3-Day Kunming Tour
Kunming is highly praised as "the spring city", due to its moderate weather all year round. This 3-day Kunming tour will allow you to discover the most popular attractions in Kunming, including historical sites and unique natural scenery at the Naigu Stone Forest. It will also take you beyond the tourist areas to get a glimpse into local people's lifestyles.
Highlights
- Be amazed at the magical landscape of the Stone Forest
- Visit the largest Buddhist complex in Kunming — the Yuantong Temple
- Discover the secrets in the Taoist Grottoes at the Dragon Gate
- Experience the local people's lifestyle in the Zhuanxin Market
Your private guide will pick you up outside the luggage claim area and transfer you to your hotel in a professionally-chauffeured vehicle. The rest of the day is for you to acclimatize and explore the city, or relax and recoup ready for the tour tomorrow.
If you arrive early in the morning and have some time to kill, you may consider enriching your day by visiting Yunnan Minority Village, which gives a very quick view of the various minorities in Yunnan and their cultures, costumes, and customs. If you are interested in the history of the American Flying Tigers during World War II, Kunming Museum is recommended.
Hotel options:
Kunming New Era Hotel
Green Lake Hotel
breakfast & lunch
After a 1½-hour drive, visit a fantastic natural phenomenon located 90 kilometers southeast of Kunming — the Stone Forest. The various shapes of limestone were formed due to millions of years' movement of the Earth. The Stone Forest area is the home of the Naxi people, and their folk customs have become a spectacular scene. The colorful embroidery and minority dances combined with the natural scenery will surely leave you with a lasting impression. Enjoy a local lunch in a quaint courtyard with the Stone Forest Park in the background.
In the afternoon, transfer back to Kunming and visit the Yuantong Temple, the largest and most ancient Buddhist temple in Kunming, to learn about the differences between the halls of the three denominations of Buddhism.
And then visit the Green Lake Park. The most interesting thing in the park is some local people dance together, wearing their traditional dress and some gentlemen play traditional instruments. You are welcome to join them.
After the tour, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel for a good rest.
For Chinese tourists, the Stone Forest Park is a must-see attraction; therefore, the countless tourist groups there during the peak season rank among travelers' pet peeves. Due to the gigantic size of the park, your guide will help you find quieter, more remote areas to avoid the crowds, especially in the winter months.
Stone Forest
Dance with local people in the Great Lake Park
breakfast & lunch
Follow the saying and walk pass the Dragon Gate on Xishan (Western Hills) to get prosperity in the future. You will have a bird's-eye view of the Dianchi Lake and appreciate the groups of Taoist sculptures in the grottoes on the cliff in this scenic area.
Have a lunch in a Cross-bridge rice noodle restaurant to try the famous troditional local food in Yunnan province.
Visit the Zhuanxin Wet Market, which is the most traditional and famous wet market in Kunming. Local people can buy everything they need for their daily lives there. It is also a great place to try local snacks and discover the minority culture. Your guuch as the mushrooms you'll find there. You might find some vendors in their traditional dress.
Sit back and relax as your guide will already have called to confirm your next journey. You will be transferred to your station or the airport in advance.
Round-trip shuttle buses between Xianshan Entrance and Dragon Gate Entrance are included (20 minutes each way). If you would like to save time and energy, you can choose to take chairlift up to the mountain top (20-30 minutes) and walk down the Dragon Gate Plank way (1-2 hours).
Take a chairlift to the Dragon Gate
Trip Notes
1. Tailoring Your Tour
This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, and extend or shorten it to suit your price, interest, and schedule. Feel free to tell us your requirements, and we will be happy to help you arrange a tour using our professional knowledge and experience. We promise a "No Shopping Policy".
2. Getting There and Traveling Away
Kunming is a convenient transportation hub. There are domestic flights to most of China's major cities, such as Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Chengdu and Shanghai. International routes include flights between Kunming and Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Rangoon and Singapore.
3. Hotel
Standard hotels with a convenient location and good reviews are recommended in the itinerary. If you prefer other hotel options (luxury hotels, boutique hotels, economical choices) or would like to book the hotels on your own, please feel free to inform us and we will be happy to adjust the details.
4. More Trip Information
Want to learn more about this trip? Please click here to see details about traveling in China, booking, payment and responsible travel.
Inquire about this tour by filling in the form on the rightbased on 2 persons and 5-star hotel
- 1-1 consultancy from an experienced travel expert
- Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
- English speaking local guide
- Activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling