If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring China’s southwest with little ones — and wondered how vegetarian families manage — Yunnan might just surprise you. Known as the Land of Eternal Spring, it’s a region where Buddhist heritage meets farm‑fresh produce, making plant‑based eating both accessible and delightful.
As a Jain vegetarian family, we’re used to preparing our own snacks when traveling in China, but to our surprise, Yunnan turned out to be a vegan heaven. From colorful vegetable stir‑fries to tofu stews and the juiciest winter fruits (tiny mandarins, crisp pears, and sugar-sweet strawberries), we ate better than we expected — and locals went out of their way to help us find clean vegetarian and Buddhist-friendly spots.
Here’s how our 11-day journey across Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang unfolded — with plenty of kind gestures and wholesome meals along the way.
Day 1 – Arrival in Kunming
After a long flight, we checked into Hampton by Hilton Kunming South Station and were instantly reminded why Kunming is called the “City of Eternal Spring.” Dinner that night was a comforting bowl of handmade noodles — no meat or garlic required. A kind local helped us explain our Jain dietary preferences using a translation card we had prepared.
Travel Tip: Always show a note in Chinese listing what you don’t eat (e.g. “I don’t eat meat, seafood, egg, onion or garlic”). People are incredibly kind once they understand.
Day 2 – Stone Forest
Kunming’s
Stone Forest
was the perfect start — our toddlers treated it like an outdoor maze. Stone Forest in Kunming, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a vast
landscape of towering limestone pillars that look like a petrified
forest frozen in time. Formed over 270 million years, its dramatic karst
formations, caves, and narrow winding paths create an otherworldly
atmosphere perfect for exploration and photography.
We loved the experience of famed spots like the Major Stone Forest and the
legendary
Ashima rock, while also learning about the local Yi ethnic
culture and folklore. Just a short trip from Kunming city, it offers a
unique blend of geology, scenery, and culture that you won’t find
anywhere else in China.
Stone Forest, or Shílín Scenic Area (Chinese: 石林风景区),
is about 80–100 km from Kunming.
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| 石林风景区 (Shílín Fēngjǐngqū), often shortened to 石林 (Shílín). |
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| Be prepared for 2 hours walk! if you need English guide, you have to book them atleast 1 day in advance. |
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| Famous Ashima Rock! |
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| A mighty struggle to hold these guys for a decent pic! |
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| wandering in nature's maze. |
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| Picture perfect landscapes. It was alomst 3 degrees today! |
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| Best part about Chinese people - They click excellent pictures! |
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| Some facts about the stone forest |
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| Dramatic natural wonders |
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| You get some basic food stall,s fruits and drinking water options in mid of forest. |
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| Happy us! Let me highlight at this point, we were the only Indians in maybe crowd of 5000 people! |
Quick guide for your ease!-
About 1.5–2 hours from most Hampton by Hilton hotels (in south )by car.
Pro tip : would highly recommend to stay near North kunming train station instead of south. Its very raw and inconvenient to travel as its 1 hour away from city.
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Taxi/ride‑hailing roughly 200–350 RMB one way; buses and trains are cheaper but takes longer duration. You can either opt for car rental for full day which costs about 800-1000 yuan per day or book trip from klook (which turns out more expensive). Another option is Access via hotel car, DiDi / Alipay taxis;
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Adult tickets in the mid–100 RMB range; kids get discounts/possible free entry for small children.
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Winter is quiet and atmospheric; spring is best with flowers in bloom and nearby lake boating.
Pro tip : lot of people discouraged us to go here since we traveled during winter. But we took leap of our intuition and went ahead. winter has its own charm and as a big benefit, very less crowded.
Eating options while traveling to stone forest as vegan / vegetarian and Jains
No vegan or Indian restaurants near Stone Forest.
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The
area around Stone Forest (Shilin County) mainly offers local Yi
minority dishes, Muslim food, and basic Chinese snacks—no dedicated
vegan or Indian spots.
