Kunming - Lijiang Train

6 pairs of high speed trains are operated between Lijiang Railway Station and Kunming Railway Station / Kunming South Railway Station. It takes around 3 - 3.5 hours to finish the journey and the ticket fare is CNY 197 - 220 for a second class seat. 

Besides,  4 pairs of normal speed trains running between Lijiang and Kunming. The distance is about 517 kilometers (321 miles), requiring 8.5 – 9.5 hours for a one-way trip. A hard sleeper costs CNY 186.5.
  Top speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
 Duration: 3 - 3.5 hours
 (Last Update on Sep 27, 2019)

Train No.	Departure - Arrival	Travel Time
D8762	07:14 - 10:43	3h29m
D8772	08:47 - 11:45	2h58m
D8776	10:20 - 13:50	3h30m
D8796	11:19 - 14:32	3h13m
D8780	12:26 - 16:03	3h37m
D8784	14:10 - 17:08	2h58m
D3940	14:37 - 18:20	3h43m
D8766	16:02 - 19:44	3h42m
D8788	17:22 - 20:47	3h25m
D8792	19:23 - 22:21	2h58m

(Last Update on Sep 27, 2019)

Train No.	Departure - Arrival	Travel Time
D8774	08:23 - 11:21	2h58m
D8778	08:53 - 12:05	3h12m
D3942	09:25 - 12:59	3h34m
D8764	11:04 - 14:24	3h20m
D8782	13:01 - 15:59	2h58m
D8786	14:36 - 18:03	3h27m
D8798	15:05 - 18:31	3h26m
D8790	16:40 - 19:52	3h12m
D8794	17:30 - 20:47	3h17m
D8768	19:20 - 22:18	2h58m

Note: The above timetable is for reference only. Please use our tool on top of this page to search for the real-time schedule.
 (Last Update on Sep 27, 2019)

First Class Seat	Second Class Seat
CNY 351 USD 50	CNY 220 USD 31

Arrival at Lijiang by Train

Kunming Station

  Distance: 517 kilometers (321 miles)
 Top speed: 120 km/h (75 mph)
 Duration: 5.5 - 7.5 hours
 Stations along the way: Lufeng South, Guangtong North, Chuxiong South, Daju, Yao’an, Changchong, Mupang, Shaqiao, Xiangyun, Midu, Dali, Heqing

Dali, another major tourist destination in Yunnan, is an intermediate stop along the way. Passengers can cut the trip into two legs and have a layover in Dali. It only takes about two hours to travel between Dali and Lijiang. See Kunming - Dali schedule.

Among all the trains, some are overnight sleepers departing at night and arriving in the next early morning, which are an ideal choice for budget travelers. They can purchase a hard sleeper ticket and have a sleep onboard. In this way, they can save the hotel expense and spare more daytime for travelling.
  Kunming Railway Station:
By Subway: Line 1
By Bus: 2, 23, 24, 25, 32, 44, 51, 59, 80, 83, 86, 154, 260, C71, Z30

 Lijiang Railway Station:
By Bus: 4, 16, 18, 26
 If you do not like rail ride, flight is available between Kunming and Lijiang and it only takes 40-50 minutes. But the ticket price is much higher.

Long-distance buses are also running among the two cities. However, it is not advised to take because the duration is no less than rail ride, the ticket price is close to a soft sleeper in a rail carriage although it is not as comfortable and spacious as a soft sleeper, and it is not that safe as a rail ride.
 

Boarding Gate for K9619 at Dali Station

Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang are regarded as the three most famous attraction sites in Yunnan Province. Once going to Yunnan, tourists wouldn't like to miss any one of them. But how can one travel to the three places without wasting a lot of time and costing too much? The recommended route is like below:

As Kunming is the capital city with more train and flight arrivals, you can get there first. After touring around, take an overnight train to Dali where you can travel around for 2 to 3 days. Later, continue the rail ride to Lijiang to experience the leisurely life in the old town. Both of the two rail rides are not too long and you can buy a hard seat to save money. Of course, if you want to travel more comfortably, sleepers will be better choices.

For return trip, there is no need to make a stop in Dali, hence the rail ride will be somehow longer and it is recommended to get you a sleeper. If you feel exhausted, you can fly to Kunming and then leave Yunnan. Or if there is a flight to your next destination from Lijiang, you can depart there.

 Major Attractions:
 In Kunming: Stone Forest, Dianchi Lake

 In Dali: Dali Ancient City, Erhai Lake, Mt. Cangshan, Three Pagodas

 In Lijiang: Lijiang Old Town, Lugu Lake, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shuhe Ancient Town
 Major rail lines from Kunming:

 See also: 8 Most Scenic Train Rides in China