Kunming → Dali
2026-10-21 · live availability
Every departure still bookable for 2026-10-21 is listed below — the first leaves Kunming at 21:00 and the last at 23:59. The quickest takes 2h 02m. Travelling a day earlier or later? Change the date and the timetable refreshes.
Fares start at $19 per passenger and reach $28 for the top class, service fee included. Every row shows the class that fare buys.
At a glance
- Journey time
- 2h 02m – 7h 48m
- Trains per day
- 4
- First / last departure
- 21:00 / 23:59
- Departure stations
- Kunming South (昆明南), Kunming (昆明)
- Arrival stations
- Dali (大理)
- Fares from
- $19 (hard sleeper)
Kunming–Dali railway
West to the lake, in about two and a half hours.
Trains leave Kunming and Kunming South for Dali, which sits at the southern end of Erhai Lake. The station is in Xiaguan, the modern part of the city, not in the old town.
- From Dali station to the old town is a 20–30 minute bus or taxi ride; do not expect to walk it.
- The line continues to Lijiang, so Dali works as a stop rather than a terminus.
Train Schedules
| Train | Departure time | Arrival | Shortest | From → To | from | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D8743 | 21:00 | 23:26 | 02:26 | Kunming South → Dali | $42 | First Class |
| D8742 | 21:24 | 23:26 | 02:02 | Kunming → Dali | $39 | First Class |
| Y756 | 23:30 | 07:18 +1 | 07:48 | Kunming → Dali | $19 | Hard Sleeper |
| Y767 | 23:59 | 07:43 +1 | 07:44 | Kunming South → Dali | $19 | Hard Sleeper |
Train letters on this date: D, Y. What the letters mean →
Which station do you leave from?
Big Chinese cities have several stations, miles apart. The station on your ticket is the one you need — the city name alone is not enough.
FAQ
How long does the train from Kunming to Dali take?
The fastest service on this date takes 2h 02m. Slower trains on the same route take longer — the timetable above lists the actual duration for every departure, so sort by journey time if speed matters more than the hour you leave.
How much is a train ticket from Kunming to Dali?
Second-class fares start at about $19 per passenger including our service fee. Second class is the standard choice; first class and business class cost more and buy wider seats, not a faster train. The quote page always shows the underlying local fare and our fee as separate lines.
Which station in Kunming does the train leave from?
On this date, departures leave from Kunming South and Kunming. Large Chinese cities have more than one station and they are not within walking distance of each other, so check the station printed on your ticket rather than the city name.
Do I need to print a ticket?
No. Chinese railway tickets are issued against your passport, not a piece of paper. Carry the same passport you booked with, and staff will scan it at the gate. Keep the booking confirmation on your phone in case a conductor asks which seat is yours.
How far in advance can I book?
Chinese tickets are released about two weeks before departure, and this page only shows dates inside that window. Popular dates and holiday periods sell out early, so book as soon as your travel date appears.
Which class should I book?
Second class is the default on high-speed trains and is comparable to a short-haul airline seat. First and business class add space and recline for a premium. On overnight trains the choice matters more: a hard sleeper is a real bed, a hard seat is not. Our guide to seats and sleepers explains what each one actually looks like.