Yunnan
Go to Yunnan for ethnic minority villages, old towns and deep river gorges in southwest China.
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Yunnan is a province in southwest China that borders Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Its capital, Kunming, sits on a high plateau. The province is home to many of China's ethnic minority groups, each with its own language, dress, festivals and village architecture. The main draws are the old towns of Dali and Lijiang, the mountains and gorges of the northwest, and the tropical lowlands of Xishuangbanna in the south.
Yunnan suits a slower trip. The places are far apart, and you travel between them by long bus or train journey, domestic flight or hired car, so the route matters more than the distance on a map. Spring and autumn are the easiest seasons for most of the province. Plan at least a week, and two weeks if you want to cover both the north and the south.
Yunnan in five
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you arriveBoth apps are widely used in Yunnan, and many shops, taxis and food stalls accept them. Keep some cash for village shops and small markets.Money and costs
- Use Amap or Baidu MapsGoogle Maps and most Google services are blocked in mainland China. Set up an eSIM or local SIM before you land so Amap and booking apps work from the start.Phones and eSIM
- Book trains on the 12306 app12306 is China's official railway booking app and site, and foreign visitors book with a passport number. Book early for national holidays, when seats sell out.Getting around
- Carry your passport for every hotel check-inHotel front desks ask for your passport and visa details to register foreign guests. Keep a photo of the passport page on your phone as a backup.Visas and entry
- Rest a day in Shangri-la before any hikeShangri-la sits at about 3,300 metres. Take the first day slowly, and see a doctor if headaches or breathlessness get worse.Shangri-la
Neighborhoods
Kunming
- Best for: First nights, day trips
- Price band: $$
- Green Lake Park is close by
- Metro and buses cover the centre
- Good base for a Stone Forest day trip
Skip if you want old-town lanes and lakeside cafés.
Dali
- Best for: Slow stays, cafés
- Price band: $$
- Old city walls and gates to walk
- Erhai shore reached by bike or bus
- Guesthouses in quiet side lanes
Skip if you want a large hotel tower with room service.
Lijiang
- Best for: First visits, photos
- Price band: $$
- Stream canals run through the old town
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain visible on clear days
- Taxi or bus to Baisha village
Skip if you want quiet evenings away from crowds.
Shangri-la
- Best for: Highland trips, Tibetan culture
- Price band: $
- Dukezong old town walls and lanes
- Rest a day before any high hike
- Monastery visits in the area
Skip if you want warm weather or beach-style stays.
Things to do in Yunnan
See all attractions in Yunnan
Need to know
- Currency
- Yuan renminbi (CNY)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; check the NIA site for your nationality Read more
- Emergency
- 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Time
- UTC+8, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryCool, dry
- FebruaryLunar New Year rush
- MarchMild, sunny
- AprilMild, sunny
- MayWarm, rain begins
- JuneRainy season
- JulyWet, humid
- AugustWet, humid
- SeptemberClearing, warm
- OctoberClear, mild
- NovemberClear, dry
- DecemberCool, sunny
Right now in Yunnan
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 16°
- Humidity
- 84%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 49%
Kunming
04:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today25°17°49%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 49%.
- Wed25°16°4%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Thu26°17°18%Thursday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Fri25°16°45%Friday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Sat22°16°69%Saturday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Sun20°12°87%Sunday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 87%.
- Mon14°9°79%Monday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 79%.
Updated 12:49 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.661 CNY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Stone Forestabout 1.5 to 2 hours by roadKarst rock formations that make a full day trip from Kunming.Read the guide
- Xizhou villageabout 30 to 40 min by busOld courtyard houses and village lanes, with rides around the Erhai shore.Read the guide
- Baisha villageabout 15 to 20 min by taxiA small village near Lijiang with old murals and quiet lanes.Read the guide
Before you go to Yunnan
Rules for Yunnan, checked
- Check your nationality's entry rules on the National Immigration Administration site before you fly, since visa-free access depends on your passport.Source
- Declare cash and goods above the limits on your customs form. China Customs publishes the current rules.Source
- Drones must be registered and face flight limits in China, so check local rules before you bring one.
Plan around Yunnan
Rail, bus and air links between Yunnan's cities and into the highlands
Read the guideMoney and costsAlipay, WeChat Pay, cash and typical prices across Yunnan
Read the guideWhere to stayCity hotels in Kunming and old-town guesthouses in Dali and Lijiang
Read the guideVisas and entryVisa-free rules and what to check before you fly to China
Read the guidePhones and eSIMMobile data for maps, trains and bookings inside mainland China
Read the guideAll of ChinaOther regions of China and the wider country beyond Yunnan
Read the guideYunnan FAQ
How many days do you need in Yunnan?
Ten to fourteen days covers Kunming, Dali and Lijiang with time for the travel between them. Add Shangri-la and Tiger Leaping Gorge if you want the highest routes.
Is Kunming worth a stop or only a transfer?
It is worth one or two nights for Green Lake Park, the Yunnan Provincial Museum and a day trip to the Stone Forest. Use it as a base for the rest of the province.
Which is better, Dali or Lijiang?
Dali suits slower stays, with a walled old town and the Erhai lake nearby. Lijiang is busier, with a canal-lined old town and views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on clear days.
Is Xishuangbanna different from the rest of Yunnan?
Yes. It is subtropical, with rainforest and Dai villages, and a different trip from the highlands. Flying from Kunming is usually the quickest route.
Do I need Chinese to get around Yunnan?
Outside hotels and major sights, English is less common. Save hotel names and addresses in Chinese characters to show taxi drivers.