As the capital of Yunnan province, Kunming is the gateway to access other Yunnan cities due to its many flights/trains from major cities of China as well as some other Asian countries.
Follow our guidelines to discover what might interest you and how to plan a Kunming tour.
Content Preview
1. How to Arrange a Kunming Itinerary
Typically, a trip to Kunming takes about 2–3 days.
Day 1: Arrival and Evening Activities
Dounan Flower MarketIf you arrive in the afternoon, you could rest at your hotel first and then explore the city in the evening. Here are some evening activity options:
- Experience Kunming's night views: For a delightful evening walk, visit Guandu Ancient Town. The town lights up with lanterns and offers a variety of local delicacies to sample.
- Find delicious food: If you are a food lover, visit the night markets. Nanqiang Night Market and Shuangqiao Night Market are popular choices. Nanqiang Night Market offers a more refined experience with sit-down dining options, while Shuangqiao Night Market is more casual with numerous food stalls and affordable prices.
If you arrive earlier in the day, consider these activities and choose 1 or 2:
- Kunming Museum: Discover the local history and culture, especially the history of the Flying Tigers during World War II.
- Yunnan Ethnic Village: Experience the diverse ethnic cultures of the region.
- Green Lake Park: This is ideal for a relaxing stroll.
- Dounan Flower Market: This is the largest flower market in Asia and is perfect for flower enthusiasts.
Day 2: Kunming Highlights
The Stone ForestVisit the Stone Forest and Yuantong Temple.
The Stone Forest is a must-visit attraction in Kunming, famous for its unique limestone formations shaped by countless years of geological activity. This geological phenomenon is extremely rare worldwide.
In the afternoon, visit Yuantong Temple, the largest and oldest Buddhist temple in Kunming.
Day 3: Departure or Extended Exploration
Yuanyang Rice Terraces in MarchIf you have more time and want a wider experience, consider these options:
- Extend your trip by a day to visit Dongchuan Red Land and admire "God's palette". It is especially beautiful in September and October with the yellow cole flowers blooming among the red fields.
- Visit Luoping to see expansive rape flower fields. Nearby, Wanfenglin is also worth a visit for its amazing views of its peak forest and peak cluster. See our 5-Day Kunming, Luoping, and Wanfenglin Tour.
- Extend your trip by 2 days to visit the Yuanyang Rice Terraces and enjoy the large fish-scale-like "land sculptures". The stunning terraced rice fields at sunrise and sunset are the highlights. In addition, you would have a chance to learn about the Hani people, the most traditional ethnic minority in China.
2. Kunming Hotels and Where to Stay
Choosing where to stay in Kunming mainly depends on your schedule and activities there.
If this is your first time in Kunming, choose to stay in the downtown area for convenient shopping, eating, and nightlife.
Recommended downtown Kunming hotels:
- Cachet Boutique Kunming Artime (5-star)
- Kunming New Era Hotel (4-star)
- Microtel by Wyndham Kunming City Center (3-star)
For morning exercise and a local life experience, choose to stay near Green Lake Park. Zhongwei Green Lake Hotel Kunming (5-star) is recommended.
For your extension tour to the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, we recommend Oness Resort Yuanyang Terrace (a 4-star standard and the best hotel locally). The hotel is surrounded by terraces.
3. Kunming Food and Where to Eat
Crossing-the-bridge noodlesFood plays an important role in a tour: nourishing, delighting and revealing local culture. Thanks to its unique climate and diverse ethnic cultures, the various foods in Kunming should not fail to interest you as well as please your stomach.
Must-try food in Kunming:
- Crossing-the-bridge noodles (过桥米线)
- Steam pot chicken (汽锅鸡)
- Roast er kuai (烤饵块): rice cakes
- Grandma's mashed potatoes (老奶洋芋)
- Wild mushrooms (野菌)
- Eight treasure rice (云南八宝饭): sweet glutinous rice mixed with various sweet fillings and dried fruits
Restaurants to try these tasty foods at:
- The Qiao Xiangyuan restaurants (桥香园过桥米线) are known for their crossing-the-bridge noodles, and you would find outlets all over the city.
