China train guide · checked October 2026
Kunming to Dali by train
The train from Kunming to Dali climbs to Erhai Lake and the Cangshan mountains – the first stop on the classic Yunnan route.
- Journey timeabout 2 hours
- Fastest train2 h
- Second classfrom ¥140 (about 81 PLN) – up to ¥160
- How oftenfrequent D trains
Stations
Show the Chinese name to your taxi driver.
Trains leave from Kunming station (昆明站), in the city, or Kunming South (昆明南站), the high-speed hub.
In Xiaguan, the new town – about 30 minutes by taxi to Dali Old Town.
Good to know
- Say 'Dali Old Town' (大理古城) to the taxi driver – the station is in Xiaguan, 15 km away.
- Dali sits at about 2,000 m: evenings are cool even in summer.
Other ways: Buses take 4–5 hours; flights to Dali (DLU) rarely make sense.
On the way
West of Kunming the line crosses the Yunnan plateau at around 2,000 m – red earth, eucalyptus trees and Chuxiong, the heartland of the Yi people – before Erhai Lake appears near Dali.
When you arrive
Stay in or near Dali Old Town and you can walk everywhere: the South and North Gates, Renmin Road with its cafés and Foreigner Street (Yangren Jie). Try the Bai “three-course tea” – bitter, sweet and aftertaste (about ¥50–100 in tea houses) – and for dinner, fish from Erhai and grilled rushan cheese. The next day, rent an e-bike and ride along the lake.
How to book
- Buy on Trip.com (English, foreign cards) or in the official 12306 app – tickets go on sale 15 days before departure.
- Your passport is your ticket: you book with its number and scan it at the gates. Bring the same passport you booked with.
- Be at the station 40–60 minutes early: there is a security check at the entrance, and gates close a few minutes before departure.
- Big suitcases fit at the end of each carriage or on the racks above the seats.
Times and fares are typical values for second class, checked in October 2026. Fares are dynamic (peak trains cost more) and timetables change – check the live timetable on Trip.com or 12306 before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Kunming station or Kunming South?
Kunming station is in the city and handy if you're staying in the centre; Kunming South is the high-speed hub far south of the city, about 40–60 minutes away by metro.
How many days do I need in Dali?
Two: one for the old town and the Three Pagodas, one for Erhai Lake by e-bike or car. Add a third if you want to go up the Cangshan mountains.
