Kunming

Kunming (昆明; Kūnmíng) is the capital of Yunnan Province in China. Known in China as the City of Eternal Spring, Kunming is at an almost-tropical latitude but with a 2000 m (6600 ft) altitude, which gives it a very temperate climate. However, in winter it has been known to snow, so if visiting in December–February, pack warm. Also, when it rains - it's cold.

In addition to its own charms, Kunming serves as a base from which to explore Yunnan Province. Some routes to or from Kunming are described in Hong Kong to Kunming overland. The most popular route within Yunnan runs north and west from Kunming, and is described in Yunnan tourist trail. Kunming is also the jumping off point for trips to the tropical paradise area Xishuangbanna down in southern Yunnan near the Laotian border.

Kunming Halal Explorer

Kunming is one of the most important transport hubs of Southwest China. It is well connected to the rest of China by road, rail and air and also has good air links to Southeast Asia and a few outside the region, such as Flights to Kolkata.

Some historic routes no longer exist. The old French-built railway to Vietnam is no longer in service, but a new railway along a similar route (Kuning to Hekou North 河口北), with regular passenger service, has been opened to replace it. There are also buses along that route, and a new High-speed rail in China|bullet train link all the way to Singapore via Vientiane is perennially under discussion. The Myanmar Road, which terminated in Kunming, no longer exists but there are newer and better roads over much of that route and rail over some of it.

Travel to Kunming

Kunming is well connected to anywhere in China or Southeast Asia and reasonably easy to reach from outside that region.

By Plane

Kunming Changshui International Airport IATA Flight Code: KMG has Flights from South-East Asian cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, as well as plenty of domestic connections throughout China. There are also a few flights outside the region, such as Amsterdam Schiphol, Kolkata and Delhi.

Changshui Airport is about 25 km north-east of the city area, and the old Wujiaba airport is no longer in use. Immigration can sometimes be congested. A taxi ride to the downtown will take roughly 30–40 minutes, at peak times you can expect to double this, as Kunming suffers major traffic congestion.

There is a Metro line (Line 6) running between the airport and the East Bus Station. East Bus Station provides a lot of bus services into the downtown within a short ride. The hours of operation for line 6 are from 07:00-19:00 daily. Trains are 5-10 minutes apart at peak times, and up to 30 minutes at other times. A single ride takes about 20 minutes, and costs ¥13. Line 6 is now connected with the other lines through Line 3. A single ride to central train station costs ¥11 as of June 2022.

Another transport option are shuttle buses named Airport Express. There are six lines with different operation times (~8AM Monday - midnight for most popular lines), single ride costs ¥25.

You can book air tickets from the Air China Office, Wallton Building, 448 Baoshan Jie (0871)3159171, from any number of travel agents in the King World Hotel a few blocks north of the train station on Beijing Lu, or from other agents around town. Tickets to Beijing are usually about ¥2600 to 2000, to Hong Kong about ¥2200 to 1500, with closer destinations getting ever cheaper as China's domestic carriers jostle for market share.

By Rail

Kunming Railway Station GPS 25.018128,102.720376, south of downtown, serves destinations throughout China including Hekou, Nanning, Guilin, Chengdu (Sichuan), Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an.

At the end of 2022, two new High Speed Rail lines opened. They come to the new Kunming South (Kunmingnan) Station GPS 24.920000,102.822051 which is 20 kilometers southeast of downtown, in one of the city's newly developed areas, and is connected with the downtown by a subway line. The two new high-speed lines connect Kunming to Guangzhou (9 hr) via Nanning, and to Shanghai (11½-12 hr, as compared to around 40 hours on a "conventional" train) via Guiyang, Changsha, Nanchang, and Hangzhou. Some trains continue directly to other major tourist destinations on China's high-speed train network, including Beijing (12 hr), Wuhan, Nanjing, Fuzhou and Xiamen.

The train service to destinations inside of Yunnan is still fairly limited. From Kunming Station there is an overnight sleeper train to Xiaguan (Dali New Town) and Lijiang. Another line (a new standard-gauge line) runs to Hekou (on the Vietnamese border, where one can cross the border and take a Vietnamese narrow-gauge train to Hanoi), via Jianshui and Mengzi. From the new Kunming South Station, one can go to cities along the Kunming-Nanning and Kunming-Guiyang high-speed line, or take a non-stop "commuter" train to Yuxi.

