Kunming Travel Guide

Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, is situated in the middle of Yunnan Plateau with an altitude of 6,300 feet. The city is skirted by mountains in three sides while to the south lies Dianchi Lake. Kunming is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan and the focal point of Yunnan minority culture.

The city’s population is made up mostly by Han Chinese as well as 26 ethnic minorities such as Yi, Bai, Miao, Dai and Hani. As one of the 24 famous historical and cultural cities in China, Kunming has a history of over 2,000 years. It long profited from its position as the gateway to the celebrated Silk Road on the caravan roads through to South-East Asia, India and Tibet.
 

Attractions

Kunming is well known for its beautiful and breathtaking natural landscape. A trip to Kunming is incomplete without visiting Stone Forest, the best known attractions with various strange and steep intricate stone pieces. Dianchi Lake, the pearl on Yunnan Plateau is a paradise for birds and good place to escape from the hustle and bustle city life. West Hill is a sleeping beauty mountain boasting an excellent environment with flourishing flowers and dense forest.

Besides the Natural landscapes, Kunming also has many historical cultural sites. Golden Temple, the largest copper temple in China is the most famous one. Qiongzhu Temple owes its fame to the colorful clay sculptures of the 500 Buddhist arhats. Village of Ethnic Culture is a great place to appreciate the colorful folklore and architectures of ethnic groups in Yunnan Province.

More Kunming Attractions>>
Black Dragon Pool, Grand View Tower, Yuantong Temple, Green Lake Park.
 

Transportation

As the capital of Yunnan, Kunming is the transport hub in the province which is easy to be accessed. Rail and air are the main two methods to travel to or from Kunming and the city is well served by numerous taxis and city buses. It is convenient to go to the many attractions in Yunnan from Kunming. Bicycle is a good way to enjoy the city scenery. More about Kunming Transportation>>
 

Weather

Kunming has a low-latitude monsoon climate with warm and comfortable weather all the year round. It never gets too clod in winter nor too hot in summer. The average annual temperature is about 15°C (59°F). January, the coldest month has an average temperature of 8°C (46.4°F) while July, the hottest with 18°C (64.4°F). The city gets abundant rainfall and the rainy season is from May to October. The mild climate makes the city a year round destination for travel. More about Kunming Weather>>
 

Food

Kunming cuisine tastes a bit salty and spicy with strong ethnic and local characteristics. Chicken and fish are used rather often in the dishes. The representative dishes are Over-the-Bridge Rice Noodles and Steam Pot Chicken. The fresh wild mushrooms in Kunming are famous all over China. Other famous local snacks and dishes include Xuanwei Ham, Er Kuai, Yiliang Roasted Duck and Stinky Tofu. More about Kunming Food>>
 

Restaurants

Generally speaking, the dining and drinking options are gathered at North Gate Food Street, Xingyuan Road, Dianchi Road and Guannan Dadao. Restaurants on North Gate Food Street offer food from all over China. Middle Guanshang Road is recommended for wild mushrooms while the snack street near the Xinan Dasha offers delicious local snacks. More about Restaurants in Kunming>>
 

Shopping

The handcrafts in Kunming are very famous and the representatives are ivory and woodcarvings. Bamboo handicrafts are especially popular. The unique ethnic products like Dai brocade and Dai bamboo basketry are excellent souvenirs. You are recommended to buy local products in Wal-Mart to avoid false special products. The Bird and Flower Market also offer pets, curios, artwork, handcraft, etc. More about Kunming Shopping>>
 
 

Nightlife

Kunming has abundant entertainment and ethnic festivals all the year round such as Kunming International Cultural Tourism Festival, the Temple Fair and the Torch Festival. The Yunnan ethnic folk dance is one of the most wonderful nightlife activities. You can also drink tea, eat snacks or go to bars, clubs and KTV. The best nightlife in Kunming can be found at KunDu, Cuihu Lake and Jinma Biji gate. More about Kunming Nightlife>>