Dali and Lijiang are must-visit cities for a trip to Yunnan.
Here, we will explain how to get from Dali to Lijiang and offer some inspiration on how to plan an itinerary for these two cities.
How to Get to Lijiang from Dali
The distance between Dali and Lijiang is 170–180 km (106–112 miles). It is very convenient to travel between these two cities.
By High-Speed Train: Most Common Way
Taking a high-speed train from Dali to Lijiang (or vice versa) is the most common way to travel between the two. The train journey takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
- High-speed trains from Dali Railway Station to Lijiang Railway Station run from 7 am to 7 pm. There are eight trains per day.
- High-speed trains from Lijiang Railway Station to Dali Railway Station run from 9:40 am to 10 pm. There are eight trains per day.
The ticket prices range from 80 CNY / 12 USD (second-class seats) to 127 CNY / 19 USD (first-class seats).
How to Buy Train Tickets
Train tickets are typically available for purchase 15 days in advance. We recommend booking early, especially for popular tourist destinations like Dali and Lijiang.
You could buy tickets either at the train station or online by downloading the 12306 China Railway app and registering with your passport for ticket purchases.
Once you've bought your ticket, there's no need to exchange a paper ticket. Simply use your passport to enter the station.
Place your passport in the designated area at the gate for scanning. If the system fails to recognize your passport, you could use the manual entry lane instead.
By Car: Hassle-Free (Recommended)
Driving from Dali to Lijiang takes about 2.5 hours.
This is the preferred method (using a private transfer) that we recommend for our itinerary as it offers more flexibility and is hassle-free. Plus, the total travel time is almost the same as taking a high-speed train.
Using a private transfer allows you to go directly from your hotel in Dali to your hotel in Lijiang, which is especially convenient if you have a lot of luggage as it spares you the trouble of handling it on the train.
Along the way, you could also stop to visit some ancient towns, such as Shaxi Ancient Town, which is located between Dali and Lijiang.
By Bus: Not Recommended
Taking a bus is an economical way to travel.
The buses between Lijiang and Dali cost about 50 CNY (7 USD) to 80 CNY (12 USD).
It would take about 3 hours.
The popular bus routes include going from Dali North Bus Station to Lijiang Bus Station and from Dali Old Town to Lijiang Old Town.
Can I Take a Day Trip from Dali to Lijiang?
Yes, it is possible to take a day trip from Dali to Lijiang.
You could take the earliest train from Dali and arrive in Lijiang at about 8:30 am, allowing you to start your day's itinerary in Lijiang.
During the day, you could visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and explore Lijiang Old Town, and then take the last train back to Dali at night at about 11:40 pm.
While this plan is doable, we don't recommend it because it could be exhausting. Especially for high-altitude places like Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, it's important to get enough rest and maintain good energy to enjoy the experience fully.
Typically, we suggest staying overnight in Lijiang after traveling from Dali, and then continuing to Shangri-La or flying to other cities.
You could refer to our 8-day Yunnan itinerary for more details:
- Days 1–2: Kunming
- Day 3: Kunming to Dali by high-speed train, Dali sightseeing
- Days 4–5: a private transfer from Dali to Lijiang, Lijiang sightseeing
- Days 6–8: a private transfer from Lijiang to Shangri-La, Shangri-La sightseeing