Kunming's third rail terminal, Kunming North (Kunmingbei) Station GPS 25.060003, 102.719851 the main hub of Yunnan's formerly grand narrow-gauge network, is mostly of interests to rail fans. As of 2023, most of its building has been converted to a railway museum (see below), while the working passenger station occupies one of the rooms of the building. From there, 3 trains a day run to destinations within Kunming's metropolitan area, thus offering you an affordable way to ride a meter-gauge train.

There are discussions underway about extending the Hekou line to Hanoi and possibly all the way to Singapore via Vientiane (completed) and Bangkok

Travel on a Bus

Kunming has moved its bus stations to the edge of the city in a bid to decrease traffic congestion. There are four bus stations for each of the cardinal directions (N,S,E,W). The general rule of thumb is you should go to the bus station in the direction you want to travel (e.g. if you are headed to Dali or Lijiang you will need to use the West Bus Station (Xibu Keyun Zhan); or if you are headed to Jinghong or Jianshui or Vientiane (Laos) you will need the South Bus Station).

The bus stations next to the train station are no longer long-distance bus stations.

The long distance buses are excellent - cheap, reliable, comfortable, however, overnight sleepers can be cold, bumpy and dirty, check out the bus before you buy the tickets.

There are international departures to Laos and Vietnam. The bus to Laos goes all the way from Kunming to Vientiane, and cost roughly 550,000 Laos#Money|kip or US$80 and last 38 hours if you go all the way. You can get off at stops in between like Luang Prabang or Udomxai (Oudomxai), and the cost of the ticket is comparative. From Vientiene to Luang Prabang there are also VIP night buses with reclining seats as well as several daily local buses. There is a better chance of getting the slightly more expensive sleeper if you book the day ahead. The buses will make rest stops at local restaurants with standard Lao squat toilets. From Vientiane to Luang Prabang is about 12 hours, from Luang Prabang to Udomsai is about 5 hours, and climbs up a mountain road with severe potholes and many scenic villages clinging to the side of the road. From Udomxai to Kunming, is claimed to be about 19 hours but leaves at 12:30 and arrives about 09:30 the next morning. The road on the China side of the border is several lanes wide with many tunnels and smooth pavement. There are many freelance money changers on the China side of the border; there is no bank or currency exchange at Kunming's South Bus Station.

Buses to Hekou and the border city on the Chinese side, leave regularly. There were night buses which allow you to leave Kunming at 20:00 and arrive at Hekou in time to cross the border as soon as it opens, but the bus only needs 7 hours now so times might have changed. The bus station in Hekou is about 3 km from the border crossing, and public buses go there. From there, you can take one of the many buses to Sapa, bus or train to Hanoi,or elsewhere. To reach the Eastern bus station from the train station, you can take bus 60 (¥2, ~30min).

Get Around

Kunming has generally good roads but they are often badly overloaded with traffic, and not only at peak times. By GCC standards and the driving is often appalling; see Driving in China. For any journey by ground transport, a generous allowance for traffic delays is good planning.

