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The stone forest of Kunming, Yunnan
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Kunming Travel Guide — the Spring City - the Stone Forest, the red-billed gulls of Green Lake, the Dianchi shore and the flower markets

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.

KunmingStone ForestGreen LakeDianchiXishanJiuxiangflower marketYunnan
3 DaysThe classic 3 days cover the Stone Forest, the city parks and the Xishan-Dianchi loop
RMB 1,000-1,600Meals and hotels are cheaper than the first-tier cities - fruit and produce sell by the kilo
Year-roundThe Spring City - warm winters, mild summers; the red-billed gulls crowd Green Lake from November to March
Free Booking HelpHotels, tickets & tours by our team
What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Kunming Bucket Listthe stone forest, the gulls, the lake and the flowers

01

See the Stone Forest

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.

02

Feed the gulls of Green Lake

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.

03

Ride the Xishan Dragon Gate

The cliff galleries above Dianchi - RMB 40 in season / RMB 30 low, 08:00-18:30, buses 3/4/62/98/107.

04

Walk the Golden Horse & Jade Rooster

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.

05

Buy the flowers of Dounan

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.

06

Take the Metro Line 6 to the airport

The airport train - 09:00-18:00 every 25 minutes, 23 minutes, RMB 5; the easy arrival of the Spring City.

Top Highlightsthe spring city classics

No.1The Stone Forest

The Stone Forest

The karst towers of the Ashima legend.

No.2Green Lake & the gulls

Green Lake & the gulls

The winter birds of the Spring City.

No.3Dianchi & Xishan

Dianchi & Xishan

The lake and the Dragon Gate above it.

No.4The flowers

The flowers

The markets of the province.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Kunming

How many days do I need in Kunming?

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.

What is the best season?

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.

How do I get to the Stone Forest?

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.

Is the Expo Garden worth it?

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.

What is there to eat?

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.

How is the airport transport?

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.

Can ToursChinaTravel arrange my Kunming trip?

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.

Sample Itinerariesthe city loop, the stone forest and the five-day Yunnan gateway

Kunming 1-Day City Loop: Green Lake, Xishan & the Archways

The gulls, the lake, the dragon gate and the old centre in a day. View the plan →

Day 1

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.

Kunming 3-Day Stone Forest & Dianchi

The karst forest, the caves and the lake - the complete first visit. View the plan →

Day 1

The Stone Forest - the morning coach from the east bus terminal, the karst towers of the Ashima legend, and the evening return.

Day 2

The city loop - Green Lake, the Military Academy, the Flower and Bird Market and the archways at dusk.

Day 3

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.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

The Stone Forest

The Stone Forest

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.

RMB 175 · All day · Karst · UNESCO
View details →
Green Lake (Cuihu)

Green Lake (Cuihu)

The city lake of the winter red-billed gulls - free, 07:00-23:00, with the Yunnan Military Academy on its west side.

Free · 07:00-23:00 · Lake · Gulls
View details →
Dianchi & Haigeng Park

Dianchi & Haigeng Park

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.

RMB 8 · Daylight hours · Lake · Park
View details →
Xishan Dragon Gate

Xishan Dragon Gate

The cliff galleries carved above Dianchi - RMB 40 in season / RMB 30 low, 08:00-18:30; buses 3/4/62/98/107.

RMB 40 · 08:00-18:30 · Cliff · Viewpoint
View details →
The Golden Horse & Jade Rooster Archways

The Golden Horse & Jade Rooster Archways

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.

Free · All day · Archways · Landmark
View details →
Jiuxiang Karst Caves

Jiuxiang Karst Caves

The cave system of the 'karst museum' - the underground terraces, the canyons and the waterfall hall, on the way to Yiliang.

Not published · 08:00-18:00 · Caves · Karst
View details →
Yunnan Military Academy

Yunnan Military Academy

The Beiyang military school at 22 Cuihu West Road - free, 09:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30), no photographs inside.

Free · 09:00-17:00 · History · Museum
View details →
World Horti-Expo Garden

World Horti-Expo Garden

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.

RMB 100 · 08:00-18:00 · Garden · Expo
View details →
Dounan Flower Market

Dounan Flower Market

The world's biggest flower market - the bouquets of the province at the wholesale prices, best visited in the afternoon.

Free · Afternoon · Flowers · Market
View details →

More in the region on the Yunnan attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsthe bird season, the flower markets and the spring festivals

The gull season

November-March - the red-billed gulls of Green Lake and Dianchi, fed from the shore and the hired boats.

The camellia and azalea seasons

Winter-spring - the camellia of the Black Dragon Pool and the azaleas of the parks.

The March Street of the region

The markets and the horse fairs of the surrounding counties through the spring.

The summer mushroom season

June-September - the wild mushrooms of Yunnan at the markets and the hotpots.

Where to Staythe old-town hotels and the lakeside choices

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Yunnan hotels directory.

Green Lake area hotels

The hotels around Green Lake put the gulls and the old town at the door - mid-range rooms from about RMB 200-400.

The Flower and Bird Market area

The old-town quarter near Jingxin Street - the lively budget choices of the centre.

Dianchi lakeside resorts

The resorts of the Haigeng shore - the lake views and the quiet of the water, from about RMB 300.

