The plan at a glance
Two people, 10 days, 4 cities. Everything below is estimated for two travellers. Pick a day above for the full schedule.
What to book, and by when
- DoneAll 4 flights and the Kunming hotel are bookedFlights on Traveloka and tiket.com, Kunming hotel (Pullman) on Traveloka. Keep e-tickets printed and offline.
- This week7 hotel nights still to book: Dali 2, Lijiang 2, Chengdu 3Free cancellation gives the best flexibility. Booking confirmations also help at the visa-free counter.Booking.com ↗
- Before you flyTwo tickets in Kuala Lumpur are separateChina Southern lands at 14:40 and TransNusa leaves at 20:50. Keep a buffer. The Guangzhou layover on 6 Dec is 9 h 25 min.Book ahead
- By mid-NovAlipay with your foreign card, and an eSIMNeeded for DiDi, metro QR and bike rental. Test it before you fly.Alipay ↗
- 13–15 NovTrains: 28 Nov Kunming to Dali, 30 Nov Dali to LijiangTickets usually open about 15 days ahead. Not verified. Use 12306 or Trip.com.Trip.com trains ↗
- 24 Nov, 19:00 JakartaJade Dragon Snow Mountain cable car for 1 DecOpens at 20:00 China time, 7 days ahead. Sells out in minutes. Time-slotted, passport and face scan.Book aheadKlook ↗
- 26–30 NovPanda Base for 3 DecOpens 3–7 days ahead. Pick the earliest slot. Passport name exactly as printed.Book aheadPanda Base ↗
- 1–2 DecLeshan and Dujiangyan trainsBook 2–3 days ahead. Passport needed.Trip.com trains ↗
Budget by city
Amounts in Chinese yuan for two people. The last column is in full rupiah at IDR 2,700 per yuan (market rate on 16 Oct 2026). Intercity transport is counted in the city you arrive in. Food is my estimate at ¥150 a day for two.
| City | Hotel | Transport | Activities | Food | Other | Total ¥ | IDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kunming1 night | 113 | 40 | 0 | 120 | 0 | 273 | 737,100 |
| Dali2 nights | 360 | 450 | 430 | 300 | 0 | 1,540 | 4,158,000 |
| Lijiang2 nights | 340 | 340 | 680 | 300 | 100 | 1,760 | 4,752,000 |
| Chengdu3 nights and a day | 450 | 240 | 590 | 600 | 0 | 1,880 | 5,076,000 |
| Subtotal | 1,263 | 1,070 | 1,700 | 1,320 | 100 | 5,453 | 14,723,100 |
| eSIM, bank fees, extras | 200 | 540,000 | |||||
| 10% buffer | 565 | 1,525,500 | |||||
| On the ground | 6,218 | 16,788,600 | |||||
Hotels average about ¥158 a night, or IDR 426,000, inside your IDR 300,000–500,000 limit. Optional extras (Three Pagodas, Yan Family Compound, Impression Lijiang show, Dujiangyan) add about ¥1,300.
Flights
| Route | Departs | Arrives | Per person, IDR | Two people, IDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jakarta to Kunming | 26 Nov, 23:05 | 27 Nov, 12:25 | 2,968,681 | 5,937,362 |
| Lijiang to Chengdu | 2 Dec, 10:25 | 2 Dec, 11:45 | 1,250,253 | 2,500,506 |
| Chengdu to KL | 5 Dec, 22:30 | 6 Dec, 14:40 | 2,546,350 | 5,092,700 |
| KL to Jakarta | 6 Dec, 20:50 | 6 Dec, 21:50 | 1,732,014 | 3,464,028 |
| Total | 8,497,298 | 16,994,596 |
Visa-free entry checklist
Indonesian passports are on China's 240-hour visa-free transit list (Chinese Embassy notice, in force since 12 Jun 2025). Sichuan and Yunnan are allowed areas. You must have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country, and Malaysia is one.
- Passport valid for at least 3 months. Check it is valid well past 6 Dec.
- Printed Chengdu to KL ticket with date and seat.
- Printed hotel confirmations for all nights.
- Arrival card completed.
- Ask the airline at Jakarta check-in. Your first ticket goes to Kunming through Chengdu, and sources call this "potentially eligible", not guaranteed.
- Confirm on nia.gov.cn or the hotline +86-12367 before you go.
