Torch Festival High-Speed Rail Guide

Chu Xiong Torch Festival High-Speed Rail Travel Nanny-Level Guide (2025 Latest Edition) 1. Core Preparations Before Travel (Exclusive for High-Speed Rail) 1. Ticket Snatching & Train Planning (Stay Calm and Secure Your Seat) - Ticket Snatching Tips: Tickets for Chu Xiong Station are released at 15:00. Check the exact ticket release time for your train on 12306 in advance, enable "Waitlist Purchase" (select multiple trains + adjacent dates + multiple seat types). The peak times for last-minute ticket grabs are 15 days, 48 hours, and 1 hour before departure. - Preferred Trains: - From Kunming: Trains before 7:30 AM (e.g., D8662) are easier to get tickets for, 40 minutes to 1.5 hours direct, second-class seats cost 54.5-71 RMB; - From Dali: Trains like D8704 take about 1 hour, second-class seats around 57 RMB, avoid peak hours from 10:00 to 16:00; - Return Trip Suggestion: Choose trains before 15:00 to avoid the high-speed rail ticket rush combined with city traffic after 16:00. - Notes: Do not rely on third-party ticket-snatching plugins; purchase tickets through the official 12306 channel to avoid information leaks and extra fees. 2. High-Speed Rail Station Transfers & City Transportation (No Detours) - Exit Transfers: - Bus: Route 9 (1 RMB, 6:45-21:30) directly to Yi Ren Ancient Town and Taoyuan Lake; Route 10 (1 RMB, 6:45-21:30) directly to Solar Calendar Cultural Park, extended operation until 23:30 during Torch Festival from July 17-20; - Taxi: From Chu Xiong Station to Yi Ren Ancient Town costs 10-15 RMB (10 minutes), to the city center 15-25 RMB, supports ride-hailing and taxis, taxi stands are immediately to the left upon exit; - Tourist Shuttle: Six additional tourist shuttle lines operate during the festival, covering main venues and commercial streets, real-time locations can be checked by scanning QR codes. - Luggage Storage: Chu Xiong Station does not offer checked baggage services but provides luggage storage inside the station for easier travel with light luggage. 3. Accommodation & Essentials - Preferred Accommodation: - Bus-Accessible: Around Yi Ren Ancient Town (Jinxing Hotel, Yunshang Yi Family Courtyard), directly reachable by Route 9 bus, 5-minute walk to the carnival area, some homestays offer luggage storage; - Transportation Hub: Hotels near Taoyuan Lake, close to the main bus terminal, convenient for transfers to various venues. - Essentials Checklist: Dark-colored, dirt-resistant clothing (to prevent torch ash stains), sports shoes, sunscreen, power bank, small amount of cash (for stalls without payment options), mobile electronic bus card (activated on Alipay/WeChat), no fire sources allowed (torches can be purchased locally for 20 RMB each). 2. 3 Days 2 Nights High-Speed Rail Itinerary (Precise Check-ins Without Rushing) Day 1: Arrival in Chu Xiong + Fire Worship Ceremony (Core Event) - Morning: Take an early high-speed train to Chu Xiong Station, then take Route 9 bus directly to Yi Ren Ancient Town. Check in, store luggage, and explore the ancient town to experience Yi-style architecture. - Noon: Eat at Jiumei Yi Ethnic Cuisine Restaurant in the ancient town (about 50 RMB per person), recommended dishes are Tuotuo Meat and Sour Soup Fish, eat well to prepare for the evening carnival. - Afternoon: Visit the intangible cultural heritage creative market (shop for Yi embroidery sachets, small pot liquor), rent Yi ethnic costumes (20 RMB/set), walk or take Route 10 bus one hour in advance to Solar Calendar Cultural Park. - Evening: Watch the Fire Worship Ceremony and Iron Flower performance at 19:30, participate in the mass torch scattering at 20:00, then take the extended Route 10 bus back to accommodation, no worries about missing the last