Travel

Flight

Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG)

To get to Lijiang, we recommend flying into one of China’s major international hubs—Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou—all of which offer direct domestic flights to Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG). We especially recommend flying through Shanghai - it’s a vibrant, world-class city that’s well worth exploring for a day or two if your schedule allows! Once you arrive in Lijiang, we’ll take care of the rest! We’ll arrange transportation to pick you up from the airport and bring you to our hotel in Lijiang Old Town. On the wedding day, a shuttle will take all guests from the hotel to the venue at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club so we can all celebrate together without any stress. Just get to Lijiang—we’ll handle the rest!

Hotel

缦香·Villa观雪山

Since many of our guests will be traveling from afar, we’ve reserved a traditional courtyard hotel in the heart of Lijiang Old Town for everyone to stay together. With beautiful views of the historic rooftops and the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, it’s a truly special place to gather, relax, and take in the beauty of Lijiang. We will be covering two nights—April 9th and 10th—for all our guests, and we can’t wait to share this unforgettable experience with you.

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Travel Note

Visa information

Most travelers from the U.S. will need a tourist visa (L visa) to enter China. We recommend applying at least 6–8 weeks before your trip to allow time for processing. Since Jan 2024, China has simplified L visa (tourist visa) application. So hotel/flight confirmation, itinerary, and invitation letter is no longer required. These are the documents needed. - Passport - Cova visa form - Photocopy of passport bio-age - Photocopy of the latest Chinese visa (if applicable) - Where You Stay Form - A copy of driver license The application should be submitted to and pick up in-person at one of the Chinese Consulates in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Houston. There is pick up/mailing service available for a fee. You can also go through a travel agency to avoid having to travel to the Chinese Consulate, but they do charge a fee. Make sure your passport is more than one year before expiration to be quantify for a 10-year visa. If you have less than 1 year left in your passport at the time of application, you will only get a 6-month visa. If you have any questions regarding applying for a China Visa, please let us know!

Train

Express Train

Yunnan Province is well-connected by China’s efficient and scenic high-speed rail system, making it easy to explore more of the region before or after the wedding. You can take fast and comfortable trains between major cities like Kunming, Dali, banna, and Lijiang, perfect for a short adventure! For example, the train from Kunming to Lijiang takes around 4.5 hours, and from Dali to Lijiang, just about 1.5 hours. Tickets can be booked online in advance (via platforms like ctrip.com) or at the station with your passport. If you're thinking of extending your trip, traveling by train is a beautiful and stress-free way to see more of Yunnan.

Travel Note

How to pay in China?

China is largely cashless, and most places—from restaurants and taxis to souvenir shops—accept mobile payments through Alipay or WeChat Pay. Here’s how to get set up as an international traveler: Alipay (Recommended) - Download the Alipay app from your app store. - Sign up using your foreign phone number and use passport for ID validation. - Link a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) - 2% fee for transaction over 200 rmb You can use it to scan QR codes at nearly every shop, restaurant, and vendor in China. Wechat Pay (payment + messaging app) - Download Wechat and set up an account with your photo number - Verify ID using passport - Link a credit card under Wechat Pay - Scan QR code to pay - 2% fee for transaction over 200 rmb We will be mostly relying on wechat for communication so it would be helpful to have a wechat account! Wechat also comes with auto-translation!

Travel Note

e-SIM options and internet access in China

If you want to stay online while traveling in China and access sites like Google, Gmail, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, using an international eSIM is the easiest solution. China’s internet is restricted by the “Firewall,” so local SIM cards will not allow access to many global sites and apps. We recommend downloading an eSIM before your trip—these are digital SIM cards you can install on your phone without needing a physical chip. You’ll stay connected and fully online as soon as you land. One option we’ve personally used with success is Airalo, which offers affordable eSIM data packages for China or broader Asia. There are plenty of other options. Just make sure your phone is eSIM-compatible and unlocked. Pro tip: Activate the eSIM before arriving in China, and you’ll avoid any setup issues once you land.