Kunming – Shangri La by High Speed Train

Railway Maps

 Kunming – Shangri La Train Schedule, Fares & Duration

Train Departure Station Arrival Station Departure Time Arrival Time Duration Second Class Seat
C118 Kunming Shangri-La 07:56 13:15 05:19 ¥245
C638 Kunming Shangri-La 10:18 14:48 04:30 ¥245
C122 Kunming Shangri-La 11:42 16:54 05:12 ¥230
For a live schedule & ticket availability & refer to www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/
Train Departure Station Arrival Station Departure Time Arrival Time Duration Second Class Seat
C120 Shangri-La Kunming 10:30 16:05 05:35 ¥245
C640 Shangri-La Kunming 17:12 21:42 04:30 ¥245
C124 Shangri-La Kunming 17:50 22:46 04:56 ¥238
For a live schedule & ticket availability & refer to www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/

The Lijiang – Shangri La Railway is experted to open on November 26 of 2023. Above are the latest schedules for Kunming – Shangri-la trains.

There are 3 daily C-class train services between Kunming & Shangri-La. Departing and arriving at the Kunming Railway Station in Kunming, and Shangri La Railway Station in DIqing, the journey takes approximately 4 hours and 48 minutes, covering a distance of scenic landscapes. The average cost for a second-class seat is ¥245.

From Kunming to Shangri la:

  • The earliest train from Kunming to Shangri-La is Train C118, departing from Kunming at 07:56.
  • The latest train from Kunming to Shangri-La is Train C122, departing from Kunming at 11:42.

From Shangri La to Kunming: 

  • The earliest train from Shangri-La to Kunming is Train C120, departing from Shangri-La at 10:30.
  • The latest train from Shangri-La to Kunming is Train C124, departing from Shangri-La at 17:50.

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 Stations in Kunming

There are two major train stations in Kunming: the old one is Kunming Railway Station and the new one is Kunming South Railway Station (Kunmingnan). Kunming Railway Station seves trains to major cities within Yunnan Province as well as a few destinations beyond Yunnan, such as Nanning, Guangzhou, Liuzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing. While Kunming South serves more trains to major cities outside Yunnan.

Train Station Location Transport from City Center Train Service Destinations Get to Airport Opening Date
Kunming Railway Station Guandu District Metro Line 1, Line 2 4 km High-speed & regular speed Most to major destinations in Kunming Airport Shuttle Bus Line 2 1966
Kunming South Railway Station Chenggong District Metro Line 1, Line 4 25 km  High-speed & regular speed Major cities in Yunnan Province and other cities in China 2016

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, “Kunming” as Kunming Railway Station, and “Kunmingnan” as Kunming South 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