Written by
Ivy Dong |
Yunnan is one of the most popular destinations for a family trip to China. You and your family, especially if you’re traveling with kids, will have plenty of experiences that you wouldn’t have anywhere else from fabulous natural sceneries to rich ethnic minority culture.
With so many reasons why you should visit Yunnan as a family, read this comprehensive travel planner on how to plan a Yunnan family trip. This article will present you with the top things to do in Yunnan as a family, travel itineraries of different length, best time for your trip, transportation tips, and accommodation options.
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- Family-Friendly Destinations and Activities
- How Many Days Should a Yunnan Family Trip Be: Recommended Itineraries
- Best of Yunnan by Child’s Age Group
- Best Time for a Family Trip to Yunnan
- Yunnan Transportation
- Practical Travel Tips
- Let China Xian Tour Plan Your Perfect Family Trip to Yunnan
- FAQs about Planning a Family Trip to Yunnan
Family-Friendly Destinations and Activities in Yunnan
With several hot tourist cities offering distinctive experiences in Yunnan, whether you travel with kids or elders, there are ideal destinations that suit your needs.
Kunming
At a relatively low altitude, Kunming is usually the first stop for family travelers. Just spend 1 – 2 days here to allow yourself to adapt to the plateau environment.
Family-friendly Activities in Kunming:
- Enjoy a leisurely wander in parks: Family travelers can stroll around the Dianchi Lake or Cuihu Park to watch and feed the seagulls.
- Experience cultural charm in Yunnan Nationalities Village: You can experience the cultural charm of 25 ethnic groups. The unique song and dance performances and interactive handicraft experiences there allow kids to immerse themselves in the strong cultural atmosphere easily.
- Marvel at Stone Forest: The numerous rugged limestone pillars of various shapes form a stone kingdom for kids that can arouse their imaginations. The electric cars are also available for families to explore the scenic area leisurely.
Lijiang
In Lijiang, family travelers can spend about 2 days enjoying a slow-paced life and experiencing the Naxi culture.
Family-friendly Activities in Lijiang:
- Experience Naxi culture in Lijiang Ancient Town: Rent a set of Naxi costumes for all your family members and find some impressive spots to take some unforgettable family photos. Besides, you can also try Naxi tie-dyeing or wooden pear making with your kids together.
- Appreciate the scenery of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: For the safety of kids and elders, it is not advised to ascend to the peak, but you can visit the Blue Moon Valley at the mountain foot and take the cableway to Spruce Meadow.
In Blue Moon Valley, you can wander along the flat plank road to appreciate the dreamy blue lake water. Spruce Meadow is like a fairy world, with surrounding green meadows and lush spruce forests and snow peaks afar. Visitors of all ages will be attracted by the breathtaking scenery.
Dali
Dali boasts not only magnificent Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, but also profound Bai ethnic culture. Meanwhile, it is equipped with complete facilities. So it is an ideal destination for families travelling with elders and kids. Set aside 2 – 3 days to cover these highlights.
Family-friendly Activities in Dali:
- Cycle along Erhai Lake: It is highly recommended to ride a tandem bicycle or an electric bikealong the dedicated bikeway by Erhai Lake. Remember to stop over at the viewing platform, where the local fishermen always showcase the traditional cormorant fishing technique. It is beloved by most children.
- Take Gantong Cableway in Cangshan Mountain: During the ride, you can look up to Cangshan Mountain and overlook Erhai Lake and Dali Ancient Town, making it an ideal sightseeing way. After getting off, take an easy hike to the nearby Jizao Monastery and taste the famous vegetarian dishes.
- Experience handicrafts making in Zhoucheng Village:Families prefer to try tie-dying and decorative armor and war horse figures making here. It allows you to experience intangible cultural heritage, meanwhile strengthening family bonds.
Xishuangbanna
Xishuangbanna is the best choice for a family trip in Yunnan. The characteristic tropical rainforest, rich animals and plants, and strong Dai ethnic culture offer an interesting experience to all families. A 4-day or 5-day tour is choice for most travelers.
Family-friendly Activities in Xishuangbanna:
- Have a close contact with nature in Wild Elephant Valley: Here, both kids and elders can go on a fun hike in the dense forests. If lucky, you may also encounter the wild elephants. At the Elephant School, you can watch the elephants bathing and painting and even feed the elephants. It will be an unforgettable experience for kids.
