How to Travel in Yunnan

How to Travel in Yunnan mainly introduces Yunnan basic travel facts, the most popular Yunnan tours, the must-see attractions, the best time to visit Yunnan, how many people in your Yunnan travel, how many days you stay in Yunnan, and some FAQs you may encounter in your Yunnan travel, etc.
Yunnan Basic Travel Facts

Chinese Name
云南

English Name
Yunnan

Location
The most southwestern province in China

Provincial Capital
Kunming

Area
394,100 square kilometers

Population
47,705,000(in 2016)

Famous Cities
Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Yuanyang, Jianshui, Xishuangbanna

Language
Southwest Mandarin

Climate
Tropical and Subtropical Monsoon Climate

Zip Code
650000 to 674600

Airports
14 airports(in 2017), several are under construction

GDP
1486.995 billion yuan(in 2016)

GDP Per Capita
31,397 yuan(in 2016)

Famous Universities
Yunnan University, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics

Titles
Plant Kingdom, Animal Kingdom

Main Lakes
Dianchi Lake, Fuxian Lake, Erhai Lake, Lugu Lake

Major Rivers
Lancang River(Mekong), Jinsha River(River of Golden Sands), Nujiang River(Salween), Honghe River(Red River)

Culture
Ancient Dian Culture, Nanzhao-Dali Culture, Dongba Culture, Dai Culture, Yi Culture

UNESCO
Lijiang Ancient Town(in 1997), Three Parallel Rivers Nature Reserve(in 2003), Stone Forest(in 2007), Honghe Hani Rice Terraces(in 2013)

Administrative Divisions
Eight Prefecture-level Cities and Eight Autonomous Prefectures

Most Popular Yunnan Tours

4 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Group Tour
6 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang Tour
7 Days Kunming, Dali and Lijiang Tour with Dianhong Black Tea Culture Tour

Yunnan Tours by Theme

Ancient Tea Horse Road Tour
Camping Tours
Haba Snow Mountain Tours
Minority Festival Tours
Students Education Tours
Tea Culture Tours
Yunnan Birdwatching Tour
Yunnan Hiking Tours
Yunnan Classic Tours
Yunnan Muslim Tours
Yunnan Photograph Tours
Yunnan Motorbike Tours

More about Tour Packages in Yunnan
Yunnan Tours by Region

Baoshan
Chuxiong
Kunming
Dehong
Diqing
Honghe
Dali
Lincang
Nujiang
Pu’er
Qujing
Wenshan
Xishuangbanna
Yuxi
Zhaotong
Lijiang

Must-see Attractions in Yunnan
Reputed as the “Colorful Yunnan” with both brilliant culture and profound history, you can enjoy the most unforgettable time during your Yunnan travel. Yunnan is an exotic, amazing and unforgettable place with high mountains, tropic forests, waterfalls, and distinct folk customs, which is an important and most attractive tourism destination. 

Stone Forest
Baisha Ancient Town
Dongchuan Red Land
Haba Snow Mountain
Lugu Lake
Meili Snow Mountain
Shaxi Ancient Town
Three Parallel Rivers
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Dongchuan Red Land
Lijiang Ancient Town
Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
Dali Ancient Town
Erhai Lake
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Songzanlin Monastery
Pudacuo National Park

Yunnan Attractions by Region

Baoshan
Chuxiong
Kunming
Dehong
Diqing
Honghe
Lijiang
Lincang
Nujiang
Pu’er
Qujing
Wenshan
Xishuangbanna
Yuxi
Zhaotong
Dali

Best Time to Visit Yunnan
If you had to pick a single province in all China that would expose you to the greatest variations in topography and climate, it would have to be Yunnan Province. There is an old and accurate saying here that “You can enjoy all four seasons on the same mountain, where each of these four season is only a few miles distant from the others. So, the best time to visit Yunnan Province depends clearly on the region you like to visit. Yunnan is a very diverse province with the Himalayas in the north and subtropics in the south. Thus, there are also specific times of the year when it’s best to visit certain destinations. The following links will tell you the best time to visit prefectures and cities in Yunnan
Yunnan Climate by Region

Baoshan
Chuxiong
Kunming
Dehong
Diqing
Honghe
Lijiang
Lincang
Nujiang
Pu’er
Qujing
Wenshan
Dali
Yuxi
Zhaotong
Xishuangbanna

How Many People in Your Yunnan Travel
How many people are in your Yunnan Travel? Yunnan Exploration will customize the most suitable tour according to the number of people. If you are alone, Solo Travel Yunnan will provide the detailed information related to where to go, where to stay, what and where to eat and shop, etc. You can choose the following tours according to the number of people.

