With nature, food, and cultural experiences, Yunnan is a good destination for families. To make your Yunnan trip more enjoyable for everyone, you may benefit from these tips below.
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1. What Are Yunnan's Recommended Family-Friendly Places?
Yunnan is a big province with multiple cities. Its differing cities are suitable for taking children, parents, seniors, or sometimes all together.
Kunming
- Best for: families with children and elderly parents
Kunming, being at a lower altitude, is an ideal starting point for a Yunnan trip, allowing you to acclimate before heading to higher altitude destinations, such as Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Shangri-La.
Kunming doesn't have many major attractions of its own — it primarily serves as the first stop and transit point for trips to Yunnan. Usually, 1–2 days in Kunming are sufficient.
The main attraction is the Stone Forest, which takes about half a day or 1 day to tour. The remaining time could be spent around the city according to your interests, such as visiting Dianchi Lake to see the seagulls, or you could head to the next destination.
Dali
- Best for: families of all ages
Dali is a must-visit destination in Yunnan, famous for its Cang Mountain range and Erhai Lake as well as various ancient towns.
We recommend spending 2 to 3 days in Dali. Spend 1 day touring Erhai Lake and nearby Xizhou Ancient Town. Start from Xizhou Ancient Town, drive alongside Er Lake to enjoy the scenery, and finally enjoy some afternoon tea in a romantic lakeside town. You could also choose to tour the lake with a cruise.
Spend 1 day visiting Shaxi Ancient Town and the filming locations of popular current Chinese romantic drama Meet Yourself. Another day could be dedicated to exploring Cang Mountain and visiting Zhoucheng at its foot, where you could see local Bai villages and their traditional tie-dye craftsmanship.
If your time is limited, you could skip Cangshan on the last day since the scenic views at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are equally stunning.
It's best to visit Xizhou and Zhoucheng in the morning as they are livelier and you could see many locals wearing traditional ethnic clothing.
Lijiang
- Best for: families of all ages
Lijiang is another must-visit destination in Yunnan, primarily known for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang Ancient Town. A typical visit lasts about 2 days.
Spend 1 day exploring Lijiang Ancient Town and nearby Black Dragon Pool, which offers the best reflections of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for photography. Dedicate 1 day to visiting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Naxi villages at its foot.
When visiting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, considering the potential for altitude sickness in the elderly and young children, we recommend lower-altitude spots, such as Spruce Meadow and Blue Moon Valley at about 3,300 meters (10,800 feet). These locations offer beautiful photo opportunities and a taste of Lijiang's "Little Switzerland" scenery.
If you're traveling with older children, you could venture to the summit at 4,680 meters (15,350 feet) to experience the majestic glaciers.
Shangri-La
- Best for: families with teenagers or adult children
The stunning landscapes and rich Tibetan cultural heritage are the highlights of Shangri-La. We recommend a 1–2-day itinerary for the trip. Spend 1 day exploring Songzanlin Monastery and Pudacuo National Park, the essence of Shangri-La.
You could also dedicate a day to visiting Tiger Leaping Gorge to enjoy the spectacular views of the First Bend of the Yangtze River. If you have a keen interest in scenic views and photography, Napa Lake is highly recommended, especially in autumn. The lake is particularly enchanting with the yellowing leaves around it, beautifully contrasting with the blue-green water and distant snowcapped mountains.
Shangri-La is situated at a higher altitude compared to other cities, at about 3,400 meters (11,000 feet). Due to the potential for altitude sickness, the trip is more suitable for physically fit teenagers, adult children, and parents. However, healthy elderly parents and younger kids could also visit, but it's important to be prepared for possible altitude sickness.
Generally, altitude sickness in Shangri-La is relatively mild, and resting for an hour or two usually helps with recovery. It's also advisable to consult a doctor and prepare some medication for altitude sickness in advance.
Xishuangbanna
- Best for: families of all ages
The tropical rainforest scenery and Dai culture are the distinctive features of Xishuangbanna. The Dai Ethnic Garden and Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden are great places to visit with children and the elderly, where you could see animals and many beautiful plants.
If you want to experience the lively atmosphere of Yunnan's ethnic festivals with your family, you must not miss the Water-Splashing Festival in April. Enjoy the locals' enthusiasm in the bustling "water battles" on the streets.
If you travel with teenagers, some light hiking in the rainforest could be a good experience to see how to get drinkable water in the jungle by cutting a banana tree and enjoying a rainforest picnic in the jungle.
Winter is the ideal time to visit 'Banna. Summers there tend to be hot and humid, and coupled with the activities in the itinerary, it may be less comfortable for children and the elderly.
2. Decide How Long to Stay in Yunnan
It is recommended to set aside at least a week for a Yunnan family trip for a comfortable experience that takes in the major attractions at an efficient pace.
A classic Yunnan family itinerary covering Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La usually takes 8–9 days, including arrival and departure days, with about 2 days spent at each destination. You could refer to this 9-Day Yunnan Family Tour.
If you're interested in hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge, you would need to add an extra 2 days to your itinerary.
If you choose to skip Shangri-La due to concerns about altitude sickness, you would need 6–7 days to visit Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang. You could find out recommended arrangements with our 7-Day Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang Winter Tour.