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Best bet: Pack snacks or eat vegetarian Chinese meals at park eateries (survive on theplas and snacks and lot of fresh fruits!).
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In Kunming city (1.5–2 hr drive from stone forest) there are these options: Amber Palace
Indian (veg curries) or Green Garden Vegetarian (百合天心).
Day 3–5 – Dali: Lakeside Serenity & Vegetarian Surprises
We reached Dali via high-speed train to find Erhai Lake sparkling under soft winter light. The train ride between Kunming and Dali was just 2 hours but it promised picture perfect landscapes to soothe eyes throughout.
Day3 - We started our journey straight with picturesque Santorini island.
Santorini
Island (also called Little Santorini or 洋人街/ Santorini 小镇) near Erhai
Lake in Dali mimics the iconic whitewashed architecture and blue-domed
vibe of Greece's Santorini, built as a themed resort village around
2018–2020 to attract tourists. Perched on the lake's east shore, it
features Instagrammable viewpoints, cafés, boutique hotels, and winding
paths overlooking Erhai's turquoise waters against Cangshan Mountains.
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Every corner of this hotel / location was treat for eye! |
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| BroHood! |
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| Pure jain - fruit pizza made freshly with dough without eggs! |
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| Amazing train stations - so clean and neat and as good as any airport |
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| Santorini vibes! |
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| This boy! loves to pose! |
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| This real helicopter was play area for toddlers for good 1 hour! Kept toddlers busy for good 30 mins! |
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| That was for real and kids loved playing piano! |
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| They found this rainbow ladder and made it their slide for long time :p |
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| "A family that travels together stays together." |
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| View from top! |
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| Views from train. Delightful. |
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| China bullet train - its efficiency and infra is unbeatable. |
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| This is for real! however, one needs to stay in some upscale hotels to have access to this! but if u are not crazy to copy literal santorini then rest of the view is also Allagrand! |
Quick Visit Tips
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Timing: 3–4 hours is ideal for photos, coffee, and lake views; stay overnight for sunset vibes if you want. But its too expensive and not worthy of the cost.
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Access:
Entry to prime viewpoints often requires buying food/drink (e.g.,
vegetarian fruit pizzas ~ 100 RMB); many spots let you bring your own
snacks if you explain them about your food limitations.
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Highlights: Bargain photoshoot studios (20–100 RMB after haggling), good vegetarian options, relaxed island feel.
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From Dali Station: ~40–60 min drive via hotel pickup or taxi (~100–200 RMB).
Day 4 - Cycling the Erhai Ecological Corridor
was unforgettable. Xizhou Old Town, a Bai ethnic gem 18 km north of Dali Ancient City, evokes ancient India's hometowns with its grid-like streets, ancestral halls, and courtyard homes—our civilizations do share timeless town-planning vibes. One can spend almost whole day here with 3 activities.
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| Erhai lake map with famous spots to visit. |
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| So heartwarming to see such huge vegan pizza place. freshly all ingredients came from farm. |
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| kids could grind fresh coffee beans here and also peanuts for dessert |
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| Beautiful S-panxi bend - every 10m cycling here was so fresh and breezy and perfect treat for eyes! |
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| "Having kids is a reason to travel, never a reason to stop." |
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Guess what! for a change, i m not just posing - Actually learnt cycling! Finally!!! |
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| Kids loved to feed lot of seagulls! |
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| Xizhou toy train activities and details |
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| Old Bai village house |
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| Yeayyy toy train time!!! |
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| Xizhou Old town vibes! It was not a very famous season to visit yet so crowded. Not sure how spring here is :p |
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| Interiors here had very high resemblance to Indian olden day houses? |
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| Lot of activities to do in Xizhou old town. We could spend just 2.5 hours. But if one skips a bit of history part and directly hop on toy train then 3 hours is good time. |
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| Winters are beautiful in Dali - Its actually cherry blossom season here! which was complete surprise for us :) Winters are cold but very very dry and sunny. so one needs to plan well with sunscreen, moisturisers, hats, and layered clothing. |
Quick tips:
Li Family Palace (Yan Family Compound): Grand 300-year-old Bai mansion with intricate three-course architecture; entry ~50 RMB/adult, kids discounted.
