Yunnan trip

[jywy2005]

Is there a difference between eating aspirin and Panadol? Does aspirin take effect faster?

Aspirin is generally not prescribed by doc as a pain killer. iirc it is a blood thinner. So may cause excessive bleeding. If your symptoms are severe, best to purchase oxygen canister. Some hotel rooms are even equipped with oxygen making machines. Best to get acclimatised progressively.

 

[luckygal]

Back from Yunnan trip in Jun 2025. Skipped Kunming. Fly into Lijiang with Transit with 24hr layover in Shenzhen via Shenzhen Airlines $310.
Wanted a layover in Shenzhen for Michelin grade Dim Sum from both Tao Tao Ju and Dian Dou De restaurants.

Visited Lugu Lake 2D1N 4hr from Lijiang ( awesome scenary). Shangrila 2D1N which includes Tiger Leaping Gorge. 1D tour covering Yulong Mountain, Boon Moon Lake, Impression show. 5 day 4night Tour package bought from Ctrip at around 2000RMB. Free and easy 2 to 3 nights in Lijiang, 2 nights in Dali via Didi and High Speed Rail.

Transport in Lugu Lake, Shangri-la going to be challenging via Didi. No issue at Dali and Lijiang via Didi and high speed rail.

Skip Kunming because city area so nothing much to see.

Dali souvenirs much cheaper than Lijiang.
Secenary wise Lugu Lake is the best.
Lijiang and Dali are like Asia's version of Switerland with mountains and lakes.
Lovely place.
Shangrila and Yulong Mountain has high altitude which may give some people issues. So do not go direct to Shangrila or Yulong Mountain > 3500m on the first day. Ascend up from 2000m up and day by day. Oxygen tank will help for high altitude. But half a can up Yulong Mountain more than enough for me.

Do we need to ascend the jade snow mountain to watch the impression show? For the blue moon valley, no need to ascend the mountain right?

 

[sbl2560]

Do we need to ascend the jade snow mountain to watch the impression show? For the blue moon valley, no need to ascend the mountain right?

The show is at Lijiang. Need to use cable car to ascend for Blue Moon Valley.

 

[jywy2005]

Jade dragon mountain has 3 cable car rides.. The highest one is to the glacier. Need to queue for bus and cable car rides. Then you need to climb from 4500m plus to 4680m. Not easy to climb at such altitude. I spent almost 2 hours going up and down. Every 30 steps up need to rest and take a puff of oxygen.. Esentially, I managed to visit only the glacier and blue moon valley that day… too crowded and tiring.

Do try to take the new dragon snow train which gives you a picturesque view of the snow dragon along the way. About 30 min journey.

 

[luckygal]

Jade dragon mountain has 3 cable car rides.. The highest one is to the glacier. Need to queue for bus and cable car rides. Then you need to climb from 4500m plus to 4680m. Not easy to climb at such altitude. I spent almost 2 hours going up and down. Every 30 steps up need to rest and take a puff of oxygen.. Esentially, I managed to visit only the glacier and blue moon valley that day… too crowded and tiring.

Do try to take the new dragon snow train which gives you a picturesque view of the snow dragon along the way. About 30 min journey.

So the highest goes to the glacier. First and second ?

 

[jywy2005]

So the highest goes to the glacier. First and second ?

Yes, that’s the one. Not advisable if you have heart problems cos of the high altitude.

The other two at slightly lower altitudes to see grasslands, meadows and pastures with the jade snow mountain in the back drop. Can take lovely photos.

 

[luckygal]

Yes, that’s the one. Not advisable if you have heart problems cos of the high altitude.

The other two at slightly lower altitudes to see grasslands, meadows and pastures with the jade snow mountain in the back drop. Can take lovely photos.

So second goes to blue moon valley? So all can take the same cable car. Just alight at different level right.

 

[jywy2005]

So second goes to blue moon valley? So all can take the same cable car. Just alight at different level right.

I took the glacier cable car down. Took the connecting bus from there to blue moon valley.

Didnt try the other cable cars.

 

[linker10]

Blue Moon Valley.

Went on a 1 day tour to Blue Moon Valley, Jade dragon mountain and includes the the impression show (all nearby).
Blue Moon Valley is low altitude but a lot of people started using Oxygen at Blue Moon Valley which is silly because therea are plenty of oxygen with lots of trees in that area.

Also highly recommend to visit Dali 理想的花园 FLOMIS GARDEN which is similar to Santorini.

 

[koolkool]

Went on a 1 day tour to Blue Moon Valley, Jade dragon mountain and includes the the impression show (all nearby).
Blue Moon Valley is low altitude but a lot of people started using Oxygen at Blue Moon Valley which is silly because therea are plenty of oxygen with lots of trees in that area.

Also highly recommend to visit Dali 理想的花园 FLOMIS GARDEN which is similar to Santorini.

