Guizhou + Yunnan 8-Day Combined Tour: How to Seamlessly Connect High-Speed Rail and Private Car for Maximum Time Efficiency

Mr. Lim and his family of four from Kuala Lumpur visited Guizhou for 5 days last year. After returning, his wife kept saying, "We still haven't seen Yunnan." In 6, he messaged us on WeChat: "We want to tour both Guizhou and Yunnan in one trip, but we'd prefer not to fly back to Singapore first before heading to Kunming. Is it possible to travel overland from Guizhou to Yunnan?" We designed this 8-day itinerary for him, and he booked it the same day he saw it.

Guizhou and Yunnan are neighbors. The fastest high-speed train from Guiyang North to Kunming South takes just 2 hours 25 minutes—saving you a full day compared to flying. But the experiences couldn't be more different: Guizhou offers mountain landscapes and Miao villages, while Yunnan features Erhai Lake and snow-capped peaks. Here's what to expect.

8-Day Overview

Day 1: Airport pickup in Guiyang; Day 2: Huangguoshu Waterfall; Day 3: Libo Xiaoqikong; Day 4: Libo to Kunming via high-speed rail transfer; Day 5: Transfer from Kunming to Dali; Day 6: Explore Dali; Day 7: Transfer from Dali to Lijiang; Day 8: Departure from Lijiang. The trip is split into two legs (Guizhou and Yunnan), each served by a local charter vehicle, with two high-speed rail transfers connecting them.

Day 1 – 3 Guizhou Highlights

Day 1: Airport pickup in Guiyang with soft landing. Have Sisiwawa for lunch, stay at Huaguoyuan area. Day 2: Depart at 7 AM by private car to Huangguoshu; arrive at the scenic spot in 2.5 hours. Tickets cost 328 yuan; free entry for children under 70. Return to Anshun after 4 PM and stay overnight. Day 3: Drive from Anshun to Libo (5-hour drive). Xiaqikong entrance fee is 110 yuan plus mandatory shuttle bus fare of 40 yuan. Enter from the East Gate and walk back for the most comfortable experience. Stay overnight at Libo County.

MeituShuo ReminderBoth Huangguoshu and Xiaoqikong require advance real-name reservations through the scenic area's official WeChat account, especially during peak seasons where on-site ticket queues can exceed 2 hours. We handle all reservations for our guests, allowing direct entry with just your ID card upon arrival.

Day 4: The crucial transition day – how to make it the easiest

This day is the soul of the entire line. Two options:

Option 1: Take the Guiyang-Nanning high-speed rail from Libo Station at 9:30 AM to Guiyang North (fastest in 57 minutes). Transfer within the station, enjoy local Changwang noodles for lunch, then board a G-series train after 1 PM. Arrive at Kunming South after 2 hours and 25 minutes, reaching your hotel before 4 PM.

Option 2: Take a bus from Libo back to Guiyang (taking 3 hours), then transfer to the high-speed train to Kunming. This option consumes the entire day traveling and is not recommended.

MeituShuo ReminderThe transfer time at Guiyangbei Station takes 20 minutes, but families with elderly members or lots of luggage should allow a 1.5-hour buffer in case the first train is delayed. Cross-province high-speed rail tickets are released 15 days before departure at 8 AM. Popular trains sell out quickly; let our customer service team monitor availability for you—it's more reliable than checking your phone yourself.

Day 6: Kunming to Dali

Spend the morning exploring Kunming's Green Lake. For lunch, enjoy authentic cross-bridge rice noodles at Jianxinyuan on Dianshi Street, a local favorite with long queues. Catch the D-series high-speed train from 1 for about 2 hours to arrive in Dali by evening. Check into a sea-view homestay in Xizhou and watch the sunset over Erhai Lake.

Day 6: Full day in Dali. For the Yunnan segment, we've arranged a local Bai driver with 8 years of partnership to meet you; vehicle condition and itinerary follow Meitu's standards, with direct customer service support throughout. The ride through Haitang Park is the highlight—lunch features Xidoufen and Xizhou Baba in Xizhou.

Heads-up: Double Lang has become overly commercialized. Staying overnight isn't worth it; just stop by briefly. Xizhou and Caicun are the true highlights of Dali.

Day 8: Dali to Lijiang

Day 7: Arrive in Lijiang by high-speed rail at 1:50 AM. Afternoon: Check into Shuhe immediately — it's half as quiet as Lijiang Old Town, with better-preserved teahouses and courtyards.

Day 8 AM: Visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The Blue Moon Valley section is the highlight; arrive at the cable car station before 8 to avoid long queues. Enjoy salmon hot pot for lunch, then head back to Lijiang Sanyi Airport in the afternoon for your departure.

Heads up: The Yulong Snow Mountain cable car reaches an altitude of 4506 meters. It's not recommended for people with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or children under 12. You can still enjoy stunning views at Blue Moon Valley and Yak Pasture without heading to the Glacier Park.

How is the charter segment calculated?

Guizhou section: 5-seat SUVs at 700 yuan/day; 7-seat business vans at 800 yuan. Yunnan section: 7-seat chartered vehicles from 650 to 700 yuan/day. Total for a 6-day charter during the off-season is just over 5000 yuan, including driver, fuel, and tolls—more cost-effective than self-rental and no worries about ETC or high-altitude mountain roads.

Final thoughts

Guizhou + Yunnan in 8 days is just right: too short and you won't get enough, too long and seniors get tired. Among the overseas Chinese families we've hosted, this route has the highest repeat-booking rate—many visit Guizhou first, then add Yunnan on their second trip.

Read more

• How to plan a 5-day trip to Guizhou on your first visit

• How much does Guizhou car rental cost? 2026 latest rates + how to choose a vehicle

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