Toy Train: Short, scenic kids' ride through town (~20–30 RMB); pony rides nearby (~30 RMB/15 min).
Erhai Views: Walk to town's lake end for free panoramas; every pitstop is nature's delight—"The mountains are smiling at the lake, and the lake is returning the gaze."
Quicky Tips
Town Entry: Free to wander; guided tour ~100–150 RMB/group (1–2 hrs, book at entrance).
Shapanxi Bend: Rent cycles (~20 RMB/hr, new bikes); spot egrets/birds, hit lakeside cafés.
Full Day: Add tie-dye workshop (~50 RMB); haggle photoshoots. Walkable end-to-end, then cycle S-bend for epic bird/lake views—"In the embrace of Erhai's curves, time whispers secrets of serenity."
About food
Again, extremely difficult to find any vegan / veggie friendly place in old town. We tried all the different fruits and fruit juices everywhere and they were amazing. For kids, we carried lot of cheese and home made bhakris / theplas and that was our survival kit while wandering and running around such places.
Key tips:
One can simply avoid visiting mansion and guided tour if you are not keen on knowing history. With toddlers it was bit challenging to anyway have patience to trnslate everything and understand. We could have saved that one hour and directly headed to toy train where there is something for all age groups.
Day 5: Dali exploration!
Start with stunning hotel photos around your property—perfect backdrop with Erhai or Cangshan views. Then dive into Dali Ancient City
(5 km south), a 1,300-year-old Bai ethnic walled town (Ming Dynasty
walls rebuilt 1382) with cobblestone lanes, teahouses, and shops. Expect
2–3 hours of solid walking on uneven stones—beautiful for adults
(temples, street art), but narrow alleys cramp kids' energy (no big play
spaces); strollers struggle here. Food shines: Buddhist vegetarian
restaurants everywhere (tofu, mushrooms, rice ~30–50 RMB), plus a gem
vegan pizza spot with local twists like wild veggie toppings.
Three Pagodas (Chongsheng Temple)
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Built
832–859 AD during Nanzhao Kingdom (Tang era) as a Buddhist power spot
to ward off disasters; tallest in SW China at 70m/16 stories (main
pagoda). Survived 200+ quakes, now a serene complex with ponds, relics.
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Later afternoon = traffic jam (~20 min from Ancient City); entry 121 RMB/adult (kids <1.2m often free/discounted ~60 RMB). Inside buggy/golf cart 50–80 RMB round-trip (worth it, saves walking).
Smart Call: Skipping Cangshan (cable car, 2–3 hrs) was wise—kids demand slower pacing; refuel at vegan pizza before pagodas!