Yunnan Private Car and Driver Tour
Yunnan Small Group Tours
Yunnan Private Tours
Chinese-speaking Group Tours

How to Get to Yunnan
With the growth of economy, Yunnan boasts very convenient transportation systems with modern transportation facilities. Yunnan is served by numerous transport modes including several civilian airports and a major highway and rail network, and forms an integral part of the structure Yunnan Province and the Southwest of China. Therefore, traveling to Yunnan, tourists can take those means of transportation for getting to and around. Yunnan Province is large geographically and its transport hub is the capital of Kunming, which acts as an important gateway, linking China to Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. 
More about How to Get to Yunnan
Yunnan Transportation by Region

Baoshan
Chuxiong
Kunming
Dehong
Diqing
Honghe
Dali
Lincang
Nujiang
Pu’er
Qujing
Wenshan
Xishuangbanna
Yuxi
Zhaotong
Lijiang

Make the Travel Duration Sure
If you plan to take a tour in Yunnan, you’d better decide the attractions that you want to go. Then, it is easy to decide on how many days to spend in Yunnan. In general, 2-3 days is only for visiting one top city in Yunnan. Of course, you can only visit the highlights of a city for there are numerous attractions in top city. Generally speaking, 6-10 days is the recommended choice, which you can visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La.

1 Day Yunnan Travel Itinerary
2 Days Yunnan Travel Itinerary
3 Days Yunnan Travel Itinerary
4 Days Yunnan Travel Itinerary
5 Days Yunnan Travel Itinerary
6 Days Yunnan Travel Itinerary
7 Days Yunnan Travel Itinerary
8 Days Yunnan Travel Itinerary
9 Days Yunnan Travel Itinerary
10 Days Yunnan Travel Itinerary
11 Days Yunnan Travel Itinerary
12 Days Yunnan Travel Itinerary

More about How Many Days to Spend for Yunnan Trip
Basic Travel Tips for Yunnan Travel
Where to Stay in Yunnan
As a top tourist resort, there are a lot of inns and hotels in Yunnan with different standards, especially in Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, Shangri-La. You may have enjoyed the 5-star modern hotels, however, it will be special to stay at hotels with traditional style and standard hygiene which presents beautiful local architecture, surrounded by lush greenery. Yunnan, as one of the important destinations in China, is famous for the numerous hotels and you can always choose the most suitable hotel for your Yunnan Tour.
Yunnan Accommodation by Region

Xishuangbann
Honghe
Qujing
Nujiang 
Diqing
Lincang
Puer
Wenshan
Baoshan
Chuxiong
Dehong
Yuxi
Zhaotong
Dali
Lijiang
Kunming

Travel Individually or Tour with a Travel Company?
For foreign tourists, Yunnan is a complex destination considering its diverse destination options, traffic connections, and the low level of English. There are many tourist sites in Yunnan, and many things to do. It is a skill to design an itinerary which covers the highlights, maximizes your time, and cuts corners.
The signs in English are limited in many spots and at train/bus stations. You may encounter the language barrier and get lost. If you don’t want any hassles, we recommend you travel with a professional travel company, such as Yunnan Exploration. We will take care of everything. All you need to do is to enjoy the beautiful sceneries.
What to Pack for Yunnan Travel

Take care of your luggage and important things, such as passport and visa.
Prepare for your SIM card to make sure the internet use in China.
Take some medicine with you for emergency use, especially if you are easy to get altitude sickness.
Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and hats for the strong ultraviolet ray on the plateau.
Don’t forget your umbrella and rain gear during the rainy seasons.
Pack suitable clothes, windproof jacket and thick coat are suggested, outdoor clothing will be good.

Matters Need Attention

Read some basic information about Yunnan and China so that you could have a better experience there.
Respect and follow local custom and avoid conflicts.
Eat more vegetables and fruits, drink plenty of water, it may help you to avoid altitude sickness.
Check out the weather report before your travel. Do not go sightseeing in bad weather.
In China, please had better not travel in peak seasons, such as Chinese New Year, International Labor Day and National Day. If you want to experience the traditional festival culture, Taking a tour during the traditional festivals of China can get the opportunity to experience the festivals culture.
Be careful of the changeable temperature. A few chilly days could be followed by relatively hot weather. So it is better to take some early winter clothes to protect you away from the sudden low temperature.

Keep Reading
How to Plan Yunnan Travel by Theme

Winter Ski Tour
Family Tour
Muslim Tour
Cycling Tour
Snow Mountain Tour
Minority Festivals Tour
Ethnic Markets Tour
 Photography Tour
Motorbike Tour
Food Culture
Tea Culture Tour
Minorities Discovery Tour
Join Group Tour
Hiking Tour
Flowers Tour
Birdwatching Tour
Wildlife Tour
Students Education Tour
Hot Spring Tour
Golf Tour
Honeymoon Tour

How to Plan Yunnan Travel by Region

Xishuangbanna
Kunming
Lijiang
Shangri-La
Dali