Dali Transportation

Dali Transportation is very convenient due to the advantageous location-the junction of the Yunnan Burma Highway(320 National Highway) and the Yunnan-Tibet Highway (214 National Highway). It is located in the west of central Yunnan Province, with an altitude of 2,090 meters. It is adjacent to Chuxiong Prefecture in the east, Pu'er City and Lincang City in the south, Baoshan City and Nujiang Prefecture in the west, and Lijiang City in the north.

How to Get to Dali

By Air

Dali Airport, also known as Dali Huangcaoba Airport is located at the junction of Fengyi Town and Haidong Township, 12 kilometers from the downtown of Dali. The airport has flights to Kunming, Xishuangbanna, Tengchong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other places. The flights from Dali to Kunming fly every day with the traveling time of about 40 minutes.

Dali Flights

Airport Transportation

There are two shuttle buses on every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, the one starts at 7:00 am and the other is at 11:00 am. Three shuttle buses are available on every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The departure time is 7:00 am, 9:00 am and 12 am. Taxi is the most convenient transportation to get to the downtown of Dali. There are taxis to Xiaguan and Dali Ancient Town at the price of 50 and 90 Yuan.

Useful Numbers:

  • Airport Inquiry : 0872-2315335
  • Ticket office: 0872-2171999

By Train

Dali Railway Station is the main stop of the Yunnan-Tibet Railway. There are trains to Kunming and Lijiang in the station. Trains to and from Kunming are all bullet trains, which takes about 2 hours. The second-class seat is at the price of 145 yuan, and the first-class seat is at the price of 231 yuan. Every day from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm, there are average two shifts per hour. There are normal trains from and to Dali, which takes about 2.5 hours, and the hard seat is at the price of 30 yuan.

Dali High Speed Trains

Useful Numbers:

  • Railway Station Inquiry: 0872-2325579
  • Ticket Office: 0872-2166588

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By Long-distance Bus

There are currently several long-distance bus stations, namely, Dali Bus Station, Xiaguan Bus Station, Dayun Bus Station, and Dali Ancient Town Bus Station, Dali North Bus Station.

  • Dali Bus Station is the largest long-distance bus station in Dali. The station has long-distance buses to Kunming, Lijiang and Liuku in Yunnan, as well as long-distance buses to other provinces.
  • Xiaguan Bus Station is located at Xiaguan Jianshe Road. The station mainly operates long-distance buses to the suburbs of Dali and Kunming, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Liuku, Tengchong, Ruili and Jinghong. There is one  long-distance bus in the station to Lijiang every half an hour. The latest long-distance bus leaves at 6:30 p.m., which takes about 3.5 hours.
  • Dayun Bus Station is located at Xiaguan Road, next to the Dayun Hotel. The station mainly operates long-distance buses to the suburbs of Dali and to Kunming and Lijiang.
  • Dali Ancient Town Bus Station operates the long-distance buses to Kunming, Lijiang, which pass through Xiaguan.
  • G5 Beijing–Kunming Expressway
  • G56 Hangzhou–Ruili Expressway
  • G5611 Dali–Lijiang Expressway
  • Dali-Shangrila Transportation: By Coach

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How to Get Around Dali

Top Attractions Transportation

By City Bus

When you want to get around Dali, buses are your primary choice. It is very convenient to take a bus to get around the downtown of Dali. There are currently more than 10 bus lines in Dali City. There are buses No. 4 and 8 from Xiaguan to Dali Ancient City, and the journey takes about 30 minutes.

Dali City Bus Company Tel:0872-2134374

By Taxi or DiDi

For tourists, it is very convenient to take a taxi to get around Dali. The image of a taxi also represents the external image of a city. The average taxi fare in Dali City is 8 yuan for 3 km, 10 yuan at night, and additional 1.4 yuan/km after 3km. The prices vary by different vehicle models, such as Santana 6 yuan/3 kilometers for starting price. If you leave from Xiaguan to Dali Airport, Dali Ancient Town and some scenic spots, some taxi drivers will not charge by the meter and you shall bargain the fare.

Didi Chuxing Technology Co., (stylized DiDi, 滴滴出行), formerly Didi Kuaidi (滴滴快的), is a global transportation company headquartered in Beijing. Just download a DiDi App, then just input the address where you go and where you're in, and submit the order, finally there is a driver to pick you up to your destination.

Taxi Company Tel: 0872-2311830, 2127623

Note: A lot of taxi drivers around Dali Railway Station say the Dali New City instead of Xiaguan. It takes about 40 yuan from Xiaguan to Dali Ancient Town by taxi.

By Private Car

It is very convenient to get around Dali by car-rental, you can want to any place without waiting. Do not worry to miss the cars or the beautiful attractions. All itineraries can be adjusted according to your requirements. We provide this service and you can contact us for car-rental.

By Bicycle

If you want to take a short-distance trip, bike is a good choice. Bikes are also available at many guesthouses around town and cost ¥5-40 per day. Bikes vary greatly in quality so shop around for the best deal. Merida and Giant are among the better brands to consider. Dali Cycling Tours are the best choice for you.

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By Erhai Lake Cruise

When you come to Dali, Erhai Lake, as one of China's seven biggest freshwater lakes, is a must-see attraction, which is a picturesque sight all year round. Of course, Erhai Lake Cruise is the best way to view the beauty of Erhai Lake.

By Hiking

Dali Ancient Town is the best place for hiking lovers. What's more, Cangshan Mountain, Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas are all near the Ancient Town. Dali Hiking Tours are the best choice for you.

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