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| Our beautiful villa Joy! which bought lot of joy and insta worthy pics for us :p |
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| Dali ancient town veggie restaurant |
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| Villa joy hotel were too kind to serve us best and spoil with even veggie choice. |
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| "As soon as I saw you, I knew a grand adventure was about to happen." |
 | | Super savior. just when kids were down, we found this vegan pizza place! |
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"Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion." Ye Yu Road (叶榆路) & Ping Deng Road (平等路) intersection—head north 10m,
east side (central Dali Old Town, easy to find via maps/DiDi). |
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| Tip: Show drivers "叶榆路与平等路交叉口北行10米路东" for quick drop-off; great post-temple refuel! Pizzas here costed - 80RMB approx |
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| Dali ancient old town! |
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| Oh! the freshness of fruits here! |
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| Famous corner of old town! |
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| Just boys thing! some silly funny ways to keep them going! |
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| "Under sakura skies, every petal falls with grace, reminding us to live fully in the now." |
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| Temples around 3 pagodas. |
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| Little poser! |
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| lovely little gelataria to keep kids up and about for rest of foot journey! |
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| Old town vibes! where only half the tribe could reach |
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| Magnificient Buddha temple of 3 pagodas |
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| "Like a sun-basking butterfly, cherry blossoms bloom, adorning the world with delicate hues." We missed it in Japan but God was too kind to surprise us with Sakura in China! |
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| 3 Pagodas in backdrop made perfect picture! |
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| They were so so courageous to walk a real lot today! |
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| My twining Tommy boys! |
Favorite vegan-friendly spots in Dali:
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The Sweet Jade Café (古城甜翠素食) – vegan noodle soups, soy lattes, and warm, hearty porridge
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Falun Temple Vegetarian Hall (法轮寺素食堂) – donation-based Buddhist buffet near the temple
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Serenity Café – Western-style vegetarian menu with superb views of Cangshan Mountain
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Yunnan Coffee Stop & Green Bowl – fusion lunches with mushroom and tofu stir-fries
Our toddlers alternated between sampling local pea-flour pancakes and sharing banana smoothies — proof that eating clean and traveling with kids can go beautifully hand in hand!
Key tips and our learning:
- We
stayed in Dali Yuewan Villa Joy hotel which was just too beautiful and
scenic and their hospitality was out of the World. However, with 3
nights in hand, it would have been great idea that we should have spent 1
night here in East side of lake and 2 nights in central dali near Dali railway station as
going from east to west in traffic was almost 2 hours one way affair and
rest of 2 days we were literally doing that and with kids that was real challenge plus cost :)
- If you want to see most of the things with toddlers, best way is to hire car for 3 days and explore it. If budget doesnt permit then taking Didi is good idea as local transport is good but language can be real barrier.
Day 6–9 – Lijiang: Snow, Culture & Vegan Comfort
Day 6: we were bit tired already but spirits to explore more of beauty of China was not fading sooner. Our stopover at Shaxi Village was planned but considering we already had some flavor of old towns and we would have done that more in Lijiang area, we skipped this place. (History lovers must consider this if traveling by road from Dali to Lijiang)
In Lijiang, the Buddhist heritage was everywhere — from serene temples to cafés marked “素食” (vegetarian). At Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, we packed fruits and dry snacks, then later enjoyed a hearty vegetarian meal at the Impression Park café, which offered clear soup options for visitors.
Evenings in Lijiang Old Town felt magical — cobblestone paths, glowing lanterns, and restaurant owners who kindly customized every dish for us. Locals often said “不用担心, 我们可以做素的” (“Don’t worry, we can make vegetarian”).
Top Lijiang vegetarian & vegan eateries:
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Fuhui Temple Vegetarian (福慧寺素食馆) – temple-run café serving vegan noodles, mushroom dishes, and pu’er tea
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Blue Papaya Vegan Café – cozy and creative, with salads, smoothies, and local grains
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ChaMa GuDao Vegetarian (茶马古道素食) – elegant dining with mock-meat dishes and seasonal vegetables
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N’s Kitchen & Café – western-friendly with clear vegetarian marking and great kids’ menu options
Everywhere we went, people smiled at our toddlers and helped us find Jain-safe meals — even offering to peel fruits or steam plain vegetables for them. It was heartwarming. Not to forget, entire yunnan province was full of strawberries and our toddlers ate their heart out and even fed themselves strawberries for meals.
