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Melbourne to Yunnan: Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge and Dali

Melbourne → Lijiang → Tiger Leaping Gorge → Dali

Old Town of Lijiang
"Lijiang_-_panoramio_(6).jpg" by Pavel Špindler, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Chongsheng Temple (11050634113) (Dali)
Photo: Andrew and Annemarie, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Naxi old town & mountain lakes Best season (general guide): Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Yunnan, in south-west China, is a province of mountains, lakes and many ethnic groups. This route spends seven nights between Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge and Dali. From Melbourne you'll connect through Guangzhou, Kunming or another Chinese hub.

How to pace it: Spend days one to three in Lijiang: day one, the old town; day two, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain; day three, Baisha village and Dongba culture. Then spend day four in Tiger Leaping Gorge: hike the high trail in Tiger Leaping Gorge. Then spend days five to seven in Dali: day five, travel to Dali, then the old town; day six, Three Pagodas; day seven, cycle around Erhai Lake.

Lijiang's old town, listed by UNESCO, is a maze of cobbled lanes and canals lined with wooden houses. It is the home of the Naxi people, whose Dongba script is one of the few pictographic writing systems still in use.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain rises north of the city, and cable cars climb towards its glaciers. The nearby village of Baisha is quieter and has old murals.

Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in the world, carved by the Jinsha River between two snow-capped ranges. A high trail runs along the gorge, with guesthouses along the way, and it can be walked in one or two days.

Dali, south of Lijiang, lies between the Cangshan mountains and Erhai Lake. Its old town has walls and gates, and the Three Pagodas stand nearby. Cycling along the lake shore passes Bai villages and fields.

Spring and autumn are the best seasons. The rainy season runs from June to September, when the gorge trail can be affected by landslides.

Lijiang's old town is crowded in the evening, so explore the lanes early in the morning. On the gorge trail, carry water, snacks and a rain layer.

Good to know: Lijiang and Dali are linked by train. Lijiang sits at around 2,400 metres, so allow time to adjust. Carry your passport for hotel check-ins and train tickets, and have a payment app ready, as cash is less used.

Suggested outline

  1. Melbourne

    Start

  2. Lijiang

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    The Naxi old town of canals and wooden houses, below Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

  3. Tiger Leaping Gorge

    Overland · 1 night suggested

    One of the world's deepest gorges, walked on a high trail above the Jinsha River.

    Tiger Leaping Gorge
    "虎跳峡.JPG" by Gisling, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  4. Dali

    Overland · 3 nights suggested

    An old walled town between mountains and Erhai Lake, with the Three Pagodas.

    Three Pagodas
    "Three_Pagodas_of_the_Chongsheng_Temple.jpg" by Jackiejackie123123, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Lijiang — Arrive; the old town· Melbourne → Lijiang (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Lijiang — Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
  3. Day 3 · Lijiang — Baisha village and Dongba culture
  4. Day 4 · Tiger Leaping Gorge — Hike the high trail in Tiger Leaping Gorge· Lijiang → Tiger Leaping Gorge (overland)
  5. Day 5 · Dali — To Dali; the old town· Tiger Leaping Gorge → Dali (overland)
  6. Day 6 · Dali — Three Pagodas
  7. Day 7 · Dali — Cycle around Erhai Lake
  8. Day 8 · Dali — Travel home from Dali· Dali → Melbourne (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Lijiang

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Tiger Leaping Gorge

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Dali

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Plan the trip: Dali

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