Kunming 昆明
Mild 'Spring City' and gateway to Yunnan
Good forNature, Culture, Food
Suggested stay1–3 days
Best timeMarch–May and September–November; mild most of the year
Capital of Yunnan, at about 1,900 m altitude with a mild climate. Most visitors use it as a hub for Dali and Lijiang. It has a large flower market and the Stone Forest nearby.
Highlights
- Stone Forest (Shilin), about 1.5 hours away
- Dianchi Lake and the Western Hills (Xishan)
- Green Lake Park — black-headed gulls in winter
- Dounan Flower Market
- Yunnan Nationalities Museum
Food to try
- Crossing-the-bridge rice noodles
- Wild mushroom hotpot (summer)
- Steam pot chicken
- Flower cakes (xianhua bing)
Getting there
Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG). About 2 hours by high-speed train to Dali and about 3–3.5 hours to Lijiang.
Train times are typical; check current timetables on 12306 or Trip.com.
When to go
Best: March–May and September–November; mild most of the year. Avoid or plan for: Rainy season roughly June–August; Golden Week.
Good to know
- Altitude is about 1,900 m; most people feel fine, but the sun is strong.
- Kunming South is the main high-speed station.
Visa notes
- Visa-free entry: citizens of 79 countries can visit China for up to 30 days or more without a visa. Check your passport →
- 240-hour transit: Kunming is inside the area you may visit on China's 240-hour visa-free transit (for 57 nationalities, flying on to a third country).