Would quickly run through photos and write details in captions :)
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| Seagulls at Little Putuo Island. One can plan boat trip to the island in afternoon and there are tradtional dances also here. or can just have a look at it from around. |
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Little island behind. One can just take a quick little stop. |
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| "As Erhai Lake awakens in rose-gold ripples, the world pauses in perfect reflection." |
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| "In Erhai's embrace, waves whisper secrets of ancient Bai dreams." |
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| Photographer was too kind to let me embrace my pace and allowing me to be a very different me with complete ease. Love how he shot us. P.s. it was almost 5 degrees and i was freezing with cold breeze in this dress :p |
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| Perfect timing with seagulls in our background! |
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| "By Erhai's endless blue, with Cangshan's peaks guarding our love, this
infinity pool merges our hearts into eternity's horizon." |
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| "love as vast, as unending." Highly recommend to visit Villa joy just for photoshoot! it was so beautiful |
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| Tradition tie-die experience - a quick stop we took on the way to Lijiang. But could have combined this with visit to Xizhou town. As the roads leading to this place was same. |
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| Beautiful art and such soothing colors! |
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| Kids enjoyed tie-die experience . It s tradtional chinese culture of painting |
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| Our heroes making their own handkerchiefs and learning some new art! |
After a good 3 hours drive, we finally reached Lijiang. And we headed straight into Lijiang old town.
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| The famous wheel which is landmark of Lijiang old town. |
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| Map of Lijiang old town |
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| We were super tired with long drive and early start of day but family photo must! |
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| A bit of history from old town! |
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| My fav temple bells in background. |
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| Streets of old town. They look more or less similar with similar vibes and lot of famous eatery shops and music. |
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| "Lost in Lijiang's whispers, where every stone tells a story of ancient Silk Road dreams." |
Day 7: It was beautiful day with mesmerizing weather. Cold, chilly yet beautiful sunny. Today we wanted to do total kids activity so we opted to visit Lashi lake followed quick visit to most picturesque cafe in Lijiang.
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| “Here, time slows — only the song of water and wind reminds you the world still turns.” |
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| “Frozen air, golden reeds, silvered lake — nature’s subtle palette paints peace.” |
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“A lake view turns a simple lunch into a quiet celebration of life.”
| | “Between the mountains and the clouds, Lashi Lake holds stillness as soft as a dream.” |
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| At Lashi lake, there is beautiful spots for picture taking |
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| Going further there are birds and pets which gives kids good 2 hours of time to spend |
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| Feeding Llamas - One of my personal fav thing to do. |
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| Our poser Llama |
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Mehta Bros - Always aim for peak! |
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| “Each stroke draws you closer to nature’s heartbeat.” |
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| Strawberry picking with Kids just around Lashi lake |
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| Strawberries are in abundance in Yunnan province during winters. Its paradise for berry lovers! |
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| Visit to Baisha Village |
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| Beautiful olden style house of Baisha village. Baisha village is bit too much of walk for kids. so we just ventured on our own. |
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Next stop: Slow living in Lijiang begins at - Yun Ti Yang cafe 🏔️☕️. One could easily spend good 2 hours here |
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| “Here, on the rooftop of Lijiang, the sky blushes at sunset and so do we.” |
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Google Maps- “Yun Ti Yang Cafe 云堤岸 Lijiang, Baisha Ancient Town, Gucheng District, Lijiang, Yunnan, 674101, China” On Amap: “云堤岸咖啡 云南省丽江市古城区 白沙古镇 附近” |
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| “In Lijiang, beauty has an address: Yun Ti Yang, a rooftop cafe where Jade Dragon Snow Mountain looks close enough to touch.” |
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| “This cafe feels like a love letter written in clouds and sunlight over Lijiang.” |
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| “This isn’t just a cafe, it’s a balcony over Lijiang, with mountain
peaks as your window view and coffee as your sunset companion.” |
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| We went closer to sunset and it was cloudy day. But nature was still at its best and we could enjoy some breathtaking views and coffee overlooking green pastures and cloudy mountains! |
Quick tips: 1. If you are not much into eating and trying different local cuisine, all the old towns looked pretty much same eventually. We wish, we would have spent more time in this cafe rather than just trolling around one more old town.
