Eight days works well for a family if you protect the afternoons and keep the sleeping altitude moderate. This plan visits Kunming, Dali and Lijiang at an easy pace and ends with a warm night in Xishuangbanna that you can drop.
If you worry that Yunnan is too big or too high for your children, it can be done. It just needs fewer stops and a rest day after each transfer.
Who is this route for?
It suits parents with children from school age upward, and families travelling with grandparents. Very young children can follow the same plan if you shorten each day. It leaves out Shangri-La and the highest viewpoints on purpose.
Route at a glance
- Day 1: Land in Kunming.
- Day 2: Train to Dali.
- Day 3: Rest day by Erhai Lake.
- Day 4: Move to Lijiang.
- Day 5: Easy day in Lijiang.
- Day 6: Train back to Kunming.
- Day 7: Fly to Xishuangbanna (optional).
- Day 8: Fly home.
Day by day
Day 1: Land in Kunming
Kunming sits at about 1,892 m[1]. Take the metro or a pre-booked car from the airport, which is about 24.5 km from the city centre[2]. Keep dinner early and bedtime on time.
Day 2: Train to Dali
Trains run between Kunming and Dali about once an hour[3]. Everyone needs a passport for the ticket and the gate[4]. Arrive early for the bag check[5]. First class has 2+2 seats with more legroom[6], while second class is 2+3[7], which is tighter with a stroller.
Day 3: A rest day by the lake
Dali City is at about 1,975 m[8]. Walk or cycle a short flat stretch near Erhai Lake and let the children play. Our Erhai cycling guide helps with the route. Go back to the hotel for a rest after lunch.
Day 4: Move to Lijiang
Leave after breakfast and allow most of the morning for the road or train. The Old Town is at 2,400 m[9]. Check in, rest and walk a short lane before dinner. Keep your children hydrated.
Day 5: An easy Lijiang day
Visit Shuhe or Baisha at a slow pace. Skip the high mountain trips on this holiday. If a child seems tired or has a headache, rest and drink water, and tell your guide.
Day 6: Back to Kunming
High-speed trains between Lijiang and Kunming take about 3 to 3.5 hours[10]. Bring snacks, a tablet and a small toy. Spend the evening in Kunming.
Day 7: Warm finish in Xishuangbanna
Fly south to Jinghong for a gentle tropical night, or stay in Kunming. The air is warm and humid, so bring hats, sun cream and light clothes. If anyone is tired, skip this and rest.
Day 8: Fly home
Allow a generous gap for the international flight, because a delay on a domestic leg is hard on small children.
How long are the travel legs?
Day 2, Day 4 and Day 6 are half-travel days. Plan nothing big on them. Rail is easier with children than long road legs, and our rail guide lists stations and times. The limit on luggage is 20 kg for adults and 10 kg for children[11].
Where should you stay?
- Kunming: next to the station you will use.
- Dali and Lijiang: a family room at the edge of the Old Town, where a car can reach the door.
- Xishuangbanna: a hotel with a pool, away from late-night noise.
How can you adapt it?
- Younger children: replace Day 7 with a second night in Kunming.
- Grandparents: read our slow-pace plan for seniors.
- Halal meals: look for the green 清真 sign. Hui-run restaurants avoid pork[12].
- Plan B: choose a hotel with a lift and a quiet room for naps.
What should you book ahead?
Train tickets usually go on sale 15 days before departure[13]. Ask for family rooms, a child seat in transfers and a written list of what each child’s ticket includes. Save 120 for an ambulance[14].
What if a child feels unwell?
Tell the hotel desk first, since staff can call a doctor or taxi. Rest, offer water and avoid going higher. For a medical emergency the ambulance number is 120, and operators mostly speak Mandarin[15], so show a written note with your hotel address.
Keep a basic kit from home: the medicines your child normally takes, plus a thermometer.
What about the budget?
Prices move with season and hotel area, so use the budget planner with current quotes. For similar routes, see the itineraries topic page and read our altitude guide before you book.