- Learn about plants in Tropical Botanical Garden: This garden is home to various rare flowers and plants, such as royal water lily, strangler fig, etc. Kids can learn about the knowledge in a more relaxing and impressive way.
- Experience the Dai ethnic culture in Dai Ethnic Garden: Every day, there is a large water-splashing activity, which provides free basins. Children can play with water freely. You can also take them to visit the local bamboo building and taste the Dai-style rice.
Shangri-La
Shangri-La features Tibetan culture and splendid alpine scenery and an essence tour requires about 3 days.
Family-friendly Activities in Shangri-La:
- Experience local life in Dukezong Ancient Town: Here, you can discover ancient Tibetan architecture, try traditional handicrafts, and experience the local way of life with your family together. Its landmark is the world’s largest prayer wheel located at Turtle Hill Park. Spin the wheel and pray for blessings for your family with your kids and parents together.
- Appreciate the scenery in Pudacuo National Park: The park preserves a vast land of alpine sceneries, continuous mountains, grasslands and pastures extending beyond the horizon. The wooden plank road is flat and accessible for strollers. It is also possible to encounter squirrels and yaks, an excellent nature class for kids.
- Explore the Tiger Leaping Gorge: If you travel with children or seniors, Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge is the ideal choice. Equipped with sightseeing shuttles, elevators, and well-paved flat paths, it ensures elders and kids to arrive at the viewing platform easily and feel the momentum of the surging water and Tiger Leaping Stone closely.
Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge is a world-class hiking route and Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge is an undeveloped area. They are both more challenging and not recommended unless your children are teenagers who enjoy a strenuous physical challenge.
Related reading: Yunnan Itineraries – How to Plan 5-14 Days Yunnan Tours
How Many Days Should a Yunnan Family Trip Be: Recommended Itineraries
Generally, we recommend planning 7-10 days for the best Yunnan tour. If you’re traveling as a family, it is best if you set aside enough time for travel and resting. A longer trip will give you more flexibility in your schedule.
If you have less than 4 days, you can explore one of the top destinations like Dali or Lijiang. With 4-6 days for your family trip to Yunnan, you can visit two or three places.
Here are some suggested Yunnan itineraries for family trips.
Related reading: Best Things to Do in China with Kids
Less than 4 days
If you only have less than 4 days in Yunnan, we recommend fully exploring one famous destination like Dali, Kunming, Lijiang, or Shangri-La. Select a theme or some activities that interest you.
- Dali– the beautiful home of Bai minority culture
- Kunming– the “City of Eternal Spring” and “City of Flowers”
- Lijiang– rich Naxi culture heritage and alpine scenery
- Shangri-La– the pure Tibetan land of Buddhism and highland wonders
- Xishuangbanna– China’s tropical kingdom with rainforest experience
Recommended Yunnan City Tours:
- 3 Days Dali Tour Package with Memorable Experience
- 3 Days Lijiang Tour: Cultural & Natural Experiences
- 4 Days All-inclusive Shangri-La Highlights Tour
4-6 days
With 4-6 days, you can hit the highlights of two or three places on your Yunnan family trip. Based on the distance, popular combinations include:
- Lijiang + Shangri-La (+ Dali)
- Jianshui+ Yuanyang (+ Kunming)
- Kunming + Luoping
- Dali + Lijiang
If you know where you want to visit or would like to consult us on traveling details, you can customize your own Yunnan family trip with us.
Recommended Yunnan Classic Tours:
- 5 Days Dali and Lijiang Family Tour with Boutique Hotels
- 5 Days Kunming Xishuangbanna Tour
- 6 Days Yunnan Dali and Lijiang Tour with Shaxi Ancient Town
- 6 Days Yunnan Tour to Lijiang, Shangri-La, Kunming
7-10 days
Your family trip to Yunnan will be the most comprehensive and rewarding with a length of 7-10 days. You will have time to explore various destinations, experience different minority cultures, and even go on a hiking or photography tour. Here are some of our best Yunnan tours for your reference:
- 7 Days Best Yunnan Tour to Dali Lijiang Shangri-La
- 8 Days Classic Yunnan Minority Tour of Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La
- 9 Days Yunnan Family Tour
- 8 Days Yunnan Kid-friendly Family Tour
- 10 Days Classic Yunnan Tour with Dongchuan Red Land
- 11 Days Yunnan Nature and Wildlife Tour
Best of Yunnan by Child’s Age Group
Toddlers & Young Children (Ages 3–8)
- Kunming Stone Forest: It could be rather difficult to conquer some long-distance journey. So you can use the tourist tram to minimize walking while also exploring the unique karst formations with your families.
