How to Get to & around Lijiang: by Flight, Train, Coach & Bus

Lijiang, situated in the northwest of Yunnan Province at 2,500 meters above sea level, is the not-to-be-missed destination for a Yunnan trip. Lijiang is in the north of Dali, about 140 kilometers away; and it is in the southeast of Shangri-La, about 180 kilometers away. Part of travelers would like to get to Lijiang directly to start their Yunnan tour from Lijiang and for most travelers are preferred to put Lijiang into the classic Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-La itinerary as the middle stop...

In this latest and comprehensive Lijiang transportation guide, you can know very clear about how to get to Lijiang - by air, train or bus, or get to Lijiang from other popular destinations like Chengdu, Kunming, Dali, Shangri-La. To well explore in and around Lijiang, you can also take some time to read get from Lijiang to Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge or Lugu Lake...Check and plan your Lijiang tour in 2023/2024 now!

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How to Get to Lijiang

Flights to Lijiang

Lijiang Airport, also called Lijiang Sanyi Airport, is the second largest airport in Yunnan after Kunming Changshui International Airport. Lijiang Airport has flights from Kunming, Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, Xian, Chongqing, Changsha, Guiyang, Lhasa, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Xishuangbanna and more cities. International flights can connect Lijiang with Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul and more regions.

Lijiang Airport is about 29 kilometers from Lijiang Old Town. You can take a taxi (usually 80-100 Yuan) or outside the arrivals hall you will find the airport bus to the old town.

Address: Sanyi Village, Qihe Town, Gucheng District, Lijiang City (丽江市古城区七河镇三义村)

▶ Learn more about: How to Get from Lijiang Airport to Lijiang Old Town

Lijiang Airport

Lijiang Airport

Trains to Lijiang

At present, Lijiang has high speed trains well connecting with Kunming (about 3-3.5 hours) and Guilin (about 10.5 hours). Normal trains are served Lijiang with Dali (about 2 hours).

5 Days Kunming Lijiang High Speed Train Tour (Kunming / Lijiang)

Lijiang Train Station is the main railway station used in Lijiang now. It is about 8 kilometers from the station to Lijiang Old Town. If by taxi or private car, it only needs about 0.5 hour for the transfer. Also buses are available outside of Lijiang Train Station to Old Town.

Address: Shangji Road, Huangshan Town, Yulong County, Lijiang City (丽江市玉龙县黄山镇上吉路)

▶ Learn more about: How to Get from Lijiang Train Station to Lijiang Old Town

Lijiang Train Station

Lijiang Train Station

By Bus / Long Distance Coach

Taking a bus or long distance coach to get to Lijiang is a cheap but time-consuming way. It is mostly chosen by Independent travelers. Long distance coaches or buses are connecting Lijiang with Shangri-La (about 3.5-4 hours), Dali (about 3 hours), Jianchuan, Baoshan, Lugu Lake (5-6 hours), Tiger Leaping Gorge (about 2 hours), Kunming (about 8-9 hours), and more destinations.

Lijiang Bus Station is located in the south of Lijiang Old Town, about 1.4 kilometers within several minutes’ by walking.

Address: No. 25, Kangzhong Road, Gucheng District, Lijiang City (丽江市古城区康仲路25号)

Lijiang Transport Service Center Bus Station

Lijiang Bus Terminal

Get to Lijiang from Chengdu

By Flight

Chengdu is in the northeast of Lijiang City, with a distance about 785 kilometers. Taking a flight from Chengdu to Lijiang is the most convenient way. If you choose Lijiang as the first destination to land in Yunnan, many travelers choose to fly to Lijiang from Chengdu for Chengdu is the largest gateway city in southwest China. There are about 6 or 7 schedules running between Chengdu and Lijiang. It takes about 1.5 hours.

Giant Pandas in Chengdu

Giant Pandas in Chengdu

Get to Lijiang from Kunming

Kunming is situated in the southeast of Lijiang, with a distance about 517 kilometers. Travelers can get to Lijiang from Kunming either by high speed train (bout 3-3.5 hours) or by flight (about 1 hour). Taking a high speed train is more popular than taking a flight.

