Yunnan 5 Days 4 Nights In-Depth Tour

Yunnan 5 Days 4 Nights In-Depth Tour
Explore Stunning Secret Spots with an 8000 RMB Budget
As a blogger who has specialized in Yunnan tourism for 5 years, this time I’m sharing a more precise itinerary than the usual routes! Avoid the crowds, hit truly photogenic spots, and schedule 3 golden shooting times daily (sunrise/noon/sunset), plus my personal photo tips!
Precise Budget Allocation (Total 7960 RMB)
Round-trip Airfare 2800
Choose early morning and late evening flights to maximize sightseeing time
High-speed Train + Private Car 1200
Comfortable private car for Dali/Lijiang segments
Boutique Accommodation 2400
4 nights in designer guesthouses (180° Erhai Lake view room + Lijiang courtyard room)
Tickets & Experiences 900, including Yulong Snow Mountain VIP access
Food 600, selected 8 Michelin-recommended + local eateries
Travel Photography 60, rent ethnic costumes for 3 hours
Daily Itinerary (with Best Shooting Times)
Day 1: Kunming - Dali "Light and Shadow Art Day"
Transport: 7:30-9:30 High-speed train (recommend window seat to shoot rapeseed flower fields along the way)
Highlights:
11:00 【Xingsheng Bridge】Shoot European-style masterpieces (enter via side gate of "Erhai Forest Park")
14:00 【Zhemo Mountain】Hidden gem (private car 300 RMB/car, shoot panoramic views of Cangshan and Erhai)
18:30 【Dali Ancient City Renmin Road】Shoot blue hour (set tripod on rooftop of "Big Bowl Island Café")
Accommodation: Dali Ancient City South Gate "Jixia Mountain" designer guesthouse (560 RMB/night, includes free photographer guidance)
Day 2: Erhai Lake "Scenic Road Shooting Day"
Private car: 9-seat business van 600 RMB/day (driver-guide knows all hidden spots)
Golden Route:
6:30 【Longkan Pier】Shoot sunrise redwoods (use breadcrumbs to attract seagulls)
10:00 【Covered Bridge】Shoot Lonely Tree (200m west from "Jia Ye Café")
15:00 【Luwoshan Ruins】Shoot cliff caves (wear non-slip shoes)
19:00 【Shuanglang Ancient Town】Shoot sunset backlight (location "Muxi Dali" restaurant)
Food: Shuanglang "Extraordinary Small Restaurant" truffle ham braised rice (120 RMB per person but worth it)
Day 3: Lijiang "Snow Mountain Epic Day"
Private car: Yulong Snow Mountain VIP access (skip lines, enjoy 2 extra hours)
Must-shoot scenes:
7:00 【Dongba Valley】Shoot sunrise golden mountain (check sunrise time in advance)
11:00 【Spruce Meadow】Shoot Nordic forest (wear white long dress for best shots)
16:00 【Yak Meadow】Shoot snow mountain reflections (bring wide-angle lens)
20:00 【Lijiang Ancient Town】Shoot lantern night scene (second floor spot at Dayan Flower Alley)
Accommodation: Shuhe "Qingpu Cultural Inn" (680 RMB/night, Naxi courtyard very photogenic)
Day 4: Lijiang "Cultural Secret Spots Day" In-depth Experience:
9:00 【Baisha Ancient Town】Shoot café pets (second floor of 7sea bar with snow mountain view)
13:00 【Yuhu Village】Shoot stone houses (30 RMB horse ride for more local feel)
17:00 【Tinghua Valley】Shoot Hobbit houses (80 RMB ticket but every shot is a masterpiece)
Experience: Naxi ethnic dance activity (free participation, capture natural expressions)
Day 5: Return "Fully Loaded Day"
Transport: Direct flight from Lijiang (saves 3 hours compared to Kunming transfer)
Souvenirs: Recommend "Fat Jinmei Beef Jerky" and "Jiahua Freshly Baked Flower Cakes"
Blogger’s Private Tips:
Gear: Bring 70-200mm telephoto for snow mountains, 16-35mm wide-angle for Erhai Lake
Outfits: Day 1 white dress + straw hat, Day 2 ethnic shawl, Day 3 outdoor jacket + Martin boots
Editing Settings: Xingtu app "Xiao Kenting" filter + brightness +30 contrast +15
I personally led 12 photography groups on this route, ensuring every spot is light-tested! Every penny of the 8000 RMB budget is well spent, follow this plan and get hundreds of likes on your social feed!