Is there a train from Lijiang to Shangri-La?
Yes. The Lijiang-Shangri-La railway opened on 26 November 2023. It runs 139 km from Lijiang station (Yulong county, Lijiang) to Shangri-La station (Shangri-La city, Diqing prefecture). For travel on 14 October 2026, the 12306 English site (read on 6 October 2026) showed 10 trains between the two, taking 1h10m to 1h50m; trains and times change by date. On the 12306 results page some of these fares carried a discount label (such as '20% off'), so the full fare for that seat is higher, and fares vary by train and date. Second class was ¥70 where no label was printed and ¥56 to ¥63 where one was (10% to 20% off). Kunming and Dali also have direct trains to Shangri-La, covered below.
The line is a single track with a design speed of 140 km/h and 13 stations in all. Only a few of them take passengers, as the next sections explain.
Lijiang to Shangri-La train times and prices
This table is the 12306 English site result for Lijiang to Shangri-La on Wednesday 14 October 2026, read on 6 October 2026. Trains, times and fares change by date, so treat it as a sample of the pattern, not a fixed timetable. 12306 prints the destination as Xianggelila (香格里拉).
| Train | Leaves Lijiang | Arrives Shangri-La | Time | Second class | First class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C989 | 07:30 | 08:54 | 1h24m | ¥70 | ¥111 |
| C441 | 07:50 | 09:25 | 1h35m | ¥70 | ¥111 |
| C985 | 09:41 | 11:22 | 1h41m | ¥63 (10% off) | ¥100 (9% off) |
| C987 | 12:05 | 13:18 | 1h13m | ¥70 | ¥111 |
| C119 | 13:02 | 14:25 | 1h23m | ¥56 (20% off) | ¥89 (19% off) |
| C87 | 13:50 | 15:00 | 1h10m | ¥70 | ¥111 |
| C377 | 14:23 | 16:05 | 1h42m | ¥70 | ¥111 |
| C639 | 16:59 | 18:40 | 1h41m | ¥70 | ¥111 |
| D239 | 17:52 | 19:42 | 1h50m | ¥63 (10% off) | ¥100 (9% off) |
| C643 | 21:12 | 22:25 | 1h13m | ¥56 (20% off) | ¥89 (19% off) |
That day there were 9 C trains and 1 D train. The first left at 07:30 and the last at 21:12. The fastest was C87 at 1h10m and the slowest was D239 at 1h50m. A percentage in brackets is the discount label 12306 printed next to that fare; fares with no label are shown as they were. Second class was ¥70 on 6 trains and ¥56 to ¥63 on the 4 trains with a label; first class was ¥111 on 6 trains and ¥89 to ¥100 on the 4 with a label. The page also listed business-class seats, which are not in the table. You can check your own date on the 12306 English results page.
The opening figures are history
When the line opened in November 2023, the China State Railway Group notice said there would be 8 passenger trains a day in the initial period, and that the fastest Lijiang to Shangri-La time was 1 hour 18 minutes. Those are opening figures, not today's timetable. On 14 October 2026 the fastest shown was 1h10m.
The same notice said fares in the initial operating period were flexible and discounted, at most 90% and at least 70% of the published fare, and that published fares can be checked on 12306. It does not say whether that rule still applies. For a price, use the 12306 result for your date.
Kunming or Dali to Shangri-La by train
Both cities have direct trains, so you do not have to change at Lijiang. The 2023 opening notice says Kunming can reach Shangri-La directly via Dali and Lijiang. These are the 12306 English results for 14 October 2026, read on 6 October 2026; trains, times and fares change by date.
Kunming to Shangri-La
There were 4 direct trains, all C trains, and all left from the station 12306 prints as Kunming (昆明). None left from Kunming South that day. Second class was ¥236 to ¥260, and all 4 of those fares carried a discount label (10% to 18% off), so the full fares are higher.
- C118: 09:08 to 14:25, 5h17m
- C86: 10:15 to 15:00, 4h45m
- C638: 13:11 to 18:40, 5h29m
- C642: 16:39 to 22:25, 5h46m
Which Kunming station you leave from matters for getting to the platform; see Kunming railway stations. Our Kunming travel guide covers the city.
Dali to Shangri-La
There were 3 direct C trains. Second class was ¥150 on C987 and C377, which carried no discount label, and ¥143 on C985, which carried a '4% off' label.
- C985: 07:45 to 11:22, 3h37m
- C987: 09:58 to 13:18, 3h20m
- C377: 11:47 to 16:05, 4h18m
For Dali itself, see the Dali travel guide.
Why the train number can change
The Kunming and Lijiang searches for 14 October 2026 show different train numbers that reach Shangri-La at the same time: C118 and C119 at 14:25, C86 and C87 at 15:00, C638 and C639 at 18:40, and C642 and C643 at 22:25. The number shown can differ by boarding station. Book the number 12306 shows for your own station.
Shangri-La station: where it is and how high
Shangri-La station is in Shangri-La city, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Neither the railway's opening notice nor the 12306 results pages give a street address.
On altitude, the notice says the line climbs from 2,400 m at Lijiang station to 3,274 m at Shangri-La station. That is a rise of 874 m over a 139 km line. The notice has no health or altitude advice, so this page gives none either.
Can you take the train to Tiger Leaping Gorge?
Not in the way most readers mean. Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡) is one of the 13 stations the notice names: Lijiang (丽江), Lashihai (拉市海), Daluo, Xinshang, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Luosiwan, Huajiaopo, Wanlamu, Tangbu, Xiaozhongdian (小中甸), Luji, Judugu and Shangri-La (香格里拉).
The notice says Lijiang, Lashihai and Shangri-La stations handle passengers, and Xiaozhongdian handles passengers and freight. It calls all the other stations "railway operating-technical stations" (行车技术作业站). Tiger Leaping Gorge is in that group, so do not plan to get off there. The notice does not say how to reach the gorge itself.
Lashihai is listed as a passenger station. The 12306 results above list all 10 trains as leaving from Lijiang (丽江); they do not cover Lashihai.
Can I buy the ticket with a foreign passport?
Yes. The 12306 English FAQ says foreign passengers can buy real-name tickets with a valid passport, and that on the 12306.cn English website only valid foreign passports are accepted. Tickets can also be bought at station ticket counters and on automatic ticketing machines.
On the day, keep the same ID you used to buy an e-ticket. The FAQ says you show it to check in and out of the station and to get on the train. The itinerary sheet you can print or download after booking cannot be used as a ticket.
The step-by-step is in how to buy 12306 train tickets and 12306 passport verification. If your plans change, see 12306 refund and change fees.
Is Shangri-La covered by 240-hour visa-free transit?
No. Shangri-La belongs to Diqing prefecture, which is not among the nine Yunnan cities and prefectures in the 240-hour transit area (Kunming, Yuxi, Chuxiong, Honghe, Wenshan, Pu'er, Xishuangbanna, Dali and Lijiang); the full list is on China's 240-hour visa-free transit areas.
From Shangri-La station to Dukezong Old Town
Neither the railway's opening notice nor the 12306 pages say how to get from Shangri-La station to Dukezong Old Town or the town centre. They give no bus route, taxi fare, distance or journey time, so none is written here. Ask your hotel how to make the transfer. The same gap applies to the trip from Lijiang station into Lijiang Old Town.
For the places themselves, see the Shangri-La travel guide and the Lijiang travel guide. We can book this train for you, along with hotels, a local guide or a private car in Lijiang and Shangri-La.
