A Romantic Wedding Photo Journey in Colorful Yunnan: An 8-Day In-Depth Guide to Lijiang and Dali

A Spontaneous Wedding Photography Trip, Meeting the Most Beautiful Yunnan

Have you ever had this experience? You planned a trip, only to scrap everything two days before departure because of the weather forecast, losing nearly two thousand yuan, feeling utterly frustrated. I went through just such a "painful" lesson this spring—I had originally booked a trip to Lijiang over the Qingming Festival holiday to take wedding photos. Then I checked the forecast: rain all week. I decisively canceled everything—returned plane tickets, rescheduled, canceled accommodations. After all that, my wallet was significantly lighter.

But as it turned out, this decision was absolutely right! Later, I asked the locals and found out that during Qingming, Lijiang was indeed overcast and drizzly, cold enough to make you shiver. And we rescheduled to after the May Day holiday. For seven straight days, every single day was blue skies and white clouds, with brilliant sunshine. Even our mood brightened along with the weather. So, if you ask me what the number one rule of travel is, I'd say: Trust the weather forecast, but trust your gut even more.

This Yunnan trip was both for taking wedding photos and for having a good time exploring Lijiang and Dali. Over eight days, from the ancient town to the snow mountain, from the lake to Erhai Lake, we gathered so many surprises and practical tips along the way. Today, I'm organizing all these experiences, hoping they'll help you who are planning a Yunnan trip.

Pre-Trip Preparation: Things You Must Know

About the Itinerary

Our eight-day schedule went like this:

• Day 1: Fly from Beijing to Lijiang, check into Zhenmei Resort Hotel on Lion Hill
• Day 2: Wedding photos in Lijiang (Shuhe Ancient Town, highway, horse ranch, Lashi Lake)
• Day 3: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Blue Moon Valley, explore Lijiang Ancient Town
• Day 4: Private car tour around Lugu Lake, check into Qieman Resort Hotel
• Day 5: Boating on Lugu Lake, return to Lijiang in the afternoon
• Day 6: Train to Dali, explore Dali Ancient Town
• Day 7: Bike ride along Erhai Lake
• Day 8: Return from Dali to Lijiang, buy souvenirs, fly back to Beijing

This itinerary balances "wedding photos + travel." If you're purely sightseeing, feel free to adjust accordingly.

Transportation Tips

Didi ride-hailing in Lijiang is incredibly convenient. Drivers accept orders at astonishing speed. We basically relied on Didi for all our trips in Lijiang—stress-free and effortless. For the journey from Lijiang to Dali, we chose a sleeper train carriage. It let us rest while saving time—highly recommended.

Lijiang Ancient Town: Slow Down to Discover Stories

The Viewpoint Inn on Lion Hill

Our first night was at Zhenmei Resort Hotel on Lion Hill. The best thing about this place is its observation deck—standing there, you get a panoramic view of the entire Lijiang Ancient Town. The vista is so vast it instantly lifts your spirits. The hotel provides porters to carry your luggage, because dragging a suitcase up Lion Hill is no joke. The room also came with complimentary Dongba tea, fruit, and small snacks—attention to detail was excellent.

The ancient town maintenance fee in Lijiang is 80 yuan per person, valid for one month. If you're staying in the ancient town for a few days, this fee is worth it.

Da Bing's Little Hut: A Place You Must Visit Early

As someone who has read Be Good, Touch Your Head and Amitabha, Muah Muah, how could I come to Lijiang and not visit Da Bing's Little Hut? Here, it's 40 yuan per person, and you can choose one drink from beer, plum wine, or soy milk. Of course, Da Bing himself isn't at the shop, but it gathers young people from all over the country. Everyone drinks, chats, and sings—the atmosphere is fantastic.

Important tip: Go early! When I came out, there was already a long line at the door. The ancient town streets are narrow anyway, and the queue was blocking everything. Across the way on the second floor, there's a "Da Bing's Villa," but it doesn't hold many people either. A friend told me she once waited over half an hour without getting in, so I suggest you go around 4 or 5 PM to grab a spot.

