How to Tour Lincang

Lincang in China’s southwest Yunnan Province has many tourist attractions related to ethnic minority culture like Nanmei Village and Wa Culture Square. Usually, visitors would visit Kunming or Dali first and go to Lincang later. You need 2 days to have a thorough trip in the city. In addition, due to local less developed public transport, highway bus and chartering a car are the best way to travel around here.

It is advised to take the earliest high speed train D8103 to Lincang from Kunming or Dali. The train departs from Kunming South Station at 8:10, stops by Kunming Station at 8:32, Dali Station at 10:36, and arrive at Lincang Station at 12:18.

Upon arrival at Lincang, you are recommended to visit the Nanmei Village first, a secluded ancient village hidden deep in the mountains west of Lincang. Inhabited by Lahu people, the village keeps well the Lahu folk customs and religious beliefs. You can appreciate the distinctive Lahu clothing, their song and dance, delicate handicrafts, and try the local food. Also, you can visit the nearby Nanmei Grassland and enjoy the primitive natural scenery.

 How to Get There: Hire a car with driver to get there from Lincang Railway Station in 1.5 hours. A round trip costs about CNY 300.

 Opening Hours: All day long

 Recommended Time for a Visit: 2 to 3 hours

 Ticket Price: Free

In the afternoon, get back to downtown Lincang. You can ask the driver to drop you off at the Wa Culture Square, where you can see the city center and learn more about Lincang as an important habitat of the Wa people. 
 

Then, walk southwest across the Nanting River and arrive at the Yulong Lake Park in 10 minutes. The Yulong Lake at the intersection of the Nanting River and the West River is a wonderful waterfront green land in the downtown. Here you can see local people’s daily life in the Citizen Square, walk along the lakeside path, get onto the bridges and islets, and enjoy the music fountain at night.

 Opening Hours: All day long

 Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 hour

 Ticket Price: Free

 Where to Stay Overnight

Yulong Lake Park is very close to Lincang Bus Station around which there are hotels for you to stay.

In the morning, go to Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County to visit the ancient Wa villages, historical relics left by the ethnic minorities, and tranquil natural landscape.

 How to get there: 

There are 8 buses from 8:20 to 14:00, departing from the Lingcang Bus Station and Linxiang Passenger Transport Station. The earliest bus departing from the Lingcang Bus Station at 8:20 is recommended.

 Distance: 190 km (118 mi)

 Duration: 3.5 hours

 Fare: CNY 74

Upon arrival, have lunch and then hire a local car with driver to complete an afternoon tour of Cangyuan County. It would cost CNY 200 to 300.

 

After visiting Ancient Wa Villages, ask the driver to send you to Sigangli Cave Scenic Area, taking about 40 minutes on the way. This is a huge karst cave with a high dome and large space inside. Walking in the cave, you’ll feel amazed that the whole mountain seems to be hollowed out. It is dark inside, and you can borrow a flashlight with a deposit of CNY 10 at the entrance. The stalactites inside are grotesque and colorfully lit, making a visit to the cave an adventure.

 Opening Hours: 8:00 -18:00

 Recommended Time for a Visit: 2 hours

 Ticket Price: CNY 40

After visiting the cave, take the car for about 15 minutes to the Kilometer’s Chinese Painting Gallery, which is a spectacle of colorful paintings by ancient people on cliffs.

 Opening Hours: 8:00-18:00

 Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 hour

 Ticket Price: CNY 15

 

Afterwards, drive 5 minutes to visit the Cangyuan Cliff Painting Valley. Here you'll need to climb up and admire the paintings, which are more than 3,500 years old. The ancient Wa ancestors left a lot of interesting patterns. They dipped their fingers or feathers into red pigments made of animal blood and hematite powder to depict various life scenes on the cliffs, including gathering, hunting, entertainment, religious sacrifice and victory ceremony.

 Opening Hours: 8:00-18:00

 Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 to 2 hours

 Ticket Price: CNY 20

In the late afternoon, drive half an hour back to downtown Cangyuan to visit the Guangyunmian Temple. Built in 1828, the temple retains the basic form of a Southern Buddhist temple, with the exterior characterized by Han architecture, and the interior decorated in Dai style.

 Opening Hours: All day long

 Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 to 2 hours

 Ticket Price: Free

If you decide to return to Dali or Kunming that night, then ask the driver to send you to Lincang Railway Station. There, take the last train – D8116 departing at 17:25, and it would pass by Dali Railway Station at 19:10, Kunming Railway Station at 21:21, and arrive at Kunming South Railway Station at 21:43.

It should be noted that you may need to skip Guangyunmian Temple or more if you decide to return on the second day for the tight schedule.

While, if you stay overnight in Lincang, then ask the driver to drop you off at the Gourd Town, where you can have dinner and stay overnight.