Dianchi National Tourist Resort
Dianchi is Yunnan's largest freshwater lake and is known as the 'Pearl of the Plateau'. From Longmen, you can take in the whole lake spread out below. Visitors can take a boat tour on Dianchi,…
Dianchi National Tourist Resort, Kunming
Key facts
- Admission
- Free
- Opening hours
- Open all day
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Getting there
- Near Haigeng Park (海埂公园) bus stop. A cable car at Yunnan Ethnic Village runs between Haigeng Park and the Western Hills: ¥40 one way, ¥70 round trip
- Guidebook rating
- 4 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 182. Open in Google Maps
About Dianchi National Tourist Resort
Dianchi is Yunnan's largest freshwater lake and is known as the 'Pearl of the Plateau'. From Longmen, you can take in the whole lake spread out below. Visitors can take a boat tour on Dianchi, and along the shore are sights including the Western Hills, Guanyin Hill and Daguan Tower. Every winter, thousands of black-headed gulls fly here to overwinter, making them one of Dianchi's great spectacles.
Tips from the guidebook
- 1. Best season: The best time to visit Dianchi is November to January, when black-headed gulls overwinter here and the lake's winter scenery is at its best.
- 2. Short one-day trip: Yunnan Ethnic Village, the Yunnan Ethnic Museum, Haigeng Park and other sites are all nearby, so you can combine them into a single day out.
- 3. Each winter, large flocks of black-headed gulls arrive in Yunnan to overwinter. During this time, the bird-feeding and bird-watching activities at Haigeng Park are very popular.
- Tea gatherings: In early spring, a wide variety of tea gatherings are held.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Dianchi National Tourist Resort cost?
Admission to Dianchi National Tourist Resort is Free, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Dianchi National Tourist Resort?
Dianchi National Tourist Resort is open Open all day.
How do I get to Dianchi National Tourist Resort?
Near Haigeng Park (海埂公园) bus stop. A cable car at Yunnan Ethnic Village runs between Haigeng Park and the Western Hills: ¥40 one way, ¥70 round trip
How long should I spend at Dianchi National Tourist Resort?
Plan on 1–3 hours for Dianchi National Tourist Resort.
Where is Dianchi National Tourist Resort?
Dianchi National Tourist Resort is in Kunming, Yunnan Province, in the Southwest of China.
More places in Kunming
Stone Forest Scenic Area
Stone Forest boasts the most extraordinary karst landscape in the world, attracting countless visitors from China and abroad, and is hailed as the “First Wonder Under Heaven”. “Scenery of Stone Forest” is the most representative attraction here. Within the scenic area are “animal-shaped” rocks such as Tang Monk Rock, Monkey King Rock and Ashima, each with its own beautiful legend.
¥130 · 3 hours or more
Jiuxiang Scenic Area
Jiuxiang Scenic Area is famous for its karst caves and is known as the “Land of Caves”. The cave system formed from ancient dolomite some 600 million years old. Inside are nine major areas, including Jinghun Gorge, Yincui Gorge, Guhe Cave, Shennü Palace and Yijia Village. Jinghun Gorge is the largest gorge inside a cave in China, and Yincui Gorge is known as the “Lovers' Valley”, where young Yi men and women of Jiuxiang once sang love songs to each other. The area has also served as a filming location for several films, including *The Myth* and *Little Big Soldier*.
¥60; Dieheng Bridge Great Cableway ¥120 (round trip) · 2–3 hours
Western Hills Scenic Area
Legend has it that the Western Hills were formed from lovers who had been separated. If you want to see all of Kunming, climb to the summit of the Western Hills, where Dianchi lies at your feet. If strolling by the lake and enjoying the breeze is an elegant pastime, standing on the Western Hills offers a grander, more heroic vista. The hills are also Kunming residents' first choice for spring and autumn outings.
Attractions within the scenic area are charged separately: Longmen Grottoes ¥30; Huating Temple, Taihua Temple and Nie Er's Tomb are free; Longmen Cableway ¥25 one way, ¥50 round trip · 2–3 hours
Jinma Biji Archways
The Jinma Biji Archways originally date from the Ming dynasty, but the present structure is a reconstruction. Its magic lies in the spectacle of 'gold and jade shining together' (jin bi jiao hui). This is a bustling part of central Kunming, home to large department stores such as Baisheng, Kunbaida and Gome, as well as a range of bars and snack shops, making it very convenient for shopping.
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Green Lake Park
If you visit Kunming after November, the one thing you must not miss is watching black-headed gulls at Green Lake Park. Since 1985, thousands upon thousands of black-headed gulls have flown here from distant Siberia to overwinter at Green Lake and Dianchi. At their peak, up to around 30,000 gather here, skimming across the water and playing alongside visitors, making them an annual spectacle in Kunming.
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Guandu Ancient Town
About 10 km from the city centre, Guandu is one of the birthplaces of ancient Dian culture. The town has rich cultural sites, including five mountains, six temples, seven pavilions and eight shrines, along with a lively mix of shops. Miaozhan Temple, known as the 'foremost of the six temples', is most notable for the Vajra Throne Pagoda in front of it. On the commercial street, yanjing baba (eyeglass cakes) are the bestsellers, in sesame and peanut fillings.
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