2. we were completely ripped off by paying super high cost in name of package deal at lashi lake. Avoid paying top “tourist trap” prices (up to 600–680 RMB) for simple
horse+boat combos; many visitors report feeling ripped off. ( i almost looked in depth for everything except this and we were truly ripped off). For boating isn't very expensive. Park ticket entrance is hardly 30RMB and for horse riding, there are many many other ranches that you will come across on the way. Its very very beautiful place but we ended up paying 1800 RMB for 4 adults and it was insane.
Day 9: Tiger leaping gorge and Lijiang romantic Show
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| On the way to Tiger Leaping Gorge. Its like almost reaching Shangrila. Since we visited in end of Dec and considering weather is too harsh and Shangrila is located 11k feet above sea level. We skipped to visit there especially with toddlers. |
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| The gorge drops nearly 3,800–3,900m from river to mountain peaks, between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain. |
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| For a light trip: drive to Upper Gorge, walk the plank paths to the tiger statue and rapids, then return the same day. For a trek: plan 1–2 days on the High Trail, staying in guesthouses along the way (e.g., near the 28 Bends and Middle Gorge). |
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| For families, skip the High Trail hike and focus on the Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge plank walkways and viewpoints—easy, stroller-friendly in parts. |
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| A tiger, pursued by hunters, leapt across the Jinsha River (upper
Yangtze) at its narrowest 25-meter point using Tiger Leaping Rock—thus
naming the gorge. |
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| Became part of UNESCO's Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan World Heritage
Site in 2003, highlighting its extreme 3,790m depth and biodiversity. |
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| "Here, the earth splits open to reveal heaven's secret: mountains kissing the sky above a river's fierce embrace." |
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| Thankfully we planned to visit here despite few doubts - This place had great shangrila - Tibet feel! |
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| Tip: Arrive early, on peak days there is big queue leading to escalator entrance. Buy combo tickets at the gate, and spend 1–2 hours—no strenuous walking needed. |
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| From Lijiang it takes 1.5 hour to reach Tiger leaping gorge. But consider another hour in traffic on peak days. |
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| Lijiang Romance Park (also called Songcheng Romance Park) is a cultural
theme park near Yulong Snow Mountain, famous for its epic live shows
blending Naxi legends, dance, and high-tech effects. |
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| Scared ? who ? not us! This beautiful park has many interesting zones with games which are all included in the entry ticket cost. |
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| Located at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain, about 25km north of Lijiang Ancient Town. |
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| Covers themed zones like Ancient Tea Horse Road replicas, ethnic villages, and scenic lakes. |
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| Main draw: "Lijiang Eternal Love" (or "Romantic Show of Lijiang")—a
55-70 minute spectacle with live horses, erupting volcanoes, water
effects, and ethnic dances. |
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| Map of Romance show. Its quite big! we underestimated the size of park! |
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| There is mini shangrila and tibet within park. Get the feel of different region of yunnan in this place |
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| Scenic park area |
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| Open evenings (shows ~7:30-8:30 PM); park accessible from afternoon for exploration. |
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| There is small Horse riding area here with lot of ponnies. We are against hurting any animals so didn't take ride but a pic wont hurt :) |
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| There was this amazing long marquee of dragon shaped alley! |
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| glimpses from the main show! it was breathtaking |
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| Very happy to see Indian dance and song played by Chinese artists - Dhola re from Devdas movie |
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| "From snowy peaks to lovers' whispers, Eternal Love paints Lijiang's thousand-year passion across the stage." |
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| "A dance of fire, water, and ancient vows—Eternal Love turns Lijiang's legends into living poetry." |
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| Pretty cafe inside park! Love these lantern looks! |
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| Mini shangrila --- lookalike of Songlanzin |
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| Tickets for the main "Romance Show" at Lijiang Romance Park typically
range from 280 RMB for standard audience seats to 380 RMB for VIP seats,
with luxury options around 400+ RMB—often cheaper online via Klook or
Trip.com. |
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Lijiang Romance Park offers a vibrant cultural theme park at the foot of
Yulong Snow Mountain, featuring the spectacular "Eternal Love" live
show with high-tech effects, ethnic dances, and Naxi legends, alongside
themed zones like Ancient Tea Horse Road replicas, Nacuo Lake, Snow
Mountain Beach, interactive side performances, and photo-worthy scenery
for an immersive 3-4 hour experience.
