Seven Days, Six Nights, A 99-Point Family Trip to Yunnan (Lijiang, Dali, Kunming – Ultra-Detailed Guide)

Have you ever had that feeling? A place you've carried in your heart for so long that you almost thought it was just a dreamscape. Then one day, you finally muster the courage, gather the whole family, and set foot on that land – only to find that reality is even more beautiful than you imagined.

That was our family's experience in Yunnan. Starting from Guangzhou, seven days and six nights, spanning Lijiang, Dali, and Kunming. Except for one day when heavy rain disrupted our plans and one night when our child's fever sent the whole family into a cold sweat, every other moment felt soaked in sunshine and the fragrance of flowers. Grandpa said this trip scored 99 out of 100 – nearly perfect. And Grandma, who had previously been critical of Yunnan cuisine, kept nodding and saying, "The food in Yunnan is really delicious."

If you also have seven days and want to take your family on a Yunnan trip, this guide is for you.

Overview: Seven Days, Six Nights, Three Cities

Day 1 Guangzhou → Lijiang, visit Yuhu Village and Dragon Girl Lake, evening stroll through Lijiang Old Town
Day 2 In-depth exploration of Lijiang Old Town, visit the Mu Palace
Day 3 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Spruce Meadow + "Impression Lijiang" show + Blue Moon Valley)
Day 4 Private car to Dali, visit Nanzhao Style Island, drive along the eastern lakeside route, check in at Dali Old Town
Day 5 Gantong Cable Car on Cangshan Mountain + cycling along the western lakeside route
Day 6 Dali Old Town photoshoot, high-speed train to Kunming, explore Kunming Old Street
Day 7 Daguan Park, Military Academy, Cuihu Lake, Southwest Associated University旧址, return trip

Pre-Trip Preparation: We've Taken the Falls for You

Flights and High-Speed Trains

Book in advance on the China Southern Airlines app. A one-way ticket from Guangzhou to Lijiang can be redeemed for 12,000 miles. If you don't have enough miles, you can purchase the difference. Note: Adding a recipient for the first time takes 15 days to take effect; the second time takes 30 days. Mileage tickets are generally non-refundable. High-speed train tickets go on sale 15 days in advance.

Private Car Rental

Book in advance on Ctrip for better prices. If the salesperson says "the fleet has raised prices, you need to pay extra" before departure – don't panic. Ctrip has agreements, and they can't break the contract. We booked at 1,000 yuan per day more than ten days in advance. The day before departure, they asked for an extra 500 yuan, but after some negotiation, we got the original price. The car was in good condition, and the driver was reliable.

Accommodation: Three Guesthouses, Five-Star Recommendations

Lijiang · Tanhua Mansion Chain Inn (Flagship Store)
Located on the outskirts of the Old Town, less than a kilometer from the Big Waterwheel. Quiet and elegant, with a courtyard featuring pavilions, flowing water, koi fish swimming leisurely, succulents, and bougainvillea. The rooftop terrace offers an excellent view, where you can sit on a swing and gaze at the Old Town and distant mountains. There's also a dog named "Zhang Guilan" – an Alaskan Malamute, gentle and beautiful, adored by the kids. The family room has a small mahjong table, keeping the children entertained for hours.

Dali · Qinanjing Boutique Inn
Built in Bai ethnic style, with white walls, gray tiles, and blue characters. The courtyard is covered with succulents, earning it the nickname "Kingdom of Succulents." The rooftop terrace offers views of the Old Town and Cangshan Mountain. The owner thoughtfully set up a "Sky Mirror" photo spot, perfect for stunning shots. Two large beds, comfortably accommodating a family of four.

Kunming · Jian Z Mei Su (Banzhu Cuiyuan Branch)
A top-floor duplex mansion, over 300 square meters, with three rooms each featuring a 1.8-meter bed, private bathroom, and bathtub. Excellent location, close to Southwest Associated University, the Military Academy, Cuihu Lake, and Kunming Old Street. At just over 400 yuan per night for a family of six, the value is unbeatable.

Ticket Reservations

• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: Follow the "Yunnan Tourism Group" official account and grab tickets one day in advance. Grab the big cable car tickets at 8 PM and the Spruce Meadow small cable car tickets at 9 PM. Can't get them? Ctrip also offers combo tickets, 240 yuan including Spruce Meadow + "Impression Lijiang." Entrance tickets are purchased on-site: 100 yuan for adults, 50 yuan for seniors and children.
• Taiyang Palace Art Space: Reserve via official account or mini-program. Free entry from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, limited to 20 people per time slot, grab one day in advance.
• Cangshan Cable Car: Book two days in advance on Qunar. 110 yuan for adults, 40 yuan for children.
• Nanzhao Style Island: Book on Fliggy. 161 yuan for two adults, half price for seniors and children, free for children under 1.2 meters.

