Hello everyone at ReadMe.

For this trip, I will take everyone to visit Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Yunnan Province, China.

This trip was an unplanned adventure. Initially, I was saving money for a trip to Japan. However, I stumbled upon a flight deal to Kunming for only 1200 baht roundtrip, requiring booking a year in advance. I immediately booked the flight without hesitation, as visiting Shangri-La has always been a lifelong dream.

Tickets in hand, it's time to embark on our journey. Follow me as we explore!

The promotional price I booked for this trip was 1,640 baht. I booked it during the promotional launch in mid-2015. (This price includes round-trip airfare and in-flight meals.)

As always, when flying on an international flight, I check in online from home and then simply stop by the counter in the morning to pick up my boarding pass and have my documents checked. This is especially convenient for early morning flights.

After passing through immigration, check the information board to find your boarding gate.

Once you know which gate to go to, you can excitedly head over and wait to board your flight.

A large crowd of Chinese citizens are waiting to board the plane. There are very few Thai people on this flight.

It takes approximately 2.30 hours to reach Changshui Airport in Kunming.

No need to worry about getting lost once you get off the plane. Just follow the crowd.

Approaching immigration, I prepared my passport and completed arrival card to present to the officer. The officer then reprimanded me, forbidding me from taking photographs.

After clearing immigration, we encountered the baggage claim carousel. However, as we had not checked any bags, we simply bypassed it to avoid wasting time.

The airport is not very big, and it only takes a short walk to get outside.

After exiting, proceed to Gate 3.

Exit through Gate 3 and turn right. You will find the bus ticket counter for the city.

Got the airport bus ticket to Kunming Railway Station for 25 yuan.

Bus route 2 of the shuttle bus goes directly to Kunming Railway Station. Passengers who want to transfer to a train to Dali or Lijiang can take this bus.

A car stopped in front of a hotel. We simply turned our backs to the hotel and walked out onto the street, turning right and continuing straight ahead until we reached the train station.

After walking approximately 300 meters, you will arrive at Kunming Railway Station, another landmark in Kunming where tourists come to take pictures with the Golden Bull statue.

We didn't just come here to take photos, we also stopped by to pick up our train tickets to Dali. To do so, turn right at the Golden Bull and you'll find a large tent.

Proceed to the back of the room where you will find a counter for those who have pre-booked tickets to collect them.

Round-trip tickets secured: Kunming to Dali and Lijiang to Kunming.

Fueling up before exploring, the second meal of the day but the first on Chinese soil. Three dishes with rice, ordered by pointing and hoping for the best. Choosing what looked edible and with minimal vegetables.

The first day in Kunming, according to the plan, was to visit Yuantong Temple. I had done my research and knew which bus to take… but in the end, I got lost, so I just wandered around Kunming city center, waiting for the time to catch the train instead.

After strolling around the city for a while, I checked the time and realized it was getting late. I decided to head back to Kunming Railway Station for dinner before continuing my journey.

Excited to experience my first overnight train journey in a sleeper car. I've never taken a sleeper train in Thailand before. The walkway to the platform is lined with vendors, reminiscent of a duty-free shop.

We will wait at the waiting room in zone 4.

Wait a moment.

Trains in China are highly punctual. At approximately 9 pm, the train scheduled to depart at 9:40 pm begins boarding passengers.

Go to your own booth.

I booked a Soft Sleep berth. On the outbound journey, I slept on the upper bunk for six hours straight until we reached Dali.

The train in China is very punctual. I arrived in Dali at 4:30 am and waited for the bus for 2 hours. Taxis are expensive, so I didn't take one.

6:30 AM: The bus starts running. Passengers who have been on the bus since 4 AM start to get off. The bus fare to the city is 2 yuan.

After getting off the bus, I searched for the hotel I had booked, but I couldn't find it for a long time. Finally, I went back to the bus stop where I got off and started searching again. I finally realized that the hotel I had booked was on the opposite side of the bus stop where I had gotten off.

The Color Of Wind Hostel costs 400 baht per night. Book with Booking.com.

I booked a room with one queen-size bed, but the receptionist mistakenly assigned me a room with two beds. Since I was traveling alone, I slept in one bed and left the other bed unmade with my luggage on it, following the belief that an unmade bed discourages others from sleeping in it.

After unpacking and taking a refreshing shower to wash away the weariness of the overnight journey, it's time to explore the enchanting city of Dali.