What I could not verify
- Food costs, and Dayan Old Town hotel rates (the Lijiang samples were in Shuhe).
- Whether Lijiang Old Town charges a preservation fee in 2026.
- The exact day train tickets open on 12306.
- Jade Dragon entry price. Sources show ¥100 and ¥130. I budgeted ¥100.
- Winter weather. Expect a cold Lijiang and a grey Chengdu.
- Prices were checked on 19 Oct 2026 and can change.
Sources
- Chinese Embassy in Indonesia, 240-hour transit notice
- China Travel Radar, 240-hour rules
- Wander in China, Kunming to Dali
- Agate Travel, Dali to Lijiang trains
- China for Travelers, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- MyChina.guide, Chengdu to Leshan
- MyChina.guide, Dali in one day
- Cities Insider, Panda Base and Qingcheng
- Wander in China, Dujiangyan
- Wander in China, Chengdu transport
- Wander in China, Kunming airport
- Wander in China, Lijiang transport
- ValutaFX, CNY to IDR
Land in Kunming
Clear immigration at Chengdu, fly on to Kunming, then a slow evening by Green Lake.
- At Chengdu
Enter China with the 240-hour visa-free transit
Go to the visa-free transit counter before the normal immigration line. Show the printed Chengdu to KL ticket and your hotel bookings. Fill in the arrival card. Ask the airline if bags are checked through to Kunming.
Check first - 12:25
Land at Kunming Changshui (KMG)
Metro Line 6 goes into the city, about 30 min to Tuodong Stadium, then change. Last metro from the airport is 22:20.
¥5–7 each - Afternoon
Check in at Pullman Kunming (Guandu)
Check-in is from 14:00 and you land at 12:25, so ask for bag drop or early check-in. The hotel is in Guandu district, not by the station. I did not check the ride time to Green Lake or to Kunming Station for tomorrow's train. Look it up in DiDi.
Already bookedCheck first - 16:00
Green Lake Park (Cuihu)
Winter is gull season. Flat, free, and good for photos at low light.
Free - Evening
Crossing-the-bridge rice noodles
The classic Yunnan dinner. Keep it light and sleep early after the night flight.
About ¥60 for two
Good to know
- Set up Alipay before you fly. The transport QR works for metro gates.
- Kunming is about 1,900 m high. Drink water and take it easy.
Train to Dali
A morning train west, then the old town, the South Gate wall and the Three Pagodas at dusk.
- Morning
Take a train from Kunming Station
Choose Kunming Station, not Kunming South. It is in the city centre on Metro Line 1 and is the cheaper option. D8652 and D8660 cost ¥109. Check the times on 12306 or Trip.com.
¥218 for two, more on other trainsBook ahead - About 2 h later
Arrive at Dali Station (Xiaguan)
The station is 35–45 min from the old town. Use DiDi from the app, not a street taxi.
¥40–60 - Midday
Check in, then walk Renmin Road
Drop bags first. Foreigner Street is next to it.
- Afternoon
Climb the South Gate wall
Good view of Cangshan mountain behind the tiled roofs. The old town has no entry fee.
Free - Dusk
Three Pagodas
Best light just before sunset. You can see them from outside the temple. Going inside costs ¥75 each.
¥150 inside, optional - Evening
Erhai fish and Rushan cheese
Sour and spicy fish is the local dish. Roasted Rushan cheese is a snack.
About ¥150 for two
Good to know
- Dali is about 1,975 m high. The sun is strong even in winter. Bring sunscreen and sunglasses.
- At train stations, scan your passport at the gate. If it fails, use the manual gate (人工通道).
Erhai Lake by e-bike
A full day for your wife's kind of photos: lake, mountains and old courtyards.
- 09:00
DiDi to Caicun Pier, rent two e-bikes
Rent in the morning so batteries are full. Use the car-free lakeside path.
¥200 for two bikes - 10:00
Ride north along Erhai
About 18 km to Xizhou, 70–90 min with photo stops. Ask for a bike with a full battery.
- 12:30
Lunch in Xizhou
Try grilled bait fish or sour fish hotpot. Also Xizhou baba, a crispy pastry, for ¥5–8 on the street.
¥120–180 for two - 14:00
Xizhou old town
Bai-style courtyards. The Yan Family Compound is the best-known one.