- Dali: Most visitors, no matter how old they are, would all enjoy short bike rides along Erhai Lake’s gentle trails.Feeding the seagulls in winter or early spring is also quite rewarding.
- Xishuangbanna: Walk the canopy trails (if suitable for children). Young children could be interested in meeting elephants up close at Wild Elephant Valley.
Tweens & Pre-teens (Ages 9–13)
- Lijiang: Join a Naxi cultural workshop could be quite satisfactory, where kids can learn the Dongba script or make local snacks.
- Dali: There’s also chances for you to try a tie-dyeing class in Zhoucheng Village,you can make yourself some traditional Bai crafts as souvenir.
- Yuanyang Rice Terraces: Here the kids can enjoy a stunningly beautiful view, and this can encourage them to capture the rice-field patternsas a photographer.
Teenagers (Ages 14+)
- Tiger Leaping Gorge: Teenagers at this age would better enjoy somelight adventure such as hiking along the high trail section (half-day recommended).
- Lijiang/Dali: Let teens explore modern cafés and creative boutiques independently in the ancient towns.
- Meili Snow Mountain: Scenic hikes can be one of the best ways to createunforgettable family memories.
Best Time for a Family Trip to Yunnan
Yunnan is suitable for visiting all year round thanks to its mild climate and altitude. While for families, it is better to visit there during spring and autumn. Both seasons offer a warm and stable weather and less rainfall, so you can experience more outdoor activities with your family. In spring, there are also more chances to take part in the ethnic festivals, such as the Water-Splashing Festival.
If you plan to tour Yunnan during the Christmas vacation, the cities in southern Yunnan will be ideal choices, such as Xishuangbanna and Puer. With an average temperature of 15 – 22°C, you can enjoy a warm winter there. While Kunming, Lijiang and Dali in northern Yunnan are relatively cold with a large temperature difference between day and night.
If you are planning a trip during June – August, June is better. Because July and August are also the summer holiday for Chinese children, it is the peak tourist season in China. So, most scenic areas will be full of crowds. In addition, it is the hottest period for most cities in China.
Yunnan Weather in Four Seasons
Spring (March to May) – Yunnan is warm and relatively dry with the temperature ranging from 15 to 25°C (59-77°F). It’s the best season for outdoor activities. The landscape will be beautiful for your family photos too.
Summer (June to August) – Yunnan sees its rainy season. The average temperature ranges from 15°C (59°F) to 30°C (86°F), making it a cool and pleasant place to escape the heat.
Fall (September to November) – Yunnan is nice and cool with clear skies and significantly less rainfall. The temperature decreases to between 14°C (57°F) to 25°C (77°F). It’s an excellent time to explore the ancient towns, go on a rewarding hike, and photograph the beautiful sceneries.
Winter (December to February) – Yunnan is clear and dry with minimal rainfall. The temperature averages between 9°C (48°F) and 16°C (61°F), though it varies depending on the location and altitude.
See more details: Yunnan Weather
Yunnan Transportation
How to Get to Yunnan
By flight
Flying is the easiest way to reach Yunnan from your home country, especially if you’re traveling with your family. There’re a number of airports in the province. Major ones include Kunming Changshui International Airport, Lijiang Sanyi Airport, Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, and Dali Airport.
By train
Yunnan also has a very well-connected railway system, and it’s easy to navigate for you and your family. Most major cities in Yunnan have train stations with high-speed rail services to other Chinese cities.
How to Travel around Yunnan
To get around between different cities on your family trip to Yunnan, trains and planes are your best options. Planes can take you to relatively far major cities, while trains travel to smaller cities or even towns. Although there’re also long-distance buses between cities, they’re not so recommended for families, as they can take longer and be more difficult to navigate.
