Here’s a practical, step-by-step way to “do” Yunnan—whether you have 5 days or 10, are travelling solo or with a group, and want culture, scenery or both.

1. Pick your window
• 5–6 days: Kunming ➜ Dali ➜ Lijiang (classic mini-loop, easy by high-speed train).
• 7–8 days: add Shangri-La (dialling up Tibetan culture and 3,300 m altitude).
• 9–10 days: include Yuanyang rice-terraces or Xishuangbanna for tropical flavour.

2. Map the rail & road spine
Kunming is the hub.
• Kunming→Dali: 2 h bullet train (¥145).
• Dali→Lijiang: 2 h train or 2 h bus.
• Lijiang→Shangri-La: 3 h bus or private car (no rail yet).
Domestic flights save time if you link Lijiang or Shangri-La directly to your exit city.

3. Lock in the “greatest hits”
Kunming: Stone Forest (UNESCO karst), Green Lake, Flowers & Birds Market.
Dali: Erhai Lake bike loop, Xizhou Bai architecture, Three Pagodas.
Lijiang: Dayan Old Town (go at 07:00 before crowds), Black Dragon Pool view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha murals.
Shangri-La: Songzanlin Monastery, Napa Lake cycle, Dukezong old town prayer-wheel.
Optional: Tiger Leaping Gorge day-hike (upper trail, 3–4 h), Yuanyang terraces (winter sunrise mirrors).

4. Layer in experiences, not just sights
• Bai tie-dye workshop in Zhoucheng village.
• Naxi orchestra concert (Lijiang; 20:00 nightly).
• Tibetan family dinner + butter-tea in Shangri-La.
• Market breakfast: cross-the-bridge rice noodles, grilled rushan cheese, rose petal jam.

5. Handle altitude & weather
• Shangri-La sits at 3,300 m; pace yourself, pack ibuprofen and altitude-lozenges.
• Yunnan is “spring all year” only below 2,000 m; Jade Dragon Snow Mountain can be –5 °C even in May—rent a down jacket at the cable-car base.

6. Move around like a local
• Didi (Chinese Uber) works in Kunming/Dali/Lijiang; cashless via Alipay/WeChat.
• Buses to trailheads: Kunming to Stone Forest (1 h), Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge (2 h).
• Bike share (Hello-Bike) for flat Erhai loop; e-bikes ¥30-40/day.

7. Sleep strategically
• Kunming: stay within 2 km of the station for 07:00 bullet trains.
• Dali: guesthouse on the west shore (Hai-xi) for lake sunrise.
• Lijiang: boutique hotel inside old town walls (cars can’t enter—porters meet you at gate).
• Shangri-La: choose a Tibetan wooden house with heated floors; oxygen bottles provided.

8. Sample 7-day itinerary (train-based, no flights)
D1 Land Kunming AM → Green Lake & market night.
D2 Stone Forest day-trip → 18:00 train to Dali.
D3 Erhai e-bike loop 30 km → Xizhou lunch → Dali old town.
D4 Bus to Lijiang (09:00) → wander Dayan, Naxi dinner.
D5 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain cable car + Blue Moon Valley → evening music show.
D6 Bus to Shangri-La (08:30) → Songzanlin, old town sunset.
D7 Napa Lake cycle → late PM bus back to Lijiang airport; fly out 21:00.

9. Cash & cards
ATMs take Visa/Plus in Kunming/Lijiang; elsewhere rely on mobile pay— preload Alipay with your passport. Guesthouses usually accept WeChat pay only.

10. Leave room for the unplanned
Morning market in a random county, a local festival (third-month street fair in Dali, Water-Splashing in Xishuangbanna April 13-15), or simply an extra day in a quiet Bai courtyard to finish that book—those often become the real highlight of “doing” Yunnan.

Follow the skeleton above, adjust days up or down, and you’ll cover the classics without box-ticking fatigue, yet still leave space for the spontaneous magic that makes Yunnan addictive.

There are actually two major bridges at Tiger Leaping Gorge – one for road traffic and one for rail – completed in the past few years.

1. Expressway suspension bridge
– Part of the Shangri-La ↔ Lijiang expressway
– 1,017 m total length, single 766 m main span, single-tower steel-truss suspension design
– Deck about 250 m above the Jinsha (upper Yangtze) River
– Road deck joined January 2020, opened to traffic soon after .

