# Kunming travel guide (昆明) Yunnan Province · Southwest, China · 33 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/yunnan/kunming ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Yunnan University → Green Lake Park → Jinma Biji Archways → Expo Garden → Golden Temple Scenic Area - **Day 2:** Haigeng Park → Dianchi Lake → Yunnan Ethnic Village → Xishan - **Day 3:** Kunming → Stone Forest → Jiuxiang Scenic Area ## The feel of the place - **Radiant:** No matter which part of China you come from, your first impression of Kunming is sunshine and spring-like brightness, which never changes with the seasons. Looking up, the plateau sky is a deep, clear blue that seems to stretch endlessly. - **Humans and Gulls at Play:** That a city not on the coast should host seagulls wintering here year after year is nothing short of a miracle, and for Kunming people it has become an everyday winter sight. Visit Green Lake and Haigeng Park to see the red-billed gulls (红嘴鸥). By Green Lake, volunteer teams made up of students and environmental advocates hand out free gull food and materials on protecting the birds, and the Kunming municipal government has even awarded the red-billed gulls the title of “Honorary Citizens.” ## The feel of the place ### Preparation and Information ### Language The Kunming dialect belongs to the Northern dialect group, and to outsiders it sounds quite similar to Sichuanese and Guizhou dialects. Of course, Mandarin is the common language, and speaking Mandarin will get you by without any trouble. ### Climate and When to Visit “Spring City” (春城) is Kunming’s nickname. The city has long been famed as the place of “eternal spring,” and for visitors it is also a place where flowers bloom everywhere. The weather can change quickly within a single day: one moment it is blazing sun, and the next there are sudden downpours and gusts of wind. Locals say “when it rains, winter has come”: it turns very cold during showers, and as soon as the rain stops, the weather turns mild again. Kunming’s most comfortable travel period is March to October, when the scenery is at its most beautiful, ethnic minority festivals are most concentrated, and fruit and flowers are at their most abundant. Kunming’s annual average temperature is 15℃. The average temperature in the hottest month is 19–22℃, the highest temperature does not exceed 31.5℃, and the average temperature in the coldest month is 6–8℃. Most of the year’s rainfall falls between May and October; the remaining months are relatively dry. ### Learn a Few Phrases of Kunming Dialect The Kunming dialect belongs to the Northern dialect group. Although it may sound rustic and unmelodious, it has many onomatopoeic words and is particularly humorous and vivid. Learning a few local phrases can add extra fun to your trip. 1. Praise — 板扎 2. Amazement — 埋埋散 3. Is it? — 咯是 4. How? — 咋咯 5. Ridiculous/funny — 太雀啦 6. Misbehaving — 糟奈 ### Shopping In Kunming, “斤” means “kilogram,” with 1 斤 equal to 1,000 grams. The “两” that Kunming people refer to is the metric liang, with 1 两 equal to 100 grams. Besides Kunming, Kaiyuan, Mengzi and Hekou follow the same practice. ## Getting there & around ### Getting In and Out Kunming is a typical inland city, so trains and planes are the main means of transport in and out of the city. ### Airport Express (City) ### Remember the Taxi Symbol Kunming taxis each display a distinctive animal emblem and number, and different animals represent different taxi companies. If you accidentally leave something in a taxi, remembering the animal emblem will make it easier to track down. ### Buses to Major Attractions 1. Several tourist shuttle routes depart from near the Provincial Gymnasium (省体育馆). 2. Dali: Buses depart several times daily from the West Bus Station, South Kiln Station and the railway station square. Journey time is 5–6 hours, and the fare is ¥160. 3. Lijiang: Buses depart several times daily from the West Bus Station. Journey time is 7–9 hours, and the fare is ¥252. 