railway Station
• Kunming South Railway Station
• Kunming North Railway Station

Don’t assume the station is simply “Kunming”.

3. Use your passport at the train station

For foreign travellers, keep your passport handy. We used our passports to enter the railway station and access the platform.

4. Didi is very convenient

We used Didi for most of our city transfers.

However, in ancient towns, cars may not be able to enter the pedestrian areas. You may need to walk to the pickup point.

5. Don’t automatically take the taxi offered outside tourist areas

At Dali Railway Station, we were approached by people offering an airport ride for RMB 60.

We decided not to take the unofficial taxi and booked Didi instead.

6. Afternoon tea can be a great hotel bonus

Our Lijiang hotel provided complimentary afternoon tea from 2:30pm to 5:00pm, including fruit, cake and drinks.

After a morning of sightseeing, it was nice to return to the hotel for a break before going out again.

7. Staying inside the ancient town is convenient

In Lijiang and Dali, staying close to the ancient towns made it easy for us to walk out for food, shopping and evening activities.

But remember that cars may not be able to enter the old town, so you may need to walk with your luggage.

8. Plan your Dali itinerary according to distance

Longkan Harbour, Xizhou and Shuanglang are not all close to each other.

If you are using Didi, the cost can add up quickly, especially for the return journey from Shuanglang.

9. Don’t pack every day with activities

We were travelling at our own pace, so we included breaks for afternoon tea, coffee and hotel rest time.

For us, this made the trip much more enjoyable than rushing from one attraction to another.

Final Thoughts

Our Yunnan DIY trip took us through Kunming → Lijiang → Dali.

We travelled by plane, high-speed train and Didi, stayed in different hotels and explored the ancient towns at our own pace.

There were good surprises, like our Dali hotel upgrading us to a sea-view room, and small inconveniences, like waiting for check-in and dealing with a stomach problem near the end of the trip.

But that’s also what makes a DIY trip interesting.

You experience the good and the not-so-good yourself — and you learn what to do differently the next time.

For anyone planning a Yunnan trip, I hope our actual prices, hotel experiences, food choices and transport costs can help you plan your own trip without needing to follow a tour group.

Yunnan DIY Trip — Total Cost for 2 Pax

So your 10-day Yunnan DIY trip cost SGD 3,500.15 for 2 people, or about SGD 1,750 per person.

The WeChat amount is quite a large portion of the spending, so in the blog we can explain that it covered your food, Didi, shopping and other daily expenses rather than making the trip look unusually expensive.