Why visitors come
- Old towns
- Erhai
- Snow mountain
- Ethnic cultures
Know before you book
City-wide rules for foreigners
Jade Dragon needs advance cable tickets.
Altitude in Lijiang.
5 booking guides
Attractions in Kunming / Dali / Lijiang (Yunnan)
Stone Forest (Shilin)
石林
Ticket office on site
Booking recommended
Dali Old Town / Erhai
大理古城 / 洱海
Free — no ticket needed
Walk-up usually OK
Lijiang Old Town
丽江古城
Free — no ticket needed
Walk-up usually OK
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
玉龙雪山
Trip.com
Reservation requiredSells out often
Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple
崇圣寺三塔
Ticket office on site
Walk-up usually OK
Compare release rules at a glance
| Attraction | Book ahead? | Primary channel | Release rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Forest (Shilin) | Recommended | Ticket office on site | No advance booking rule found; buy at the ticket office. Book tours ahead for holidays. |
| Dali Old Town / Erhai | No — free, just walk in | Free — no ticket needed | Not needed |
| Lijiang Old Town | No — free, just walk in | Free — no ticket needed | Not needed |
| Jade Dragon Snow Mountain | Yes — book ahead | Trip.com | Cable-car slots sell out early (“Only 10 spots left” 3 days out). |
| Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple | No — buy or walk in on the day | Ticket office on site | No advance release — buy on the day. |
Sources for Kunming / Dali / Lijiang (Yunnan)
- reddit.comYunnan on long trips · accessed 6 Oct 2026