An army marches on its stomach. In Dali, a 9 yuan breakfast of steamed dumplings will do the trick.

After breakfast, it was time to explore. My first destination was the Three Pagodas, located about 5 kilometers from Dali Old Town. The entrance fee was 120 yuan, but being on a tight budget at the beginning of my trip, I opted to admire the pagodas from the outside and take photos instead.

After spending some time at the Three Pagodas, we walked back to the north gate of Dali Old Town.

Returning home around noon, my stomach began to growl, so I grabbed a quick lunch from a street vendor. I ordered a bowl of chicken noodles, but the flavor was bland and unappetizing.

After a satisfying meal, it's time to explore the charming city of Dali.

Encountering a street vendor selling deep-fried dough sticks, I felt like a martial arts master in a classic Chinese wuxia film.

Today is a chill day. The plan was just to come and walk around Dali.

South Gate of the City

The south gate provides access to the upper level. The entrance is located next to the shop in this section.

A bird's-eye view of the ancient city of Dali.

In the distance, you can see the Three Pagodas.

The day I went to the sky was open, the sky was very beautiful.

In the evening, I thought I had encountered a mob, but it turned out to be children leaving school.

In front of every school, regardless of the country, there is an abundance of food and snacks available for students to purchase.

After walking until it was dark, I was hungry. Today, I decided to try the food court in Dali Old Town.

There are plenty of seats available. You can browse the food options first and then find a seat.

There is a wide variety of food available for us to choose from.

After a long day of voting, I ended up at a 15 yuan fried rice stall. I couldn't even finish half of it. It was too oily and greasy, and it didn't taste good at all.

After walking until it was dark, I need to hurry back to sleep. I have to take a bus to Lijiang early tomorrow morning.

Capture a stunning photo of the illuminated south gate before heading back to your accommodation. The real beauty of the gate will leave you in awe. If you have the chance, don't miss out on this experience.

Before reaching the hotel, there was a cart selling stir-fried tofu. I had my eye on it since noon, so I had to try it.

Stir-fried tofu with mala (a Chinese spice that some find unpalatable while others enjoy). The aroma is strong and pungent.

This cup will fill you up for only 6 yuan. Sleep well and dream of deliciousness... It was so good! I've been exploring Dali all day and just found this delicious food. I walked all over town, but the best food was only 1 kilometer from my hotel.

This morning, before heading to Lijiang, we had a hearty breakfast to fuel up for the journey ahead.

Depart from Dali at 10:30 am and take a 4-hour bus ride to Lijiang. The morning bus is full.

The car drove for a while and then stopped to rest.

I have traveled to many countries by car, but it was only in China that I encountered this. I stopped to wash my car.

The car wash is complete, and it's time to continue the journey.

14:00, I arrived at the Lijiang bus station. I took bus number 11 and got off after four stops. The fare was 1 yuan.

Before heading to the old town, be sure to book your bus tickets to Shangri-La in advance.

The text is unreadable, making it impossible to determine the intended destination. However, it is noted that the third item from the top on the list is the Shangri-La.

Ticket purchased for 63 yuan. It is in Chinese only. The salesperson, worried that we would not understand, underlined the date and time for us to see clearly.

Upon arriving in the old town, before searching for accommodation or sightseeing, we decided to grab a bite to eat. We ordered stir-fried noodles and stir-fried mushrooms, which cost 45 yuan. The noodles were not particularly delicious, but the mushrooms were quite tasty.

After a satisfying meal, we set out to find a hotel. The hotel we had booked was too far away, about an hour's walk from the old town. We decided to abandon our reservation and search for a new hotel closer to the old town. We found one for 700 baht per night.

After checking into our accommodation, it was almost 4:00 PM, leaving us with limited time to explore Lijiang.

The entrance fee to the old city was 80 yuan. In China, the entrance fees to tourist attractions can be quite expensive, but the cost of food is incredibly cheap (if you eat like a local).

The first place is about 3-5 kilometers from the old town to the Black Dragon Pond.

I crossed thousands of miles just for this one picture in Lijiang City... But I've already marked it down that next time, I'll come when the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in this picture is completely covered in snow.

Emerging from the Black Dragon Pool, he set out in search of Huang Gu Lou.

The entrance fee to visit the Wan Gu Hou Sea of Clouds is 50 yuan.