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Key takeaway about TLP and Romance show - we skipped impressions lijiang (which happens on yunlong park and opted for just this 1 show and we were glad we did that. as just this had a lot to soak in and beyond point it was boring for kids. Toddlers loved tiger leaping gorge experience. Book everything in advance. We were not there even during peak season and yet everything was pre-booked 2 days in advance.
Day 10: Yunlong snow mountain scenic area - Spruce Meadow and Blue mountain
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| Lovely drive to Yunlong snow mountain |
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| Ticket cost of park entry is 100RMB. There are 3 options to opt for - 1)Yak meadow (65 RMB) 2)Spruce meadow (60 RMB) and 3) Glacier park (140 RMB) . Blue moon valley (different ticket) - 50RMB |
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| Yulong Snow Mountain Park (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain) is a stunning alpine destination 25km north of Lijiang, featuring cable cars to high meadows and glacier viewpoints. |
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| Blue mountain scenic area. |
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| First cable car (7:30 AM opening) to 3,240m forests; easy boardwalks, wildflowers, ponies. Perfect morning light - spruce meadow |
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| grasslands, vast views. Picnic spot; gentle slopes for kids. Stroller friendly. We were bit disappointed with views (since it was winter - grass was yellow and not lush green) and it hardly snowed this year compared to previous year. |
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| kids were super bored and tired and there was nothing much to do. |
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| We avoided Glacier park - At 4,506m, extreme cold (-10°C possible), thin air triggers
sickness/breathlessness in little ones, long waits, ice/snow risks,
oxygen rentals needed (60 RMB)—stick to lower meadows for fun without
stress. |
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| It was fun to spot animals on the way |
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| Entry to Blue moon valley! So one has to take cable car back to main base and from there take the cart to blue moon valley. |
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| It was delight to see turquoise blue waters, pristine clear skies and beautiful snow peaked valleys! |
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| "Under Blue Moon Valley's boundless clear sky, wooden houses whisper
secrets to the snow peaks, cradling dreams in their timber embrace." |
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| Its utterly romantic and cozy. With toddlers we could do only Spruce meadow and blue valley mountain. |
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| Its best to start by 7.00 am and reach spruce meadow by 8.00 am so one can cover yak meadow also and end day with blue moon valley |
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| Our stay in 2 bedroom villa of wyndham in Lijiang was best stay. With kitchen and 2 bedrooms and living room it was perfect for big families stay. |
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| Beautiful long pine trees en route spruce meadow |
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| Our eyes weren't mesmerized but heart was full of contentment with abundance of nature |
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| Most scenic place. Photo wont do justice |
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| Finally spotted 2 yaks near blue moon valley. Was i happy ? NO NO NO! They were kept and over used by people climbing on them for photos. sorry state of affair |
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| Mini white water terrace. Enroute shangrila from Lijiang, one can visit baishuitai which is original huge white water terrace. This was just mini version here! |
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| Splendid views! |
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| "In this valley of dreams, we posed as one—kids splashing, parents smiling, snow peaks bearing witness." |
Day 11: Was all about resting, changing bases from Lijiang to Kunming by train (4.5 hours train ride)
Day 12: What is vacation for kids without mandatory Zoo visit. A quick visit to Kunming Wildlife sanctuary ( takes 3-4 hours) and then checked in by 6 pm for flight back to HK!
