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China travel and tour destination Kunming

China Destination Guide - Kunming 昆明

Kunming, at 1,890m, is one of those rare Chinese cities that is good to visit all year round. Renown for its greenery and a degree of prosperity it is also a laid back place to visit, something which is unusual for large Chinese cities. As gateway to Yunnan province it is likely you will spend at least one night here to or from Yunnan highlights such as Dali and Lijiang.

➤ TCTC Tip: Don't miss a day trip to the highly unusual Stone Forest located 85 km from the city.

What there is to see in Kunming:

Yuantong temple at the base of Luofeng Hill is rare example of Tang Dynasty design. It is also the largest Buddhist complex in Kunming. Nearly 1,200 years old it is still a place of active worship where tourists and pilgrims mix.
Chuang Ku is a disused factory district west of the city that has now blossomed into an art district showcasing China's red hot contemporary art scene. Requisite coffee bars and trendy restaurants make for a pleasant afternoon's visit.
Green Lake park is a great people watching place, especially early mornings, as well as a pleasant get away from the city streets to stroll.

Best time to visit Kunming

April and May as well as September and October are the best months but Kunming can be visited year round with mild winters and relatively cool summers.

Best reason to visit Kunming

As modern Chinese cities go Kunming has a lot going for it making the urban ambience the best reason to visit here.

Our last word on Kunming

Kunming is certainly not an unpleasant place to spend a day or two but the city is generally visited as part of a wider Yunnan trip.