The price was a bit steep for me, so I opted to enjoy the rooftop ocean view from a restaurant near the entrance instead. I paid 45 yuan for an orange juice, which I sipped while taking in the scenery.

As dusk settled upon the ancient city of Lijiang, I descended from the summit of Mount Wangu Lou, immersing myself in the enchanting ambiance of the historic streets.

The bustling crowd stands in stark contrast to the uncrowded streets of the old Dali town.

After dark, I stopped by the food court to look for something to eat.

After searching for food, I found nothing appealing to eat. So, I went to take pictures at the waterwheel, a symbol of Lijiang's old town.

It was late, and before heading to my room, I stopped by a local restaurant that was popular with Chinese customers. I couldn't read the Chinese menu, and the English menu wasn't much help either. I only recognized the word "chicken," so I just pointed and hoped for the best. They brought me this dish: chicken stir-fried with peanuts. It was surprisingly delicious, with a sweet and sour flavor. It was a lifesaver for my hungry stomach.

Today, I spent 30 yuan on a large plate of food and a bucket of rice. After this meal, I have come to the conclusion that I should stop being stingy with food expenses. Eating at a more expensive restaurant is more enjoyable and satisfying. It's better to pay more and enjoy a delicious meal than to pay less and only be able to eat a few bites before throwing it away. After eating, I will return to my room to rest. I need to wake up early tomorrow to go to the Shangri-La.

Breakfast before traveling to Shangri-La

Departed from Li Jiang at 8:20 am and took a 5-hour bus ride with a rest stop along the way for bathroom breaks.

Rest stop atmosphere

Approximately 14:30, we arrived at the bus stop at Shangri-La.

As always, before entering the city, I bought a return ticket in advance.

Ticket secured for the return flight on October 22nd for 58 yuan.

Take bus number 1 from the bus station to the Old Town for 1 yuan.

Two nights here cost 176 yuan, which is about 400 baht per night. I booked it through Booking.com as usual.

Interior Atmosphere

The room is located on the first floor, right next to the stairs.

Upon entering the room, one is immediately greeted by an electric bed.

Lunch at 3pm at the hotel. It's a bit expensive, but the food is good.

The hotel sells various tickets at affordable prices, including tickets to Songzanlin Monastery. While the regular price for entry to the monastery is 115 yuan, the hotel offers them for 110 yuan.

Song Zianlin Temple, another destination of this trip.

After visiting Songzanlin Monastery, we continued to Baisha Temple to take more photos.

The golden prayer wheel at Wat Pa Hin Ngam is believed to grant wishes to those who spin it. When I saw it, people were helping each other to spin it, so I joined in.

A day of sightseeing in the cold weather calls for a comforting dinner of spaghetti with bacon and a warm cup of hot chocolate before bed to ensure a good night's sleep.

Day two in Shangri-La: Fueling up for the day's adventures.

A breakfast of bacon sandwiches and hot milk provided the perfect start to a day of exploring Shangri-La.

Purchasing tickets to the Blue Moon Valley through the accommodation costs 220 yuan, which aligns with the information I found. However, buying through the accommodation includes transportation.

The path leading up to the Blue Moon Valley

The cable car ride to the top takes approximately 40 minutes.

The atmosphere of the Blue Moon Valley is breathtaking, especially during the snowy season, where its beauty is amplified.

After descending from the Blue Moon Valley, we strolled through the old town of Shangri-La.

In the late afternoons, townspeople gather in the central square to dance and keep warm.

Another photo stop at the front of the Bai Ngiew See Temple.

For dinner, I had tuna macaroni. It was my last night at Shangri-La, so I didn't have to save any money. I ate expensive food every meal. 555

The last breakfast before leaving Shangri-La.

In the morning, I went to capture the morning atmosphere at the Bai Nghee temple. I've been here for two days, but I only have pictures from the night.

Departed from Shangri-La in the afternoon and arrived in Lijiang at 5 pm.

Dinner was two dishes at a restaurant near Li Jiang Railway Station. It was delicious and cost 58 yuan.

After finishing our meal, it was time to board the train back to Kunming.

The train arrived in Kunming at 5:30 AM. I split the fare with a Thai student I met on the train. We waited at the airport until noon for our flight. I ended the trip feeling satisfied and set a goal to return when Lijiang and Shangri-La are covered in snow.

This concludes my review. Stay tuned for my next adventure, the destination and date of which will be announced soon.

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