bus. Day 2: Choose Between Carnival or Niche Experience Option A (Ultimate Carnival) - Morning: Take Route 2 bus to Yi Sea Park, enjoy ethnic singing and dancing, Yi beauty pageant, and free Torch Festival exclusive photo sessions. - Noon: Eat grilled tilapia (15 RMB each) and buckwheat cakes (5 RMB) at the night market at the park’s south gate, within walking distance, no need for high-speed train. - Evening: Join the mass left-foot dance carnival at Yi Sea Park (19:30-23:00), take backlit silhouette photos by the lakeside torch formations, then return by bus or taxi. Option B (Authentic Experience) - Morning: Take the bus to Zixi Yi Village (40 minutes), participate in the villagers’ pig slaughtering ceremony to worship the Fire God, enjoy a long street banquet (20 RMB per person), receive handmade small silver jewelry as a gift. - Afternoon: Explore the village’s natural scenery, learn Yi drumming, return to the city by bus at dusk, capture mountain forest light and shadow photos along the way. - Evening: Free carnival at Taoyuan Lake Square, fewer people and a strong atmosphere, more freedom to dance the left-foot dance and scatter torches. Day 3: Leisurely City Tour + Return Trip - Morning: Take Route 9 bus to Longjiang Park, photograph Yi-style architecture in the morning light, eat tofu pudding rice noodles (8 RMB per bowl) at Wenming Road snack street. - Noon: Buy local specialties in the city (Nanhua wild mushrooms, Mouding fermented bean curd), pack papaya water and rose jelly cake to refresh. - Afternoon: Take the bus to Chu Xiong Station before 15:00 to avoid the return peak, safely return by high-speed rail. 3. Must-Try Foods for High-Speed Rail Travelers (Accessible by Bus Without Detours) 1. Yi-style Tuotuo Meat: Jiumei Yi Ethnic Cuisine Restaurant in Yi Ren Ancient Town, reachable by Route 9 bus, 25 RMB per serving, spicy and flavorful; 2. Wild Mushroom Hot Pot: Junshan Mushroom Hot Pot in Yi Ren Ancient Town, hotel with parking lot, walkable for high-speed rail travelers, old hen soup stewed mushrooms are very fresh; 3. Shaqiao Bean Flour: Shaqiao Service Area on the high-speed rail route, 10 RMB per bowl, try it when departing or returning; 4. Sanjie Mutton Soup Pot: Xiaobaojia on Weichu Avenue in the city, reachable by Route 1 bus, clear soup without gamey taste, cold sliced mutton is a must-order; 5. Corn Wine Roasted Milk Fan: Night market at Yi Sea Park south gate, 12 RMB per serving, milky and slightly intoxicating. 4. High-Speed Rail Exclusive Pitfalls to Avoid & Safety Tips 1. Traffic Pitfalls: Signal congestion in the event area after 16:00 during the festival, download offline maps and bus route maps in advance; 2. Bus Tips: Recognize buses with extended operation hours (1-23:30), tourist shuttles can go directly to main venues, avoid boarding the wrong bus; 3. Safety First: Scatter torches away from crowds and flammable materials, fully extinguish fire sources after the event; follow instructions in crowded areas, avoid running or pushing; 4. Photography Tips: Solar Calendar Cultural Park torch formations and Yi Sea Arch Bridge reflections are must-shoot spots, use your phone’s professional mode to lower ISO for more dreamy light spots; 5. Folk Taboos: Avoid crossing fire pits, do not touch men’s “Tian Pusa” headwear, respect local customs to avoid conflicts. 5. Budget Reference (Per Person for 3 Days 2 Nights) - Transportation: Round-trip high-speed rail 109-142 RMB + city transportation 20 RMB (mainly bus) = 129-162 RMB; - Accommodation: 170-996 RMB (2 nights, budget to high-end hotels); - Meals: 150 RMB (50 RMB per day, including snacks); - Tickets + Experiences: Fire Worship Ceremony ticket + costume rental ≈ 180 RMB; - Total: 529-1478 RMB (flexible according to budget).