Bicycles can be rented at some hotels for about ¥20 a day. There are bike lanes along the edges of many major roads and traffic generally moves fairly slowly. In addition, a scheme in the Dianchi (lakeside) area of town provides bicycle rental as a public service, similar to schemes in Paris and London. However, registration is a prerequisite and it is unclear how accessible the system is to Foreign Muslims, particularly short-stay tourists.
A new metro system has been built, with more lines coming. Line 6 from the airport to eastern suburb was the first line to go into service, followed by Line 1 and Line 2 in April 2014, which temporarily combined as one line run from South to North through the downtown and via Kunming Railway Station. Line 3, an east-west line connecting to Line 6, was opened 2017.
City buses costs ¥2-2 per trip and cover most of the city. They operate from about 06:00 until late evening 21:30/22:00! (from first stop, which means, if you go from last stop, you can get bus also at 23:00 going back to first stop). They stop at every stop along their assigned route, but not all bus routes stop at all physical bus stops! Don't be surprised to see a bus driving right past a stop, as it may not be on their route. Stops are usually 500m to 1 km apart. Bus drivers are lead footed, and often race each other, especially on the ring roads. They tend to stop suddenly too, so get a good hand hold. Some of the bus stops are at the sides of the road but some bus stops are in the middle of the road and appear to have been designed to provide maximum inconvenience and danger for passengers. There have been reports of pickpockets on crowded buses, especially just before "Spring Festival", when people need extra cash. It is feasible to get a bus card, which reduces the cost per trip to ¥0.90. The card itself costs ¥20 and is bought at bus stations. Bus Nos. 52 and 67 run to the airport and may cost ¥2 depending on the bus and hour. Also some other buses cost ¥2. These usually go longer distances such as to "villages" around Kunming. Bus routes are marked on some local maps (purchased from street vendors or kiosks) but are not always accurate.
Taxis start at ¥14. Make sure the driver uses the meter to avoid being scammed. Sometimes, taxi drivers will ask for a flat fee, but you should avoid this, because usually such flat fees are much more expensive than using the meter for rides within the city. As usual, care should be taken when traveling at night or long distances. Larger taxis cost more than smaller taxis. Also be aware that taxis are zoned and cannot access all areas. Don't be surprised if a taxi driver cannot take you to your destination as it may be outside their zone. Only certain taxis are allowed into the central areas at certain times. This is to allow all taxis a chance at the lucrative business areas. It is especially difficult to get a taxi around 18:30, when taxi shifts switch and drivers need to return their cars. A fuel tax of ¥13 has been added to fares and is explained on a small sign on the dashboards of all taxis. Thus for each ride you'll have to add ¥13 to the meter reading to calculate your actual fare.

What to See

Kunming municipal pump house. As a result of droughts parching Yunnan and the reservoirs surrounding Kunming are of vital importance. The specter of Kunming's taps suddenly running dry is of great concern for residents. The two-room "History Museum of Kunming Water Supply" (昆明市自来水历史博物馆)is inside the Green Lake Park, and is housed in the building that once pumped 1,000 m³ of water daily from Green Lake's spring-fed Nine Dragon Pond (九龙池) and along a 9.5-km network of municipal water pipes. The pump station was completed in 1917 and started operating in 1918. It continued to be used until 1957. The current museum still contains what appear to be the two original French-made electric water pumps, along with a small collection of old photos and other curios, such as tokens that could be used to buy water from any of the more than 50 public water taps that were part of the system. The museum is inside the park's east gate, which is in the southeast of the park. Visitors walking through the gate will see the museum about 100 m directly ahead of them. Entry to the museum is free and it is open Wednesday through Sunday from 09:30-16:30.
Earth Forest - The Earth Forest in Yuanmou County in Chuxiong Prefecture is a scenic spot at the provincial level. Earth Forest, as a representative landscape in the county, comprises Xinhua, Bangguo, Wanbao and Tiger Leaping Beach, covering an area of 50 km². The Earth Forest came into being since geological movement and soil erosion one or two million years ago. Its shape looks like an immense forest and the main component is earth, so it is named Earth Forest. The Earth Forest and the Stone Forest in Kunming and the Colorful Sand Forest in Luliang are called “the Three Forests in Yunnan”.
Daguan Pavilion - 大观楼; Dàguānlóu; lit. Grand View Pavilion - Daguan Park in the western part of Kunming races the Dianchi Lake in the south and the Western Mountains in the west. The pavilion, with a history of more than three hundred years, is a three-floor square structure with flying eaves and golden-lacquered ornamentation. The top floor of the pavilion provides an all-embracing view of the vast Dianchi Lake and the peaks of the Western Mountains. A 180-character couplet is hanging down the pavilion, which is lauded as the number one couplet past and present. The Park is the most fascinating garden in urban Kunming.

Qiongzhu Temple - 筇竹寺; Qióngzhúsì; lit. Bamboo Temple - An amazing work of art hidden in a temple several kilometers up in the mountains encircling Kunming. For the most part, it is a normal temple, but in one room there is a series of sculptures that is an incredible work of art. A mixture of life-like figures in totally fantastical positions (man whose eyebrows grow down to the floor, monks riding giant fish), this is some trippy artwork that is worth the trip.
Tanhua Temple - 昙华寺; Tánhuàsì; commonly called Taohu Nunnery - built in 1634. According to historical records, before the temple was erected and there had been a thatched shack where Shi Shiqiao, a scholar of the Ming Dynasty, buried himself in books. Shi Tai, grandson of Shi Shiqiao, donated the estate for the shack whereon the temple was built.

