5D4N Yunnan Itinerary 2026: Kunming, Dali & Lijiang

Do you dream of mist‑covered snow peaks, old cobblestone towns and calm alpine lakes? This five‑day four‑night Yunnan itinerary takes you on a smooth one‑way journey that passes through Kunming, Dali and Lijiang. I hope you will enjoy this Yunnan adventure!

Quick 5D4N Yunnan Itinerary Overview

• Day 1: Arrival in Kunming, visit Cuihu Park walk along Kunming Old Street, explore Nanqiang Street Night Market.
• Day 2: Travel from Kunming to Dali by high speed rail, cycle around Erhai Lake, wander through Dali Old Town in the evening.
• Day 3: Travel from Dali to Lijiang by high speed rail, spend the day exploring UNESCO‑listed Lijiang Old Town.
• Day 4: Take a full‑day trip from Lijiang to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Blue Moon Valley.
• Day 5: Visit Baisha Ancient Town and Shuhe Ancient Town in Lijiang, then depart back home.

Inter‑City Transport Options in Yunnan

Day  1: Arrival in Kunming – Spring City

Kunming, also called the Spring City, welcomes you with good weather all year long. Most direct flights from Singapore to Yunnan arrive in Kunming.

Where to Stay for Day 1?

Recommended accommodation zone: Kunming Old Street / Nanping Street City Centre

In Kunming, stay within walking distance of metro stations, dining districts and old town attractions. Avoid far‑flung suburbs for your night after an international flight because you will want to rest easily.

Places to Visit for Day 1

Cuihu Park (Green Lake Park)

• Opening hours: 06:00‑23:00/24:00 daily
• Admission: Free 

Take a walk around this city lake. From November to March, groups of red-billed gulls come here. Seeing people in the area doing tai-chi and walking along paths lined with trees are ways to relax after your long flight from Singapore. There is no need to rush on the day you arrive.

Kunming Old Street

• Opening hours: 24 hours
• Admission: Free

Explore a cluster of restored alleys including Wenming Street and Jingxing Street. The cluster showcases wooden facades, vintage archways and local handicraft stalls. Visit the Duiyue Tower for travel photos. The cluster invites you to shops selling hand‑made silver ornaments, tie‑dye textiles and fresh flower pastries.

Nanqiang Street Night Market

• Opening hours: 10:00‑02:00 daily
• Admission: Free 

When dusk falls, you can head to Nanqiang Street. Nanqiang Street is the popular night food precinct in Kunming and lantern‑lit lanes are packed with street‑food stalls, small bars and casual eateries.

What to Eat for Day 1?

• Lunch near Cuihu Park: Fu Zhaolou. Try Yunnan’s signature steam‑pot chicken, paired with crispy po‑su buns. Local price S$8‑14 per person. 
• Dinner & street food at Nanqiang Street Night Market
• 1. Zhao Laoguan: Cold rice jelly rolls (liang juan fen), refreshing spicy street snack, S$2‑4.
  2. Jun Cai Wild Mushroom Hotpot. Only eat fully‑cooked wild mushrooms to avoid food poisoning risk. Budget S$12‑20 per person.

Rest early tonight, as Day 2 involves an early HSR ride north to Dali.

Day  2: Kunming → Dali | Erhai Lake Cycling, Dali Old Town

Travel on the morning high speed train from Kunming to Dali, which takes two hours. After checking in, explore Dali’s lake views and the relaxed vibe of its old town.

Where to Stay for Day 2?

Recommended Accommodation Zone: Dali Old Town South Gate / Caicun (Erhai West Shore)

Two choices:

1. Near Dali Old Town South Gate: Ideal for night strolls and many dining options. Avoid rooms directly on Renmin Road if you want sleep.
2. Caicun / Longkan Wharf: Lakeside homestays and a short walk from Erhai cycling corridor create an atmosphere. Caicun offers a setting.

Places to Visit for Day 2

Erhai Lake West‑Shore Cycling Route

Rent a scooter at Caicun Village for S$13‑19 each day and drive along the lakeside ecological corridor, which is traffic‑free and safe for visitors. Must‑stop points:

1. Longkan Wharf offers a sunset view over Erhai.
2. Panxi S‑Curve is a winding lane by the lake for travel photos.
3. A short stop at Xizhou Ancient Town lets you taste the Xizhou baba flat bread.

Spend 3-4 hours on the scooter, slow down and enjoy the scenery of Erhai Lake with green mountains behind it.

Dali Old Town

• Opening hours: 24 hours
• Admission: Free 

Roam Renmin Road, the beating heart of Dali. This place is filled with book cafes, craft stores, buskers and Bai-ethnic handicraft shops. Go up to Wuhua Tower to see panoramic night views across the town roofscape.

What to Eat for Day 2?

• Xizhou Baba: Try savoury baked flat‑bread stuffed with minced pork, S$3‑5 each. 
• Dali A‑Jie Braised Pork Er‑Si: Signature Bai‑ethnic dish: shredded rice noodles stir‑fried with minced pork. S$6‑9 per bowl.
• Snack: Grilled milk fan (Ru Shan) found along Renmin Road, sweet‑salty grilled cheese‑like specialty, S$3‑4 per stick.