- Kunming Old House Restaurant (一颗印昆明老房子餐厅) is a typical example of a courtyard premises in the shape of a square seal with a history dating back to 1852. It serves traditional Yunnan cuisine.
- Yunnan Renjia Restaurant (云南人家) is a local ethnic-style restaurant with a variety of typical Yunnan food. It provides an ethnic show during meal times.
4. Transportation Tips
Kunming is a major transportation hub connecting Yunnan with neighboring countries and other major cities in China.
For International Connections
Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand have direct flights to Kunming.
Laos has cross-border bullet trains to Kunming.
If you are traveling from a European or American country, you may need to fly to Shanghai, Beijing, or Guangzhou, then head to Kunming.
For Domestic Connections
Direct flights are frequent between most cities and Kunming (with the following durations):
- Beijing to Kunming (3½ hours)
- Shanghai to Kunming (3 hours)
- Chengdu to Kunming (2 hours)
- Guangzhou to Kunming (2½ hours)
- Shangri-La to Kunming (1 hour)
Bullet trains could also be an option for nearby provinces (Guangxi, Sichuan, and Guizhou) and cities within Yunnan, such as:
- Guiyang to Kunming (3 hours)
- Guilin to Kunming (7–8 hours)
- Chengdu to Kunming (6–7 hours)
- Lijiang to Kunming (4 hours)
- Dali to Kunming (2½ hours)
- Shangri-La to Kunming (5–6 hours)
When you have the option of flying or a high-speed train, flying is usually the better choice as it is more time-efficient. However, if you don't mind a longer journey, you may want to experience China's high-speed trains.
5. Weather Tips
With its pleasant, moderate climate, Kunming is suitable for travel throughout the year. The best time would be from March to October to enjoy local festivals and different flower blossoms.
Here is a table of Kunming's seasons with temperatures, reasons to visit Kunming, and what to pack then
| Season | Temperature | Reason to Visit | Packing List |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry, mild–warm spring (March–May) | 7–20°C (45–68°F) | Enjoy peach blossoms | Light sweater and coat |
| Warm, wet summer (June–August) | 15–25°C (59–77°F) | Escape from the summer heat | Summer clothes, a light coat for evenings, and waterproofs/umbrella |
| Pleasant autumn (September–November) | 14–21°C (57–70°F) | Enjoy the autumn foliage | T-shirts and a light jacket |
| Sunny, cool, dry winter (December–February) | 6–16°C (43–61°F) | Escape from the cold of winter | Thick sweater and overcoat or down jacket |
Special Notes on the Weather for Traveling in Kunming
1. It's especially windy in April, May, October, and November due to the monsoon season arriving and departing. You're highly recommended to take a coat with you owing to the large temperature differences between day and night, and sometimes hour to hour, as the wind changes the weather rapidly.
2. Situated on a high plateau, with an altitude of 1,500–2,800 meters (4,900–9,200 feet), Kunming is exposed to strong ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, you are advised to take a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen with a high SPF (sun protection factor).
6. Budget
The price reference we have provided here is based on the cost of a private trip for two people, including private transfers in Kunming, meals, admission fees, guiding, hotels, etc.
The price of a 3-day trip would be about 390 USD per person (130 USD daily). You could get the detailed itinerary and reference cost in our 3-Day Essence of Kunming Tour.
Prices may vary depending on the travel period (peak or off-peak) and the complexity of the itinerary. For a more accurate quote, please contact us. We would provide a customized quote based on your travel dates, group size, preferred hotels, itinerary details, and other requirements.
7. Visa-Free Travel
Kunming is one of the destinations covered by the 144-hour visa-free transit policy for Yunnan province, which means you could explore Kunming as well as Dali and Lijiang for 6 days without needing to apply for a visa. See our 6-Day Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang Tour.
Popular Kunming/Yunnan Tours
China Highlights provides tours with 'No shops, no factories, no detours'. Travel with us to explore a less-crowded part of the Stone Forest and benefit from other smart travel arrangements. Our professional tour guides would show you the best locations for photographs and greatly enhance the smoothness and enjoyment of your tour.
- See our popular Kunming Tours and Yunnan Tours for your inspiration.
- Or contact us to let us know your preferences for a tailor-made Kunming/Yunnan tour.