4. Shangri-La: Two buses daily depart from both the West Bus Station and the North Bus Station. The West Station to Shangri-La fare is ¥348; the North Station to Shangri-La fare is ¥218. ### Tourist Shuttle Lines Bus A1: Yunnan Nationalities Village, Dianchi Lake, Milesi Temple (弥勒寺), Jinmafang Stop (金马坊站), Municipal Museum, Xinying Road Junction, Bailong Temple, Expo Garden. Bus A2: Gulou Road, Yuantong Hill (圆通山), Nantai Bridge, Desheng Bridge, Tangzi Lane, Kunming Convention and Exhibition Center. ### By Air Changshui International Airport (昆明长水国际机场) is located in Guandu District, 24.5 km from the city centre. Airport express buses now connect the airport with the city, serving Xiaoxi Gate (小西门), Wujiaba (巫家坝), Xin Luosiwan (新螺蛳湾), Chenggong New District (呈贡新区), the South Passenger Terminal, the West Passenger Terminal, Kunming Railway Station and several other points. A taxi from the city centre to Changshui Airport costs around ¥100 and takes about an hour. A metro line runs from the airport to the East Passenger Terminal, taking 30 minutes with a fare of ¥8. From the East Passenger Terminal, you can transfer to a bus to the city centre, which takes about an hour and costs ¥2. ### By Rail One of the “Eighteen Oddities of Yunnan” is “the train is no faster than the bus,” which refers to the fact that complex terrain and winding tracks mean trains take longer. In recent years, however, Kunming’s rail network has developed rapidly, and the “eight routes out of the province, five routes out of the country” integrated transport network is taking shape, making train the most convenient and easiest way in and out of Kunming. Kunming Station is the city’s central station, with trains heading to Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou and other destinations. South Kiln Railway Station has trains to Dali, Yuxi and other places every day. ### By Road Kunming has five main passenger stations: East, South, West, North and Northwest. They run coaches on various schedules to destinations inside and outside the province. ### Long-Distance Bus Stations and Destinations ### Getting Around the City ### Buses Kunming’s bus network is extensive, with rapid transit lines, urban routes and suburban routes. Basic urban fares are ¥1–2, while fares for far-suburban routes are ¥10–20. Buses generally run from 6:00 to 22:00. ### Metro Kunming Metro Lines 1–6 are now open, with a minimum fare of ¥2. - **Railway Station Express** — Route: Changshui International Airport → Kunming Railway Station - **High-Speed Rail Express** — Route: Changshui International Airport → Kunming South High-Speed Railway Station - **Kunming Airport Customer Service** — - **Airport Express Service Hotline** — - **West Bus Station** — (18 Yining Road, Xishan District) - **Northwest Bus Station** — (Intersection of Chenjiaying Road and Xiaotun Road, Wuhua District) - **North Bus Station** — (Baoyun Road, Panlong District) - **South Bus Station** — (Next to Xin Luosiwan Trade City, Caiyun North Road, Guandu District) - **East Bus Station** — (Between Honghua Interchange and Liangmiansi Interchange, East Third Ring Road, Panlong District) ## Eat & drink Dian cuisine's absence from the Eight Great Cuisines is not without reason. Dian cooking and ingredients are eclectic and rooted in everyday street flavours, but historically there was little systematic development of official-style cuisine or formal banquet formats. Kunming's snacks, however, are well worth noting. ### Local Specialties 1910 Huoche Nanzhan (1910 South Railway Station). Step inside and you feel the charm of bygone days: dusty railway tracks, antique gramophones and black-and-white photographs. The food is authentic Yunnan fare; recommended dishes include stir-fried shrimp with millet chilli, Jintiao Xidoufen (thin bean-flour porridge), old-style mashed potatoes and spicy-numbing pig's trotters. Prices are lower than those of other famous restaurants, though the location is a little tricky to find. - address: Unit 5B101, Park 1903 Xiangjie, Qianwei West Road, Xishan District - phone: 0871-63169486 ### Specialty Food Streets ### Vietnamese Rice Rolls Kunming is the place to try Vietnamese rice rolls. Near Deshengqiao and along Jinbi Road, once the main settlement of Vietnamese overseas Chinese, plane-tree-lined streets shelter several Vietnamese-run food shops selling nothing but Vietnamese rice rolls. The meticulously hand-rolled parcels and distinctive dipping sauces have also won over local Kunming residents. - **Mixian (Rice Noodles)** — A beloved staple of Kunming people and a must-try when you visit. Top pick is Guoqiao Mixian (crossing-the-bridge rice noodles); small-pot rice noodles, stir-fried rice noodles, claypot rice noodles, cold rice noodles and braised rice noodles are also worth a mention. - **Edible Mushrooms** — Yunnan's distinctive mountain delicacies; the period just before and after the rainy season is the best time to eat mushrooms. - **Yunnan Ham** — A cured meat; the finest ham comes from the Xuanwei