Day  3: Dali → Lijiang | UNESCO‑listed Lijiang Old Town

Morning HSR ride Dali‑Lijiang (~2 hours). Upon arrival, check‑in and dedicate the whole day wandering Lijiang Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Where to Stay for Day 3 & Day 4?

Recommended Accommodation Zone: Outside Lijiang Old Town South Gate / Shuhe Ancient Town

❌ Avoid staying deep inside Lijiang Old Town if you have rolling luggage — cobblestone lanes make suitcase transport extremely tough.

Places to Visit for Day 3

Lijiang Ancient Town

• Opening hours: 24 hours
• Admission: Free 

Start from Sifang Square, the historic market heart of old Lijiang. Wander beyond crowded main alleys to explore quieter back‑streets.

Climb Lion Hill for sweeping rooftop panoramas of the whole ancient town.

Visit small Dongba culture workshops to learn about Naxi ethnic minority hand‑crafted paper. As evening arrives, red lanterns light up the entire old town; listen to street folk musicians performing local ballads.

What to Eat for Day 3?

• Fu Xian Xiao Guo Fan: Local Naxi‑style clay‑pot rice with mountain vegetables and preserved meat. S$7‑11 per person.
• You Yi Guo Lijiang Spare‑Rib Hotpot: Famous Naxi preserved‑rib hotpot. Order water‑spinach (shui xing yang hua), a unique high‑mountain vegetable.
• Street‑snack suggestion: Chicken‑bean jelly, refreshing cold local snack sold by roadside stalls around Sifang Square, S$2‑3 per bowl.

Day 4: Lijiang | Jade Dragon Snow Mountain & Blue Moon Valley Full‑Day Trip

Today is your Yunnan highlight: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. 

Places to Visit for Day 4

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area

• Opening hours: 07:00–18:00 (Latest entry time:16:00; Tickets available until:15:00)
• Entry permit: S$19; Environmental shuttle bus: S$4; Glacier Park cable‑car (4680 m viewing platform): S$44; Yunshanping lower‑altitude cable‑car alternative: S$12

At 4680 m elevation, temperatures stay cold and windy even on sunny summer days. Bring thick outer layers, sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses. Walk slowly, keep hydrated, avoid heavy alcohol to minimise altitude‑sickness discomfort.

After visiting the glacier viewing platform, take the park shuttle bus over to Blue Moon Valley, famed for striking turquoise glacial melt‑water lakes. Walk along wooden boardwalks for 1.5 hours, capturing postcard‑worthy mountain‑lake scenery. 

Return back to Lijiang Old Town by late afternoon. Rest well in the evening.

What to Eat for Day 4?

Pack lightweight high‑energy snacks (nuts, chocolate, bottled water) for high‑altitude sightseeing, as food options inside the mountain park are limited and pricey.

Day 5: Lijiang | Baisha Ancient Town / Shuhe Ancient Town & Departure

Your final day. Choose one ancient town to explore: laid‑back Baisha Ancient Town or well‑preserved Shuhe Ancient Town. Afterwards take HSR back to Kunming or fly from Lijiang for your return flight home to Singapore.

Places to Visit for Day 5

Option A: Baisha Ancient Town (Less tourist‑heavy, closest to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain view)

A quiet Naxi village, far less crowded than Lijiang Old Town. View snow‑capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain towering directly above the town. Visit Baisha Mural, centuries‑old Naxi religious wall paintings. Wander low‑key handicraft studios.

Option B: Shuhe Ancient Town

Former ancient horse‑tea‑road trading post. Tree‑shaded lanes, old wooden courtyards and calm central square. More boutique cafes and handicraft shops, good for relaxed souvenir‑hunting.

What to Eat for Day 5?

• Niu Tan Qing Yak Hot‑pot offers yak meat hot‑pot with local mountain greens. Prices range from S$11 to S$18 per person.
• Ke Bu Ke Song Butter Croissant Bakery in Baisha is a must‑try pastry spot for handmade croissants and great mountain views.

After sightseeing, you should head to Lijiang railway station to catch the HSR back to Kunming, which takes 4 hours. You will arrive in Kunming afternoon or evening and can then go straight to Changshui International Airport for your flight back to Singapore.

Alternatively you may choose to fly from Lijiang. Although there are no direct flights to Singapore, you can easily find connecting flights that pass through Xiaman or Guangzhou.

Travel Tips for Singapore Travellers

1. The best time to visit Yunnan is from March to May and from September to November. During these months, temperatures stay comfortably between 15 and 22°C. This makes it ideal for exploring mountain areas and wandering through towns.
2. WeChat Pay and Alipay are the widely used methods. Most local restaurants don’t accept credit cards, so having some cash on hand helps avoid issues.
3. To stay connected, get a China eSIM before you arrive. Mobile internet can be tricky if you don’t have a data plan.
4. Be mindful of the altitude. Lijiang is at around 2,400 metrws above sea level. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reaches over 4,680 metres. The air is thinner so take things slow.
5. The cable car to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain sells out quickly, so secure your tickets early. Also if you're travelling during public holidays, pre-book your high-speed rail tickets.