3 DAYSDigital itinerary
Dali in 3 Days
Lake mornings, Dali Ancient Town, Xizhou, Bai food and an unhurried three-day plan.
$14.99USD · instant PDF*
View guide & options →Independent travel, made easier
Yunnan, at your own pace.
Beautiful places are easy to find. Knowing how to get there, book them, and enjoy them without stress? That's where local knowledge helps.
Practical English-language travel guides by Rob & Cherry—an American-Chinese couple making independent travel across Yunnan simpler.
✓ Easy-to-follow routes✓ Chinese driver phrases✓ Clear booking help
Erhai Lake · Dali, Yunnan
Life around Dali
Experience the Dali we know.
Explore evening streets, peaceful lakeside mornings and inviting cafés. Find the places that suit your pace, with clear directions and ideas for an enjoyable day.
Explore the Dali photo guide →The guide collection
Choose the trip that feels like you.
Three focused digital guides, not a maze of nearly identical itineraries. Explore the full details here before making a decision.
3 DAYS
5 DAYSDigital itinerary
Dali + Lijiang in 5 Days
Five well-paced days of lakeside villages, ancient lanes and snowy mountain choices.
$17.99USD · instant PDF*
View guide & options →
7 DAYSDigital itinerary
Yunnan in 7 Days
A route through Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La, with honest altitude notes.
$22.99USD · instant PDF*
View guide & options →Start with Dali and explore the wider Yunnan routes in our five- and seven-day guides.
Go beyond the postcard
Discover each destination.
Practical starting points: where to stay, what to prioritize, and what to know before you arrive.
Our favorite place to start
A full day in Dali, on us.
We've put together a useful free day plan: Dali Ancient Town, a relaxed Erhai Lake visit, realistic transport tips and Chinese phrases you can show a driver.
Keep this handy
Show your driver
请带我去大理古城南门。
Please take me to the South Gate of Dali Ancient Town.
Take it slow
One neighborhood, one scenic stretch of lake, one good meal. That's enough for a lovely first day.
Traveler know-how
Small details, much easier journeys.
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Train and passport help
Realistic advice on station checkpoints and ticket identity.
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DiDi pickup tips
How to confirm your car and respond to app verification.
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Where to stay
Hotel-area tradeoffs, not just attractive photographs.
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Altitude awareness
Gentle pacing and backup plans for higher destinations.
Fresh from the journal
Useful answers before you leave home.
New practical articles every two weeks, starting with the questions international travelers ask most.
Kunming to Dali: our scenic G5621 drive
Four hours of mountain scenery, comfortable rest stops and practical advice.
Read the story →Chinese trains with a foreign passport
A step-by-step field guide for easier boarding.
Read the article →DiDi pickup verification in China
How to find your car and handle last-digit prompts.
Read the article →Planning Shangri-La with altitude in mind
Make the most of the mountains without packing too much into your first day.
Read the article →Extra reassurance
Need a little help along the way?
Our planned Travel Peace of Mind service offers three consecutive days of non-emergency WhatsApp or WeChat support, between 8 AM and 9 PM China time, with replies generally within an hour.
Custom trip planning and a few practical add-ons will be available as their Payhip service listings and operating arrangements are finalized.
Explore optional services →“You should be thinking about the view out the window—not wondering if you're standing at the wrong train station gate.”— Our approach to thoughtful planning
Real people behind the brand
Hi, we're Rob & Cherry.
We're an American-Chinese couple who love the possibilities of independent travel in China. We created Cherry Travel Yunnan to combine practical English explanations with Chinese-language knowledge, so your journey feels personal rather than complicated.
Meet us →More confidence.
More wonder.
Our favorite part of travel is the part that happens after the logistics are taken care of.