China Eastern Airlines flies direct from Chiang Mai to Kumming in Yunnan Province, China. Thai AirAsia offers cheaper indirect flights via Bangkok, which save money but increase the total travelling time by 5 to 13 hours, depending on the waiting time for the connecting flight from Bangkok, compared to taking a direct flight.
Flight schedule from Chiang Mai to Yunnan
- Click on the Chiang Mai – Yunnan link in the timetable below for more information and to buy tickets.
Chiang Mai Airport
Flights from Chiang Mai to Yunnan Province depart from Chiang Mai International Airport, 60 Mahidol Rd, Suthep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200.
Yunnan Airport
Flights from Chiang Mai to Yunnan arrive in Yunnan at Kumming Airport.
About Erhai Lake in Yunnan Province
Erhai Lake is a 40 km long lake located at an altitude of 1,972 metres above sea level near the town of Dali in Yunnan Province , China. The lake is shaped a little bit like an ear if you look at it from the right angle, and name Erhai means ‘ear sea’ in Chinese. Partly because of its size and location in the mountains, Erhai Lake is a major tourist attraction. The islands in the lake and the temples around are also interesting places to visit.

For many visitors to Erhai Lake the top tourist attraction is Golden Shuttle Island, and the nearby Bai fishing community. The Bai are an indigenous ethnic group who make their living fishing on Erhai Lake. The Bai famously use trained cormorants to catch the fish. Erhai Lake is relatively shallow, with an average depth of 11 metres which means the birds can dive down to the depth where the fish live. Metal rings are attached to the cormorants’ necks to stop them simply swallowing the fish they have catch instead of depositing the catch on the fisherman’s boat.