From Dali station, plan a road transfer to the Old Town by taxi, ride app or a pre-arranged pickup. It is not a walk with luggage, and the last stretch inside the old lanes may need a short walk.
If you are arriving from Kunming after a morning on the train, it is natural to want a simple finish. A little planning here makes the arrival easy for everyone.
How do you reach Dali by train?
Dali has a high-speed rail link to Kunming that began in July 2018, running about one train per hour[1]. Our Kunming to Dali and Lijiang rail guide shows how the route fits together.
Book a train that arrives with daylight left, so you can find your hotel without hurrying. Do this at home: save your hotel’s Chinese name and address as a screenshot.
What are your options from the station?
You have three simple choices: a taxi from the rank, a ride through an app, or a pickup arranged with your hotel.
Taxi fares are metered and passengers pay the exact meter fare[2]. Foreign visitors can call Didi through the Alipay mini program, which needs no Chinese phone number[3]. Our Didi guide explains the set-up.
Will the car reach your door?
Not always. Lanes inside the Old Town can be narrow, so the car may stop at the edge. Ask your hotel where to be dropped and how to walk the rest.
If you carry heavy cases, read our heavy luggage guide, and ask whether staff can meet you at the drop-off point.
Should you stay near the station or in the Old Town?
If you arrive late, a room near the station may spare everyone the ride. If your main aim is evening walks, the Old Town suits better.
Our Dali station versus Old Town stay guide sets out the trade-off, and the Dali Old Town guide shows what the lanes offer.
What about the altitude and the weather?
Dali sits at about 1,975 m above sea level[4]. Walk slowly on the first afternoon, drink water and keep the first evening light.
Wind and strong sun can surprise you by the lake, so keep a layer in your day bag. See how Dali fits a wider plan in Yunnan 5D4N for Dali and Lijiang. Send us your train time and we can suggest the easiest way in.