¥168 inside, optional - 16:00
Cangshan cable car, if the sky is clear
Go up in the late afternoon only if the top is not in cloud. If it is cloudy, sit at a lakeside café in Caicun for sunset instead.
¥230 for two - Before 18:00
Return the bikes
Do not ride after 18:00. The path lights are partial. Take DiDi back to the old town.
About ¥55
Good to know
- Ride about 36 km in total if you do Xizhou and come back. Check the battery range.
- Cash is rarely used. Alipay works almost everywhere.
Train to Lijiang
A short train north, then Dayan Old Town and the Lion Hill view at sunset.
- 08:30
Check out and DiDi to Dali Station
Allow 45 min and arrive at the station 1 hour early.
¥50 - 09:58
Train C987 to Lijiang
Arrives 11:57. A calmer choice than the 07:00 train. Prices were checked on one train site, so confirm on 12306 or Trip.com.
¥160 for two, plus about ¥30 booking feesBook ahead - 12:30
DiDi to your inn
Lijiang Station is 25–40 min from the old town. Ask the inn which gate a car can reach.
¥30–50 - Afternoon
Dayan Old Town and Black Dragon Pool
Cobblestone lanes, canals, and the classic view of the snow mountain from the pool. The old town may charge a preservation fee. I could not verify it. Ask your inn.
Fee not verified, ¥100 reserved - Sunset
Lion Hill and Wangu Pavilion
Roof view over thousands of dark tiles. Wear warm clothes. Lijiang is about 2,400 m high.
- Evening
Naxi dinner
Cured pork ribs hotpot, or a lighter jidou liangfen (chickpea jelly).
About ¥150 for two
Good to know
- Buy a small oxygen can in the old town tomorrow morning. About ¥20, cheaper than at the cable car (¥39).
- Charge your phone and power bank tonight. Tomorrow is a long, cold day.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
The big nature day. Blue Moon Valley, then the cable car to the glacier park above 4,500 m.
- 07:30
DiDi to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain visitor centre
About 20 km and 45–60 min. Park opens around 07:00. Take your passport. Entry uses a passport and a face scan.
¥50–80 - Morning
Blue Moon Valley
Included with the park ticket. Walk it. The ¥50 cart is optional. Pale blue water under the peak, so it is the best photo stop of the day.
Park ticket ¥100 each (one source says ¥130) - Your slot
Big cable car to Glacier Park (4,506 m)
The time slot is fixed when you book. The ticket includes the ¥20 shuttle. Move slowly and keep warm. High wind or snow can close it for a day.
¥280 for twoBook ahead - Midday
Stay short at the top
Stay 30–40 min. Bring the oxygen can. If anyone gets a headache or feels dizzy, go down.
Oxygen ¥20–39 - Afternoon
Back to Lijiang by 18:00
Do not miss the last Bus 101 if you did not book a car. Ask for a DiDi pickup at the visitor centre.
- Evening
Pack and sleep early
Your taxi to the airport tomorrow leaves at about 07:15.
Good to know
- Altitude risk: no alcohol the night before. Drink water. The glacier has shrunk, so the cable car may not look very snowy.
- Peak slots sell out in minutes. There are no same-day walk-up tickets. One passport can buy once every 90 days.
Fly to Chengdu
Early flight, then an easy afternoon in the old lanes and a tea house.
- 07:15
DiDi to Lijiang Sanyi Airport
40–55 min from the old town. Book the car the night before if you can.
¥80–110 - 10:25
Fly Lijiang to Chengdu
Lands at 11:45 at Tianfu (TFU).
Already booked - Afternoon
Metro to the hotel
Tianfu Airport: Metro Line 18, about 40 min, around ¥10 each. Shuangliu Airport: Metro Line 10, about 20 min. Check which airport your flight uses.
¥20 for two - 15:30
Kuanzhai Alley
Restored old lanes with lots of photo spots. Busy in the evening, so go while it is still light.
Free - 17:00
Tea at People's Park
The Heming tea house is the classic stop. Sit, drink, watch.
About ¥40–80 for two - Evening
Hotpot
You are in Sichuan. Ask for wei la (微辣, mild) if unsure.
About ¥150–250 for two
Good to know
- Chengdu is often grey in winter. Photos are better at the pandas and Leshan than from city viewpoints.
- Check the panda reservation opens today or soon. See tomorrow.
Giant Panda Base
Be there early, when the pandas are awake and eating.