Packing List (Condensed)

Long-sleeve jacket, T-shirts, shorts, skirts, sneakers, a shawl, high-SPF sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, umbrella, common medications, children's fever reducer, mosquito repellent, power bank, ID card. Sunscreen and umbrella are essential – Lijiang and Dali alternate between sun and rain, and the UV is brutal. For Spruce Meadow and Gantong Cable Car, a long-sleeve shirt with a light jacket is enough. Buy a shawl in the Old Town – it's warm and photogenic.

Day 1: Yuhu Village and Dragon Girl Lake – First Stunning Sight at the Foot of the Snow Mountain

At 5 AM, the pre-booked ride-sharing car arrived on time. Our youngest was flying for the first time and kept asking nervously, "Mom, will the plane fall from so high?" But when she saw the sea of clouds outside the window, her little face lit up.

Two hours later, the plane landed in Lijiang. As we stepped off, a cool breeze hit us – a stark contrast to Guangzhou's muggy heat. It took 40 minutes to get our checked luggage; next time, we'll try to avoid checking bags. Our female driver was Naxi, talkative and cheerful. Along the way, we learned a few Naxi phrases: "Hello" is "Aluo," "Delicious" is "Ami," and "Goodbye" is "Abai." In Naxi culture, girls are called "Pangjinmei" and boys "Pangjinge." The driver said Naxi women do everything – drive, butcher pigs, chop wood, even go to war – so don't stereotype "female drivers"; there are more of them here than male drivers.

For lunch, we had "Three Kilometers" chicken rice noodles near the guesthouse. A small portion at 11 yuan was surprisingly generous. The broth was a simmered chicken soup, rich and savory, with firm, flavorful black-boned chicken meat. The noodles were smooth and chewy, topped with pickled vegetables and bean sprouts. Even the dad, who usually doesn't eat much, finished two bowls.

In the afternoon, we took a taxi to Yuhu Village. The village is free to enter, but you need to buy a 30-yuan round-trip shuttle ticket. Yuhu Village sits at the foot of the snow mountain, with houses all built from stone – rustic and unique. The sun was brilliant, the sky blue with white clouds, every shot a masterpiece. The dad said, "This scenery exceeds expectations."

The highlight was horse riding at Dragon Girl Lake. For 68 yuan per person, you ride a horse along the highland lake and meadows. Grandpa, Dad, and the kids had a blast riding, while we chased after them taking photos. The highland sun was fiercer than expected – even with a sun-protection jacket, we needed umbrellas. But the horse handler shouted, "Put away the umbrella! Horses are afraid of them!" So we had to endure the sun. But the beauty of Dragon Girl Lake was worth it – the sky deep blue, clouds low, lake water shimmering like millions of diamonds. Occasionally, horses would trot to the water's edge to drink, and a bride in a wedding dress posed for photos – scenes straight out of a movie.

Around 6 PM, the kids danced on the restaurant rooftop in the evening breeze. Those natural smiles were the most precious images of the trip. That night, I couldn't sleep. I slipped out to the courtyard, lay on a rocking chair, and listened to the wind chimes. In the profound silence, it was just me, the chair, and the breeze – a rare moment of peace.

Day 2: Lijiang Old Town – Getting Lost Is Part of the Scenery

Today was all about slowing down. We woke up at 9 AM, had breakfast, and wandered into the Old Town. Even though we got lost, wandering through the alleys, discovering courtyards full of succulents, lazy cats, and sunbathing dogs, made it even more fun.

The highlight was the Mu Palace, known as "the Forbidden City of the North, the Mu Palace of the South." Tickets were 40 yuan, half price for seniors and children. Following the guide, we learned about the wisdom and vision of the Mu chieftains. The murals in the Jade Sound Pavilion blended Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The wooden carvings on the eaves featured dragons above and phoenixes below – a reflection of the Naxi people's respect for women. Though immensely wealthy, the Mu chieftains only carved four-clawed golden dragons, never overstepping their rank. The traveler Xu Xiake once praised the Mu Palace as "as splendid as a king's residence," and his friendship with Mu Zeng, the chieftain, was deeply moving. Climbing to the Sanqing Hall at the back of the mountain, we overlooked the entire Lijiang Old Town. Dressed in ancient costumes, we took photos – absolutely stunning.