area. - **Erkuai (Rice Cake)** — A rice-based snack. - **Shiping Tofu** — Tofu set with local sour water, its distinctive flavour setting it apart. - **Guanxing Road Wild Mushroom Street** — Coming to Kunming without trying wild mountain mushrooms is unthinkable! Order half a portion of each variety and sample several kinds. The broth at the bottom of the pot is wonderfully savoury, so be sure to have a few bowls. Guanxing Road has wild mushroom hotpot restaurants one after another; Yejunyuan and Yuanlin Wild Mountain Mushroom are recommended. - **Yejunyuan (Guanxing Road Flagship)** — (No. 185 Guanxing Road, Guandu District (opposite the Yinhai Garden entrance), 0871-67167476) - **Yikeyin (Dongfeng West Road Branch)** — An authentic Dian restaurant. Its signature steamed chicken in casserole is rich and fragrant, so delicious it might bring tears. Mixed-mushroom erkuai and bamboo-raft grilled fish are also worth recommending. (Nos. 18–19 Jixiang Lane, Dongfeng West Road, Wuhua District, 0871-63982355) - **Congshuilu Pu'er Eco Restaurant** — A good-value, rustic Pu'er-style restaurant with a countryside feel. Most dishes are sour and spicy and appetising, so those who love strong flavours will be thoroughly satisfied. (Shop B3B4, Level 1, Fuxiang Mall, Jinbi Road, Huguo Street Office, 199885786681) - **North Gate Food & Entertainment Street** — Nearly 500 metres of street lined entirely with restaurants, from upscale to roadside stalls, bringing together the flavours of 26 ethnic groups. Recommended: 'ice-snow beef', considered one of Kunming's finest. M60 Creative Park: formerly the Kunming Storage Battery Factory, it is now a hotspot for artsy young people. Its most eye-catching feature is the walls covered in graffiti, much loved by young people. - **Ziyun Qingniao** — The name 'Ziyun Qingniao' (Purple Cloud Bluebird) sounds upscale and artsy on first hearing, yet it never feels one-dimensional. - **Chuangku** — Chuangku was once the production workshop of the Kunming Machine Tool Factory and is now an art space far removed from the glitz of the city. The buildings look somewhat weathered and desolate, yet the bleakness carries a touch of untamed pride! ## Nightlife Kundu is one of the areas with the highest concentration of entertainment venues: slow-rock bars, KTV parlours and more fill the night with lively energy. The Jinma Biji Fang area is packed with leisure venues popular with Kunming's young people. Around Cuihu Lake there are many distinctive bars; drinks are relatively pricey by local standards, but they have plenty of character. ### Snacks Li Ji Hekou Old Brand Vietnamese Rice Rolls (Social-Media Hotspot) - address: No. 76 Dongjiawan Road - phone: 15912494781 ### Chinese Restaurants ### Foreign-Flavour Restaurants CANTINA Yilaofuzi: a very authentic Italian pizzeria in Kunming and one of the go-to spots for dates and meals out. It gets busy at mealtimes, yet is not too noisy; the setting is pleasant, the owner is friendly, and there is live music from a resident singer. - address: Ground Floor, Building 11, Banzhu Cuiyuan, No. 9 Hongshan East Road - phone: 18088271192 ### Kunming's Hangout for Stylish Urbanites - **Douxiangyuan (Longxiang Branch)** — Red bean rice for just ¥8; douhua shengyang and douhua mixian (bean curd rice noodles) are also delicious. These innovative Yunnan snacks are immensely popular. (No. 15 Longxiang Street) - **Manuo (Wenhua Lane Branch)** — Specialising in home-style Yunnan-Sichuan dishes, including bean curd with pork slices, dried beef jerky (ganba), double-flower milk cheese and old-style potatoes. After your meal, take a stroll nearby; the scenery is lovely. (No. 76, Attached Unit 15, Wenhua Lane, Wuhua District, 0871-65369399) - **Dingji Noodle House (Fenghuang Branch)** — A noodle shop that has been open in Kunming for 30 years, cheap, generously portioned and unrivalled in flavour. 