2 Days Travel from Kunming to Shilin & Luxi

► Route: Kunming → Stone Forest → Dadieshui Waterfall → A Lu Cave → Kunming

Kunming, in southwestern China, is known as the City of Eternal Spring. Besides the famous Stone Forest, many tourist attractions can also be found in the region, such as the Naigu Stone Forest, Dadieshui Waterfall Scenic Area, Long Lake, and the ancient A Lu Cave.

Both trains and buses can take you from Kunming to Shilin, where the Stone Forest is located. Buses is recommended. You can take a through tourist bus to Stone Forest Scenic Area from Kunming East Coach Station.

► Bus Hours: 8:00-18:00
► Frequency: every 30 minutes
► Distance: 78 km (48 mi)
► Duration: 1.5 hours
► Fare: CNY 34

●  Alternatively, you can take a bus from Kunming East Coach Station to Shilin County first, which runs from 7:40 to 20:00 with a frequency of every 15 to 25 minutes at a cost of CNY 35 per person, and then transfer to a minibus to the Stone Forest Scenic Area with a fare of CNY 4.

Visit the Stone Forest World Geopark which features karst landscape and preserves the most diverse karst forms, including limestone columns of various shapes, karst caves, stalactites, and karst lakes.

► Opening Hours: Mar. to Oct.: 7:30-18:30; Nov. to Feb.: 8:00-18:00
► Recommended Time for a Visit: 3 hours
► Ticket Price: CNY 130, including the Big and Small Stone Forests, the Karst Museum, and the Naigu Stone Forest.

In the Afternoon, you can take a minibus (CNY5) to Dieshui Power Station. It's about half an hour ride away. The Dadieshui Waterfall Scenic Area is reachable either by foot or by minivan. It's only 2 km (1.2 mi) away.

► Opening Hours: 8:00 – 18:00
► Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 to 3 hours
► Ticket Price: CNY 18

The scenic area offers several attractions, such as the Dadieshui Waterfall, Xiaodieshui Waterfall, Pearl Spring, Qingshui River (Clear Water River), and the Fairy Cave. Dadieshui Waterfall, also called the Flying Dragon Waterfall, is the largest and the most spectacular waterfall in Yunnan Province. With a height of 120 meters (393 feet) and a width of 20 meters (66 feet), its water flow is even larger than the Huangguoshuo Waterfall in Guizhou Province. Its roaring sound can even be heard from afar. As you get closer, you will be greeted with a magnificent view of the water splashing against the rocks. Get onto the cable car for an amazing ride and a bird's eye view of the splendid waterfalls.

●  Alternatively, you can visit the Long Lake instead of the Dadieshui Waterfall. The bus line 65 can take you from Shilin East Bus Station to Weize at a cost of CNY 5 per person, and then you can walk 30 minutes or hire a local van to go to the lake. The entrance fee for the Long Lake is CNY 10.

At last, return to Shilin County in the evening and stay overnight.

Today, you are recommended to visit the ancient A Lu Cave in Luxi County.

► How to get there: Minibuses from Shilin Coach Station to Luxi takes half an hour. You can carpool a minivan with other travelers (CNY5 per person) to A Lu Cave upon arrival at Luxi Coach Station.
► Opening Hours: 8:30 – 18:00
► Recommended Time for a Visit: 3 hours
► Ticket Price: CNY 100

Being reputed as the No. 1 Cave in Yunnan, the ancient A Lu Cave is among a cluster of the grandest underground karst caves. There are nine peaks and eighteen caverns in the scenic area, among which the A Lu Cave ranks the most famous and attractive one. There are three smaller dry caves and a wet cave with an underground river within the A Lu Cave. The landscape of the underground A Lu Cave is indeed spectacular and mysterious. As the area in the cave is large enough, the local Yi people sometimes perform their ethnic songs and dances for tourists on the natural stage.

In the afternoon, return to Shilin Coach Station by the same minibus, and finally transfer to the tourist bus back to Kunming.

► Bus Hours: 4:45 – 17:20
► Frequency: every 15 to 40 minutes
► Distance: 160 km (100 mi)
► Duration: 2 hours
► Fare: CNY 42