2. Railway suspension bridge (Jinshajiang Hutiaoxia Railway Bridge)
– Carries the new Lijiang–Shangri-La line (Lixiang Railway)
– 660 m main span, 250 m high, truss-stiffened suspension bridge
– One tower 194 m tall, the other 155 m; main spans 132 + 660 + 132 m
– Completed 2021, now gives a ≈1 h train ride between the two tourist cities .

Both spans sit only about 1 km apart just downstream of the famous gorge viewing platform and are designed to clear a future 200 m-deep reservoir if the long-proposed Tiger Leaping Gorge dam is ever built .

Location

Balagezong is located in Shangri-La City,Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,Yunnan Province,China.It is part of the UNESCO-protected”Three Parallel Rivers”region.

Highlights

• Balagezong Village:A traditional Tibetan village with a history of over 1,300 years.The village is known for its well-preserved Tibetan culture and architecture.

• Shangri-La Pagoda:A naturally formed rock that resembles a pagoda,considered a sacred site in Tibetan Buddhism.

• Skyline Gorge:A narrow and steep canyon where you can look up at the sky from the bottom,offering breathtaking views.

• Echo Wall and Suspension Bridge:A wooden plank road along the cliffside of the canyon,providing stunning views of the Gangqu River below.

Best Time to Visit

• Summer(June to October):The weather is warm and suitable for hiking and sightseeing.

• Winter(December to February):The area is cold but serene,with beautiful winter scenery.

Transportation

• Public Transport:Buses are available from Shangri-La Bus Station to Balagezong.The journey takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

• Private Car:Hiring a private car is a convenient option,especially if you want to explore the area at your own pace.The cost is around 400 yuan for a round trip.

• Self-Drive:If you prefer driving,it takes about 40 minutes to 1 hour from Shangri-La City.Follow National Highway 214 towards Deqin,turn right at the intersection marked with a Balagezong sign(about 50 km from Shangri-La City),and continue for 17 km to the visitor center.

Ticket Information

• Adult Ticket:170 yuan.

• Discounts:

• Free Admission:Children under 1.2 meters tall(inclusive),children under 6 years old with valid identification,seniors over 70 years old with ID,retired military personnel,and disabled individuals with valid documentation.

• Other Discounts:Check local policies for additional discounts.

Accommodation

• Balagezong Tusi Manor:A boutique hotel with traditional Tibetan design,offering a unique cultural experience.

• Local Guesthouses:There are also guesthouses in Balagezong Village where you can stay and experience the local lifestyle.

Tips

• Weather:Bring warm clothing,especially if you visit in winter.

• Cultural Respect:Be mindful of local customs and traditions,especially when visiting religious sites.

• Photography:The area is photogenic,so bring your camera to capture the stunning landscapes and cultural heritage.

Balagezong is a perfect destination for nature lovers and cultural enthusiasts,offering a blend of natural beauty and rich Tibetan traditions.

Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡) is one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyons in the world, located in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. It lies between the towns of Lijiang and Shangri-La, carved by the Jinsha River (a major tributary of the Yangtze River). The gorge stretches about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) and reaches depths of up to 3,790 meters (12,434 feet), making it a dramatic destination for hikers and nature lovers.
The gorge is divided into three main sections:
Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge – The narrowest section, with a famous rock in the center of the river where, according to legend, a tiger leaped across to escape a hunter.
Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge – Known for its steep drops and dangerous rapids, including the “Mantianxing” reef area, which is considered the most treacherous part.
Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge – Offers panoramic views of the entire gorge and includes ferry crossings for hikers continuing to nearby villages.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is a world-renowned hiking destination. The most popular trail is the High Trail, which takes 1.5 to 2 days to complete and offers stunning views of the gorge, waterfalls, and the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain.
Best time to visit is during spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October), when the weather is mild and the scenery is at its most vibrant. The rainy season (June–September) is best avoided due to risks of landslides and falling rocks.
Local villages like Nuoyu Village serve as rest stops for hikers and are home to the Naxi people, who traditionally rely on agriculture and herbal medicine.
In summary, Tiger Leaping Gorge is not only a natural wonder but also a cultural and adventure hotspot, offering a memorable experience for trekkers and travelers alike.