Yunnan Sheng Travel Forum

Hi all

Hoping someone can help me with a trip here. I'm planning to go at end of December as this is the time I have available. I want to see the main places in 16 days (Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Zhongdian). I would also like to fit in 3 days in Guilin/Yangshuo and think that I can do this on the way as I will be flying to Guangzhou.

1. Is December a decent time to go? I heard that the Li river doesn't do boat rides all the way to Yangshao (I know this is not in Yunnan).

2. Will there be enough time to see the places listed (14 days in total as 1 day each way to fly to China)?

3. Is it possible to fly from Zhongdian back to Guangzhou? Or maybe from Zhongdian to Guilin?

Thanks for any help!

best regards
mike

1) Should be fine for most of the places on your itinerary. No worries about the Li River, just do bamboo rafting on the river close to Yangshuo for a much less mass-touristy experience anyway.
2) I think so.
3) No, I don't think so. You'll have to transit via Kunming.

Personally I don't think Dali is worth visiting, but that's just my opinion. I didn't spot much charm in Kunming either, but I wasn't there very long.

December should be good weather, although it may be beginning to turn cold in Guilin/Yangshuo. I imagine it will already be cold enough in the mountains, with hot days and cold nights.

You can get from Lijiang to Shangri-la (Zhongdian) by bus in about six hours, and Tiger Leaping gorge is on the way.

The Li river cruise depends on how much water is in the river. It's quite an expensive trip, not that I've ever done it. But I can certainly endorse Ellyse's recommendation for the river-raft - it's wonderful scenery, and very restful. If you're lucky (?) you may get a boatman who sings. (Usually selections from Liu San Jie).

Some photos:
Yunnan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/john37perry/collections/72157600199962876/
Yangshuo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/john37perry/sets/72157594263310130/

You can see China airlines' schedules here
http://www.flychina.com/
or here
http://english.ctrip.com/
but schedules do change often

1. It's a good time to go these places since they are all in southern China and not cold in December. The usual Li River cruise doesn't run at this time because of the low water level.
2. It's enough time to see these places listed above, check with this itinerary on http://www.lonelyplanetchina.com//webPro/packageTours/bookingSys/detailedItinerary.jsp?id=108, and then make your own itinerary.
3. There's no direct flight from Zhongdian to Guilin or Guangzhou. You have to take the connecting flight with a stopover in Kunming. For China flights info, pls check with www.ctrip.com or www.elong.com

Thank you for all the replies. I may have to rethink a place or two given the time. Maybe we won't make it to Zhongdian or Dali due to time. I've been to Pingyao before - I imagine Dali may be similar.

The flight links were very helpful. I definitely need to get to Kunming to get a flight back to Gaungzhou. I might try and fly back from Lijiang > Kunming > Guangzhou to save time. The internal flights I've taken before have been fine.

Flying to Hong Kong instead of Guangzhou could be much cheaper. From HK airport it's very easy and to go to shenzhen and from there take a flight for almost everywhere in China. If your timetable is okay, you can do the domestic flight the day of your arriva in HK.

Claude