Kunming Travel

Kunming, which is situated in central Yunnan and north of the Dianchi Basin, is skirted on three sides by mountains, with one side opening onto the Dianchi Lake. The city is nicknamed "City of Spring" due to the fact that it is covered all the year round with the rich verdure of trees and plants. Endowed with a pleasant climate, the city's 15,000 square kilometres of land is adorned with more than 400 kinds of flowers.

Kunming is world-famous for its abundance of camellias, orchids, azaleas and Primula malacoides , which can be found in the Kunming Botanical Garden, where 4,000 varieties of tropical and subtropical plants grow profusely. Kunming is also a renowned historical and cultural city in southwest China.

In ancient times it was an important gateway to the celebrated Silk Road which conducted to Tibet, Sichuan, Myanmar and India.

The city's highland scenery is alluring, its karst landform is bewitching. Its people are known for their varied and exotic habits and customs, and its land is pockmarked with historical artifacts, places of cultural interest, and gardens landscaped with a picturesque taste. Among the major scenic spots of Kunming are the Dianchi Lake, the Cuihu Lake, the Village of Ethnic Culture, the Jindian (Golden Temple) Park, the Western Mountain Forest Reserve, the Stone Forest, the Jiuxiang Scenic Belt, the Yuantong Mountain, the Grand View Pavilion, and the Qiongzhu Temple.

Weather & Climate In Kunming

Kunming enjoys a pleasant climate with little change in temperature throughout the year. The temperature averages about 15 degrees C. in the urban area, 19.7 degrees C. peaks in the summer and 7.5 degrees C. troughs in the winter. The rainy season is between May and Oct when 85% of the annual rainfall of 1000mm falls. Due to Kunming's moderate humidity and temperature, as well as the plentiful sunshine the city receives, Kunming is known as the "Spring City" and is green throughout the year.

Kunming Flight Information

Kunming Wujiaba International Airport has managed to connect the city with other places within Yunnan, in China, and even around the world. Flights are available to most major Chinese cities such as Beijing (3 hours), Shanghai (2.5 hours), Chengdu (1 hour), Guangzhou (1 hour), Guilin (1.25 hours) as well as international destinations such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Flights to regional Yunnan tourist destinations (Baoshan, Jinghong, Lijiang, Manshi, Xiaguan and Zhaotong) are generally available. The airport is 5 km south of the city center (Dongfeng Square). To get to the airport by taxi usually costs about RMB15 and takes 20 minutes. Bus No. 52 runs from Daguan Tower via the main railway station to the airport. Also, bus No.67 runs by the north railway station via the main railway station. Lastly, bus No.78 runs between the airport and the north railway station via the municipal government building. Most of the above buses are available from 6am to 10pm. There is no money exchange service at the airport, but there are ATMs that accept the Bank of China's Changcheng card and most international cards. However, there is a Bank of China branch opposite the the arrival gate with a credit card service (3% processing fee), traveler's check exchange (0.75% fee) and other money exchange services.

Kunming Airport

Airport code: KMG
Location: Kunming Wujiaba International Airport lies in southeast outskirt of Kunming City, only abut four kilometers (about 2.5 miles) away from the downtown area.
Brief intro: As one of the most important and busiest airports in China, Kunming Wujiaba International Airport was built in 1923. After a series of renovations it has become a modern and beautiful airport, which has a 58,000 square meters (about 14 acres) Waiting Building, 34 gate positions, 17 Waiting Hall, one airstrip and a 250,000 square meters (about 62 acres) parking apron. Within the airport there are restaurants, shops, small flower supermarket and other service facilities. Airlines here can take you to 74 domestic and international cities.