In the backyard there was an epiphyllum tree, which is called tanhua in Chinese, hence the name. The temple went through many renovations during the Qing Dynasty. It is well-known for its flowers and plants. It has been a scenic spot for more than three hundred years, and an epitome of Kunming, the Flower City of the Southern Frontier. The epiphyllum tree was planted in the side court of the depository of Buddhist Scriptures. There is a stone tablet on which four characters are carved The Epiphyllum Brings Luck. After the erection of the temple and the original epiphyllum withered and died. The epiphyllum now standing taller than the eaves of the temple sprang from the root of the original one at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, and is about three hundred years old. It bursts into flowers in mid-summer. The big loquat tree in the backyard is said to have been planted in the early Ming Dynasty.

In the South Garden there are flowers and rockeries with winding paths among the flowers and the zigzagging corridor surround the Lotus Pond, where you can watch fish. The East Garden is shaded by tall cedars and cypresses and include seven smaller gardens and a Children's Playground.

The old temple has resumed its original grandeur. It has become one of the most famous scenic spots in Kunming.

Yuantong Temple - 圆通寺; Yuántōngsì - At the foot of Yuantong Hill in the northern part of Kunming

With a history of more than 1,200 years, Yuantong Temple is the grandest and most important Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province. King Yimouxun of the Nanzhao Kingdom built the temple in late eighth century. The restorations from the Qing Dynasty onward has not changed the unique mixed architectural style of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.

Unlike all other Buddhist temples, you enter Yuantong Temple from above and descend along a gently sloping garden path. A memorial archway with four Chinese characters is standing halfway. The temple complex is built around Yuantong Hall, which is surrounded by a very large pond. A delicate stone bridge which has an elegant octagonal pavilion stands in the center and connects the hall and the temple entrance. The pavilion is connected to the rest of the complex by various bridges and walkways.

Sakymuni, Amitabha and the Medicine Buddha, all Yuan Dynasty statues, are found in the main hall. The surrounding 500 Buddhist Arhats which are carved in the walls are noted for their perfect proportions and lively appearances. Also in this temple hall are two ten metre high pillars from the Ming Dynasty, each engraved with a dragon trying to extend their bodies and claws into the air. Outside, on each side of the main hall there are stone staircases carved out of the mountainside and wind their way to the top of the hill. There are ancient inscriptions along the way and various stone artworks considered the most important historical relics in Kunming. From the top of the stairs, you are presented with a terrific panoramic view of the entire complex. In 1982, Thai Buddhists sent a 3.5 metre copper statue of Sakymuni, which is now placed in the Copper Buddha Hall combining Chinese and Tai styles.

Surrounding the temple pond are a series of halls where you will find old women praying, people sitting and chatting, ongoing classes in Buddhist scriptures, a magnificent calligraphy studio, an exhibit of temple photographs, a temple shop, a restaurant and more.

Yuantong Temple is a real working temple. Buddhists from many different countries come here on pilgrimages to pay homage. There are special Buddhist services twice each month, and the Buddhist Association of Yunnan Province is also here, making it a centre of Buddhism in Yunnan.

