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Kunming - the Spring City of eternal mild weather and the gateway of Yunnan - is the natural first stop of the province. The Stone Forest of the Ashima legend, the karst caves of Jiuxiang, the winter red-billed gulls of Green Lake, the Dianchi shore with the Xishan Dragon Gate above it, the Golden Horse and Jade Rooster archways and the world's biggest flower market make up the city's classics. The field guide budgets RMB 1,000-1,600 for a 3-day visit. This guide carries the tickets, opening hours, buses and the day-loop routes from the guide, so you can plan it yourself or have our team arrange it end to end.
The karst forest of the Ashima legend - RMB 175 (students RMB 100), open all day, with the coaches from the east bus terminal every 10-15 minutes 06:00-19:20.
The winter red-billed gulls from Siberia crowd the lake from November to March - free entry, 07:00-23:00, and the bread stalls by the shore.
The cliff galleries above Dianchi - RMB 40 in season / RMB 30 low, 08:00-18:30, buses 3/4/62/98/107.
The two archways of the old centre - free, best at dusk; the 'golden light meeting' of the sun and moon is the 60-year legend.
The world's biggest flower market - the bouquets of the province at the wholesale prices; the Flower and Bird Market on Jingxin Street for the city stalls.
The airport train - 09:00-18:00 every 25 minutes, 23 minutes, RMB 5; the easy arrival of the Spring City.
The karst towers of the Ashima legend.
The winter birds of the Spring City.
The lake and the Dragon Gate above it.
The markets of the province.
The field guide budgets RMB 1,000-1,600 for 3 days. One day for the Stone Forest (or Jiuxiang), one for the city loop - Green Lake, the Military Academy, the archways and the Flower and Bird Market - and one for Dianchi, Xishan and the flower market; five days adds the Expo Garden and the eastern routes.
Kunming is the Spring City - mild all year. The famous red-billed gulls arrive in November and stay to March; the azaleas and the camellias flower through the winter and spring.
Coaches from the east bus terminal every 10-15 minutes, 06:00-19:20, about 90 minutes; the entrance is RMB 175 (students RMB 100) and the park is open all day.
RMB 100 (from RMB 70 after 14:00, students RMB 50), 08:00-18:00, buses 47/69/71/95 - the gardens of the 1999 World Horti-Expo, less crowded now and pleasant in spring.
The crossing-bridge rice noodles (guo qiao mi xian) are the icon; the wild mushroom hotpot, the steam-pot chicken, the ham of Xuanwei and the 'monks' jumps over the wall' of the local restaurants complete the list - prices are lower than the coast.
Metro Line 6 runs 09:00-18:00 every 25 minutes, 23 minutes to the city at RMB 5; the airport buses and the taxis are the alternatives.
Yes - email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team books the Stone Forest tour, the Xishan cableway, the Expo tickets, the hotels and the onward Yunnan trains, free of charge.
The gulls, the lake, the dragon gate and the old centre in a day. View the plan →
Green Lake and the winter gulls in the morning, the Yunnan Military Academy and the Flower and Bird Market at noon, the Xishan Dragon Gate above Dianchi in the afternoon, and the Golden Horse and Jade Rooster archways lit at dusk.
The karst forest, the caves and the lake - the complete first visit. View the plan →
The Stone Forest - the morning coach from the east bus terminal, the karst towers of the Ashima legend, and the evening return.
The city loop - Green Lake, the Military Academy, the Flower and Bird Market and the archways at dusk.
Dianchi and Xishan - the Haigeng Park shore, the Dragon Gate cliff galleries, then the Dounan flower market for the bouquets.
All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Kunming itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.
The karst forest of the Ashima legend - RMB 175 (students RMB 100), open all day; coaches from the east bus terminal every 10-15 minutes 06:00-19:20.
View details →The city lake of the winter red-billed gulls - free, 07:00-23:00, with the Yunnan Military Academy on its west side.
View details →The great lake of Kunming - the Haigeng Park shore at RMB 8, the wind and the water birds, and the start of the Xishan ascent.
View details →The cliff galleries carved above Dianchi - RMB 40 in season / RMB 30 low, 08:00-18:30; buses 3/4/62/98/107.
View details →The two archways of the old centre - free, best at dusk; the 'golden light meeting' of the sun and the moon is the 60-year legend.
