Shangri-La Transportation

Located in the northwest of Yunnan Province, Shangri-la has an average altitude of 10,761 ft (3,280 m). The special location makes its transportation different from other areas in China. The only airport in this area, Diqing Airport, operates limited flights every day. No rail line leads to this area yet. However, the Lijiang-Shangri-la rail route is under construction and is expected to operate in six years. Buses are the most common transport means in and around this area. Aside from buses, taxis, chartered cars and horse rides are widely used by local people and visitors.
 Around 3.4 mi (5.4 km) from the city center, Diqing Shangri-La Airport is the largest airport in the east Tibetan area. Direct flights to/from several domestic cities are available, including Kunming, Chengdu, Lhasa, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Beijing and Shanghai. As it is close to the downtown area, passengers usually take a taxi to the airport at the cost of around CNY 30.

 Facilities:
1. Banks: ATM of Agricultural Bank of China is in the waiting hall.
2. Dining facilities are on the right side of the 1st floor of the waiting hall, and the tea house is on the left side.
3. Useful numbers:
Airport Enquiry:  0887-8229916, 0887-8231553
Lost and Found Office: 0887-8229916, 0887-8231322
 In Shangri-La, coach is the most important vehicle. Visitors can travel by coach between Shangri-la Long-distance Bus Station and Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and other destinations. Here are some timetables for your reference:
 
 From Kunming
Schedule: 08:30, 09:30, 13:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:30
Passengers can take the bus at Kunming West Bus Station. It takes about 10 hours and costs CNY197-228.
Return trip: 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:30, 17:30, 18:30, 19:30

 From Lijiang
Schedule: 07:30 – 17:00 (every 30-40min) from Lijiang Bus Station; 08:20, 09:30, 10:30, 13:00, 14:30, 15:30 from Lijiang Express Bus Station
The duration of the whole trip is around 4 hours and the bus fare is CNY46-68.
Return trip: 07:10, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 10:40, 11:30, 12:20, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:40, 18:00

 From Dali (Xiaguan)
Schedule: 06:30 – 12:00 (every half an hour), and 18:30
Passengers can take the bus at Dali North Bus Station. It takes about 7-8 hours and costs CNY83-106.
Return trip: 07:00, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30
 There are six city bus lines in town. Please note that bus no. 2 take passengers to the local Long-distance Bus Station and no. 3 leads to Songzanlin Monastery. To take a city bus, it is suggested to prepare CNY1 loose change in advance. 
 Taxis in Shangri-la are in service for 24 hours. As the town is not large, many taxi drivers don’t charge by meter. Usually the fare is no more than CNY10 if shuttling within the town. If you insist in paying according to the taximeter, the starting rate is CNY5 for the first 3km (2mi), and it costs CNY1.8 for each subsequent kilometer (0.6mi). CNY2 fuel fee is required for each ride.
 The scenic cities in Yunnan are usually far from one to another. To avoid tiring bus travel, many people prefer to charter a car or van. By doing this, they can not only have a good rest, but also freely appreciate the nice scenery on the way. Here is the approximate chartered car charge for your reference (all for single trip):
To Songzanlin Monastery: about CNY50;
To Potatso National Park: CNY150-200;
To Thousand Lakes Mountain: CNY400;
To Lijiang: CNY500-600;
Shangri-la – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Lijiang: CNY600-800.
 In many places of Shangri-la, the most beautiful scenery cannot be admired without horses. For instance, the way to the Bitahai Lake is much easier by horse than car. After getting to Shuangqiao by car or bus, most tourists choose to hire a horse to the scenic spot at a cost of around CNY50. The horses are provided by local Tibetans. They will tell you how to ride as well as any dos and don'ts.
 

How to Travel between Kunming and Shangri-La

How to Travel between Lijiang and Shangri-La