Dali to Lijiang Train 2026: 1h44m by Rail or 3h by Private Car

A private driver from Dali to Lijiang costs about $150 to $170 for the car, picks you up at your Dali hotel, stops at Er Hai lake or Shaxi ancient town along the way if you want, and drops you at your Lijiang hotel door roughly 3 hours later. The train costs $7 to $20, covers the same 157 km in under 2 hours, and gets you to a station that sits 8 to 18 km outside both old towns. Neither one is the obviously correct choice. It comes down to how much your time is worth, whether you want a stop along the way, and how much luggage you're hauling.

This guide has the real 2026 numbers for both: train schedule and fares, exactly where the two stations are and how far you'll still need to travel once you arrive, and an honest cost-and-time comparison against hiring a car, including when the car is genuinely the better call.

Trip.com's English booking flow is the easiest option for foreign travelers and it's worth using during Golden Week or Spring Festival, when seats disappear days in advance. If you'd rather buy at face value with no service fee, the official 12306 site and app do the same job in English, though you'll need a passport number and a way to pay that accepts foreign cards or WeChat Pay.

For step-by-step guidance on registering, choosing between 12306 and Trip.com, and boarding with only your passport, see our complete guide to booking China's high-speed trains.

How fast is the Dali to Lijiang train?

The fastest confirmed run is around 1 hour 44 minutes. Most departures take between 1.5 and 2.5 hours depending on how many stops the train makes along the way (some run nonstop, others call at Eryuan or Heqing). That's noticeably quicker than a 3-hour car ride, but it's not the flat "1 hour" figure you'll sometimes see quoted, so don't plan a same-morning side trip around it without checking your specific train's timetable first.

Around 7 to 10 train pairs run daily between roughly 6:00 am and 9:00 pm, with both G-series high-speed and C-series intercity trains covering the route. Seats can be booked up to 15 days ahead on 12306, and it's rarely necessary to book further out than that outside of major holidays.

Where are the Dali and Lijiang stations, and how far are they from the old towns?

This is the part most guides skip, and it changes the math on the whole trip. Dali Railway Station is not in Dali Old Town. It's in Xiaguan, the modern downtown of Dali City, about 15 to 18 km from the old town walls. A taxi or Didi takes 35 to 45 minutes and costs roughly ¥40 to ¥60; bus route 8 covers the same route for ¥3 to ¥5 but takes 40 to 50 minutes. Drivers at the station rarely use the meter, so agree on a price before you get in.

Lijiang Railway Station is closer to its old town, but still not walking distance: about 8 km out. A taxi takes 25 to 30 minutes for around ¥30 to ¥35. Local buses 4, 16, and 18 also run the route for ¥1 to ¥4, though they take longer and aren't always convenient with luggage.

Add up the real total: train time plus a station transfer on each end typically means 2.5 to 3.5 hours from old town to old town, not the sub-2-hour figure the train schedule alone suggests. That gap is exactly why the private car comparison below matters more than it looks at first.

Train vs private car: the honest comparison

For one or two people traveling light, the train is nearly always cheaper even after you add up both taxi transfers, and it's genuinely faster if your train doesn't add much padding at either station. For three or four people splitting a car, or for anyone who wants to break up the drive with a couple of hours at Er Hai lake or wandering Shaxi's Sideng Market square, the private car earns its price back in convenience and in the extra stop you'd otherwise never make.

When the private car wins

A private car makes the most sense in three situations. First, if you're traveling with kids, elderly relatives, or heavy luggage and want to avoid two separate station transfers. Second, if you want to add the Er Hai lakeside road or Shaxi's old market town to the day rather than treating the trip as pure transit. Third, if your train times don't line up well with your hotel checkout or a flight later that day and a fixed departure would force an awkward wait.

Book a car through your Dali hotel's front desk (often the cheapest option once you negotiate), a driver-with-car listing on Klook, or a Chinese ride-hailing app if you're comfortable with the interface. Confirm the price for the whole car, not per person, and settle whether stops are included before you get in.

How to book the Dali to Lijiang train step by step

1. Check the schedule on 12306 or Trip.com for your travel date; departures run roughly 6:00 am to 9:00 pm.
2. Book up to 15 days ahead. During Golden Week or Spring Festival, book the moment tickets release.
3. Bring your passport. Foreign travelers can't use the automated kiosks for first-time pickup at some stations, so budget extra time at the ticket window if you didn't book with e-ticket/ID entry enabled.
4. Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Security screening at both stations is standard and can back up during peak season.
5. Plan your onward transfer before you board. Pick the taxi or the local bus from Lijiang station in advance so you're not negotiating a fare half-asleep after a 2-hour ride.

If you're routing through Kunming first, the same booking approach applies to the Kunming to Dali train and the Kunming to Lijiang train, both of which run more frequently and slightly faster than the Dali-Lijiang hop itself. For a broader walkthrough of 12306 as a foreigner, see the 12306 booking guide.

Which one should you book

If you're one or two people who just need to get from Dali to Lijiang, book the train on 12306 or Trip.com, take a taxi from Xiaguan station and another from Lijiang station, and you'll spend under $30 total and be in the Lijiang old town by early afternoon. If you're a group of three or more, traveling with a lot of luggage, or you want to see Er Hai or Shaxi on the way, book a private car the night before through your hotel and treat the drive itself as part of the day's sightseeing rather than dead time.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the train from Dali to Lijiang take? The fastest run is about 1 hour 44 minutes, but most trains take 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on stops. Add 30 to 45 minutes on each end for the station transfer.

Is the Dali train station in Dali Old Town? No. Dali Railway Station is in Xiaguan, about 15 to 18 km from Dali Old Town, roughly a 35 to 45 minute taxi ride.

How much does a private car from Dali to Lijiang cost? Expect $150 to $170 total for the car, which is often cheaper per person than the train once you're a group of three or four, and it includes door-to-door pickup with no station transfers.

Can I buy Dali to Lijiang train tickets in English? Yes. Both the official 12306 app/site and Trip.com have English interfaces; 12306 charges no service fee, Trip.com adds a small fee but has an easier checkout for foreign cards.

Is it worth stopping at Er Hai Lake or Shaxi on the way to Lijiang? If you're driving, yes, both are easy detours that add only an hour or two. If you're taking the train, you'd need to visit them as a separate day trip from Dali or Lijiang instead.