Dali – Shangri La (Xianggelila) by Train

  • Station used in Dali: Dali Railway Station
  • Station used in Shangri La Shangri La Railway Station
  • Frequency: 1 trains daily
  • Ticket Price: from CNY 135

The Lijiang – Shangri La Railway is set to officially commence operations on November 26, 2023. In the initial phase of operation, three stations, namely Lijiang Station, Xiaozhongdian Station, and Shangri-La Station, will handle passenger services. Due to ongoing road construction, Lashihai Station will remain temporarily closed. In the early days of operation, the railway department will schedule a total of 5 train pairs on two routes, including 3 pairs from Kunming to Shangri-La, 0.5 pairs from Shangri-La to Dali, and 0.5 pairs from Lijiang to Shangri-La.

Railway Maps

 Dali – Shangri La Train Schedule, Fares & Duration

Train Type Departure Station Arrival Station Frequency Duration Fares
C train Dali Shangri La (Xianggelila) 0 daily
C train Shangri La (Xianggelila) Dali 1 daily 3h58 135
For a live schedule & ticket availability & refer to www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/
Lijiang to Shangri La train, Kunming to Shangri La train, Dali to Shangri La train
368 hotels in Dukezong Ancient Town, 60 Hotels near Tiger Leaping Gorge, Hotels in Lijiang Ancient Town
Attractions to visit: Tiger Leaping Gorge (attraction ticket), Sumtseling Monestery, Dukezong Ancient Town, Putatso National Park
Flights - Diqing Shangri La Airport (DIG)

What the Train is Like: CR200J1-D

Lijiang – Shangri-la Railway

The Lijiang-Shangrila Railway is a national  electrified railway located in Yunnan Province. It connects the city of Lijiang with the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture’s Shangri-La City. The railway has a total length of 139.7 kilometers and construction began on October 28, 2014. It is expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2023 with a design speed of 140 kilometers per hour.

Train Types

The route will use high-altitude electric multiple unit trains of type CR200J1-D, featuring business class, first class, and second class seats.

How to Buy Tickets Online

There are several ways to book your train tickets online. Just remember that booking herizon for train tickets opens 15 days before your travel date. It is recommended to book you tickets as soon as possible in advance to secure your seat at your desired departure time.

1. Book with China Highlights

www.chinahighlights.com is a trusted online ticket agent who get possitive reviews & is  often recommended on Trip Advisor forum. They offer real-time train schedule online, English-language support, They can also provide assistance in case of any issues with your tickets or travel or when you’re running into trouble. Even they can deliver tickets to your hotel in advance. You can place orders with them any time. They are helpful, especially when you’re not familiar with the China’s transportation system or do not speak Chinese.

2. Book with 12306 China Railway

www.12306.cn is the offcial website of China Railway, which now has supported English. It also provides an offcial ticketing (English version) App – Tielu 12306 for both iOS and Android.

Jack’s friendly reminder: In the official site www.12306.cn, you can enter “xianggelila” as Shangri La Railway Station and “Dali” as Dali Railway Station.

When to Buy Tickets

Tickets can be booked up to 15 days on the official 12306 China Railway website. It is always advisable to buy tickets in advance to secure ticket availability or seat assignment. Ticets tend to sell out quickly especially during the bussy travel peak period, such as the public National Days (Gold Week), Labour’s Days, Chinese Moon Festival or Qingming Festival. But if you use an online ticket agent www.chinahighlights.com, you can order tickets any time with them and they will book it for you once the tickets are released online.

Trusted Online Ticket Agents:

Option 1: China Highlights is a reliable online agency  for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee.

Option 2: Trip.com  is an internatioal brand owned by Ctrip Group, China's largest online travel booking platform. Trip.com offers booking service for flight, train, hotel, activities, etc