Yunnan 7-Day Travel Guide

📅 Itinerary Overview: Kunming + Dali + Lijiang + Shangri-La Day Destination Key Attractions Recommended Accommodation Daily Budget D1-2 Kunming Dianchi Lake, Stone Forest, Kunming Old Street Nanping Street Budget Hotel 600 RMB D3-4 Dali Erhai Lake Cycling, Xizhou Tie-dye, Dali Ancient Town Caicun Pier Seaview Homestay 800 RMB D5-6 Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Blue Moon Valley, Shuhe Ancient Town Zhongyi Market Inn 1200 RMB D7 Shangri-La Songzanlin Monastery, Napa Lake Loop Duku Zong Ancient Town Tibetan-style Inn 900 RMB Total Approximately 4800 RMB 🚶 Detailed Daily Routes and Money-saving Tips 📍 D1-2: Kunming Cultural and Natural Exploration · Morning: Feed red-billed gulls at Haigeng Dam on Dianchi Lake (free, winter only), photograph the Sleeping Beauty panorama of Western Hills. · Afternoon: Stone Forest Scenic Area (ticket 130 RMB, half price with student ID; book in advance with guide Xiao Lei for 95 RMB), walking instead of electric cart is more impressive. · Late-night snack: Eat tofu pudding rice noodles (7 RMB) and Guandu Baba (3 RMB) on Nanqiang Street. · Transportation: Didi from airport to city about 60 RMB (avoid illegal taxis!), Kunming → Dali high-speed train 145 RMB/2h. 📍 D3-4: Dali’s Slow Life of Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon · Erhai Lake Loop: Rent an electric scooter 50 RMB/day (saves 300+ RMB compared to charter), check in at S-bend, Xizhou rice fields 🌾, and Zhoucheng tie-dye experience (50 RMB to make your own scarf). · Cangshan Light Hiking: Choose Gantong Cableway (round trip 100 RMB), overlook full view of Erhai Lake, avoid overpriced Ximatan Cableway. · Food: Eat rice noodles with mung bean jelly and fried dough sticks at North Gate Market (3 RMB), grilled milk fan on People’s Road in Ancient Town (5 RMB/skewer). · Accommodation: Caicun Pier homestay with sea view from the window (off-season 200 RMB/night, 60% cheaper than Shuanglang). 📍 D5-6: Lijiang Snow Mountain and Ancient Town Time · Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: Join local small group (450 RMB including mountain entry fee + main cableway + cold-proof clothing + oxygen bottle, self-booking costs 650+ RMB), depart at 7 AM to avoid crowds. · Blue Moon Valley: Free walking trail (refuse to buy 50 RMB electric cart), Tiffany blue lake water + snow mountain reflection is stunning 📸. · Shuhe Ancient Town: Afternoon tea with folk songs (30 RMB per person), Naxi photo shoot package 199 RMB (includes 3 outfits, confirm if false eyelashes included). · Late-night snack: Zhongyi Market grilled rice cakes (6 RMB with meat sauce), 50% cheaper than Ancient Town. 📍 D7: Shangri-La Tibetan Hidden Land · Songzanlin Monastery: Ticket 90 RMB, share guide fee in a group of 10 (15 RMB/person), photograph the “Little Potala Palace” morning mist. · Napa Lake: Free lake loop! Take bus No. 12 or rent electric scooter (80 RMB/day), hug lamb for photos 20 RMB (bargain down to 10 RMB). · Return: Shangri-La → Lijiang bus 80 RMB, transfer to flight home (book tickets early to save 40%). 🍜 Must-try Food Hits and Misses (Eat to full for 30 RMB per person!) · ✅ Highly Recommended · Kunming: Zhuanxin Market spicy tofu pudding rice noodles (7 RMB), Sichuan pepper chicken (15 RMB/half chicken) · Dali: Raw skin (40 RMB), cold chicken rice noodles (10 RMB) · Lijiang: Smoked pork rib hotpot (50 RMB per person), chickpea jelly (8 RMB) · ❌ Avoid at all costs · Scenic area “wild mushroom hotpot” (98 RMB in city = 298 RMB in scenic area) · Ancient Town crossing-the-bridge rice noodles (soup base made from powder packets, average price inflated by 30 RMB+) 💰 Budget Breakdown (4800 RMB per person) Item Cost Money-saving Tips Airfare (round trip) 1500 RMB Book on Tuesday/Wednesday, choose Kunming for entry and exit Intra-provincial Transport 500 RMB Mainly high-speed trains + carpool, avoid illegal taxis Accommodation (6 nights) 1200 RMB Off-season homestays + South Gate location Tickets and Experiences 900 RMB Student ID + guide booking discounts Meals 700 RMB Market food > scenic area restaurants Emergency Fund 200 RMB For unexpected expenses ⚠️ Pitfall Avoidance Guide 1. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: Buy oxygen bottle at supermarket for 20 RMB (60 RMB in scenic area), bring a thin jacket for sunny days. 2. Shopping traps: For Pu’er tea, look for “Geographical Indication” stores, street vendors sell 3 cakes for 100 RMB = tea scraps; silver shops require “999” steel stamp. 3. Transport scams: Lijiang → Lugu Lake choose official 9-seat business vans (100 RMB one way), illegal taxis add fees midway. 4. Accommodation secrets: Choose South Gate/Zhongyi Market in Lijiang Ancient Town, avoid cobblestone roads when dragging luggage; book 20 days in advance in peak season! 💎 Local Insider Tips · Best season: November to March for stunning snow scenes, June to August for rhododendron bloom in Pudacuo (bring rain gear). · Souvenirs: Jiahua freshly baked flower cakes (4 RMB each), milk fan from North Gate Market can be shipped home. Final reminder: The most beautiful scenery in Yunnan is not about how much money you spend, but the mindset of slowing down. The clouds over Cangshan and Erhai, the warm lights of the ancient town at night, the fluttering prayer flags in Tibetan areas—set off with this guide, 5000 RMB is enough to bring back a whole world!