Kunming Cuisines

The most fabulous of all Yunnan food is Yunnan rice noodles (Guoqiao mixian, literally "Crossing the bridge rice noodles"). This tasty noodle dish made with chicken broth and super thin slices of meat is famous throughout all of China and you can try this typical Yunnan dish at the "Jixin Yunnan Flavor Restaurant" and the Guoqiaodu Restaurant. Other Yunnan treats to look for are the Yunnan Eight Pastries and also Xuanwei Ham (as a common Yunnan ingredient). For a taste of ethnic cuisine, such as Dai or Bai, there are many good restaurants in Kunming. Laozhiqing Restaurant is well known for its authentic, delicious Dai food. While not Yunnanese or minority food, if your looking for something different after too much rice noodles, then try Kunming's Beijing restaurant near Dongfeng Lu and the Shanghainese Restaurant in the King World Hotel. Foreign travelers are not likely to feel very far away from home in Kunming because of the numerous Western restaurants. Try near the Green Lake (Cuihu) area or around Yunnan University where lots of restaurants cater to the foreign exchange students who flock to Kunming to study Chinese. Among these restaurants are Face to Face, Journey To the East, Blue Bird and Teresa Pizza. The Thai Kitchen located in the center of the city, while not Western food per se, is another of Kunming's BEST non-Chinese restaurants. "Mamafu's" and Jack In The Box, a local fast food burger chain, are also located nearby. After dark, street peddlers are all around the city selling noodles, snacks and other "street food". While street food can be lacking in the hygiene department on occasion, it is also GOOD and CHEAP! If you are brave (or completely insane!) enough, try snake, grilled rat or even fried bee!

Shopping in Kunming

Yunnan has one of the most complicated ethnic and religious situations in all of China's provinces. The interaction and collision of different cultures, religions and lifestyles gives visitors to this beautiful and colorful province lots to see, and to buy! Kunming, as the cultural and economic center of Yunnan, is an ideal place to dig up some great souvenirs of your trip to Yunnan! While jade and marble arts and crafts items are plentiful, there are plenty of items that are even more special and unique to Yunnan. Among the top choices of Kunming specialties to decorate your living room are bronzeware, Dai brocade and wax dyed cloth all of which epitomise Yunnan ethnic style. Yunnan is also famous for its tobacco.

The city boasts a lot of famous shops and markets, many of them are really worth visiting for being mirrors of the local life. The Flower and Bird Market, The Yunnan Antique City, the Nanyao Market, the Golden Horse and Phoenix Memorial Archway Jewelry Market and the Flower Street are all worth a look.

There are some good, big department stores here, since Kunming is the biggest city in the Province, these shops are an ideal place to stock up on supplies for your excursions throughout Yunnan. The biggest department stores in Kunming are the Southwestern Commercial Building,the Qiancun Department Store and the Kunming Department Store.

Yunnan Bronze Ware
Yunnan Bronzeware (Wutong zouyin), is made with techniques unique to Yunnan Province. To complete a piece of bronzeware, the bronze roughcast is engraved with various patterns and designs and then molten silver or gold is slowly poured into the grooves. After the bronzeware cools, the darker bronze looks great with designs in gold or silver. Dai Brocade Dai brocade (Daijin) is a kind of silk made by women of the Dai ethnic group. It features gorgeous colors and incricate patterns, which use rare animals, flowers and geometrical forms as design themes. Each of these patterns has its implications and hidden meaning. For instance, a peacock symbolizes good luck while an elephant symbolizes a good harvest. Brocade is commonly made into handbags, bedsheets, cushions, and window drapes.

Wax Dyed Cloth
Wax-dyed cloth is a folk handicraft of ethnic groups in Yunnan Province which is made by applying wax to white fabric in order keep sections undyed when the fabric is dipped in blue dye. This rather plain, yet charming handicraft shows off various local cultural symbols including animals, flowers and legendary personages. The cloth is made into garments, handbags, tapestries or simply sold as wall hangings

Yunnan Tobacco
Yunnan is famous for its excellent tobacco. Thanks to the mild climate here in Yunnan Province, the tobacco leaves collected here are the best in China. So if you like to smoke, don't forget to take some home.

Kunming Travel Attractions

Stone Forest Jiuxiang Scenic Region Dianchi Lake Dragon Gate Golden Temple Qiongzhu Temple Kunming Spring City Golf

Ancient Alu Caves Daguan Park Jiaozi Snow Mountain Green Lake Park Ethnic Villages Yuantong Temple World Horti-Expo Garden

Map of Kunming

Focus On Yunnan