Kunming Travel Forum

Dear All,

my family and I (2A 2 C) would be in Kunming-Dali-Lijiang for 9 days from 14-23 Oct 2006. Would like to know whether it is safe for children to wander in malls? Other info needed...

1. Does this program seem reasonable to do in Kunming?
- day 1 (visit DianChilake and Western Hills)
- day 2 (Stone forest and Jiuxiang scenic area)
- day 3 (cultural village)
- day 4 (coach to Dali for 2 days) - good to visit or not? so many mixed reviews?
- Day 5 (coach to Lijiang)
- Day 5-8 (Lijiang - old City, black dragon pond, Jade mountain, Tiger Gorge)
- Day 9 (fly back to Kunming in morning)

2. Would chartering a taxi (four persons) to these places expensive? price range?

3. How can I purchase tickets from Lijiang to Kunming? I understand plenty of tourist during the period. don't want to get stranded in Lijiang.

4. Anyone..has any idea whether there's an update website or brochure on the admission fees to these places?

thanks a million.

iracubet

Huh, why would you be going to these places to explore their shopping malls?! There aren't any worth checking out!
1) Your itinerary and schedule sound fine. I'm not keen on the Minority Culture Village though, it's not authentic at all. I liked the museum opposite it much better. Dali isn't too bad, I particularly liked the Catholic church (Bai-style architecture) in town and haggling for tie-dyes in Zhoucheng (about 1 hour N of Dali by bus).
2) Yes, very expensive, and no need!
3) Tons of ticket/travel agents in town, just walk up to any one. Or do it through your hotel. However, I remember that one of the flights departed Lijiang at half past midnight, very weird timing! Don't remember the timing of the other one. BTW, you're not arriving during a peak travel period in China, where did you get that idea?
4) Not that I know of. However, I remember some from my recent Yunnan trip in Aug/Sep. Stone Forest 140 RMB, Naigu stone forest 160 RMB, Jade Dragon Mountain around 300 RMB (including cable car and etc), Dali Cangshan cable car 82 RMB (round-trip), Dali Erhai cormorant fishing around 130 RMB, Black Dragon Pool 60 RMB, Tiger Leaping Gorge 50 RMB; there's also a city preservation fee of 40 RMB, payable at your 1st (whichever it is) sight in/around Lijiang. Remember to keep your receipt so that you can show it and not need to pay again.

Dear Ellyse,

Thanks for your invaluable help. Shopping Malls? haha - for the kids...to perk them up for the whole journey with crackers, magazine, CDs, etc,. Noodles too...they get unexpectedly hungry during the night!

Anyway, I thought it is the peak season because all the flights to and fro Singapore are fully booked and the tour agencies are saying that as many as 200 tour groups are descending upon Kunming during that period. One reason why we didn't want to travel on Tour groups is because we do not like hustling with our fellow-citizens, if you get what i mean!?

Anyway, I get the impression that Dali is no good to visit. An alternative would be Zhongdian. But never mind - I'll stick with my plan.

Btw, when you say book tours with local agencies...are they in RMB? Cos like, many websites charge US dollars. Are the prices for 1 person or in our case, 1 family? I don't need a guide though, I speak perfect Chinese. Oh...which is one reason why I am bringing my two kids along...want them to learn and speak Chinese.

Sorry for being long-winded. I realised in our previous DIY tours to Beijing and Xian that children are generally half-priced or free in most of these places. Is this true of Kunming also? my kids are 10 & 12 yrs old. small sized.

Thanks.

That's strange, your timing doesn't seem to coincide with the peak travel season for either Singapore or China.
In Kunming, you might like to take them to Walmart or Carrefour. Plenty of snacks and etc sold on the streets of Lijiang and Dali.
I don't like tours either, I do all my own travelling, and I don't really have problems with that. I don't think you really want to be following a local tour either... too many over-priced, rip-off shopping stops! I might as well do up a tour for you myself if you really want one! I only recommended the ticket agents in town for buying tickets for Lijiang to Kunming.
I think Dali is still worth visiting. Zhongdian and the road to Deqin is interesting if you have the time, but otherwise the kids might get bored... long bus/car rides!
Just for information's sake, tour prices are always per person, not per group/family.
Kids MIGHT get student admission prices to some sights if they bring their student card, but not always. No discounts for bus/train/plane tickets. Nothing to do with them being small-sized or not. :P

Thanks a million yuan! if I had that much I wouldn't DIY would I? haha.

Anyway, thanks for the tips and you know what? I'll take you up on it...if you already have an existing programme, I wouldn't mind using it to facilitate my DIY tour. Btw, you are a local chinese?

I thought it was strange also that all the flights are fully booked over here in Singapore to Kunming. Must be the local agencies hoarding the seats to entice people to take their exorbitant package tour.

Anyway, I hope to have a great trip! you have been very very kind. God bless.

dali is not so bad.
check the web for your flight between lijiang-kunming,
http://english.ctrip.com/supermarket/Flight/SuperFlightSearchResult.asp
wo,discount available!
lijiang-tiger leaping gorge, or lijiang-zhongdian, you may rent a suv/car with driver. some owners of inns also provide such tour service, rmb300/day up, cherokee or mitsubishi;

Well, I can't help THAT much, but I could tell you where to stay based on my recent trip. And also possibly admission prices. If you want, drop me a VTMail. I'm still trying to catch up on about 10+ days of forum readings/replies cos I just came back from my trip to Sichuan yesterday!

BTW... no, I'm not of Chinese nationality.