In addition to the popular itineraries mentioned above, here are some other Yunnan destinations with suggested combined days for reference, such as our 3-Day Lugu Lake Tour, 6-Day Xishuangbanna and Pu'er Tour, and 3-Day Kunming and Dongchuan Red Land Tour.
All of our tours can be customized/adjusted based on your group size, travel length, preferences, and other requirements. If you need any help, feel free to contact us.
3. Choose When to Go
For families, particularly those with school-aged children, scheduling options are more limited. Summer and Christmas vacations are typically the most-chosen times for families.
The weather in Yunnan during June, July, and August is pleasant and cooler compared to other parts of China. The scenery is good, particularly if you plan to visit higher-altitude places, such as Shangri-La. In the summer, higher oxygen levels reduce the likelihood of altitude sickness. July tends to be more crowded.
While there's a higher chance of rain in the summer, it usually comes and goes quickly. Rainfall decreases somewhat toward the end of August.
September to the end of December would offer the best experience because the scenery during this period is great and there are relatively fewer tourists. This period mostly has clear skies and sunny days. The scenery and weather in September and October are excellent, but it tends to be more crowded during the National Day holiday in the first week of October.
In January and February, the weather is relatively cold and windy but the scenery is good.
March and April are also windy, with occasional rainy and foggy days that might affect the views.
May is recommended more than March and April as there are more sunny days and better scenery.
4. How to Get Around Yunnan
Bullet trains connect all of the major cities within Yunnan province, making it the most convenient way to travel. You could travel from Kunming to Dali, Dali to Lijiang, and Lijiang to Shangri-La by bullet train, each journey within 1½ to 2½ hours.
If you plan to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, we recommend traveling by car from Lijiang to Shangri-La. Since Tiger Leaping Gorge is located between Lijiang and Shangri-La, driving from Lijiang to the gorge and then continuing to Shangri-La is more convenient and reasonable.
While intercity transportation is quite convenient, the more critical arrangements, especially for families with elderly people and children, involve local transportation at each destination.
Although taxis are readily available, you still need to spend time hailing a cab or downloading a Chinese ride-hailing app in advance. Additionally, a single taxi might not accommodate everyone in your big family and the overall cost might be comparable to booking a private car. If you want a more hassle-free experience, hiring a car or booking a private tour would be more suitable.
Public transport is not recommended because finding routes and taking care of family members would exhaust the organizer and diminish the overall travel experience. We believe the purpose of travel is to make everyone have a good experience.
With a private tour, you would have a private car and driver on standby all day, saving a lot of time and making the entire trip more relaxed. Feel free to contact us to create a hassle-free and quality Yunnan tour.
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Guide Daisy from Dali is amazing
Guide Daisy from Dali is amazing. She goes out of her way to cater to our interest despite it not being in our original plan. She is proactive, friendly and really can be an ambassador for Dali ! more
May 2024, JS
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Daisy our guide for Dali
Daisy our guide for Dali was very approachable and helpful.Her local knowledge is very good.Would definitely use her in future or recommend to our friends. more
May 2024, Leeks
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Highly Recommended
Nancy is an awesome guide and her tours of Dali and Shaxi are highly experiential incorporating local cultures. Highly recommend China Highlights and Nancy! more
Apr 2024, Yingyi Ye
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5. Accommodation Tips
For families choosing accommodation, we recommend selecting one hotel per destination and avoiding frequent changes. Therefore, we suggest opting for a central location with more dining and entertainment options, allowing you to go out at night conveniently.
Recommended Areas to Stay in Kunming
1. City Center Area
The city center is undoubtedly the most convenient area, offering easy access to transportation, shopping, dining, and entertainment options. It is close to landmarks, such as Nanping Street and the Golden Horse and Jade Rooster archways.
2. Green Lake Park Area
The area near Green Lake is quieter and offers better views from the hotels, making it a recommended option if you prefer a more peaceful environment. It is also relatively close to the city center.
Recommended Areas to Stay in Dali
1. Dali Old Town
If you're looking for a convenient location with plenty of dining options and nightlife, Dali Old Town is the best choice.
When choosing a hotel within Dali Old Town, try to avoid Bar Street, as it could be quite noisy at night.
Alternatively, consider staying near South Gate in Dali Old Town, which is close to the town but relatively quieter.
2. Xizhou Ancient Town
If you want the atmosphere of an ancient town without the noise, Xizhou Ancient Town is a better choice. It is much quieter than Dali Old Town and in the evenings, you could take peaceful walks through the town. Additionally, Xizhou Ancient Town is closer to Er Lake.
Recommended Areas to Stay in Lijiang
1. Lijiang Old Town
Similar to Dali Old Town, Lijiang Old Town is the best choice for its convenient location, plenty of dining options, and nightlife.
2. Shuhe Ancient Town
Shuhe Ancient Town is about a 15-minute drive from Lijiang Old Town and is better suited for travelers who prefer a quieter environment. In the evenings, you could stroll through the town and enjoy its relaxed atmosphere.
Recommended Areas to Stay in Shangri-La
Dukezong Ancient Town is the most recommended area. Located in the city center, it offers convenient access to transportation and dining options.
6. What to Budget for Yunnan
The average cost for a private tour per day is about US$200 per person, including flights/trains within Yunnan, 4- or 5-star hotels, lunches, attractions, guides, and private transport. Kids under 10 usually get 30–50% off.
If you are planning a family trip to Yunnan and need assistance, just contact us.