By High Speed Train

There are about 6 high speed trains running from Kunming Railway Station to Lijiang Railway Station. The earliest one starts at 07:14 and the last one departs at 17:22. The whole train riding takes about 3-3.5 hours. If you are in budget, you can board a normal train which departs from Kunming at night and arrives in Lijiang in the early morning that you can save one night accommodation fee. This overnight train takes about 9 hours.

To check the real-time high speed train schedule from Kunming to Lijiang, you can turn to Kunming to Lijiang High Speed Train Schedule >>

5 Days Kunming Lijiang High Speed Train Tour (Kunming / Lijiang)

By Flight

If you prefer to take a flight from Kunming to Lijiang, there are 5 daily flights (two in the morning, one at noon and two at night) are available. It takes off from Kunming Changshui International Airport and lands at Lijiang Sanyi Airport. It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Since it needs to head to Kunming Airport two hours in advance and this airport is far from Kunming downtown area, many travelers choose to take a high speed train instead of taking a flight.

5 Days Kunming Lijiang Minority Tour (by Flight) (Kunming / Lijiang)

▶ Learn more about: How to Get from Kunming to Lijiang | How to Get from Lijiang to Kunming

Kunming Lijiang Transportation Map

Kunming Lijiang Transportation Map

Bullet Train from Kunming

Bullet Train from Kunming

Get to Lijiang from Dali

Dali is in the south of Lijiang City, about 140 kilometers away. Since the distance is not so far, many travelers would like to transfer from Dali to Lijiang by car (about 2.5-3 hours). Some of them may go by train (about 2 hours) or by bus (about 3 hours).

By Car

If you go from Lijiang to Dali by car, it will take you about 2.5-3 hours with a driving distance of about 170-210km. If you want to make a stop to visit Shaxi Ancient Town midway, you’d better spend one full day or stay one night in Shaxi.

6 Days Dali Lijiang Tour with Shaxi Ancient Town (Dali / Shaxi / Lijiang)

By Train

Trains are very limited from Dali to Lijiang. In 2023, there is only normal train running from Dali Railway Station to Lijiang Railway Station. It takes more than 2 hours. To check the real-time train schedule from Dali to Lijiang, you can turn to Dali to Lijiang High Speed Train Schedule >>

▶ Learn more about: Transportation between Lijiang and Dali

Lijiang Dali Transportation Map

Lijiang Dali Transportation Map

Get to Lijiang from Shangri-La

Shangri-La is located in the northwest of Lijiang City, with a distance about 120 kilometers. Taking a private car is the most recommended way to transfer between Lijiang and Shangri-La. The reason is that Tiger Leaping Gorge (a must-visited attraction in Yunnan) is in situated on the border of Lijiang and Shangri-La, that you visit it during the driving.

By Car

To drive from Shangri-La to Lijiang, you would spend about 3.5-4 hours to drive for about 180km long way. To drive from Shangri-La to Tiger Leaping Gorge, it needs about 2 hours. And the drive from Tiger Leaping Gorge to Lijiang, it takes about 1.5 hours.

By Bus

Distance coaches are the most frequent transfer method to go between Lijiang and Shangri-La. From 08:00 to 18:00, there are comfortable coaches departing from Shangri-La Bus Terminal (香格里拉客运站) to Lijang Bus Terminal (丽江客运站) , which needs about 4 hours for the whole way.

▶ Learn more about: Transportation between Lijiang and Shangri-La

Lijiang Shangri-La Transportation Map

Lijiang Shangri-La Transportation Map

How to Get around Lijiang

Lijiang to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is in the north of Lijiang City, about 35 kilometers away. If go by private car, it needs about 1 hour’s driving. Also, you can take the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain tourist bus running from Lijiang Old Town (Zhongyi Market) to the scenic area. After getting off at Yulongxueshan Station, you need to walk to the tourist center. It takes about 2 hours in total.

▶ Learn more about: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain & Its Highlights, Transportation

3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Idyllic Scene of Yak Meadow (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain)

Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge is in the northwest of Lijiang, about 78 kilometers away. If by car, it takes about 1.5 hours to get there. If you are independent travelers, you can take a bus from Lijiang Bus Station and arrive at Hutiaoxia Town. The distance between Hutiaoxia Town and Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge is about 12 kilometers that you need to hire a car for the transfer. It takes about 2-3 hours. Taking a bus is not recommended.

