Trip Summary
Yunnan's greatest hits at 2,000 m: the Bai Three Pagodas and Erhai lake at Dali, the Naxi old town of Lijiang beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and cable cars onto the glacier itself — all stitched together by scenic rail and one dramatic gorge drive.
Trip Highlights
- Lijiang Old Town's canals and rooftop cafés at dawn (before tours)
- Cable car onto Jade Dragon Snow Mountain's 4,506 m glacier deck
- Cycling the Erhai lake shore past Bai villages
- Dali's Three Pagodas mirrored in the lake at dusk
Day by Day
Day 1 — To Kunming
Fly/HSR in; Green Lake evening.
Flight in · Kunminginternational flights, destination pre-filledBook → Stay · Green Lake Parkold quarter by the bird-and-flower marketBook → Car rental · Kunmingpick up at Kunming Changshui International Airport on arrivalBook → 
Day 2 — Stone Forest → Dali
Morning among the stone pinnacles; afternoon HSR to Dali.
Kunming → Dali trainHigh-speed rail ~2 hBook → Stay · Dali Old Townby the South Gate — Cangshan views and Erhai-side cafésBook → Car rental · Dalipick up at Dali Railway Station on arrivalBook → Tickets · Stone Forestskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 3 — Dali
Three Pagodas, Erhai lake loop by e-bike, Dali old town walls.
Stay · Dali Old Townby the South Gate — Cangshan views and Erhai-side cafésBook → Tickets · Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple Cultural Tourism Zoneskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 4 — To Lijiang
Train 2 h; first evening in the old town's lantern maze.
Dali → Lijiang trainHigh-speed rail ~2 hBook → Stay · Lijiang Old TownSifang Street quarter — canals under the eavesBook → Car rental · Lijiangpick up at Lijiang Railway Station on arrivalBook → Tickets · Old Town of Lijiangskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 5 — Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Big cable to the glacier deck; Blue Moon Valley turquoise pools below.
Stay · Lijiang Old TownSifang Street quarter — canals under the eavesBook → Tickets · Yulongskip-the-line entryBook → Day 6 — Tiger Leaping Gorge or Shuhe
Option: the gorge's high trail; else Shuhe village and Black Dragon Pool with the peak reflection.
Stay · Lijiang Old TownSifang Street quarter — canals under the eavesBook → Day 7 — Out
Fly from Lijiang (directs to major hubs) or train back to Kunming.
Flight out · Lijiangdeparture flights from Lijiang, destination openBook → 
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