Lijiang City is the core part of the Greater Shangri-La Tourism Circle and the radiation area of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle. It has formed an integrated comprehensive Lijiang transportation system mainly composed of highways, railways, civil aviation, and others.
As an important transit station and tourist destination for Yunnan travel, the famous Old Town of Lijiang and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are popular attractions luring millions of tourists. This article introduces you to the detailed Lijiang transportation information, including airplanes, trains, buses, and public transportation.
Content Preview
- Get to Lijiang by Air
- Get to Lijiang by Train
- Get to Lijiang by Bus
- Get to Lijiang from Nearby Cities
- Lijiang Public Transportation
- Lijiang Transport to Popular Attractions
- Transport from Lijiang to Other Surrounding Cities in Yunnan
- How to Plan a Lijiang Tour
- Travel with China Xian Tour
Get to Lijiang by Air
Lijiang Sanyi Airport is the second-largest airport in Yunnan and an important regional aviation hub. It offers plenty of direct flights to most major cities in China and some international flights to cities in Southeast Asia.
Although some cities do not have direct flights, you can fly to Kunming first and then connect onward by a second flight, high-speed train, or long-distance bus. Trains between Kunming and Lijiang are frequent and relatively cheap.
- Location: Qihe Town, Gucheng District, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, about 28 kilometers south of Lijiang Old Town.
- Altitude: 2,242 meters
- Domestic destinations: Kunming, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Changsha, Nanjing, etc.
- International destinations: Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, etc.
From Lijiang Airport to Lijiang Old Town
- Airport Shuttle Bus: This bus runs directly to the south gate or north gate of the old town. A one-way trip costs about CNY 25/USD 4 and takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour. It has a rolling schedule, and you can take it at Exit 3 of the arrival hall.
- Taxi/ride-hailing car: The fare from Lijiang Airport to Lijiang Old Town is about CNY 80 – 120/USD 11 – 17 and the travel time is about 35 – 45 minutes.
Explore UNESCO Lijiang Old Town and undertake a thrilling two-day hike through the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge canyon.
Get to Lijiang by Train
Lijiang Railway Station is the city’s main railway hub, serving both high-speed and conventional train services. From the train station, you can travel to major cities in Yunnan Province such as Kunming and Dali, as well as some other cities in China. Below is a high-speed train schedule for reference.
Location: Shangji Road, Huangshan Town, Yulong County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, about 10 kilometers away from the Lijiang Old Town.
Route |
Operating Hours |
Departures |
Travel Time |
Ticket Price |
Kunming – Lijiang |
08:00 – 00:30 |
About 12 |
3.5 – 4.5 hours |
CNY 160 – 570/USD 23 – 81 |
Dali – Lijiang |
07:30 – 19:00 |
About 7 |
2 – 2.5 hours |
CNY 50 – 240/USD 7 – 34 |
Shangri-La – Lijiang |
07:20 – 20:00 |
About 10 |
1 – 1.5 hours |
CNY 50 – 250/USD 7 – 36 |
Xishuangbanna |
10:22 |
1 |
8 hours |
CNY 430 – 680/USD 61 – 97 |
Chengdu – Lijiang |
08:33 |
1 |
9 hours |
CNY 380 – 1250/USD 54 – 179 |
From Lijiang Train Station to Lijiang Old Town
- Direct Tourist Bus: Take the bus at the station square to the south gate of Lijiang Old Town. The ticket price is CNY 8/USD 1, and it takes about 30 minutes to arrive.
- Public Bus: Four bus lines, 4, 18, 104 and 105, are all available. A single trip costs only CNY 2 – 5/USD 1, but takes a relatively longer time, about 40 minutes to 1 hour.
- Taxi or ride-hailing cars: The cost of a ride ranges from CNY 25 – 35/USD 4 – 5 and the duration is about 25 – 30 minutes.
Get to Lijiang by Bus
The bus journey from Kunming to Lijiang takes about 6.5-8 hours, passing through the expressway and the second-class highway from Dali to Lijiang. There are shuttle buses from major coach stations in Kunming to Lijiang, with ticket prices ranging from CNY 160 to 280/USD 24 – 41.
