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Getting There & Away in Lijiang

How do you get to Lijiang?

Getting There7.3/10Easier to reach than about 70% of cities
Main airport
Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG)

Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: flightconnections.com, expedia.com

Good to know

Good to Know

  • Peak booking periods: May–October. Book trains and flights 1–8 weeks in advance; skip October 1–7 for National Holiday crowds.
  • Rail is generally preferred over flight for Kunming (3–3.5 hrs by train vs 1 hr flight + 2 hrs airport procedures). High-speed train to Shangri-La (opened Nov 2023) is now the most convenient option for that route.
  • Bus fares are budget-friendly but journeys are lengthy; frequent delays are reported during rainy season (June–September).
  • Lijiang Old Town is pedestrian-only; no private vehicles allowed. An ¥50 maintenance fee (valid for stay) applies to accommodation inside—keep the receipt.
  • Airport shuttle bus aligns with flight arrivals; no fixed schedule. Taxis are reliable and metered, though can be crowded during peak times.
  • Jade Dragon Snow Mountain sightseeing train opened February 2025; offers scenic alternative to cable car.
  • Mobile payment (WeChat/Alipay) is essential; airport has a dedicated counter to help foreign travelers set up accounts. Many local vendors do not accept cash.

Main Stations

  • Lijiang Bus Station (Transport Service Center)
    Distance From Old Town Km
    4

    Key Routes

    • Kunming
      Cost
      CN¥188
      Travel time
      6-8
    • Dali
      Cost
      CN¥50
      Travel time
      3
    • Shangri-La
      Cost
      CN¥60
      Frequency
      Hourly (7:00–18:00)
      Travel time
      3.5-4
    • Tiger Leaping Gorge (Qiaotou)
      Cost
      CN¥25
      Frequency
      7:30–8:30 AM departures
      Travel time
      2.5-3.5
    • Lugu Lake
      Cost
      CN¥80
      Frequency
      2 daily departures
      Travel time
      4-5
  • Lijiang Express Bus Station (Gaokuai)
    Distance From Old Town Km
    3
    Notes
    Smaller luxury bus terminal; higher fares; serves Kunming, Dali, Shangri-La, Baoshan, Lincang, Deqin, Lugu Lake

Access From Old Town

  • 30
    Cost
    CN¥1.00
  • 15
    Cost
    CN¥20

Key Routes

  • Kunming
    Type
    High-speed train
    Frequency
    ~6 daily departures (07:14–17:22)
    Travel time
    3-3.5
    Cost Second Class
    CN¥166
  • Kunming
    Type
    Overnight train
    Frequency
    Limited
    Travel time
    9-10
    Cost Soft Sleeper
    CN¥150
    Notes
    Budget-friendly; saves accommodation cost
  • Dali
    Cost
    CN¥80
    Type
    Regular train
    Frequency
    Multiple daily
    Travel time
    2
    Notes
    Only normal train service (2026); high-speed limited
  • Shangri-La
    Type
    High-speed train
    Frequency
    10 pairs daily
    Travel time
    1-2
    Cost Second Class
    CN¥60
    Notes
    Line opened November 2023; scenic route

Station Transport

  • 30-40
    Cost
    CN¥1.00
  • 15-20
    Cost
    CN¥30

Airport

Name
Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG)
Domestic Destinations
46+ domestic destinations including Kunming, Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi'an, and more
International Destinations
Hong Kong, Bangkok, Taipei, and seasonal regional routes
Distance From City Center Km
28

Ground Transport

  • Airport Shuttle Bus
    Cost
    CN¥20
    Duration Minutes
    40-45
    Notes
    Operates on rolling basis, departs outside arrivals hall, cash/WeChat/Alipay accepted
  • Taxi (Metered)
    Cost
    CN¥80
    Duration Minutes
    25-35
    Notes
    Official taxi stands outside arrivals; CNY 100-120 after 22:00
  • Didi (Ride-share)
    Cost
    CN¥75
    Duration Minutes
    25-35
    Notes
    English interface available, payment via WeChat/Alipay only

Day Trips

  • Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
    Distance Km
    35
    Entrance Fee
    CN¥100
    Duration Day Trip Hours
    6-8

    Transport

    • 60
      Cost
      CN¥15
    • Includes Blue Moon Valley access
      Cost
      CN¥20
    • Cost
      CN¥400
  • Tiger Leaping Gorge
    Distance Km
    78
    Duration Day Trip Hours
    6-10

    Transport

    • Cost
      CN¥25
      Travel time
      2.5-3.5
      Notes
      Departs 7:30–8:30 AM; requires additional 1.5–3 hours for gorge access
    • Per person; 2-hour drive
      Cost
      CN¥50
  • Shangri-La
    Distance Km
    170
    Duration Day Trip Hours
    10-12

    Transport

    • 1-2
      Cost
      CN¥60
    • Cost
      CN¥75
      Travel time
      3.5-4
  • Lugu Lake
    Distance Km
    205
    Duration Full Day Trip Hours
    8-10 (or overnight)

    Transport

    • 2 daily departures
      Cost
      CN¥80
      Travel time
      5-5.5
  • Shuhe Ancient Town
    Distance Km
    15
    Travel time
    2-4 (half-day)

    Transport

    • 20
      Cost
      CN¥1.00
    • Cost
      CN¥25
  • Baisha Village (Naxi Culture)
    Distance Km
    25
    Travel time
    3-4 (half-day)

    Transport

    • Cost
      CN¥40

Main Station

Lijiang Railway Station

Distance From City Center Km

10

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

  1. 1.flightconnections.com
  2. 2.flightconnections.com
  3. 3.expedia.com
  4. 4.chinadiscovery.com
  5. 5.travelchinaguide.com
  6. 6.travelchinaguide.com
  7. 7.travelchinaguide.com
  8. 8.travelchinaguide.com
  9. 9.chinabusguide.com
  10. 10.chinaexpeditiontours.com
  11. 11.topchinatravel.com
  12. 12.chinaxiantour.com
  13. 13.eastchinatrip.com
  14. 14.en.wikipedia.org
  15. 15.grokipedia.com
  16. 16.xe.com

More About Lijiang

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.