Museums

Yunnan University Wu Mayao Museum of Anthropology - 云南大学伍马瑶人类学博物馆 - Fascinating museum with an impressive collection of minority and Han artifacts from around Yunnan. Highlights include painted wooden torso armor of the Yi people, fearsome warriors of a traditionally caste society who historically controlled the mountainous region between Sichuan and Yunnan and whose queen was instrumental in negotiating the entry in to Yunnan of the Mongol Horde at the dawn of the Yuan Dynasty, ushering in the first real period of Han control thus beginning the widespread Sinification in Yunnan Province. Unfortunately the showy modern glass presentation makes photography of some artifacts rather difficult.
Kunming Zoology Museum - 昆明动物博物馆; Kūnmíng Dòngwù Bówùguǎn - Anybody interested in Yunnan's animals through the ages could spend a couple of hours here. The museum is adjacent to, and indeed shares a compound with, a university science campus. The exhibits are arranged on five floors starting with dinosaurs, fossils and skeletons on the ground floor and working up to a tropical rain forest replica on the uppermost floor. There are sections with preserved fish and amphibians, stuffed animals and preserved insects. The exhibits seem to concentrate on creatures that are, or were, to be found in Yunnan. Most exhibits are labelled in English and Chinese but the longer explanations and information boards are generally Chinese only. Overall it is a pleasant, clean, museum with the exhibits well presented and usually well lit. It is not really an interactive museum; there is plenty to point at and peer at but not much to do. There is a small table offering mementos for sale but otherwise no shop. Nor is there any onsite catering.
Yunnan Military Academy - 云南陆军讲武堂; - The museum is in three sections with bilingual information boards and artefact labels.
Yunnan Railway Museum - 云南铁路博物馆; Yúnnán Tiělù Bówùguǎn - This is a smallish museum dedicated to the various narrow gauge railways constructed to link Yunnan with other places. These railways were brought into existence principally through French-Chinese collaboration but the equipment originated in various countries. The museum is in two sections: The first contains maps, documents, models, information boards and small artifacts. The information boards and artifact labels are generally in Chinese and English, but many of the copies of original documents and annotated drawings are in French and Chinese. The second section of the museum houses various locomotives and rolling stock. Non-commercial photography is permitted but, as both sections of the museum are poorly lit, a tripod might be useful. Railway enthusiasts can probably browse contentedly for an hour or two but small children and people with no interest in history or railways might find 15 minutes to be more than long enough.
Yunnan Provincial Museum - 云南省博物馆; Yúnnánshěng Bówùguǎn - A 3-storey museum containing artifacts from the past 2,500 years. The items presented are reasonably well lit and the interior is amazing. A slow stroll through the museum may take two hours. Descriptions are mainly given in Chinese. The permanent exhibitions are on the two upper floors, while the ground floor hosts temporary exhibitions.
Kunming City Museum - 昆明市博物馆; Kūnmíngshì Bówùguǎn - A simple museum whose main attraction is a central pillar taken from an old temple (now destroyed) and other relics from the Dian Kingdom (a tribute state of the Western Song dynasty). A large part of the museum is taken up by a series of shops selling fossils/minerals (many of the fossils are fakes) plus overpriced Chinese paintings, textiles, porcelains and some furniture.