In addition, the bus from Dali to Lijiang takes about 3 hours and the ticket price starts at CNY 78/USD 11.
Get to Lijiang from Nearby Cities
From |
By Air |
By High-speed Train |
By Bus |
Chengdu |
Fastest and most convenient
Total travel time: about 4 – 5 hours Estimated cost: CNY 300 – 1,500/USD 43 – 214 |
Travel time: about 9 hours
Estimated cost: CNY 380 – 1250/USD 54 – 179 |
No direct long-distance bus |
Kunming |
Total travel time: about 4 hours
Estimated cost: CNY 500 – 1,300/USD 71 – 186 |
Travel time: about 3.5 – 4.5 hours
Estimated cost: CNY 160 – 570/USD 23 – 81 |
Travel time: about 6.5 – 8 hours
Estimated cost: CNY 160 – 280/USD 23 – 40 |
Dali |
No direct flights, not recommended |
Travel time: about 2 – 2.5 hours
Estimated cost: CNY 50 – 240/USD 7 – 34 |
Travel time: about 3 hours
Estimated cost: CNY 80 +/USD 11+ |
Observe Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys in Tacheng National Park, trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge, and explore Meili Snow Mountain's glaciers, alpine forests, and Tibetan monasteries across Yunnan's wildest landscapes.
How to Travel Around – Lijiang Public Transportation
Bus
Though there is no metro system, abundant bus routes are in operation in Lijiang, with low ticket prices and providing convenient and fast transfers.
Besides the direct tourist bus and public bus between Lijiang Railway Station and Lijiang Old Town mentioned above, there is also bus line 11 from the Lijiang Old Town to Shuhe Ancient Town, and bus line 6 to Baisha Village. You can also take the “Baisha Village Tourist Line” bus route between the Lijiang Old Town, Shuhe Ancient Town and Baisha Village.
Taxi/Ride-hailing Cars
Taxis and ride-hailing cars (DiDi works in Lijiang) are more convenient options for international tourists getting around. Here is a table for travel time and estimated cost from Lijiang Old Town to other popular attractions inside the city.
Destinations |
Travel Time |
Estimated Cost |
Shuhe Ancient Town |
15 – 20 min |
CNY 15 – 25/USD 2 – 4 |
Baisha Ancient Town |
25 – 30 min |
CNY 25 – 35/USD 4 – 5 |
Black Dragon Pool Park |
8 – 10 min |
CNY 8 – 12/USD 1 – 2 |
Lashi Lake |
20 – 25 min |
CNY 25 – 35/USD 4 – 5 |
Walking & Sightseeing Cart inside Lijiang Old Town
Motor vehicles are not allowed to enter Lijiang Old Town, so walking is the best way for exploration. At night, 3 sightseeing cart lines run and cover the main cultural stops, including Mu Fu, Sifang Street and Black Dragon Pool, with a ticket fare of CNY 20/USD 3.
Bicycles and Electric Bikes
In addition, bicycles and electric bikes are popular for traveling between Lijiang Old Town, Shuhe Ancient Town, and Baisha Village. There are many shared bikes both at the south gate and north gate of Lijiang Old Town, but international travelers may have problems with registration and payment, it is better to find a rental shop near the gates.
Lijiang Sightseeing Train
Lijiang Rail Transit Line 1 (aka Lijiang Sightseeing Train) is a popular way to travel around the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Starting from the Tourist Distribution Center and ending at Ganhaizi of the snow mountain, it is a 20.47-kilometer-long train ride with a travel time of 35 minutes. The fare is CNY 50/USD 7 for a single trip and CNY 80/USD 11 for a round trip.
To get to the Tourist Distribution Center, you can take a taxi from the city center, which costs about CNY 25 – 35/USD 4 – 5 and takes about 25 – 30 minutes.
