A mild plateau capital of lakes and winter gulls, and the starting point for the Stone Forest, Dali and Lijiang.
A mild plateau capital of lakes and winter gulls, and the starting point for the Stone Forest, Dali and Lijiang.
A free park of small lakes, bridges and willows in the city center. From about November to March it fills with black-headed gulls that winter in Kunming.
A working Buddhist temple in the city center, built around a pond with a pavilion in the middle reached by stone bridges.
The province's main museum, in Guandu District south of the center. Entry is free with a booking; open 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30), closed on Mondays.
Forested hills on the west shore of Dianchi Lake, free to enter, with Metro Line 3 running to the foot of the hills. The Dragon Gate, a path of steps, rooms and Buddhist carvings cut into the cliff, costs ¥30 and has the best view over the lake.
A 2.4 km promenade on the east shore of Dianchi Lake, facing the Western Hills. In winter it draws the largest crowds of gulls in Kunming.
A World Heritage area of tall limestone pinnacles and narrow paths in Shilin County. Take a high-speed train from Kunming South to Shilin West (under half an hour), then bus 99 or a taxi to the gate. Tickets cost ¥130, plus ¥25 for the cart from the entrance to the rocks.
A bowl of very hot broth served with thin slices of meat, vegetables and rice noodles that you add yourself at the table.
Chicken steamed slowly in a clay pot with ginger, producing a light, aromatic broth.
Local wild mushrooms simmered in broth, eaten from about July to October; some are toxic if undercooked, so wait for the timer the staff set before eating.
A pressed rice cake, boiled, fried or roasted, often topped with savory sauces.
Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, sits at about 1,900 meters, and its mild weather all year has earned it the name City of Eternal Spring. It has fewer major sights than the big four cities. Most visitors use it as a base for the Stone Forest and as the rail hub for the rest of the province. In winter, tens of thousands of black-headed gulls from as far as Siberia gather on Green Lake and along Dianchi Lake.
It suits travelers heading for Dali and Lijiang. The simplest way in is a short flight from Chengdu, and from Kunming high-speed trains reach Dali in about 2 hours and Lijiang in about 3.5 hours.
Spend the first day in the city. Start at Green Lake Park and Yuantong Temple, then take Metro Line 3 west to the Western Hills and walk up to the Dragon Gate for the view over Dianchi Lake. In winter, finish at Haigeng Dam on the opposite shore, where the gulls gather. On a rainy day, or with more time, swap the hills for the Yunnan Provincial Museum, as long as it is not a Monday.
Give the second day to the Stone Forest. Take a morning train from Kunming South to Shilin West, ride bus 99 or a taxi to the gate, and be back in Kunming for a steam pot chicken dinner. Then take the train on to Dali or Lijiang; our high-speed train guide covers booking with a passport. Metro gates take Alipay and WeChat QR codes, and our paying in China guide explains how to link a foreign card.
Checked on 29 October 2026. Opening times and ticket rules change; confirm on the official site before you go.
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