Best Yunnan Travel Route and Travel Precautions

Yunnan is a dreamy paradise, where the mountains and waters are breathtaking. Located in the south of China, Yunnan is the gathering place of ancient ethnic minorities. Its unique natural landscape and many well-preserved ancient towns make it a perfect travel destination. Below, we will share with you the best Yunnan travel route and some things to keep in mind.

Yunnan Travel Precautions:

Do not talk to strangers, do not go near or interfere in any suspicious people or events, keep your valuables safe, carry as little cash as possible, keep in touch with your friends, walk together with your travel companions, avoid cheap tour guides, choose reputable restaurants for your meals. This is crucial. Before eating, carefully check the prices corresponding to the menu items and ask the owner for the total price before ordering. Otherwise, you may encounter unfavorable situations. Also, pay attention to hygiene when staying at hotels and bring your own toiletries.

Best Yunnan Travel Route:

Stone Forest – Dali – Jade Dragon Snow Mountain – Lijiang – Kunming

Ancient, mysterious, romantic and beautiful – that’s how I imagine Yunnan. I’ve been longing to go there for a long time! But due to some fear of the unknown, I’ve been hesitant about when to go. In April, my old friend suggested we go together, and I immediately decided on a trip to Yunnan in early May.

With a mixture of apprehension, anticipation, and excitement, I boarded the plane to Kunming from Hefei. As I sat down, I felt calmer.

After a brief takeoff turbulence, the plane flew steadily through thick clouds. Looking out the window, the azure sky seemed so low, almost within reach. In the distance, clouds piled up, resembling snow-capped peaks whipped up by strong winds. Closer, a vast expanse of white, misty clouds swirled like snowdrifts.

Occasionally, the plane pierced through the thick clouds, gliding into the clear high sky, presenting a different view. Looking down, wispy white clouds stretched endlessly, like soft, flowing veils. Through the veil, glimpses of the ground scenery appeared and disappeared, seemingly real and unreal. At that moment, feeling the flight through the blue sky, my heart was clear and relaxed. 

In the evening, I checked into the hotel. Following the pre-planned route, I boarded the bus with my friend and headed straight for Nanping Street, the most bustling commercial street in Kunming.

Nanping Street is an old commercial street in Kunming, similar to many other commercial pedestrian streets. Shops line the street, neon lights flicker, snacks are gathered, and people flow bustlingly. Our purpose for this trip was to eat authentic Yunnan rice noodles.

Perhaps because we had just gotten off the plane, we didn’t walk for long before feeling tired. We couldn’t find any rice noodle shops, and my friend was visibly tired. She randomly pointed to a small restaurant on the side of the road and said, “Let’s eat here, we won’t look any further!”

It was a hotpot restaurant. A large red pot filled with food was brought to the table. We both ate and joked with each other, “We traveled thousands of miles to Kunming, Yunnan, only to eat authentic Sichuan hotpot. That’s so funny.”

After we ate and drank our fill, our energy returned. We continued to wander aimlessly, looking around. But after walking for only a short distance, less than a hundred meters, an authentic rice noodle shop suddenly appeared before us. Touching our full stomachs, we could only smile at each other and walk on.

Many things in life are like this: We can reach our goals with just a little more perseverance, but we fail to persevere and stop short. We continue on, and suddenly discover that our goal is right in front of us, leaving only sighs behind. 

The next morning, we drove to the Stone Forest, our first stop.

Stone Forest

Stone Forest Landscape

Dali Ancient City

Dali Old Street Scenery

After returning from Lijiang, we visited Chongsheng Temple, located north of Dali Ancient City. Chongsheng Temple faces Erhai Lake to the east and Cangshan Mountain to the west. It is famous for its three pagodas, also known as the “Three Pagodas of Dali,” which are among the most famous Buddhist pagodas in China.

According to our tour guide, the Buddha statues here are all made of pure gold. It is said that nine out of the twenty-two emperors of the Dali Kingdom became monks at Chongsheng Temple. 

The Majestic Chongsheng Three Pagodas

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

The Extraordinary Scenery of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Although it was late spring, the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain was chilly. The sun was shining brightly, the sky was clear, and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain was clearly visible under the sun’s rays.

Following the tour guide’s pace, I hurried a few steps and felt out of breath. Thankfully, I had brought an oxygen tank and quickly took a few breaths. This place is only over 3300 meters above sea level. I wonder what it will be like to reach the main peak of the snow mountain at over 4500 meters? I felt apprehensive but also eager.

With the flow of people, I finally boarded the cable car. The tour bus slowly climbed upward. The scenery before me kept changing. The mountain body was black and bare, with little vegetation. As we went higher, we could see more and more snow, thicker and thicker. The black mountains and white snow under the clear blue sky assaulted my vision. I am actually afraid of heights, but I was captivated by the scenery and focused on taking pictures, forgetting my fear. 

When the cable car reached 4000 meters, my friend suddenly turned pale, her face white, and she gasped for breath, taking large gulps of oxygen. At the end point, she even used up my oxygen, but she was still shaking violently, with cold sweat on her forehead and lips. Altitude sickness! I immediately decided to take her back down on the cable car.

Fortunately, my friend slowly recovered to normal after we reached the foot of the mountain. She apologetically said to me, “I’m so sorry, you didn’t get to the top of the snow mountain. It’s a shame.”
It is true, there is regret in not reaching the snow-capped peak, which was within reach, and enjoying the boundless scenery. But compared to my friend’s safety, this regret is nothing.

We found a grassy spot with no people and gazed at the snow mountain, looked up at the blue sky, took pictures, jumped around, and simply stared blankly, spending the most relaxed and enjoyable half day. Trips are always hurried, and this snatched leisure became the most talked about in our memories.

Lijiang

A Corner of Lijiang

Our six-day trip to Yunnan was coming to an end. Lying in bed at the hotel, I said to my friend, “I miss home.” My friend said, “Me too.” Neither of us spoke, we just lay there quietly. We knew our hearts were already flying back home.

Home is so magical. It may not be beautiful, you may even dislike it. But when you leave it, you miss it. No matter how beautiful the scenery is outside, the place where your heart can linger and rest is always that warm home, no matter poverty or wealth.