Yunlong is a community in southern Yunnan Province. Best known for its mountains and forests, this area is also a stronghold for the Bai ethnic minority and their unique culture.
Yunlong doesn’t receive many tourists, and most visitors simply plan a short stopover when traveling between Lijiang and Dali. As a result, the entire area remains pristine and largely untraveled, and the few tourists who venture here have the forests and remote villages to themselves.
While the town itself has accommodation and services that make it a good place to be based, travelers spend most of their time hiking and enjoying the rural scenery. Alpine lakes, fresh springs and dense forests characterize the hillsides. At more than 8,000 feet above sea level, Tianchi Lake is one of the most spectacular sites.
Travel to Yunglong - getting there
Dali serves as gateway to the Yunlong scenic area. Minibuses are the most common means of getting there are back, and travel time is about an hour. There is a brand new regional airport on the outskirts of Dali that flies frequent 45-minute connections to Kunming. From here it’s possible to fly internationally to major cities across Southeast Asia or to connect to Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport.
In brief
Worth it? Those who have enough time to thoroughly explore Dali Prefecture will enjoy a visit to Yunlong.
What to do: explore the forests and mountains.
Best time to go: during the warm months between May and September.
How long? A day or two is enough for the major sites.
Tidbit: half of China’s plant species originated in Yunnan province, and most of them can be found close to Yunlong.
Yunglong attractions
- Yunlong Peak: part of the Cangshan Mountain Range and is visible from anywhere in the city. Cable cars ascend to the peaks.
Side trips from Yunglong
- Tianchi Lake: a short distance from Yunlong, this picturesque lake sits at high elevation and is flanked by hills on every side.