How Long Does It Take to Travel from Chongqing to Yunnan

I spent 15 days in Chongqing and Yunnan, visiting 6 places. Many people want to go but haven’t, but I finally went alone. It was so sudden. I started thinking, “What am I working so mechanically for every day?” The more I thought about it, the more I felt like a machine without oil, with no motivation. So, I immediately started packing and headed to the places I’d always longed for. What I couldn’t do before, now I’m doing.

First Stop: Chongqing

Hongya Cave Night View

I arrived in the mountain city by long-distance train early in the morning. At the exit, I saw some porters, about the same age as our parents, with hunched backs and dark skin. The whole city of Chongqing gives a feeling of quietness with hidden fiery enthusiasm. It’s low-key and nestled against the mountains. I spent three days leisurely in Chongqing. My itinerary wasn’t tight. I took my time immersing myself in the city and slowly experiencing it. The bustling Ciqikou, the beautiful Hongya Cave at night, the lazy and dilapidated foreigner street, all situated in different corners of the city, become markers of this city.

Second Stop: Lijiang Ancient City

I didn’t have too many feelings about Lijiang. The ancient city, overly commercialized, is bustling and no longer the best place for “wenqing” (a Chinese term that refers to people who appreciate art, culture, and simple living). The so-called Tea Horse Road in Lashihai is just a simple mountain path. The scenic spots along the way are difficult to understand without someone explaining, even with the people who are there. Lashihai looks beautiful from afar, a deep blue, but the water is quite dirty up close. Of course, there is no forced buying or selling, and things are being rectified. I prefer the Shuhe Ancient Town in comparison. It’s quiet because it’s the off-season, and you can really experience the ancient town feeling, it’s serene. The sunlight falls unevenly on the ground, jumping and dancing, as if it loves this quiet ancient town too.

Forgive the blurry pixels

Third Stop: Dali

I happened to be in Dali on the last day of the March Festival. That was the longest night market I’ve ever been to. Because it was a festival, it was a bit hard to find a place to stay. At that time, a large area of guesthouses were closed. Dali Ancient City is quiet and not as commercialized as Lijiang Ancient City. Of course, I wanted to cycle around Erhai Lake most of all. The weather didn’t cooperate. It started raining as soon as I went out, with sun in the front and rain in the back, rain following me wherever I went. I spent the afternoon in the rain, but saw a beautiful, beautiful rainbow.

A place where I ate stinky tofu every meal

This is that well

Fourth Stop: Jian Shui

I wanted to go to Jian Shui just after watching “A Bite of China.” I wanted to eat tofu there and see that well. The regret I had in Jian Shui was that I forgot to book a spot at the “Jian Shui Xiao Diao” in advance. I searched for the theatre for a long time but missed it because I didn’t have a reservation. You don’t have to worry about safety there. There are police patrolling all the time. The Jian Shui Ancient Town is still under construction and expansion, and it’s a bit rundown. Accommodation is inconvenient, and the conditions are generally not great. You need to be prepared mentally if you go there.

Fifth Stop: Kunming. I went to the Nationalities Village and Dianchi Lake in Kunming. I got a free tour guide along the way at the Nationalities Village, learning about the customs of different nationalities. Without the guide, it would have been quite boring to visit. Not understanding was the biggest obstacle. I was only in Kunming to transfer trains, so I didn’t have much of a feeling for it.

The Meridian

Sixth Stop: Mojiang

Located on the Tropic of Cancer, Mojiang made the deepest impression on me. I was sitting at home eating corn when a local suddenly asked, “Did you feel the earthquake just now?” It was like a casual greeting, like “Have you eaten?” or “Are you full?” The largest Hani minority in the country is there, a very optimistic people. The local food is worth trying, with a strong ethnic flavor.

I stopped and went along the way. It’s not very helpful for travelers. You’ll probably have some altitude sickness in Yunnan. You won’t feel it while you’re there, but you’ll have obvious physical reactions when you return. Yunnan is not as magical as travel agencies advertise. Many of the sights are due to the diverse landforms and ethnic groups.

Some scenery needs to be experienced and felt in person. Everyone’s experience is different, and their perspectives are even more different. Just put your mind at ease, take a step, and go see.