Understanding Yunlong
"Yunlong" is a name that appears in several parts of China, so the first practical step for a visitor is to confirm which one you are heading to. The two most likely destinations for travellers are Yunlong District in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, and Yunlong County in Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province. The guidance below focuses on Yunlong District in Xuzhou, which is the central district of the city, built around Yunlong Lake and Yunlong Mountain, and which works well as a base for exploring the wider Xuzhou area. If your trip is to Yunlong County in Yunnan instead, the regional transport notes further down will be more relevant to you.
How Tourists Get Around
Within Yunlong District itself, getting around is straightforward and low-stress. The district is compact around its two main natural features, and the mix of metro, buses, taxis, ride-hailing and shared bikes means you rarely need to plan far ahead. Fares are inexpensive, and mobile payment is widely accepted.
- Metro: Xuzhou Metro is the quickest option for crossing the city and for travel during peak hours. It serves the railway stations and the central commercial areas. Fares are roughly CNY 2–6.
- City buses: Extensive coverage, with frequent service on the main corridors, though buses are slow in peak traffic. Fares are roughly CNY 1–3. Signage is often Chinese-only, so it helps to have your destination written down or shown on a map app.
- Taxi and ride-hailing: Short fares start from roughly CNY 10–15, and mid-city rides commonly run CNY 20–60. Surge pricing is possible at rush hour and on holidays. Taxis accept WeChat Pay and Alipay.
- Bike-share: Available in the district and a good option for short hops between the lake, the mountain and nearby streets.
- Walking: Practical and pleasant around Yunlong Lake and Yunlong Park, where paths and parkland make strolling the natural way to see the area.
Paying for Public Transport
On the metro, fares are low and paid at the gate. On city buses, you can pay with small change, a local transit card, or mobile payment. For taxis and ride-hailing, WeChat Pay and Alipay are accepted, which is the simplest approach for most visitors. Keeping a little cash in small notes is still useful as a backup on buses.
Arriving by Air
Xuzhou Guanyin Airport (XUZ) is the main airport serving the area. From the airport you have two practical choices into central Xuzhou and Yunlong:
- Airport shuttle bus: Runs to central Xuzhou and Xuzhou East Railway Station, costing roughly CNY 25–40 and taking about 45–60 minutes.
- Taxi or Didi: To Yunlong or the city centre, roughly CNY 120–180 and about 40–60 minutes.
The shuttle is the cheaper option and connects conveniently with the high-speed rail station if you are continuing onward; a taxi or ride-hail is the simpler choice if you are heading straight to a hotel in Yunlong.
Arriving by Train and Bus
Xuzhou has two main railway stations: Xuzhou East (Xuzhoudong) for high-speed services, and Xuzhou Railway Station for conventional trains. High-speed links connect to Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing, with journey times of roughly 2.5–4 hours and second-class fares in the low hundreds of CNY. Intercity trains from either station run roughly CNY 50–300 depending on destination and class.
Long-distance coaches depart from city-centre terminals and from terminals near Xuzhou East. Fares to nearby provincial cities are roughly CNY 40–120, with journeys of several hours. If you arrive by coach, a taxi or the metro will usually be the easiest way to finish the trip into Yunlong.
If You Are Heading to Yunlong County, Yunnan
Yunlong County sits in Dali Prefecture in Yunnan, a very different setting from Xuzhou, and the transport picture there is regional rather than urban. Yunnan's traveller routes are built around Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La, connected by a high-speed rail spine from Kunming South to Dali and on to Lijiang, with onward road travel to Shangri-La. Foreign visitors typically book these trains through Trip.com, which handles the Chinese rail real-name requirement so that your passport name and number match the ticket; booking several days ahead is wise in peak season. Seats are assigned, with no open seating.
Be aware that high-speed rail stations are usually several kilometres from the old towns they serve, so plan a taxi, ride-hail or shuttle for the final leg. In Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La there is no metro; DiDi and walking cover most needs, and the old towns themselves are largely pedestrian zones. Kunming is the exception, with the only metro in Yunnan, including a line linking the airport to the city centre and connections onward to Kunming South for high-speed trains. Metro fares there are paid by QR code through Alipay or WeChat Pay at the turnstile, and stations have bilingual signage and announcements.
Practical Tips
- Confirm which Yunlong you are visiting before booking transport — Xuzhou's district and Yunnan's county are far apart.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you arrive; it covers metro gates, taxis and most everyday purchases.
- Have your destination written in Chinese to show bus drivers, since bus signage is often Chinese-only.
- Allow extra time and budget for taxis at rush hour and during holidays, when surge pricing applies.
- Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable seasons in Xuzhou, with mild temperatures; summers are hot and humid with monsoon rain, and winters cold and damp.
- A daily budget of around US$30 covers meals and local transport in Yunlong, and the area is generally low in crime.