Must-Try Food Recommendations

In Lijiang Ancient Town, I strongly recommend a small shop called "Erkuai Shiguang" (Rice Cake Time of Light). On Dianping (China's Yelp), they have a 98-yuan set meal for two, including two drinks, a serving of red heart potato chips, and two rice cakes. The staff will explain the origin of each ingredient in detail, and after you finish, they'll give you chicken bean seeds (the raw material for chicken bean jelly). Honestly, though, the flavor is quite mild—not everyone might like it—but it's still a nice experience.

Also, there's a shop in the ancient town that specializes in red rice noodles—the only one in all of Lijiang Ancient Town. Chicken bean jelly, Naxi grilled meat, and horse caravan grilled fish are their signature dishes. The Naxi grilled meat is especially good—you wrap it in mint leaves, which cuts the grease and refreshes the palate.

Wedding Photos: Meeting "A Sliver of Sunlight" at Lashi Lake

On the day of our wedding shoot, our team of five—makeup artist Tingting, photographer Wen Sir, assistant Xiao Hei, plus my husband and me—set off in a Jeep. Four outfits, four locations: from Shuhe Ancient Town to the highway, then a horse ranch, and finally wrapping up at Lashi Lake.

I especially want to praise makeup artist Tingting. She was like Doraemon's pocket—she had everything in her bag. She kept touching up my makeup, adjusting my hairstyle, holding my clothes, and even bought us ice cream. Photographer Wen Sir was very professional. He listened carefully to my ideas and gave very sensible suggestions. Assistant Xiao Hei was an all-rounder—driving, lighting, boating, he could do it all.

The most unforgettable moment was during the shoot at Lashi Lake when we saw the legendary "sliver of sunlight"—light streaming through gaps in the clouds, so beautiful it felt like a dream. At that moment, I felt all the hassle was worth it.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: Altitude Sickness Is No Joke

Tickets and Cable Car

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain tickets cost 130 yuan per person, and the cable car plus scenic area shuttle bus combo is 200 yuan per person. This ticket includes spots like Ganhaizi Meadow, Yak Meadow, and Blue Moon Valley, but honestly, aside from Blue Moon Valley, the other places aren't that impressive.

Oxygen Tanks: Don't Skimp on Price

This is the point I want to emphasize! We bought two oxygen tanks in Lijiang Ancient Town for 25 yuan each. Later, we found out those were for low altitudes—basically useless at over 4,000 meters on the snow mountain. Later, on the road to the mountain, we bought high-altitude oxygen tanks from a正规专卖店 (authorized specialty store) for 130 yuan each. I strongly urge you to buy oxygen tanks from正规专卖店 (authorized specialty stores). Don't mess with your life.

My mother came to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain two years ago, and her traveling companion almost passed out from altitude sickness. So this time, I brought four oxygen tanks with me. I started inhaling oxygen from the moment I got on the shuttle bus to the cable car—don't wait until you feel unwell to start.

Altitude Sickness Experience

After about two hours on the mountain, I felt like I was dying. Dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing—I was practically slumped in my seat on the way down. But altitude sickness really varies from person to person. The little old lady waiting in line next to me was completely fine. Regardless, safety comes first. Inhale oxygen when you need to, rest when you need to.

Blue Moon Valley

Take the cable car down from the snow mountain, then the shuttle bus to Blue Moon Valley. There are lots of couples taking wedding photos here. The wind is fierce—freak gusts come out of nowhere. But the scenery is genuinely stunning. The blue lake water reflects the distant snow mountain—any shot you take looks like a masterpiece.

Lugu Lake: The Most Breathtaking Surprise of This Trip

Transportation and Tickets

The road from Lijiang to Lugu Lake was only completed in 2016. It used to take seven or eight hours; now it's just over three. Sharing a car costs about 70 yuan per person. The entrance fee is 100 yuan per person.

Qieman Resort Hotel: Highly Recommended

My husband booked this hotel. I couldn't even find it on Mafengwo and almost missed it. It's the highest-altitude hotel on the entire Lugu Lake, with unbeatable views. The owner is super nice, and the staff member Xiao Qi is a really interesting guy—at night, he watches shooting stars from the bathroom; during the day, he's quiet with a dazed expression, which is hilarious.

The hotel's common area has drinks and games. Strangers get along even better here. The hotel also has a chef—you can order meals. The braised pork belly and cold cucumber salad are especially delicious. The cold cucumber salad, in particular, is amazing—turning such simple ingredients into something so tasty.

