Lijiang Transportation

If you do not want to walk around the Gorge to see it you can use a king of cyclo carried by a guy.
I do not know how much it cost, but in my opinion, walking is the best idea.It's an easy walk more or less 2 hours long depending on how frequently you stop to take pictures.

Lijiang is well connected with Dali and Kunming by bus and trains, there are several day ones and some night ones too.
I came here with a private driver as which I hired to go to Zhongdian and we just stopped here for a couple of hours before going to the tiger leaping Gorge and proceeding to the final destination.
I got this service in Jeam tibetan hotel in Dali and it was about 120 euro included an english speaking guide and the hotel for the 3 of us.

Taxi from the city to Airport -- you need to bargain to pay 80rmb... plus 10 rmb toll.....
these prices will start to creep up very soon.....
I never found a shuttle from city to airport....

* Travel agencies in main square -- off water wheel -- visit a few of them and get prices they offer... got flight from Lijiang to Kunming for 550rmb - 9:20 am..... there is a flight available at 11:30pm -- much cheaper....
- get ready to wait at airport -- most flights in and out of Lijiang are late.....

- main bus station - about 10 minutes away from the Old Town -- is the one with buses at 8:30am and 1:30pm to Qiaotou... then on to another bus to Walnut Garden/Tiger Leaping Gorge.....
- if you miss the buses and you want to get there ASAP -- ask your hostel to get you a taxi -- you should not pay more than 180rmb for a 2 hour ride..... thru countryside, villages, strawberry fields and one of the tributaries of the Yangtze......

Not to far away from Lijiang is the Yulong Xueshan Mountain, or the Jade Dragon Mountain, visible at clear weather from the upper part of Lijiang. Distance is about 40 km. To go there, I took the public bus No. 7, starting from the sqare of the Mao statue. When you are leaving the ancient town on the south-gate, turn right in the big avenue of the new city, walk 10 min. and you'll arrive at this sqare. If the bus is not waiting there, you'll see on the oil traces, where he will arrive... Cost are some Yuan. It's not the most modern aircom bus, but OK, it's not a private car. Please ask your hotel to write the chinese name of Yulong Mountain on a paper, the bus will stop a several small, and pitoresc villages and you go out at the last stop.
This terminal is situated at about 2900 m. For comments on horseriding high up in this Yulong Mountain, please turn over to my of the beaten paths tip.

I see lots of foreigners actually do biking around the sceneries of Lijiang. It could make sense for sights that are not too far away like Shu He old town or even the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The good thing of doing bike is that you can enjoy the sceneries and the clean air throughout the process ;-)

The best way to get to the sights around Lijiang is by hiring a cab. Most of the drivers have a bit of knowledge of the places so they will explain a bit on the road as well. Some of them can be hired for daytrips or even overnight trips to farther places like Lugu Lake or Shangrila. Just ask your hotel staff to help book, they usually provide such service.

Most travellers probably come to Lijiang via Kunming/Dali by bus. In this case it might be useful to take a plane back in order to safe time. Southern Airlines for example fly to Kunming for approximately € 40-60. I think there at least 2 daily flights, you can buy your ticket for example at the very small travel agency at the market square.