Yunnan Nationalities Museum - 云南民族博物馆; Yunnan Minzu Museum | A simple museum whose main attraction is a central pillar taken from an old temple (now destroyed) and other relics from the Dian Kingdom (a tribute state of the Western Song dynasty). A large part of the museum is taken up by a series of shops selling fossils/minerals (many of the fossils are fakes) plus overpriced Chinese paintings, textiles, porcelains and some furniture.

Parks

Kunming Zoo - 昆明动物园; Kūnmíng Dòngwùyuán - The Zoo was built in 1953 and has over 300 species. There is a peacock garden, butterfly enclosure, aviary and aquarium. In spring the zoo is reputed to be a sea of flowers, in particular the blossom of cherry trees and weeping Chinese crab apple trees. Overall the zoo is a pleasant enough place but with a slight air of weariness and decay about it. The local residents also use it as a place for performing exercise or playing cards and mahjong.
Kunming Botanical Gardens - 昆明植物所; Kūnmíng Zhíwùsuǒ - These gardens are 12 kilometers from Kunming proper and, together with the Black Dragon Park, constitute a national scenic area. The gardens have introduced precious flowers, traditional medicinal herbs, important trees and endangered plants of the province. Also they have cultivated many plants for domestication and the protection of their migration. The gardens have collected some 4,000 species of plants and established 10 special plant gardens and experimental neighborhoods. The camellia garden is unique in the nation and has collected 40 species of camellias. Yunnan Province boasts more than 100 species of camellia. These gardens were one of the earliest gardens to collect the cedar.
Dianchi Lake - 滇池湖 (Diānchíhú); Plateau lake with improving scenery. Historically the a pearl on the Yungui Plateau and the ecosystem was severely damaged in the 1960s by conversion of wetland into farmland. Great efforts are made starting from the 1990s to reverse this damage. Today the northern tip of the lake is gated by a series of causeways. Trawlers are working around the clock to purify the water. Best place to see the lake is along Guang Jing Road (观景路). Here you can see tourists holding up Snacks to feed flyby seagulls, oppposite of the lake here is the Western Mountain. The lake proper is 40 by 8 kilometers and is 1,886 m above sea level. It is the largest lake in Kunming. Traditional fishing boats still sail on the lake.
Western Mountain Forest Reserve / Xishan Scenic Area - 西山森林公园 - The forest reserve on the west bank of the Dianchi Lake consists of the Huating, Taihua and Luohan Mountains, which extend for more than 40 kilometers at an altitude of 2,500 meters. This is a colossal natural forest reserve, its lofty chain of mountains crisscrossed by gurgling brooks and streams. Ancient trees heap up rich piles of foliage, and birds warble and flutter in the midst of fragrant flowers. Viewed from the southeast corner of Kunming and the entire forest reserve looks like a beautiful maiden reclining leisurely by the Dianchi Lake, her long hair quivering in the limpid water. Hence the nickname of the Western Mountains Forest Reserve peak, Sleeping Beauty. The easiest way to go here is by a gondola from behind the Kunming Ethnical Village, ¥110 for one-way ride, ¥130 for round-trip. You can trek down from the mountain if you want to save money.

