Taking parents and a 14-month-old baby to Yunnan, where it's 25℃! An 8-day road trip covering Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La. This summer retreat is truly suitable
Taking parents and a 14-month-old baby to Yunnan, where it's 25℃! An 8-day road trip covering Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La. This summer retreat is truly perfect for family trips~ Our little one was well-behaved throughout, enjoying the stunning scenery of Colorful Yunnan with us🌟
🚗【Our Itinerary】
Day 1: First Impressions of Kunming
As soon as we landed, we felt the cool summer air. We picked up our car at the airport and headed straight to Kunming Old Street, where we tasted Jia Hua Flower Cakes and Yunnan Dao Rice Noodles. The seagulls at Haigeng Dam had already flown away, but the lotus flowers in the park were in full bloom. We took the baby for a walk around Haigeng Park, and the little one was so excited, clapping his hands~ We stayed at the Novotel Kunming Dianchi, which is by Dianchi Lake and offers good value for money.
Day 2: Heading to Dali
We drove 3 hours to Dali and checked into the Hilton Garden Inn by the ancient city. In the afternoon, we took my parents cycling at Longkan Pier; the breeze from Erhai Lake was so refreshing. We took many photos of the baby at the observation deck; his chubby face with the Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake as a backdrop was just too cute!
Day 3: Slow Time in Dali
We switched to Najia Resort Hotel. We drove along the eastern route around Erhai Lake, passing by Ideal State (Lixiangbang) and Xiaoputuo scenic spots, but only viewed them from the car. Along the way, we passed Wunbi Village, got out to check out the Rainbow Road, and enjoyed a panoramic view of Erhai Lake. In the evening, we arrived at Shuanglang Ancient Town to watch the sunset. Even the baby quietly appreciated the artistic atmosphere of Yang Liping's Sun Palace.
Day 4: Arriving in Lijiang
We departed from Dali and arrived in Lijiang in 2 hours! We stayed at the Hyatt Centric Lijiang for 2 consecutive nights; the service was incredibly thoughtful. That afternoon, we booked a photoshoot with Bojue Travel Photography (which we brought ourselves). With Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the backdrop, the classical-style courtyard complemented it perfectly, creating a unique ambiance. The hotel had many activities, and the dads could go fishing (the first catch was processed for free!). For dinner, we chose Shuhe Ancient Town, about one or two kilometers from the hotel. The cobblestone paths in Shuhe Ancient Town were a bit bumpy for a stroller, but the small bridges and flowing water were so therapeutic.
Day 5: At the Foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
With seniors and a child, we didn't dare to summit the snow mountain. We had a blast playing in the water at Blue Moon Valley; the weather was fantastic, the lake water was incredibly blue, and the panoramic view was absolutely stunning! The meadow at Spruce Meadow (Yunshanping) was like a fairy tale world in New Zealand. The baby adapted quite well to the altitude of around 3000 meters, happily pouting and acting cute.
Day 6: Braving Shangri-La
We drove north all the way. The surging waves of Tiger Leaping Gorge (Upper Gorge) left the baby mesmerized! Along National Highway 214, accompanied by the Jinsha River, we headed to Dukezong Ancient City at 3300 meters. For dinner, we enjoyed a Tusi Feast and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, which was very close to the ancient city. It had diffused oxygen rooms with oxygen supply equipment, which was very reassuring.
Day 7: Returning to Kunming
We drove back to Kunming from Shangri-La. At noon, we passed through Lijiang and visited Lijiang Ancient Town, which we hadn't been to in the previous two days. This World Heritage site truly lives up to its reputation; Lijiang possesses a delicate beauty. We checked out Mu's Residence and had a meal at a restaurant near its entrance; the taste was very suitable for the elderly. For our last night in Kunming, we stayed at Atour Hotel. When traveling with a baby, comfort is paramount.
Day 8: Departure
We woke up naturally in the morning, drove to the airport to return the car. Since we had ample time, we explored Kunming Changshui International Airport thoroughly, bought Jia Hua Flower Cakes, and landed safely at 7 PM, accompanied by the sunset.
✨【Travel Tips】
1⃣️The Li Auto L8 has super spacious interior, accommodating a car seat + stroller + luggage (including all the baby's essentials for eating, wearing, and using).
2⃣️Yunnan has strong UV radiation, so we prepared a sun hat and baby sunscreen (Turtle Daddy brand) for the baby.
3⃣️Hyatt Centric Lijiang, like other five-star hotels, gave the baby alpaca and donkey plush toy souvenirs, which was a nice touch!
4⃣️Prepare portable oxygen cylinders for high-altitude areas; neither the elderly nor the child experienced altitude sickness.
5⃣️Dining in Yunnan offers excellent value for money; it's affordable, light, and delicious. My parents exclaimed that it perfectly suited their home-style tastes.
Looking at the three-generation family photos in the album, this trip was truly overflowing with happiness! Who says you can't travel with a baby? Yunnan is the ultimate destination for family travel~