You have cleared customs at Mohan, your temporary plate is on, and the border is behind you. The classic first route for a China self-drive trip runs north from Mohan through Kunming to Dali and Lijiang — a gentle introduction to Chinese roads with a route that has been driven by hundreds of overland teams.
Day 1: Mohan to Mengla or Jinghong
After the crossing, the first hour of driving is the most relaxed of the whole trip — quiet tropical roads heading north. Mengla is a sensible first overnight stop (about 1 hour from the port). If you have energy left, push on to Jinghong, the capital of Xishuangbanna, 2 hours from Mohan. Jinghong has good hotels, international-standard restaurants and a night market worth a walk.
Day 2: Jinghong to Pu'er or Kunming
From Jinghong the road climbs out of the tropical valley into tea country. Pu'er is a good stop for the tea plantations. The full run to Kunming is roughly 500 km and 7–8 hours — doable, but splitting it keeps the driving relaxed.
Day 3: Kunming to Dali
Kunming to Dali is about 320 km on the expressway, most of it through mountain tunnels. Dali is the first real tourist city on the route: the old town, Erhai Lake and the Three Pagodas. It is also a natural rest day after border formalities.
Day 4: Dali to Lijiang
Lijiang is only 170 km from Dali, an easy half-day drive. The old town and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are the draw, and the road itself is scenic. From Lijiang you can continue to Shangri-La or turn back south — both work.
Route notes
- Expressway tolls for this whole route total roughly RMB 300–400
- Fuel is available at every expressway service area
- Your temporary plate works on ETC lanes and at toll booths
- Route filing covers Yunnan — confirm before driving into neighbouring provinces
This route is exactly the kind of itinerary we plan with clients before they arrive. Tell us your planned entry date and how many days you have, and we will prepare the matching route and paperwork.