The railway-station hotels

The practical pick for the onward trains - the budget chains around the Kunming station.

The airport-line hotels

The hotels on Metro Line 6 for the early flights - the easy night before the departure.

Food & Restaurantscrossing-bridge noodles, wild mushrooms and the steam-pot

Crossing-bridge rice noodles (guo qiao mi xian)

The icon of Kunming - the boiling broth, the raw slices and the noodles, assembled at the table; from about RMB 15-30 a bowl.

Wild mushroom hotpot

The summer speciality - the boletus and the other mushrooms of Yunnan in the clear broth, from about RMB 60 per head.

Steam-pot chicken

The chicken steamed in the ceramic pot - the classic of the province, at the old restaurants.

Xuanwei ham

The cured ham of the region - the 'king of Yunnan ham', sliced for the table or taken home.

The Flower and Bird Market snacks

The street food of the old quarter - the grilled skewers, the rice cakes and the fruit sold by the kilo.

Shopping & Souvenirsflowers, tea, silver and the crafts of the province

Flowers of Dounan

The bouquets of the world's biggest flower market - shipped home or carried in the hand luggage.

Yunnan tea

The pu-erh of the province and the flower teas - the shops of the old quarter and the tea markets.

Xuanwei ham & the dried mushrooms

The take-home food of Yunnan - the ham, the dried boletus and the mushroom sauces.

Bai silver & the ethnic crafts

The silver of Dali, the tie-dye of Zhoucheng and the brocades of the hill peoples at the old-quarter shops.

The Flower and Bird Market

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.

Getting There & Aroundthe airport metro, the trains and the buses of the gateway

Kunming Changshui Airport - 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.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/Z23dbYGZEoI2TNxY5i0c7ILvnWh

Lines 1/2 run north-south through the centre at RMB 2-5 - Green Lake, the station and the south of the city.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/GK46bT82doid74xwzu3cLiQtnFf

The east bus terminal for the Stone Forest (every 10-15 minutes, 06:00-19:20) and the provincial terminals for Dali, Lijiang and the rest of Yunnan.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/G3lnbKl2fogBuUx4wAEcjM8bnab

Taxis are cheap and the city buses are RMB 1-2 - the simple way around the Spring City.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/Rw10bEPvOoICXRxIdJSc1PpAn5b

The Kunming station and the high-speed station link Dali, Lijiang and the rest of the province - book ahead in the holidays.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/GK46bT82doid74xwzu3cLiQtnFf

Day Trips From Kunmingthe stone forest, the caves and the lake

Stone Forest Day Trip

Stone Forest Day Trip

The karst towers of the Ashima legend in a day from the city.

Jiuxiang Caves Day Trip

Jiuxiang Caves Day Trip

The underground terraces and the canyon of the karst museum.

Dianchi & Xishan Day Trip

Dianchi & Xishan Day Trip

The lake shore, the Dragon Gate and the flower market.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

The altitude is gentle

Kunming sits at about 1,900 m - most visitors feel nothing, but the sun is strong; wear the hat and the sunscreen.

The weather changes in a day

The Spring City can be warm at noon and cool by evening - carry the light layer all year.

The gulls are November-March

The red-billed gulls fly south for the winter - the summer visitors miss them.

Buy produce by the kilo

The markets sell by the jin (half-kilo) - the fruit and the flowers are the bargains of the province.

Book the holiday trains

The National Day and Spring Festival weeks fill the Dali and Lijiang trains - book the tickets early.

The military academy is quiet

No photographs inside the halls of the Yunnan Military Academy - the guards are strict.

Practical Informationbanks, hospitals, emergencies and local help

Kunming tourism bureau

The city tourism information at www.kmta.gov.cn.

Phone: Not published

Changshui Airport

The airport information for the flights and the Metro Line 6.

Phone: Not published

Kunming railway station

The station information for the Yunnan trains.

Phone: Not published

The east bus terminal

The Stone Forest coaches - every 10-15 minutes, 06:00-19:20.

Phone: Not published

The city hospitals

The big hospitals of the city - the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University for the emergencies.

Phone: Not published

Background & Historythe spring city of the Yunnan gateway

The Spring City

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 Stone Forest legend

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 military academy

The Yunnan Military Academy at Green Lake trained the officers of the early republic - the 'Whampoa of the southwest'.

The flower capital

Yunnan grows more than half of China's cut flowers - the Dounan market is the world's biggest flower trading floor.

Plan Your Kunming Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

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.

Yunnan Attractions

Yunnan Attractions

Star-rated sight details — hours, tickets, phones and tips for every Yunnan attraction.

Browse Yunnan sights
Kunming Hotels

Kunming Hotels

Star-rated hotels across Yunnan — sorted by rating, all bookable by our team.

Book a Yunnan hotel
Flights & Trains

Flights & Trains

Routes, airlines and schedules for flights and rail to Kunming.

See China flights
Yunnan Specialties

Yunnan Specialties

Local products, crafts and foods of Yunnan — where to find each one.

Browse Yunnan specialties
Yunnan Travel Agencies

Yunnan Travel Agencies

Licensed agencies with addresses, phones and booking contacts.

Find a Yunnan agency
More China Travel Guides

More China Travel Guides

More city and region guides across China, including the Yunnan guide.

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