The Dragon Gate (Longmen) is the most famous sight here, it is built on the steep rock hills, which was cut in the years from 1781. Entrance to the Dragon Gate is an additional ¥130, a golf cart ¥22.5, and the lift for ¥25. You can do it by foot as well. On March 3, every lunar year, hundreds of Kunming people crowd up to the hills for celebrating their traditional distinguished gathering called Spring Touring, dancing and singing on the green western hills.
Green Lake Park - 翠湖公园, Cuìhú Gōngyuán - near Yunnan University in the north western part of town A pleasant, smallish expanse of park and lake that serves as a mellow hang-out. Musicians sometimes training along the paths. Plenty of goldfish and lotus plants can be seen. In the mornings it is a popular place for people to perform their morning exercises. During December and January many seagulls arrive in the region and in the mornings many people feed the birds or photograph them as they swoop past to catch the thrown food. There are a number of Halal restaurants and tea shops near the lake and the northern edge is close to Wenlin Street where there are some Halal restaurants.
Yunnan Nationalities Village - 云南民族村; Yúnnán Mínzúcūn - Covering an area of about 133.3 ha. An ethnographic display of the architecture and ways of life of Yunnan's minority populations.
Jindian Park - 昆明金殿公园; Kūnmíng Jīndiàn Gōngyuán; lit. Kunming Golden Temple Park - The park, sprawling for more than 133.3 hectares on the Mingfeng Mountain, is a national forest reserve comprising natural scenery mingled with sites of historical interest and man-made gardens. Some 12% of the surface are lakes or ponds. On the Mingfeng Mountain stands the exquisite and serene Golden Temple, 6.7 meters in height and 7.8 meters in width, and cast of 250 tons of solid bronze. It is the largest bronze hall in China. The Expo Garden was constructed for the 1999 Kunming International Horticulture Exposition but is still in use and displays a wide variety of plants. It attracts many local residents who can buy annual tickets at a fraction of the cost charged to Foreigners, and is a popular site for wedding photographs.
Stone Forest 石林; Shílín 70km southeast of Kunming, about 2 hours by bus from Kunming East Bus station. GPS 24.9396708,103.3639758 Entry is pricey at ¥275 per person per day; ¥13 for Chinese only map.
This is a UNESCO listed site of remarkable karst geography. Good weekend or day trip and lots to see. Visit early to avoid crowds. It is not feasible to change currency at the sole local bank and their ATM often does not work. Very good Youth Hostel (¥260 for doubles) or can get room at the Summer Hotel inside the nature reserve for around ¥200 for good a/c double room.
Buses regularly leave from Kunming East Bus Station which is 20 kilometers outside of Kunming. The buses cost ¥134 one-way. They leave when full and drop you off at Shilin Bus Station which is a short walk from the visitors' centre, where you can buy tickets.
The visitors' centre is a short 20 min walk/1.8 kilometers from the park entrance, or you can take a golf buggy (¥25) to the front entrance (which also goes around the forest). The last bus from Shilin Bus Station leaves at around 18:00 for Kunming East Bus Station. To get back to the city of Kunming, take local bus K9 (¥2) or entertain yourself with negotiating a cheekily expensive fare with the taxi drivers at the taxi stand round the back of the bus station.
Jiuxiang Scenic Area - 昆明九乡风景区; Kūnmíng Jiǔxiāng Fēngjǐngqū - This scenic area is 20 km² and includes five tourist attractions, Diehong Bridge (5 kilometers southeast from Jiuxiang Street, famous for the karst caves and the twin waterfalls and the huge natural stone dam cluster), Dasha Dam (consisting of picturesque karst caves and thick forest), Sanjiao Cave (5 kilometers north of Jiuxiang Street, famous for the karst caves), Alu Long [a scenic area 6 kilometers west of Jiuxiang Street, famous for the excavated Yi Nationality cliff paintings of Qin (221BC-206BC) and Han (206BC-220AD) dynasties and Mingyue (meaning the bright moon) Lake. Jiuxiang is known as the museum of karst caves, which boasts its caves as the largest in scale and number (there are about a hundred karst caves) and has the most wonderful in-cave scenes in China. The caves in Jiuxiang fall into four cave clusters: Sanjiao Cave, Dashang Cave, Diehong Cave and Dasha Dam Cave. 66 out of the numerous caves in the area are profitably exploitable and the karst cave cluster is the largest of its kind on Yunnan-Guizhou plateau. The caves in the area are praised for their grandeur, wonder grotesquerie and natural beauty. Jiuxiang and the birthplace of the Indigenous People Yi ethnic people, has a strong minority custom color, a long cultural history, and widely spread old myths and tales. These include Hunting Festival and the Worship the White Dragon Festival, Love Song Contest, Bullfighting, Wrestling, Sanxian Dance (Sanxian is a three-stringed plucked instrument), Rattle Stick Dance and so on. Tourists should take enough clothes since they may get wet in boats when they visit the karst caves and the gorges. The folk songs and dances and the local food are also special. What is more, Yangzonghai Lake Scenic Spot and Little White Dragon Forest Park are not far from Jiuxiang Scenic Spot. Tourists can take buses at the gate of the Jiuxiang to go there.
Black Dragon Pool Park - 黑龙潭公园; Hei-long-tan Park - Hei-long-tan Park Black dragon Pool is a rare large garden, is the Kunming plum resort, known as the" Longquan exploration plum". The" Tang Mei" legend from Nanzhao transplant, with the tranquility Caoxi Temple" Yuan Mei" is considered to be Yunnan's most precious Gu Mei. The park features trees that are rare, not only because of their scarcity in the area, but also for their astounding age and size.
Bao Hai Park Hai Bao Park is in the southeast of the city of Kunming District, and China World Trade Center center adjacent to the north, South transit road, East and southeast by Wanxing, Yinhai Residential Garden West Road, treasure. It covers an area of 250 acres, is larger in Kunming modern city.
Dinosaur Valley at Lufeng opened at 2008. This is a national park displaying more than 70 full dinosaur skeleton fossils found in the area, scattered over the mountains about 75 kilometers away from Kunming. Many attractions for kids available. Regular buses go from Kunming's West bust terminal. Very nice for a half-day trip. Entry 120¥.

