Yunnan is a place I’ve always longed to visit, and this time I finally had the chance to take a trip. Today, I’m writing this guide because many friends don’t know how to plan their self-driving tour routes in Yunnan. I’m specially writing this guide for everyone to refer to. We all know that Yunnan has beautiful scenery and beliefs that we yearn for, and nothing can keep us from longing for it.
Route One
Chongqing – Xichang – Lugu Lake – Lijiang – Dali – Fuxian Lake – Huangguoshu Waterfall – Chongqing, a total distance of nearly 3000 kilometers. This route is quite popular, many people have been there. The whole journey is all about water, suitable for family trips, enjoying a slow pace.
day1: Chongqing – Xichang Qionghai, about 700 kilometers, stay in Xichang. In the evening, you can have the famous fire basin barbecue.
day2: In the morning, take a walk by Qionghai Lake, then you can buy some fresh fruits at the Xichang farmers market and eat them on the way.
After lunch, head to Lugu Lake, about 260 kilometers, basically all mountain roads, if you drive fast, it takes more than 4 hours, if you drive slow, it takes 6 hours. In winter, be careful of slippery roads. It is recommended to set off early in the afternoon, arrive at Goddess Bay before 6 pm to watch the sunset. According to the weather forecast, the sunset time this month is around 6:30 pm.
If you want to watch the sunrise the next day, please stay at the Lige Peninsula.
day3: Lugu Lake loop tour, stay by the lake. There are many scenic spots, no need to elaborate, there are also many guesthouses run by Chongqing people, you can choose to stay at a familiar place, which is economical and affordable.
To see the sunrise, you need to take a boat to a best viewpoint, 10 yuan per person.
day4: Lugu Lake to Lijiang Ancient City, about 250 kilometers, good road conditions, takes about 4 hours. Shuhe Ancient Town is smaller, you can visit it first. Stay at Shuhe or Lijiang Ancient City.
day5: In the morning, self-guided tour of Lijiang Ancient City, all commercial ancient cities in the world are the same, it is recommended to leave in the afternoon and go to Dali Erhai Lake. All highways, about 150 kilometers, about 2 hours, stay at Shuanglang or Wase, if you think the accommodation is expensive, you can continue to drive towards Dali for about 30 kilometers, stay at Haidong Town, which also has sea view rooms, much cheaper.
dy6: Erhai Lake loop tour, it is recommended to stay at Xizhou opposite Shuanglang for one night, it is easier to rent bicycles and cycle there, Xizhou Ancient Town also has the famous Xizhou Baba (steamed buns).
This side of Xizhou is good for watching the sunrise.
day7: Erhai Lake to Fuxian Lake, about 400 kilometers, basically all highways, about 5 hours, stay at Fuxian Lake.
day8: Loop tour, Fuxian Lake also has many scenic spots, you can play on the beach or take a boat. Day 9, 10: Return to Chongqing via Kunming Anshun, if you have time, you can go to Huangguoshu Waterfall, but the water is low in winter. Summary: This route is suitable for a vacation of about 10 days, if you only have a 7-day vacation, you can reduce some of the attractions according to your schedule, for example, Lugu Lake, you can go directly to Lijiang on the first day, and then slowly return.
Route Two
Chongqing – Red Land – Fuxian Lake – Jian Shui Ancient City – Yuanyang Terraces – Luoping – Guiyang – Chongqing, a total distance of about 2800 kilometers. This route is purely for photography, recommended for friends who love to take pictures, including the filming location of the recently popular TV series “The Untamed”. Photography is nothing but early morning and late evening, the rest of the time is spent driving or resting. For those who like colorful Yunnan, this route is a bit tiring, but don’t miss it.
day1: Chongqing – Dongchuan Red Land, basically all highways, about 800 kilometers, finally get off the highway at Dongchuan to the Red Land Scenic Area, which is a few dozen kilometers of small roads, takes 1 to 2 hours. It is recommended to set off very early the first day to avoid traffic jams, arrive at Luoxia Gorge before 5 pm to watch the sunset, stay at Luoxia Gorge in Red Land.
da2: You can shoot both sunset and sunrise at Luoxia Gorge, you can also get up early in the morning to see the sunrise at Daman Canyon, and spend the whole day shooting at the Red Land.
After shooting the sunset the second day, go to the vicinity of Dianchi Lake in Kunming for accommodation, about 160 kilometers, 3 and a half hours.
day3: Have a bowl of authentic Crossing the Bridge Rice Noodles, go to the scenic dam of Dianchi Lake to watch the red-billed gulls.
Then go to Fuxian Lake, about 80 kilometers, passing through Chengjiang, which has local specialties such as Chengjiang lotus root powder and rose sauce.
This trip to Fuxian Lake is just a passing visit, a quick look, there are too many people, from a photographic point of view, there is nothing to shoot, just drive around the lake. Then go to Jian Shui Ancient City, about 120 kilometers, stay in Jian Shui.
day4: In the morning, visit Jian Shui Ancient City, there are many delicious foods, it is recommended to taste them slowly.
In the afternoon, you can go to the nearby Tuanshan Ancient Houses, about 10 kilometers away.
If you don’t go to the houses, you can go directly to Yuanyang Terraces after lunch, about 130 kilometers, about 3 hours, you can catch the sunset if you hurry, stay in the scenic area at night.
day5: Get up early in Yuanyang to watch the sunrise at Duoyishu.
After shooting the sunrise, you can shoot at the terraces and surrounding villages.
Then go back to the room to rest and catch up on sleep.
In the afternoon, shoot the sunset at Tiger’s Mouth. It is recommended to stay one more night in the terraces and shoot the sunrise again the next day.
day6: Yuanyang – Luoping Rapeseed Flower Base, about 370 kilometers, 5 and a half hours. Take photos along the way of rapeseed flowers, then shoot at the Jiulong Waterfall Group, one of the filming locations for “The Untamed”.
Stay at the rapeseed flower base that night.
day7: Get up early in the morning to shoot the sunrise.
In the morning, shoot again among the rapeseed flowers.
Go back in the afternoon, about 350 kilometers to Qingyan Ancient Town in Guiyang, stay in the ancient town, you can taste the local specialty braised pork legs. Day 8: Taste the delicacies of Guiyang, including intestine and chili soup noodles, Huaxi beef noodles, etc., then go home.
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