Major city · China
Liuku
Pass through Liuku in half a day on the way up the Nujiang valley: one night if you need to break the bus ride to Bingzhongluo.
Liuku is the clean, laid-back transport hub of the Nujiang valley in Northwestern Yunnan. It has no major sights of its own, but the riverside promenade and hilltop viewpoint make a pleasant stopover. Most travellers use it as a base for one night before heading north to Bingzhongluo or south back to Kunming.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- Oct–May
- avoid Jun–Sep (rainy season, landslides possible on the valley road)
- Airports
- DLU · LJG
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Liuku110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Liuku, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyLiuku is safe and clean.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportDLU Dali Airport (About 2.5 h by bus from Liuku; the nearest commercial airport.).
- Getting aroundLiuku is walkable.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealNoodle bowl at a local eatery¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3)
- BeerBeer (bottle)¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi ride within town¥10–15 (≈ US$2–3)
- Budget bedMid-range business hotel double room, a night, per roomCN¥150 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBudget business hotel single room, a night, per roomCN¥120 (≈ US$17)
- High-end bedBudget business hotel single room, a night, per roomCN¥200 (≈ US$30)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥150 (≈ US$25) · Mid CN¥250 (≈ US$35) · High CN¥400 (≈ US$60)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DLU Dali Airport (About 2.5 h by bus from Liuku; the nearest commercial airport.) · LJG Lijiang Sanyi Airport (About 3.5 h by bus; an alternative for travellers coming from the east.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Feb
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Mar
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Apr
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
May
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jun
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jul
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Avoid
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Oct
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Nov
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Dec
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Best: Oct–May. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jan (4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C) low), wettest Jul (22 rain days), driest Dec (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Liuku: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
3 rd
Feb
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
5 rd
Mar
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
8 rd
Apr
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
12 rd
May
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
15 rd
Jun
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
20 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
22 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
20 rd
Sep
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
16 rd
Oct
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
10 rd
Nov
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
5 rd
Dec
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Liuku is walkable. Taxis cost ¥10–15 within town.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Bingzhongluo
overnightDoor to door: About 9 h each way
Bus from Liuku bus station, twice daily (07:20 and midday)Bus from Liuku bus station, twice daily (7:20 AM and midday)
Beautiful but long and bumpy; stay at least one night in Bingzhongluo.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
City centre
Business hotels near the river; cheap and decent. Mingzheng Hotel is the best in town but expensive.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥150–250 (≈ US$25–35) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥250–400 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed
- High
- ¥400 (≈ US$60)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range business hotel double room1 × 1 night × CN¥250 | CN¥250 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × CN¥250 | CN¥250 |
| Bus Liuku → Bingzhongluo, one way1 × CN¥100 · check | CN¥100 |
| Taxi from bus station to centre1 × CN¥15 | CN¥15 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CN¥62 |
| Trip total≈ CN¥677 per person per day, bed included | CN¥677≈ US$95 |
2026 estimate in yuan; flights excluded.
Prices of common things
| Noodle bowl at a local eatery | ¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Beer (bottle) | ¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Taxi ride within town | ¥10–15 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Bus Liuku → Bingzhongluo, one way | ¥100 (≈ US$14) (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The bus to Bingzhongluo takes about 9 hours on a bumpy cliffside road; bring snacks and motion-sickness pills.
- No hostels in town; budget travellers rely on cheap business hotels.
- Wedding-dress shops dominate the shopping streets – not much else for souvenirs.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
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LiukuLiuku
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus station → centre: ¥10–15 (≈ US$2–3) by taxi
- Bus Liuku → Bingzhongluo: about ¥100 (≈ US$14), 9 h, twice daily (check)
Say or show
- 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xiè xie)
- 多少钱？ — How much? (duō shǎo qián?)
- 车站在哪里？ — Where is the bus station? (chē zhàn zài nǎ lǐ?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Liuku. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–May · avoid Jun–Sep (rainy season, landslides possible on the valley road) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 1 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Liuku
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