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| Running through quick facts with pics - Covers 2,800 acres (largest in SW China), 90% natural forest—feels wild, not caged. |
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| Houses 10,000+ animals from 200 species, heavy emphasis on tigers (white Bengals, cubs, lion-tiger interactions). |
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| Key zones: Rare Animals, Animal Kindergarten (tiger/lion cubs), Panda
Pavilion, Lion-Tiger Valley, Herbivore Plains, Peacock Garden. |
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| Opened 2004 as wildlife breeding/protection base; relocated Kunming Zoo animals here. |
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| My fav animal - Lammas! |
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| Peacock garden is so vast with more than 100 peacocks roaming right near you - Its delight! |
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| Peacock in its most natural habitat |
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| Panda time! Kids loved this place but be prepared for lot of walk! |
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| After long tiring day need some refreshment! |
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| Flamingos |
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| Roaming around lot of Zebras |
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| Halfday-day outing with fast pace (Took 3 hrs for us); arrive early for cub petting and fewer crowds. |
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| More peacocks |
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| Got opportunity to hear their roars! Truly king of jungle! |
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| Getting interactive with Giraffes. Feeding animals costs extra 40RMB |
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| Wildlife yunnan opens by 9.00 am and costs approx 120RMB for an adult |
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| "Feeding giants: where tiny hands meet towering trust." |
With Kids Prep: Expect lots of walking/hills (strollers
struggle); rent carts, bring water/snacks, visit weekdays to skip
crowds. Tiger areas thrill older kids; kindergarten zone perfect for
toddlers. Safari on wheels (tickets needs to be purchased separately inside) is worth every penny!
Its best to visit here in morning as needs lot of walking and its something kids can really have fun at!
Family Travel & Food Insights
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Yunnan’s Buddhist roots mean vegetarian food is common and respected. Many dishes use tofu, mushrooms, and mountain herbs.
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Local fruits in winter are a joy — persimmons, mandarins, sugar pears, and strawberries are naturally plentiful.
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Avoid onion and garlic politely: Use the phrase “我不吃葱蒜” (wǒ bù chī cōng suàn). People almost always understand.
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Always check sauces: Fermented pastes or chili oil can sometimes contain shrimp; request plain soy sauce (酱油)
Traveling as jain: You can find lot of options in Dali for jain
food as veganism and buddhism follows same food habbits as ours. Kunming
central has few options but its big city and everything far and wide.
Lijiang also had Buddhist restaurant but not as many as Dali. We took
our eggless stock of bread from Dali and it was super helpful. Nothing can be more savior then our very own theplas, bhakhri, chundo! This time we also made highest use of Dehydrated food packets and ready to eat idlis, etc from India.
Family Travel Tips for Yunnan & China
Weather & When to Go:
Winters (Dec–Jan) are mild in Kunming and crisp in Dali–Lijiang. Layer clothes and bring sunscreen for high altitudes.
Transportation:
Efficient high-speed trains connect Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang. Hire private drivers for trips outside main towns.
Apps to Download:
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WeChat – essential for communication and online support groups
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Alipay – simplest way to pay; now accepts foreign cards
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Amap (高德地图) – navigation in English
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HappyCow – good guide for vegan/vegetarian eateries in mainland China
Family Essentials:
Bring snacks, small thermos flasks, and kid-friendly spoons. Chinese locals love kids — expect help, smiles, and even free fruit samples!
Reflections: Traveling Jain Vegetarian in Yunnan
Traveling through Yunnan felt like discovering another rhythm — patient, generous, and deeply kind. As Jain vegetarians, we started with cautious expectations but left feeling nourished and inspired. Everywhere we went, from temple canteens to modern cafés, we found people willing to go the extra mile to make our meals pure, delicious, and full of care.
Yunnan didn’t just fill our days with scenery — it filled our hearts (and tummies!) with warmth. It’s not only a paradise for nature lovers, but also a genuinely welcoming place for plant-based travelers across cultures and beliefs.
Synopsis of our entire trip in tabular format:
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