▶ Learn more about: Tiger Leaping Gorge & Its Highlights, Hiking, Transportation

4 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour with Lijiang Highlights

Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge

Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge

Lijiang to Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake is in the northeast of Lijiang City, with a distance about 205 kilometers. There are usually 2 daily coaches from Lijiang Bus Terminal (丽江客运站) to Luguhu Bus Terminal (泸沽湖客运站), which needs about 5-5.5 hours and 80 RMB/person for arrival. Also, you could start from Lijiang downtown to Lugu Lake scenic area by car for about 4.5 hours, and the driving distance is about 205km.

▶ Learn more about: Lugu Lake & Its Attractions, Routes, Transportation

5 Days Lijiang Lugu Lake with Mosuo Matriarchal Society Experience

Note: all above information of the time, ticket prices, numbers, and stations of the flights, trains and coaches are only for your reference, since that would be adjusted according to practical situation. If you have any questions about transportation to/from/in Yunnan, please contact us for details.

Lijiang to Lugu Lake Transportation Map

Lijiang to Lugu Lake Transportation Map

How to Plan a Lijiang Tour?

Travelers usually enjoy 2-3 days in Lijiang to discover Lijiang Old Town (Mufu Palace), Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shuhe Old Town, Dongba mural paintings, Black Dragon Pool, etc. for a classic savory of this romantic ancient city. Besides, if you are fond of the emerald alpine lake and mysterious matriarchal society culture of Mosuo ethnic culture, you can plan another 2-3 days at Lugu Lake to enjoy more peaceful holiday time!

3 Days Romantic Lijiang Tour with Visits to Naxi Kingdom

3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Besides, quite a lot of visitors prefer travel Lijiang with Shangri-La where to seek the pure holy sceneries and Tibetan belief to catch the best essence of Yunnan province, which usually needs 5-6 days with best visits to Tiger Leaping Gorge with a memorable trekking experience, Sumtseling Monastery, Pudacuo National Forest Park, and more.

Recommended Lijiang Shangri-La Tour Package:

5 Days Lijiang & Shangri-La Highlights Tour

Furthermore, actually most travelers arrange Lijiang city as a part of their Yunnan travel to visit more top destinations in one go, such as Kunming famous as Spring City and convenient province capital, Dali with profound Dali Old Town and splendid Erhai Lake, Yuanyang with terrific rice terraces, Xishuangbanna with exciting tropical flavor and Dai ethnic dances, etc., which usually needs 6-15 days based on your exploration depth!

Recommended Lijiang Yunnan Tour Packages:

6 Days Best of Yunnan Tour (Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming)

8 Days Classic Yunnan Tour (Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La)

11 Days Amazing Yunnan Tour (Kunming / Yuanyang / Jianshui / Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La)

Know more about How to Plan a Lijiang Tour

Lijiang Old Town Lijiang Old Town
Lijiang Old Town Black Dragon Pool at Lijiang Old Town
Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-La Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-La

Travel with China Discovery in Lijiang & Yunnan

China Discovery has been the leading online travel agency for over 10 years and we are specialized in offering different tours in diverse Yunnan, including Kunming tours, Lijiang tours, Dali tours, Shangri-La tours, Yuanyang Rice Terraces tours, Dongchuan Red Land tours, Xishuangbanna tours...

No matter you want to put one simple destination into your trip or cover several destinations together or even extend your Yunnan tour all over China like Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Shanghai, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Hong Kong, Guizhou, Tibet, China Discovery can provide you best tour guides and experienced drivers with comfortable private cars in any of the destinations. Our English-speaking tour guide will accompany you all the way, showing you the best traveling route and telling beautiful stories of the colorful Yunnan. The tour can be tailor-made according to your group size, time, physical condition, plan, interests, budget and other special need. Please feel free to contact us if you need any help or customize the tour with free quotation!

Kunming Stone Forest Stone Forest in Kunming

Recommended Lijiang Tours

Top 3 Lijiang tours chosen by most customers to explore Lijiang in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.

Large Scale Outdoor Show - Impression Lijiang
3 Days Lijiang Cultural & Natural Tour with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Lijiang

Old Naxi Woman in Lijiang Ancient Town
3 Days Romantic Lijiang Tour with Visits to Naxi Kingdom

Lijiang

Tiget Leaping Gorge Hike
4 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour with Lijiang Highlights

Lijiang / Tiger Leaping Gorge / Lijiang

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

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