Situated on a high plateau, Kunming is exposed to strong ultraviolet radiation, so visitors are advised to bring along sun cream with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor).
Note also that in Yunnan in general, regardless of the region, the daily daytime-nighttime swing in temperature is actually greater than the seasonal swing in temperature, so adequate outer clothing is a must for evening and night use, and this is even more important during the fall, when the daily temperature changes can swing the greatest.
Not unlike in any other mountainous region of the world, the mountainous area in and around Kunming, and indeed, throughout this mountainous province, often results in mobile-phone signal "blackouts", so if you have an important call to make, it is best to make it before you descend into a deep valley.
Compared with Kunming, the service in remote areas meets normal Chinese standards but the general service standard may be lower than other cities. Sometimes, tourists have limited choices. We suggest that you have a meal in the town before the visit or after wait until returning to town. Alternatively, bring a lunch box on the days outing. Our guide can assist in this.
Kunming is blessed with cultural diversity, thanks to its large and thriving population of ethnic minorities. Since each ethnic group may have certain unique customs and traditions, you are urged to show restraint in general when visiting ethnic villages.
For an outsider, it can be a daunting experience to ask for directions in Kunming, not because the people of Kunming are not friendly, but because there are so many dialects here that partial directions from three different people might send you in a circle!
A better approach is to either hire a tour guide from a trustworthy travel agency such as — who else but China Highlights?! — or, if you know the names of your destinations (museums, restaurants, scenic sites, etc.), you can buy a map at a bookstore or at a travel agency and ask the salesperson to kindly pinpoint your destinations on the map.
Important Addresses
Post Offices
- Kunming Post Office: 225 Beijing Road
- Yunnan Post Office: 136 Beijing Road
Bookstores
- Kunming Xinhua Book Store: 308 Dongfeng Road
- Yunnan Foreign Language Book Store: Science Building, Nantai Qiao
Hospitals
- The First People's Hospital of Kunming
Tel: (0871) 3188200 / (0871) 3188092
Address: 122 Xunjin Street - First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province
Address: 157, Jinbi Road, Xishan District
Banks
- Yunnan Branch of Bank of China: 515, Beijing Road
- Kunming Branch of Bank of China: 288, Huguo Road, Panlong District
Emergency
- Fire: 119
- Police: 110
- Ambulance: 120
Tour Kunming with China Highlights
See the best of the "spring city" with China Highlights' Kunming tours.
- 3-Day Kunming Highlight Tour — including historical sites and unique natural scenery at the Naigu Stone Forest.
- 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Highlights Tour — taking you to visit the legendary Shangri-La and experience remote minority cultures.
Our tours can be customized. Just tell us your interests and requirements and we will help you to tailor-make a Kunming tour.