See more details: Yunnan Transportation
Practical Travel Tips for a Yunnan Family Trip
Where to Stay on a Yunnan Family Trip
Yunnan is a very popular region for tourism in China, so its traveling and service industry is very well-developed. In most places, you can find hotels of reputable brands, some of which offer family rooms or extra beds. There’re also boutique or themed hotels with local charm. Here’re some popular areas to stay in in Yunnan’s top destinations:
- Kunming– the city center near Green Lake Park
- e.g. Grand Hyatt Kunming, Green Lake Hotel, Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Colorful Yunnan Kunming
- Dali– near Dali Ancient Town or Erhai Lake
- e.g. Dali Regent Hotel, Hilton Dali Resort & SPA, Gurong Hotel Dali
- Lijiang– near Lijiang Old Town
- e.g. Jinmao Hotel Lijiang, InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort, Hotel Indigo Lijiang Ancient Town
- Shangri-La– Dukezong Ancient Town or Feilai Temple when visiting Meili Snow Mountain
- e.g. Shangri-La Resort Shangri-La, Arro Khampa By Zinc Journey Shangri-la, Shangri-La Karesansui Hotel
- Xishuangbanna – in Gaozhuang, Jinghong City
- e.g. InterContinental Xishuangbanna Resort, Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa Hotel, Sheraton Xishuangbanna Hotel
Family Health & Safety Checklist
- Altitude Advice for Kids: Lijiang (2,400 m) and Shangri-La (3,200 m) are at high elevations, and children and elders could get some high-altitude sickness. So you should ascend gradually. Set aside at least one day of rest after arrival and avoid strenuous activity in the first 24 hours you get there. During the journey, keep everyone warm and hydrated, and don’t give them high-fat meals. If symptoms like headache or nausea appear, descend to a lower altitude immediately and seek medical care.
- Stroller vs. Carrier: Ancient towns and mountain areas often have paved as uneven cobblestone streets and step. So thata baby carrier is more practical than a stroller.
- Food Safety: Always stick to restaurants with good hygiene, and don’t give small children avoid raw or spicy disheDrink bottled water (quite easy to find in convenient stores).
- Sun Protection: Yunnan’s UV rays are strong year-round, so that sun-protection gears are essential.
- Insect Protection: In rainforest regions like Xishuangbanna, one must bring insect repellent and light long-sleeve clothing.
Packing List
Clothing: sweat-absorbing and breathable clothing, winter jacket, anti-slip sports shoes; for kids: thin scarf, sandals; for elders: warm hat, gloves, knee pads
Medicines: anti-altitude sickness medication; for kids: antipyretics, antidiarrheal drugs, probiotics; for elders: common medicines like antihypertensive drugs, emergency heart medication.
Other necessary items: lip balm, thermal mug, portable oxygen cylinder, raincoats and snacks that your kids like
Kid-friendly Dishes in Yunnan
Yunnan cuisine is always colorful and rich, and local people are really good at using fresh local ingredients.
- Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles (过桥米线): One of the most famous signature dishes which visitors in all ages can happily enjoy.
- Yunnan-style Fried Rice or Stir-fried Mushrooms: Nutritious and easy to digest.
- Erkuai (Rice Cake): A chewy local snack made from glutinous ricewhich normally served sweet or savory. So that it can be quite popular among kids.
- Bai-style Grilled Fish or Barbecue Skewers: Lightly seasoned and loved by older kids.
- Fresh Fruits: Yunnan’s tropical areas are really suitable for the growth of fruits. Bananas, pineapples, and passion fruit are some of the most adored by kids.
Related reading: Interesting Facts about Yunnan
Let China Xian Tour Plan Your Perfect Family Trip to Yunnan
A Yunnan family tour is becoming more and more famous among travelers from all places around the world. However, traveling with teens or toddlers can, indeed, be overwhelming in various respects, and that’s why we think you need China Xian Tour to make it easier for you. With us creating a customized itinerary and taking care of all the details, you’ll can fully focus on creating lifelong memories together with your families.
FAQs about Planning a Family Trip to Yunnan
Which cities in Yunnan are the most family-friendly for those traveling with toddlers versus teenagers?
Toddlers: Kunming and Dali (flat terrain, mild weather, easy attractions).
Teenagers: Lijiang, Shangri-La, and Tiger Leaping Gorge (adventure and cultural immersion).
What is the cost of a family trip to Yunnan?
It varies according to seasons, accommodation and transportation options and the number of days and family members. Generally, for comfortable travel, the per capita spending for different numbers of days is listed below.
- Less than 4 days: CNY 1,200 – 2,500/USD 176 – 367
- 4 – 6 days: CNY 2,500 – 4,500/USD 367 – 660
- 5 – 10 days: CNY 4,000 – 7,000/USD 660 – 1027