In the afternoon, we reached Sifang Street, crowded with people, so we quickly retreated. Xiao Ming suggested ordering takeout back at the hotel, and the whole family ate comfortably in the room – a perfect idea.

That night, Qingqing suddenly developed a fever, sending us rushing to Lijiang People's Hospital. The emergency visit took less than an hour. The doctor said it was just tonsillitis, and after taking medicine, the fever broke the next day. Reminder: Don't take high-altitude colds and fevers lightly; seek medical attention promptly.

Day 3: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Shuhe Ancient Town – Splitting Up, Each with Their Own Adventures

Qingqing's fever had subsided, but we still didn't dare take her to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. So we split up: Grandpa and Grandma went to the mountain, while we took the kids to Shuhe Ancient Town.

Shuhe Ancient Town was more affordable. The same tie-dye shawl that cost 50 yuan in Lijiang Old Town was only 30 yuan here. The kids spent a long time in a creative shop, picking out mother-daughter tie-dye dresses and showing them off proudly. In a coffee shop, two kittens turned our umbrella into a toy, refusing to let go. At the Sakura Coffee House near Sifang Tingyin, we had the place to ourselves, listening to a young guy play guitar. Xiao Ming even sang a song, his voice echoing across the square. Qingqing wrote in her diary: "Mom and Xiao Ming's voices could be heard all over the square."

Meanwhile, Grandpa and Grandma watched the "Impression Lijiang" show, calling it "mind-blowing." The water in Blue Moon Valley was as blue as sapphires, and the forest in Spruce Meadow was serene like a fairy tale. Ctrip was also very accommodating – when we returned the ticket due to the child's fever, they provided a full refund after we showed the medical report.

For dinner, we ate at the Ruins Restaurant in Shuhe. Beautiful setting, exquisite dishes. The complimentary horse milk wine had a light alcohol aroma and rich, creamy flavor. The mushroom claypot rice was so fragrant we couldn't stop eating.

Day 4-5: Dali – Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon, Poetic Dwelling

We took a private car from Lijiang to Shuanglang in Dali, visited Nanzhao Style Island, drove along the eastern lakeside route, and checked into Dali Old Town. The eastern route scenery was breathtaking – Cangshan Mountain on one side, Erhai Lake on the other, sunlight dancing on the water's surface.

The next day, we took the Gantong Cable Car on Cangshan Mountain, spent half the day hiking, and half the day cycling the western lakeside route. The Gantong Cable Car wasn't cold; a light jacket was enough. Cycling the western route was the most relaxing moment of the trip – a gentle breeze on our faces, green rice fields, Cangshan Mountain in the distance, Erhai Lake nearby. Time seemed to slow down.

That night, we stayed at the Qinanjing Inn. From the rooftop terrace, we watched the sunset, the mountain bathed in gold – so beautiful it left us speechless.

Day 6-7: Kunming – The Last Stop, Still Wanting More

The high-speed train from Dali to Kunming took only 40 minutes. We checked into Jian Z Mei Su, and the kids exclaimed, "This is a mansion!" That evening, we wandered Kunming Old Street and tried local snacks.

On the last day, we visited Daguan Park, the Army Military Academy, Cuihu Lake, and the site of Southwest Associated University. The lotus flowers at Cuihu were in full bloom, and the yellow walls of the Military Academy looked particularly beautiful in the sunlight. The site of Southwest Associated University filled us with reverence – that difficult yet glorious history is worth every child knowing.

At 4 PM, we departed from Kunming South Station, taking the high-speed train back to Guangzhou. Seven days, three cities, a family of six – 99 points.

Final Thoughts: Yunnan Is Worth Setting Out For

On this trip, we encountered pitfalls and surprises. If there's one regret, it's that time was too short – we hadn't had enough of Dali's slow life, nor explored Kunming's Old Street thoroughly. But that one point of imperfection gives us a reason to return.

Yunnan's beauty isn't just in its scenery, but in its "slow down" pace of life. You can sit in a café, watching clouds drift by. You can get lost in the Old Town's alleys. You can cycle along Erhai Lake until sunset. But what moved me most was seeing the kids dance on the rooftop, ride horses by the lake, and sing in the Old Town – that pure joy is something no guide can replicate.

So, if you're planning a family trip, take this guide and set out. Yunnan won't disappoint you.

Quick Tips at a Glance: - Sunscreen + umbrella – both essential - Oxygen canisters: buy online for under 10 yuan each - Mu Palace is a must – follow the guide for the stories - Shuhe Ancient Town is cheaper than Lijiang Old Town - High-altitude colds and fevers: seek medical attention promptly - Book private cars in advance; don't back down if prices increase

May your Yunnan trip also score 99 points.