Hi. Interested to go there in Dec. Just to check for 1 day tour you book from klook or trip.com? They will settle all the tickets and permit to go up the jade dragon mountain?

 

[koolkool]

Hi. First time going to China in more than 20 years. It is now cashless nation. So my question is can I skip the changing of RMB before going off for my trip? In case I need cash, can I use Revolut / Youtrip to withdraw cash from their ATM? Anyone tried and if there is any additional fees? Are ATMs that support the cash withdrawal easily found, or because it's cashless, there are very few ATMs?

 

[sbl2560]

Hi. First time going to China in more than 20 years. It is now cashless nation. So my question is can I skip the changing of RMB before going off for my trip? In case I need cash, can I use Revolut / Youtrip to withdraw cash from their ATM? Anyone tried and if there is any additional fees? Are ATMs that support the cash withdrawal easily found, or because it's cashless, there are very few ATMs?

There isn't any need to carry RMB. Link both Revolut and Youtrip, to Alipay and WeChat Pay. Phone need to have roaming data.

 

[beanstalk6]

Hi. First time going to China in more than 20 years. It is now cashless nation. So my question is can I skip the changing of RMB before going off for my trip? In case I need cash, can I use Revolut / Youtrip to withdraw cash from their ATM? Anyone tried and if there is any additional fees? Are ATMs that support the cash withdrawal easily found, or because it's cashless, there are very few ATMs?

https://www.you.co/sg/blog/can-youtrip-be-used-in-china/
ATMs still exist there. How easy located they are depends on where you are visiting.

 

[linker10]

I used Ctrip to book a 5 day 4 night tour which includes 2 day 1 night in Lugu, 1day 2 nights in Lijiang and 2 day 1 night in Shangri la for about 400 SGD or 2000RMB. Lugu and Shangri-la is a bit difficult to travel as there is no Didi readily available. Also included the Yulong Mountain tour including Impression show to save the hassle of getting the hard to purchase tickets. But nonetheless there are also a lot of Day tours available if you wanted to go there to join the tour. Ctrip is one of the cheapest and best option though. In Lijiang and Dali with Didi you can easily travel around.

 

[sbl2560]

I used Ctrip to book a 5 day 4 night tour which includes 2 day 1 night in Lugu, 1day 2 nights in Lijiang and 2 day 1 night in Shangri la for about 400 SGD or 2000RMB. Lugu and Shangri-la is a bit difficult to travel as there is no Didi readily available. Also included the Yulong Mountain tour including Impression show to save the hassle of getting the hard to purchase tickets. But nonetheless there are also a lot of Day tours available if you wanted to go there to join the tour. Ctrip is one of the cheapest and best option though. In Lijiang and Dali with Didi you can easily travel around.

What Ctrip able to offer for some packages beyond a day tour, Trip doesn't have similar, or prices are exorbitant.

Ctrip is good, as all inclusion and exclusion are clearly stated, as well as no shopping.

 

[d3n]

Hi. First time going to China in more than 20 years. It is now cashless nation. So my question is can I skip the changing of RMB before going off for my trip? In case I need cash, can I use Revolut / Youtrip to withdraw cash from their ATM? Anyone tried and if there is any additional fees? Are ATMs that support the cash withdrawal easily found, or because it's cashless, there are very few ATMs?

my advise is to change some minimal cash.... cos during my Chengdu trip, this makan place only accept wechat pay and for some reason, i am unable to make payment suddenly, so in the end i ask a stranger there if she can help me top up my wechat wallet and i will pay her some cash.

no need alot... that time i change 500 rmb, still came back with 300 rmb... 100rmb is to that stranger and 100rmb is for a temple donation (cos again wechat pay + alipay suddenly cannot work)

 

[noangel7]

Withdrew cash using Revolut in 2024 from ATM at ICBC bank branch in Guiyang, China.
No fees.
There's quite a few banks and branches in their cities. Touristy spots, YMMV

 

[linker10]

Suggested Dali itinerary based on China guide
那您可以海东线玩一天，海西线玩一天哦
【畅游海东线】大理古城前往双廊→乘游船登南诏风情岛→鹿卧山→挖色→小普陀→文笔村-网红彩虹公路→圣托里尼·理想邦
【畅游海西线】龙龛码头→磻溪村网红S弯→洱海生态廊道骑行→喜洲古镇（体验白族扎染）→大理古城结束行程

 

[matrix05]

Withdrew cash using Revolut in 2024 from ATM at ICBC bank branch in Guiyang, China.
No fees.
There's quite a few banks and branches in their cities. Touristy spots, YMMV

Good info but cash in CN not preferred. Any way to put cash into Alipay, without asking a human ?

 

[brx1987]

whats is the best way to yunnan area?

seems like only got 1 redeye flight?