Top Travel Tips

Theaters

Kunming Art Theater - Dongfeng West Road (五华区东风西路; Wǔhuáqū Dōngfēngxīlù) Buses 10, 26, 52 and 82

Kunming Theater - 昆明剧院; Kūnmíngjùyuàn - 409 Qingnian Road (青年路409号; Qīngniánlù)

Other

Sunshine Golf Club - 昆明阳光高尔夫俱乐部 - Kunming-Qujing Highway, 6km - ☎ +86 871 8288999 +86 871 8288618, +86 871 8288619

China Kunming International Art Festival - 中国昆明国际艺术节 - Annual festival with live music, dance and art.

Shopping

Outdoor Equipment - As elsewhere in bigger cities close to mountainous regions, you can buy fairly good quality fake and overrun outdoor and camping gear in Kunming. See our China#Brand-name goods|China eHalal Travel Guide for background. Shops can be found in a courtyard at 20 Dongfeng East Road and on Baoshan Street close to the central square, as well as in the enormous garment neighborhood on the South Ring Road between the moat and Carrefour shopping centre (check basement and top stories, no self-respecting counterfeit vendor would sell on the main floor of a building). Bargain hard.
Local minority souvenirs, jade - Flower and bird market Refer to See section for directions
Equipment for Chinese games - In particular, Yunnan stones (云子) Yúnzǐ for the game of Go (Chinese: weiqi 围棋) are the best Chinese stones. They are quite different from Japanese stones, and much cheaper; see the Yunzi article on the go players' wiki, Sensei's Library. It is also feasible to visit the factory near Kunming. Boards and bowls are also available.
Mandarin Bookstore Has some English, French and German books. Has the Lonely Planet China guidebook, which is generally hard to find in China.
Xinhua Bookstore A typical large (2-storey) bookstore of the national Xinhua chain. A decent map section, with some local area maps available right near the entrance. There is a large space with chairs and tables to sit down and read, or to use your laptop.
Computer street - If you need some IT stuff. Pay attention to counterfeit, and whether international warranty is available.
Bicycles and accessories - A couple dozen of bicycle stores are concentrated within a couple blocks on the South Ring Road, just east from Zhenchi Lu. (Which means, a few blocks west of the Carrefour store). As of 2023 the stores are all next to each other, on the north side of the street, and carry bicycles priced from ¥1300-3000, as well as spare parts and accessories. Bicycles and some accessories are also sold in Wal-Mart and Carrefour stores around town.

Halal Food

Kunming is home to a small Muslim community, including Kazakhs, Uyghurs, Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Hui Muslims, who operate numerous Halal restaurants across Kunming.

A helpful tip: Most Muslim restaurants in China are painted green, a color often associated with Islam, making them easy to identify. Look for the “清真” (qīngzhēn) sign, which indicates Halal food.

Popular dishes to try include lamb skewers (kebabs), hand-pulled noodles (拉面, lāmiàn), dumplings (饺子, jiǎozi), and Uyghur-style rice pilaf (抓饭, zhuāfàn). Other must-tries are naan bread, spicy mutton stew, and barbecued fish, all showcasing the rich flavors of Muslim culinary traditions in Kunming.

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Internet & Phones

If you are arriving in China through Kunming, note that there is no telco store in the Kunming Changshui Airport.

Cope in Kunming

Visas

PSB - visa extensions - On Beijing Road near Jinbi Road. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00 ¥260. It takes five working days to get the visa extension.

Consulates in Kunming

Lao Consulate - 6800 North Caiyun Road (彩云北路6800号)

Royal Thai Consulate - 145 Dongfeng East Road 1st floor, South building, Kunming Hotel ☎ +86 871 3168916, +86 871 3149296

Malaysian Consulate 29, Dong Feng East Road 401-405, Sakura Hotel ☎ +86 871 316 5088

Vietnamese Consulate | 1 No. 155 Beijing Road No. 507, HongTa Mansion ☎ +86 871 3522669

Cambodian Consulate - 172 Xinying Road 4th floor, Guanfang Hotel ☎ +86 871 3317320

News & References

Travel Next

Visit the thermal spas (Muslim Friendly) at Anning - 34 km from Kunming.
The West Hills (西山 Xi Shan) provide a good view of the city and have a few ancient Daoist (Taoist) caves of sculptures. Take bus #5 West to the end of the route and then Bus #6 or a shuttle van. In total the trip should take no more than an hour and a half. From the #6 bus stop either take a shuttle van up to the main gate or walk about 3 hours. There is an entrance fee to the grottos (¥130).
Travel further north-west to the old towns of Dali (4 hours) or Lijiang (8 hours), both very popular with foreign tourists. See Yunnan tourist trail for discussion.
Fuxian lake - one of cleanest and deepest lakes in China (hard to believe when you see how local residents wash their motorbikes on the beach). One hour by bus from Kunming. Great one day trip. In Kunming get to South bus station (buses 170, 156; taxi ¥110), really far from downtown. Regular buses to Chengjiang (澄江) for ¥25- ¥20 every hour. There you can take local transport/taxi to lake or walk. Lake is 3–4 km far from Chengjiang bus station. Last bus back to Kunming at 19:00. You also can camp on the beach, recommended not too close to city. Lake is huge, clear, beautiful! You can walk around within a weekend or just a half, to South end of lake there are also villages with transport to Kunming.
The tin-mining center of Gejiu and the historic towns of Shiping, Mengzi, and (most impressive of all) Jianshui, and the Yuanyang Rice terrace all lie to the south.
Yuanmou - buses can be taken to here will allow you to explore the Earth Forest.

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