- 07:00
Metro Line 3 to Panda Avenue station
Then take the marked shuttle bus to the entrance. Leave the hotel early.
¥30 for the day - 07:30–10:00
Panda Base (Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding)
Pandas are most active in the morning. They rest or hide by midday. Real-name ticket on the official WeChat mini-program. Use the passport name exactly as printed.
¥110 for twoBook ahead - In the base
Panda Tower
A separate free reservation, made once you are inside.
Free - Afternoon
Wenshu Monastery
A calm Buddhist temple in the old city. Good for tea and a slow walk.
- Evening
Free time
Sichuan opera is optional. The price was not verified, so check it at the venue.
Good to know
- Up to 60,000 visitors a day. Go on a weekday morning, which this is.
Leshan Giant Buddha day trip
A 71 m stone Buddha carved into a cliff. The Nine Turns path is the photo spot.
- 07:30
Train from Chengdu East to Leshan
Trains run about every 20–40 min from 06:30 to 21:00. Arrive about 08:30.
About ¥320 return for twoBook ahead - 08:45
Bus K1 or 3 to the Giant Buddha
35–45 min, ¥1–2. DiDi is ¥25–40 and about 20 min.
¥4 or ¥25–40 - 09:15
Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area
Winter price started on 1 Dec. Buy online on Trip.com or the WeChat mini-program to skip the gate queue. Go to the toilet before you start the cliff path.
¥80 for two - Optional
Boat for the front view
A river cruise shows the whole Buddha from the water.
¥70 each - 12:30
Lunch in Leshan old town
Noodle shop ¥20–40, mid-range place ¥60–100.
- 16:30–18:30
Train back to Chengdu
Last fast train is around 21:30. Lockers are at Leshan Station if you need them.
Good to know
- Bring your passport. Train and entry tickets use it.
- Avoid the early May and early October holidays. Not an issue now.
Last day in China
A short trip to the 2,000-year-old Dujiangyan dam, then to Shuangliu airport for the 22:30 flight.
- 08:00
Check out, leave bags at the hotel
Keep a small bag with passport, ticket and a warm layer.
- 08:30
Metro Line 2 to Xipu, train to Dujiangyan
In the booking app choose Lidui Park Station (离堆公园站), not 'Dujiangyan Station'. It is far from the sights.
About ¥20 returnBook ahead - 10:00
Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Plan 3–4 hours. A UNESCO site, still in use. It closes at 17:30 in winter, so you have plenty of time.
¥160 for two - 14:30
Head back to the city
Aim to be at the hotel by 15:45.
- 18:30
Collect bags and leave for the airport
Your flight leaves from Shuangliu (CTU), not Tianfu. Metro Line 10 takes about 20 min. Be at check-in about 19:30.
¥20 for two - 22:30
Fly Chengdu to Guangzhou (CZ3428)
Lands at 01:00, then a 9 h 25 min layover at Guangzhou Terminal 2. The next flight to Kuala Lumpur leaves at 10:25. I did not verify how exit immigration works in Guangzhou. Ask at check-in in Chengdu.
Already bookedCheck first
Good to know
- The day budget does not include Dujiangyan. It adds about ¥200 (entry ¥160 plus trains). Prefer a slow day? Skip it and spend the time at Jinli, tea houses and shopping.
- Bring a printed copy of this flight booking. Immigration may check the onward ticket.
- Plan to sleep little. You will spend the night in the airport in Guangzhou.
Kuala Lumpur and home
Fly Guangzhou to Kuala Lumpur, land at 14:40, then fly to Jakarta at 20:50. The gap in KL is 6 h 10 min.
- 10:25
Fly Guangzhou to Kuala Lumpur (CZ3047)
Leaves from Guangzhou Terminal 2 and lands at KLIA Terminal 1 at 14:40.
Already booked - 14:40
Land at Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
The Jakarta flight is a separate ticket, so collect your bags, clear immigration and check in again. The email does not show the TransNusa baggage allowance or terminal. Check the e-ticket PDF.
Check first - Afternoon
Stay near the airport
A city trip is risky with only 6 h 10 min. Be back at check-in by about 18:00.
- 20:50
Fly KL to Jakarta (TransNusa 8B680)
Lands 21:50 Jakarta time.
Already booked
Good to know
- The two tickets are separate. If the China Southern flight is late, TransNusa will not hold the plane for you. Keep a buffer.