Explore Lijiang Ancient Town's traditional architecture, Naxi Dongba culture, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, serene Blue Moon Valley, and thrilling Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Lijiang Transport to Popular Attractions
Transport from Lijiang to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- about 25 km, about 50 minutes’ driving
- Take bus route 101 at Zhongyi Market, with a ticket price of CNY 15/USD 2 and a half-hour interval. The journey takes about 1 hour.
- Take a bus from Lijiang Coach Station to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, departing between 7:10 to 12:10 every day (once an hour).
Transport from Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge
- about 80 km, about 90 minutes’ driving
- From Lijiang, you can carpool or charter a car to Tiger Leaping Gorge. Carpooling costs about CNY 50 to 100/USD 7 – 15 per person, and charter prices range from CNY 200 to 300/USD 29 – 44.
- There are two direct buses from Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge at 8:00 and 8:30 every day, with a fare of CNY 20 to 25/USD 3 to 4.
Transport from Lijiang to Lugu Lake
- about 240 km, about 3 hours’ driving
- Starting from Lijiang Old Town or Lijiang Coach Station, there are many direct tourist buses to Lugu Lake every day. It takes about 4 hours and the fare starts from CNY 70/USD 10.
- Lugu Lake has its own small airport – Ninglang Lugu Lake Airport. Although at present direct flights are mainly from Kunming, if there are flights departing from Lijiang, this will be the quickest way to reach Lugu Lake. However, please pay attention to checking flight information in advance and consider the possibility of altitude sickness.
Related Reading: How to Plan a Lijiang Tour – A Step-by-Step Trip Planner
Transport from Lijiang to Other Surrounding Cities in Yunnan
Transport from Lijiang to Dali
- High-speed train: Take the high-speed train to Dali, which takes about 2- 2.5 hours and costs CNY 50 – 240/USD 7 – 34. You can also choose the train No. Y 760, which will run alongside Erhai Lake around 11:30, and you can see the beautiful scenery from the train.
- Long-distance bus: The expressway distance is about 180 km. Travelling by long-distance bus requires about 3 hours and the fare is about CNY 80+/USD 11+.
Transport from Lijiang to Shangri-La
- High-speed train: Taking the high-speed train to Shangri-La is the most popular way. A one-way trip needs 1 – 1.5 hours and CNY 50 – 250/USD 7 – 36.
- Long-distance bus: The buses from Lijiang Coach Station to Shangri-La depart from 7:30 to 18:00 every day (every half hour). It takes about 3.5 – 4.5 hours and costs CNY 60 – 80/USD 9 – 11.
How to Plan a Lijiang Tour
To cover the major attractions, such as Lijiang Old Town, Shuhe Ancient Town, Baisha Old Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, about 2 – 3 days are needed. If you want to include the Tiger Leaping Gorge and Lugu Lake, which are about 2 hours’ and 4 hours’ drive away from the downtown area, respectively, set aside another 2 – 3 days. In total, about 5 days are ideal for a Lijiang tour.
Here are recommended 3-day and 5-day itineraries.
3-day Tour:
Day 1: Lijiang Old Town – Dongba Culture Museum
Day 2: Yuhu Village – Baisha Village – Shuhe Ancient Town – Dongba Culture Museum – Black Dragon Pool Park
Day 3:
Option 1: First Bend of the Yangtze River – Tiger Leaping Gorge
Option 2: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain – Impression Lijiang Show
Immerse in Naxi culture through Yuhu and Baisha villages, Dongba Museum, and a thrilling hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge.
5–day Tour:
Day 1: Lijiang Old Town
Day 2: Yuhu Village – Baisha Village – Shuhe Ancient Town – Dongba Culture Museum – Black Dragon Pool Park
Day 3: Drive to Lugu Lake – Liwubi Island – Luoshui Village – Lige Village
Day 4: Zhamei Monastery – Sweetheart Trees – Mosuo Museum
Day 5: First Bend of the Yangtze River – Tiger Leaping Gorge
Discover the last matrilineal society on Earth at Lugu Lake and explore Naxi heritage in Lijiang Ancient Town.