Lake Tour

The roads around Lugu Lake are all winding mountain passes. Drivers unfamiliar with the terrain should be extra careful. We hired a private car for the lake tour. The driver was a distant relative recommended by the hotel owner. He drove a big SUV and took us around for an entire afternoon for just over 300 yuan.

The route was: the Walking Marriage Bridge—Goddess Bay—Lige Island—Nisai Village—Lovers' Beach—Daluoshui Village. Near the Walking Marriage Bridge, there are lots of vendors. You can get your hair braided—10 yuan for eight braids.

The viewing platform at Lige Peninsula was packed with people. I barely managed to get a solo photo. By dusk, the driver dropped us back at the hotel, just in time for sunset. That sunset—I'll never forget it for the rest of my life. Photos taken on my phone, no filters, were so beautiful they made you want to cry.

Boating Experience

To protect the water source, all boats on Lugu Lake are rowed by hand. It costs 35 yuan per person for about an hour. The lake surface is dotted with many small white flowers—these are the legendary "water-natured flowers" (a local aquatic plant). The lake water is so clear you can see the bottom.

Dali: Cycling and Contemplation by Erhai Lake

Dali Ancient Town

We took the train from Lijiang to Dali. We bought sleeper tickets so we could lie down and rest. Dali train station is very small. Lots of drivers were waiting outside—just negotiate a price and go.

We stayed at Erhai Gate No. 1 Hotel, right on the edge of Dali Ancient Town. The breakfast rice noodles at this hotel were amazing—I ate them two days in a row. We booked two nights: one night in a star-gazing room (with transparent glass walls all around) and one night in a standard king-bed room. The inn had lots of cats. One cat with a round, flat face was especially cute. It actually jumped onto my husband's lap and lay there as if nothing was wrong, terrifying him since he's afraid of cats.

Cycling Along Erhai Lake

Starting from Erhai Gate in Dali Ancient Town, we passed through Xizhou Ancient Town, Shangguan, Shuanglang, and finally arrived at Nanzhao Style Island, then turned back along the same route. Renting an electric scooter: old ones cost 30 yuan per day, new ones 60 yuan per day. I suggest renting a new one—the battery lasts longer.

Important reminder: When we went, the Shuanglang area was being dug up everywhere for sewage pipe installation. The road conditions were terrible, and all the surrounding hotels and restaurants were closed. Erhai Lake's pollution problem is indeed severe. Flies and mosquitoes were everywhere along the shore. I hope the relevant authorities prioritize protecting Erhai Lake's ecology over excessive development.

We came back after a day of cycling, dusty and tired, but the scenery along the way was worth it. In Xizhou Ancient Town, we had mulberry yogurt. In Dali Ancient Town, we ate at Zuiliuli Private Kitchen—the lemongrass lemon chicken and silverfish omelet were both delicious.

Final Thoughts: Practical Tips You Must Know

1. About the weather: Yunnan's weather is unpredictable. Check the forecast before you go, but don't let it scare you off completely—we're the perfect example.

2. About transportation: Didi is very convenient in Lijiang. For traveling from Lijiang to Dali, I recommend the sleeper train.

3. About altitude sickness: Make sure to buy正规 (authorized) high-altitude oxygen tanks. Don't cheap out in the ancient town. Start inhaling oxygen from the cable car ride—don't wait until you feel uncomfortable.

4. About Lugu Lake: I highly recommend Qieman Resort Hotel. For the lake tour, hire a private car—it's safer than driving yourself.

5. About Erhai Lake: The Shuanglang area is currently under renovation, and road conditions are poor. I suggest waiting a year or two before going there.

6. About food: In Lijiang, try chicken bean jelly, Naxi grilled meat, and red rice noodles. In Dali, the mulberry yogurt and silverfish omelet are worth a try.

7. About photos: Yunnan's scenery is so beautiful that unedited photos look stunning. But remember to bring sunscreen and warm layers—the temperature difference between morning and evening is significant.

Finally, I want to say that the best part of travel is often not the planned attractions, but the unexpected scenery and the people you meet along the way. Just like the sliver of sunlight we saw at Lashi Lake, the sunset we encountered at Lugu Lake, and the stories we heard at Da Bing's Little Hut—these unplanned joys are the most precious gifts of any journey.

I hope this guide helps you. May your Yunnan trip be just as wonderful.