View details →The cave system of the 'karst museum' - the underground terraces, the canyons and the waterfall hall, on the way to Yiliang.
View details →The Beiyang military school at 22 Cuihu West Road - free, 09:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30), no photographs inside.
View details →The gardens of the 1999 Expo - RMB 100 (from RMB 70 after 14:00, students RMB 50), 08:00-18:00; buses 47/69/71/95.
View details →The world's biggest flower market - the bouquets of the province at the wholesale prices, best visited in the afternoon.
View details →More in the region on the Yunnan attractions page.
November-March - the red-billed gulls of Green Lake and Dianchi, fed from the shore and the hired boats.
Winter-spring - the camellia of the Black Dragon Pool and the azaleas of the parks.
The markets and the horse fairs of the surrounding counties through the spring.
June-September - the wild mushrooms of Yunnan at the markets and the hotpots.
Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Yunnan hotels directory.
The hotels around Green Lake put the gulls and the old town at the door - mid-range rooms from about RMB 200-400.
The old-town quarter near Jingxin Street - the lively budget choices of the centre.
The resorts of the Haigeng shore - the lake views and the quiet of the water, from about RMB 300.
The practical pick for the onward trains - the budget chains around the Kunming station.
The hotels on Metro Line 6 for the early flights - the easy night before the departure.
The icon of Kunming - the boiling broth, the raw slices and the noodles, assembled at the table; from about RMB 15-30 a bowl.
The summer speciality - the boletus and the other mushrooms of Yunnan in the clear broth, from about RMB 60 per head.
The chicken steamed in the ceramic pot - the classic of the province, at the old restaurants.
The cured ham of the region - the 'king of Yunnan ham', sliced for the table or taken home.
The street food of the old quarter - the grilled skewers, the rice cakes and the fruit sold by the kilo.
The bouquets of the world's biggest flower market - shipped home or carried in the hand luggage.
The pu-erh of the province and the flower teas - the shops of the old quarter and the tea markets.
The take-home food of Yunnan - the ham, the dried boletus and the mushroom sauces.
The silver of Dali, the tie-dye of Zhoucheng and the brocades of the hill peoples at the old-quarter shops.
The antiques, the pets, the stones and the curios of Jingxin Street - the great Sunday market of the old town.
Full local-product guides live on the Yunnan specialties page.
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The karst towers of the Ashima legend in a day from the city.
The underground terraces and the canyon of the karst museum.
The lake shore, the Dragon Gate and the flower market.
Kunming sits at about 1,900 m - most visitors feel nothing, but the sun is strong; wear the hat and the sunscreen.
The Spring City can be warm at noon and cool by evening - carry the light layer all year.
The red-billed gulls fly south for the winter - the summer visitors miss them.
The markets sell by the jin (half-kilo) - the fruit and the flowers are the bargains of the province.
The National Day and Spring Festival weeks fill the Dali and Lijiang trains - book the tickets early.
No photographs inside the halls of the Yunnan Military Academy - the guards are strict.
The city tourism information at www.kmta.gov.cn.
The airport information for the flights and the Metro Line 6.
The station information for the Yunnan trains.
The Stone Forest coaches - every 10-15 minutes, 06:00-19:20.
The big hospitals of the city - the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University for the emergencies.
Kunming's mild climate - an average of about 15°C across the year - earned it the name of the Spring City; the flowers bloom through all four seasons.
The karst forest is the home of Ashima, the girl of the Sani legend who turned to stone waiting for her lover - the story of every brochure.
The Yunnan Military Academy at Green Lake trained the officers of the early republic - the 'Whampoa of the southwest'.
Yunnan grows more than half of China's cut flowers - the Dounan market is the world's biggest flower trading floor.
Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Kunming trip lives on the site.
Star-rated sight details — hours, tickets, phones and tips for every Yunnan attraction.
Browse Yunnan sightsStar-rated hotels across Yunnan — sorted by rating, all bookable by our team.
Book a Yunnan hotelLocal products, crafts and foods of Yunnan — where to find each one.
Browse Yunnan specialtiesLicensed agencies with addresses, phones and booking contacts.
Find a Yunnan agencyMore city and region guides across China, including the Yunnan guide.
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