Kunming, Dianchi Lake
Generally speaking, tourists choose to return from Dali by returning to the provincial capital Kunming first.
In this article, we have provided you with three common ways to get to Kunming from Dali.
Go to Kunming from Dali by Train
From June 29, 2018, the high-speed trains between Kunming and Dali were formally put into use, shortening the entire journey to just 2 hours.
At present, there are over 100 high-speed D Or G series trains operating from Dali Railway Station to Kunming Railway Station daily, running between 07:03 and 23:04.
It costs 248 yuan for a first-class seat and 156 yuan for a second-class seat.
Kunming Railway Station
Detailed steps for taking a D train from Dali to Kunming:
- Book/buy your train ticket(s) 5–15 days in advance.
-
Board the train at at Dali Railway Station, located at 261 Weishan Road, Dali (Chinese address: 大理市巍山路261号).
How to Board Trains in China? - Get off the train Kunming Railway Station, which is located at the end of Beijing Road in Guandu District (Chinese address: 昆明市官渡区，北京路尽头).
- You can choose to leave from the station by taxi or bus.
Dali Railway Station to Kunming Railway Station high-speed train schedules:
| Train Number | Departure | Arrival | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| G2846 | 07:03 | 09:25 | 02:22 |
| D8662 | 07:35 | 09:57 | 02:22 |
| D3934 | 08:38 | 10:58 | 02:20 |
| D8772 | 09:25 | 11:23 | 01:58 |
| D3938 | 09:32 | 11:37 | 02:05 |
| D8104 | 09:43 | 11:50 | 02:07 |
| G2850 | 09:55 | 12:12 | 02:17 |
| G2978 | 10:15 | 12:21 | 02:06 |
| D3844 | 10:21 | 12:33 | 02:12 |
| C342 | 10:40 | 13:11 | 02:31 |
| D3848 | 10:49 | 13:03 | 02:14 |
| D3946 | 11:08 | 13:21 | 02:13 |
| D3852 | 11:25 | 13:36 | 02:11 |
| D3856 | 11:54 | 14:00 | 02:06 |
| D3950 | 12:04 | 14:09 | 02:05 |
| D3950 | 12:04 | 14:33 | 02:29 |
| D8678 | 12:20 | 14:25 | 02:05 |
| D3942 | 12:32 | 14:30 | 01:58 |
| D3954 | 12:45 | 14:43 | 01:58 |
| D8682 | 12:56 | 15:00 | 02:04 |
| D8674 | 13:30 | 15:28 | 01:58 |
| D8670 | 13:58 | 16:09 | 02:11 |
| D3958 | 14:14 | 16:19 | 02:05 |
| G2838 | 14:26 | 16:26 | 02:00 |
| C346 | 14:31 | 16:46 | 02:15 |
| D8108 | 14:38 | 16:55 | 02:17 |
| D8686 | 14:57 | 17:14 | 02:17 |
| C9516 | 15:07 | 17:24 | 02:17 |
| D3962 | 15:25 | 17:30 | 02:05 |
| D8784 | 15:42 | 18:11 | 02:29 |
| G2842 | 15:58 | 18:05 | 02:07 |
| D8690 | 16:20 | 18:34 | 02:14 |
| D8112 | 16:41 | 18:53 | 02:12 |
| D8744 | 17:10 | 19:15 | 02:05 |
| D8124 | 17:22 | 19:20 | 01:58 |
| D8654 | 17:28 | 19:33 | 02:05 |
| D8704 | 17:40 | 19:48 | 02:08 |
| C358 | 17:50 | 20:05 | 02:15 |
| D8708 | 18:04 | 20:10 | 02:06 |
| D8694 | 18:20 | 20:26 | 02:06 |
| C9508 | 18:29 | 20:56 | 02:27 |
| D8728 | 18:39 | 20:44 | 02:05 |
| D8720 | 18:54 | 21:08 | 02:14 |
| D8724 | 19:05 | 21:17 | 02:12 |
| D8716 | 19:30 | 21:29 | 01:59 |
| D8116 | 19:35 | 21:34 | 01:59 |
| D8756 | 19:40 | 21:51 | 02:11 |
| C350 | 19:52 | 21:59 | 02:07 |
| D8736 | 20:02 | 22:14 | 02:12 |
| D8740 | 20:15 | 22:20 | 02:05 |
| D8732 | 20:27 | 22:40 | 02:13 |
| D8748 | 20:57 | 22:55 | 01:58 |
| D8120 | 21:08 | 23:00 | 01:52 |
| D8752 | 21:16 | 23:16 | 02:00 |
| D8760 | 21:26 | 23:28 | 02:02 |
| D9108 | 22:48 | 00:48 | 02:00 |
| Y770 | 23:04 | 04:50 | 05:46 |
(The schedules may vary slightly on a daily basis)
Find out how to buy a China train ticket by reading How to Buy a China Train Ticket.
Check all China’s train timetables by downloading our China Train Booking app (
IOS, GooglePlay, Android APK
).
Go to Kunming from Dali by Airplane
- Route: Dali Airport to Kunming Changshui International Airport
- Dali (Huangcaoba) Airport: Airport Road (大理市机场路)
- Kunming Changshui International Airport: Changshui Village, Guandu District (昆明市官渡区长水村)
- Airlines: China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and YUNNAN LUCKY AIR
- Flights: one flights a day
- Schedules (these are just for reference as they may be subject to change): 18:55-19:55.
We don’t recommend that you to travel to Dali from Kunming by airplanes for the following reasons:
- Expensive: Generally, it costs between 400 and 1,300 yuan for an airplane ticket from Dali to Kunming.
- Waste of time: Although the flight only takes about 1 hour, you need to spend at least 3 to 4 hours when you arrive at and depart from the two airports.
- Less choice: There are only one flights a day between Dali and Kunming. Therefore, taking a flight to Dali is not very flexible when planning your journey.
