There are 4 ways to get from Chiang Mai to Lijiang by plane, ferry, train, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to Lijiang Sanyi Airport (LJG)plane CNX - LJG
7h 20m¥605–3,284Ferry, train
- Take the ferry from Chiang Mai Town Transfer to Luang Prabang Slow Boat Terminalferry
- Take the train from Luang Prabang station to Kunming Southtrain
- Take the train from Kunming South to Chuxiongtrain
- Take the train from Chuxiong to Lijiangtrain
27h 34m¥1,781–2,956Bus, train via Boten station
- Take the bus from Accha Indian Dhaba to K Buddy Bikebus
- Take the bus from Chiang Rai Transfer to Boten stationbus
- Take the train from Boten station to Kunming Southtrain
- Take the bus from Kunming West to Lijiangbus
35h 2m¥937–1,503Bus, train
- Take the bus from Chiang Mai K star Travel to Luang Prabang stationbus
- Take the train from Luang Prabang station to Kunming Southtrain
- Take the bus from Kunming West to Lijiangbus
2d 6h¥975–1,671
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to Lijiang Sanyi Airport (LJG) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Chiang Mai to Lijiang is to bus and train via Boten station which costs ¥900 - ¥1500 and takes 35h 2m.
The fastest way to get from Chiang Mai to Lijiang is to fly which takes 7h 20m and costs ¥600 - ¥3300.
The distance between Chiang Mai and Lijiang is 918 km.
The best way to get from Chiang Mai to Lijiang without a car is to ferry and train which takes 27h 34m and costs ¥1700 - ¥3000.
It takes approximately 7h 20m to get from Chiang Mai to Lijiang, including transfers.
Lijiang is 1h ahead of Chiang Mai. It is currently 4:34 PM in Chiang Mai and 5:34 PM in Lijiang.
There are 319+ hotels available in Lijiang.
What companies run services between Chiang Mai, Thailand and Lijiang, China?
China Eastern Airlines, Chengdu, and two other airlines fly from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to Lijiang Sanyi Airport (LJG) 3 times a day.
- Website
- en.ceair.com
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Kunming
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 45m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ¥1,000–3,700
- Website
- cdal.com.cn
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Tianfu International
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- When
- Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ¥900–4,300
- Website
- rlair.net
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Jinghong
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 10m
- When
- Thursday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ¥550–3,300
- Website
- westair.cn
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Chongqing
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 35m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- ¥950–4,500
- Phone
- 021-891888
- Website
- facebook.com
Train from Luang Prabang station to Kunming South
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 37m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ¥330–950
- Schedules at
- baolau.com
- Book at
- booking.baolau.com
- Second Class
- ¥330–600
- First Class
- ¥450–950
Train from Boten station to Kunming South
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 16m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ¥260–750
- Schedules at
- baolau.com
- Book at
- booking.baolau.com
- Second Class
- ¥260–450
- First Class
- ¥370–750
Train from Luang Prabang station to Kunming South
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 37m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ¥330–950
- Schedules at
- baolau.com
- Book at
- booking.baolau.com
- Second Class
- ¥330–600
- First Class
- ¥450–950
Train from Kunming South to Chuxiong
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ¥70–140
- Schedules at
- chinahighlights.com
- Adult - 2nd Class
- ¥70–100
- Adult - 1st Class
- ¥95–140
Train from Chuxiong to Lijiang
- Adult - second class
- ¥100–140
- Phone
- +66 2 285 1085
- [email protected]
- Website
- 12go.co
Bus from Accha Indian Dhaba to K Buddy Bike
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ¥155
- Book at
- Yortdoy Travel
Bus from Chiang Rai Transfer to Boten station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ¥373
- Book at
- Yortdoy Travel
- [email protected]
- Website
- chinabusguide.com
Bus from Kunming West to Lijiang
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ¥140–202
- Schedules at
- chinabusguide.com
- Bus
- ¥140–190
Bus from Kunming West to Lijiang
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ¥140–202
- Schedules at
- chinabusguide.com
- Bus
- ¥140–190
- Phone
- +66 2 225 1025
- [email protected]
- Website
- Pai Friendly Tour
Bus from Chiang Mai K star Travel to Luang Prabang station
- Ave. Duration
- 35h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ¥497
- Website
- Pai Friendly Tour
- Phone
- +66 2 321 1121
- [email protected]
- Website
- Mekong Transfer
Ferry from Chiang Mai Town Transfer to Luang Prabang Slow Boat Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ¥1,200–1,700
- Schedules at
- Mekong Transfer
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