'Good wine needs no bush' fits this noodle shop perfectly. (No. 46 Fenghuang Village, Beijing Road) - **Wenhua Lane** — Its signatures are exotic charm and a distinctive food culture: Western coffee, Korean barbecue, Japanese cuisine and, of course, authentic Kunming snacks. People from around the world come here to chat, stroll, dine and sunbathe. - **Jingxing Street** — This century-old street lies quietly in the city centre. Like Beijing's Liulichang, Lijiang's Sifang Street or Dali's Foreigners' Street, it is a calling card of the city, witnessing Kunming's history and vicissitudes. It has the greatest number of preserved Kunming residences: a treasure trove for stylish shoppers, a place where locals browse knick-knacks, a children's zoo and botanical garden, and a paradise for snack lovers. ## Shopping Apart from tobacco, Kunming has many other things worth noting, such as Bantong (mottled bronze) handicrafts, Yunzi, Yunnan Baiyao, sanqi, tianma, and jade and jadeite. ### Recommended Shopping - **Flower and Bird Market** — Kunming's most bustling market for flowers, birds, fish and insects, now also a wholesale market for jadeite, jade and folk items. (Zhengyi Road) - **Dounan Flower Market** — The largest flower trading market in Yunnan Province and in Asia; stepping inside feels like entering an ocean of flowers. - **Nanping Street** — A historic commercial street in Kunming, once the financial, commercial and entertainment hub of the city, and still very popular today. - **Kunming Old Street** — The most authentic old district in central Kunming. It comprises six streets and ten lanes, preserving a large number of Qing and Republican-era residences and old shops, making it the best place to experience the city's history and culture. - **Nanqiang Lanes** — A street for food lovers: half of it is eateries, half is a creative market. Kunming's specialty snacks and time-honoured brands are all here. - **Xiangyun Street** — The street, over 400 metres long, is mainly devoted to dining. The northern section, with Dadian Garden, the Feihu Lou Theme Restaurant and Xiangyun Guild Hall, and the southern section, with Xiangyun Food City and Yunhexiang Restaurant, will leave visitors eager to sample Yunnan's local cuisine with their mouths glistening with flavour. - **Zhuanxin Market** — A trendy market that serves as a living illustrated guide to Yunnan's vegetables and snacks. It's the perfect place to sample a wide range of Yunnan's cuisine in a short time, with specialties from every prefecture gathered in one spot. ## Where to stay In Kunming, a mid-sized city geared toward tourism, you won't have to search very hard for accommodation. Everything from luxury five-star hotels to basic guesthouses is available, so travellers can choose according to their budget and needs. i-Ye Dajiaoshi International Youth Hostel is not in the city centre, but it is very close to Kundu Night Market and Green Lake Park, and it has become a gathering place for travellers. The owners are three true “donkeys” (the Chinese slang for seasoned backpackers), so you can pick up a wealth of practical travel tips from them. - address: No. 23 Zhuantang Road, Wuhua District - phone: 0871-64103777 - **Kaili International Boutique Hotel (Wanda Plaza Branch)** — Located right beside Wanda Plaza, so it's easy to find, and you'll have no shortage of places to eat, drink and have fun nearby. (Ground-floor lobby, Building 2, Wanda Plaza International Serviced Apartments, No. 668 Qianxing Road, 0871-68133600/68133500) ## Things to see - **Dianchi National Tourist Resort** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours Open all day; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dianchi-national-tourist-resort - **Western Hills Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission 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; Opening hours 8：30—17：30; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/western-hills-scenic-area - **Jinma Biji Archways** (★★★★): Opening hours Open all day; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jinma-biji-archways - **Green Lake Park** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 6：30—22：00 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/green-lake-park - **Yunnan University** (★★★): Admission Free — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yunnan-university - **Yunnan Ethnic Village** (★★★): Admission ¥90; Opening hours 9：00—21：45; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yunnan-ethnic-village - **Dynamic Yunnan Performance** (★★★): Admission Category C ¥220; Category B ¥300; Category A ¥400; VIP ¥520; Opening hours Monday to Sunday (20:00–21:00) — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dynamic-yunnan-performance - **Guandu Ancient Town** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours Open all day; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/guandu-ancient-town - **Daguan Tower** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 8：00—17：00; Time needed 3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/daguan-tower - **Yunnan Military Academy Former