Can You Travel During Summer Vacation?

7-Day Yunnan Summer Escape Guide | Top Summer Retreat Destination | Snow Mountains & Erhai Lake in One Trip Highlights Kunming Old Street: Explore Kunming Old Street, Nanqiang Night Market, and Nanping Pedestrian Street within a 2km radius. Enjoy unlimited cross-bridge rice noodles for 20 yuan and sun-kissed grapes at 5 yuan/jin. Erhai Lake Cycling: Rent an e-bike for 50 yuan to circle the lake. Catch the sunrise at Caicun Pier, savor Xizhou crispy cake, and snap photos of the Three Pagodas from outside (saving 140 yuan on cable cars). Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: Take a 15-yuan bus directly there. Focus on the "Tiffany blue" waters of Blue Moon Valley, and with a student ID, hike halfway up Lion Hill for a panoramic view of the ancient town’s red lanterns. Shuhe Ancient Town: Stay in a riverside inn for 120 yuan, enjoy tea by the stove, and try Dongba hand drums—away from the crowds of Lijiang’s old town. Daily Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Kunming Activities: Feed red-billed gulls at Green Lake Park, photograph Yunnan University’s ginkgo avenue, and try grilled rice cakes on Yuanxi Road snack street. Stay: South Ring Street Harmony Hotel (metro access, from 80 yuan). Day 2: Dali Ancient Town Activities: Take a 2-hour high-speed train to Dali. Climb Wuhua Tower for town views, savor claypot fish on Renmin Road, and shop for tie-dye scarves on Foreigner Street. Stay: Boutique inns in the old town (low season: 100 yuan). Day 3: Erhai Lake Loop Activities: Rent an e-bike (50 yuan) to circle the lake: sunrise at Caicun Pier → Xizhou crispy cake → photos at Spit Park, then shoot the Three Pagodas from outside at dusk. Eat: Bai-style sour-spicy fish feast. Day 4: Shuhe Slow Living Activities: Take an 80-yuan bus to Lijiang. Sip tea by the stove at a riverside inn, try Dongba hand drums, and stroll Sifang Street at night. Eat: Naxi grilled meat + cured ribs hotpot. Day 5: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Activities: Bus (15 yuan) to the mountain. Focus on Blue Moon Valley (no cable fee), then photograph the ancient town from Lion Hill viewpoint. Day 6: Baisha Ancient Town Activities: Tourist shuttle to Yuhu Village (Stone Village), e-bike around the lake, and enjoy coffee with mountain views in Baisha. Eat: Yak meat hotpot + butter tea. Day 7: Return Trip Activities: Buy roses for 5 yuan at Dounan Flower Market, feed gulls at Dian Lake (with ethnic village photo ops). Budget Tips Transport: Kunming→Dali HSR 145 yuan; Lijiang→Shangri-La bus 80 yuan. Tickets: Book Jade Dragon Snow Mountain cable cars 3 days early; student discounts available. Food: Skip tourist traps—local mushroom hotpot spots cost ~60 yuan/person. Note: July temps average 20-25°C—pack a light jacket + sunscreen. For braids, Dali is cheaper (10 yuan/5 braids).