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A local guide to Yunnan, China

Yunnan, a little
closer.

Ancient towns. Mountain air. One more bowl of rice noodles. Discover our corner of China, with a little help from someone who calls it home.

Find your Yunnan
Sunset reflected in the Hani rice terraces of Yuanyang, Yunnan
Yuanyang · 元阳A different kind of golden hour.
Start with a slower journeyFrom lakeside lanes to mountain horizons.Follow the route
云南 · YUNNANPhoto credits

South of the clouds

A province worth taking your time for.

Yunnan is a place of contrasts: lakes and highlands, city markets and quiet courtyards. We’re building an independent guide to help you choose where to go—and understand how to get there.

01

A local perspective

A guide created by someone who calls Yunnan home.

02

Details that help

Chinese place names, clear routes, and sources you can check.

03

Room to slow down

Choose a few places well. Leave space for the unexpected.

Find your starting point

Four places. Many ways to explore.

Follow the classic northwest route, or spend longer somewhere that feels like you.

Green Lake Park in Kunming, Yunnan01

The easy beginning

Kunming昆明

Green Lake walks, neighbourhood markets, and your first taste of Yunnan.

Erhai Lake and the surrounding mountains in Dali, Yunnan02

Lakeside, unhurried

Dali大理

Bai courtyards, Erhai Lake, and mornings that don’t need a schedule.

Tiled rooftops of the old town of Lijiang, Yunnan03

Old lanes, new discoveries

Lijiang丽江

Naxi heritage, tiled rooftops, and mountain scenery on the horizon.

Erhai Lake and the surrounding mountains in Dali, YunnanDali · 大理

From the guidebook

Dali, beyond the first postcard.

Old-town mornings, lakeside afternoons, and the mountains just behind you. Start with a guide to choosing your base and finding your rhythm.

Explore Dali
Destination guideEN / FR

Your first journey

A little further, at your own pace.

For a first visit, start in Kunming and travel northwest through Dali and Lijiang to Shangri-La. Choose your stops around the time you have, rather than trying to see everything.

  1. 01

    Kunming昆明

    Begin with a city walk and a little time to settle in before travelling northwest.

    Read the Kunming guide
  2. 02

    Dali大理

    Use the old town as a base for the lake, nearby villages, and Cangshan.

    Read the Dali guide
  3. 03

    Lijiang丽江

    Leave time for the old towns, then consider a separate day for the surrounding landscapes.

    Read the Lijiang guide
  4. 04

    Shangri-La香格里拉

    Finish in the highlands, with space in the schedule for a gentler first day.

    Read the Shangri-La guide
A route from Kunming to Shangri-LaA schematic, not-to-scale route travelling northwest from Kunming to Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La.KunmingDaliLijiangShangri-La昆明大理丽江香格里拉NYUNNAN

Route sketch · not to scale

Good to know before you go

A few essentials, a smoother trip.

Choose your season

Yunnan’s lowlands and highlands feel very different. Plan around the places you’re visiting, and check the forecast before mountain days.

Think beyond the station

Check the exact departure station and your final transfer. A train arriving in Dali does not take you straight into the old town.

Keep the Chinese name

Save your accommodation address and destinations in Chinese. It makes maps, taxis, and ticket searches much easier.

A place called home

Yunnan is home. This is our way of sharing it.

Yunnan Love began with a simple idea: make local knowledge easier to find for people visiting from abroad. We’re starting small, with thoughtful guides in English and French.

Meet Yunnan Love