Site** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 9:00–17:10 (closed Mondays); Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yunnan-military-academy-former-site - **Black Dragon Pool Park** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 8：00—18：00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/black-dragon-pool-park - **Jiaochang Middle Road** (★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jiaochang-middle-road - **Xundian Beidaying Grassland** (★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 0.5 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xundian-beidaying-grassland - **Yunnan Provincial Museum** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 9:00–17:00 (closed Mondays); Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yunnan-provincial-museum - **East and West Pagodas** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 9：00—19：00; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/east-and-west-pagodas - **Yuantong Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥6; Time needed 2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yuantong-temple - **Kunming Metro Line 4** (★★★): Admission Free — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/kunming-metro-line-4 - **Chenggong Dayu Park** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 8：30—24：00 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/chenggong-dayu-park - **Laoyu River Wetland Park** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 8：30—19：00; Time needed 3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/laoyu-river-wetland-park - **Kunming Zoo** (★★★★): Admission ¥20; Opening hours 8：00—18：00 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/kunming-zoo ## Day trips & beyond - **Jiaozi Snow Mountain** (★★★★): Admission Full-day package: ¥315 (includes admission, round-trip ticket for the Xinshan Pass cable car, round-trip shuttle bus ticket and round-trip ticket for the Xiapingzi cable car); Standard package: ¥235 (includes admission, round-trip ticket for the Xinshan Pass cable car and round-trip shuttle bus ticket); Opening hours 8：30—15：00; Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jiaozi-snow-mountain - **Stone Forest Scenic Area** (★★★★★): Admission ¥130; Time needed 3 hours or more — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/stone-forest-scenic-area - **Jiuxiang Scenic Area** (★★★★★): Admission ¥60; Dieheng Bridge Great Cableway ¥120 (round trip); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jiuxiang-scenic-area - **Bajie Town** (★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/bajie-town - **Fuxian Lake, Chengjiang** (★★★★): Admission Lucheng Scenic Area ¥15; Gushan Scenic Area ¥15; Moon Bay Wetland Park ¥30; Maotian Mountain Geopark ¥20; Cherry Blossom Valley Scenic Area free; Time needed 3+ hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/fuxian-lake-chengjiang - **Dongfengyun, Mile City** (★★★★): Admission Admission ¥60; sightseeing shuttle ¥15 one way or ¥20 round trip; Time needed 3+ hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dongfengyun-mile-city - **Luoping Rapeseed Flower Sea** (★★★★): Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/luoping-rapeseed-flower-sea - **Puzhehei** (★★★★): Admission Circuit sightseeing shuttle ¥92 per day; Swan Lake ¥85; Lotus Breeze Night Light ¥198; Qingqiu Mural Wall ¥128; boat tickets ¥80–260 depending on type; Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/puzhehei - **Bamei Shangri-La Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission Combo ticket ¥180 (includes admission, sightseeing shuttle and boat ride); Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/bamei-shangri-la-scenic-area - **Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥70; Time needed 3+ hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yuanyang-hani-rice-terraces-scenic-area - **Dongchuan Red Land** (★★★★): Time needed 3+ hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dongchuan-red-land - **Jianshui Ancient Town** (★★★): Admission Old town admission free; Jianshui combined ticket (Zhaoyang Tower + Zhu Family Garden + Xuezheng Examination Hall + Tuanshan Residences + Jianshui Confucius Temple) ¥100; Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jianshui-ancient-town - **Nuohei Village** (★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/nuohei-village --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 176–208. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.