There are 5 ways to get from Chiang Rai to Lijiang by plane, bus, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport
best- Fly from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) to Lijiang Sanyi Airport (LJG)plane CEI - LJG
7h 40m¥901–4,157Local Bus, bus, train
cheapest- Take the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khongbus
- Take the bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxaybus
- Take the train from Oudomxay station to Kunming Southtrain
- Take the bus from Kunming West to Lijiangbus
27h 58m¥514–1,189Local Bus, bus, train via Chuxiong
- Take the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khongbus
- Take the bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxaybus
- Take the train from Oudomxay station to Kunming Southtrain
- Take the train from Kunming South to Chuxiongtrain
- Take the train from Chuxiong to Lijiangtrain
22h 36m¥559–1,273Bus to Chiang Mai International Airport, fly to Lijiang Sanyi Airport
- Take the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Maibus
- Fly from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to Lijiang Sanyi Airport (LJG)plane CNX - LJG
12h 38m¥945–4,343Bus to Chiang Mai International Airport, fly to Diqing Shangri-La Airport, train
- Take the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Maibus
- Fly from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to Diqing Shangri-La Airport (DIG)plane CNX - DIG
- Take the train from Shangri-La to Lijiangtrain
15h 28m¥1,470–5,748
Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) to Lijiang Sanyi Airport (LJG) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chiang Rai to Lijiang is to Local Bus and bus and train which costs ¥500 - ¥1200 and takes 27h 58m.
The fastest way to get from Chiang Rai to Lijiang is to fly which takes 7h 40m and costs ¥900 - ¥4200.
The distance between Chiang Rai and Lijiang is 786 km.
It takes approximately 7h 40m to get from Chiang Rai to Lijiang, including transfers.
Lijiang is 1h ahead of Chiang Rai. It is currently 9:36 AM in Chiang Rai and 10:36 AM in Lijiang.
There are 95+ hotels available in Lijiang.
What companies run services between Chiang Rai, Thailand and Lijiang, China?
Thai Airways International, Ruili Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines fly from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) to Lijiang Sanyi Airport (LJG) once daily.
- Website
- en.ceair.com
Flights from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Suvarnabhumi, Kunming
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ¥1,100–4,600
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Kunming
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ¥950–3,900
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Diqing Shangri-La Airport via Kunming
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ¥1,300–5,500
- Website
- rlair.net
Flights from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ¥850–4,100
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 52m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- ¥850–4,200
- Website
- westair.cn
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Chongqing
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 20m
- When
- Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ¥2,300–4,300
- Website
- facebook.com
Train from Oudomxay station to Kunming South
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ¥300–750
- Schedules at
- baolau.com
- Book at
- booking.baolau.com
- Second Class
- ¥300–460
- First Class
- ¥420–750
Train from Kunming South to Chuxiong
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ¥70–140
- Schedules at
- chinahighlights.com
- Adult - 2nd Class
- ¥70–100
- Adult - 1st Class
- ¥95–140
Train from Chuxiong to Lijiang
- Adult - second class
- ¥100–140
Train from Shangri-La to Lijiang
- Adult - second class
- ¥45–65
Bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khong
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- ¥14
- Website
- asocialnomad.com
Bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxay
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ¥25–160
- Schedules at
- asocialnomad.com
- bus@chinatrainguide.com
- Website
- chinabusguide.com
Bus from Kunming West to Lijiang
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ¥140–202
- Schedules at
- chinabusguide.com
- Bus
- ¥140–190
- Phone
- +66 5326 6480
- servicecenter@greenbusthailand.com
- Website
- greenbusthailand.com
Bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ¥70–120
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/greenbus
- Website
- https://www.greenbusthailand.com/website/
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including How to get from Southend Airport into central London, Travelling by boat in Italy, and Travel Insider: Top Japan travel tips by Beatrix Holland - to help you get the most out of your next trip.