Haigeng Park

The Western Mountains (also referred to as "hills") make for an excellent day trip into nature. You can take a 20-minute cable car trip to the top; the 'Dragon Gate' carved into the side of the hill is an unmissable highlight, which also affords spectacular views of Kunming and Dianchi Lake. The tomb of Nie…

Take a lakeside stroll along Lake Dianchi in Haigeng Park and take in the view of Kunming's "sleeping beauty" – Western Mountainous – resting in the distance. The park is a popular public recreation area; you'll see locals fishing and barbecuing around here.

Daguan Park is set to the west of Kunming, with Dianchi Lake close by. Its pavilion, with a history of more than 300 years, is a three-storey square structure with flying eaves and golden lacquered ornaments. A historic couplet of 180 characters hangs down the pavilion, lauded as "number one couplet in the past and…

The World Horti-Expo Garden is a botanical garden containing a grand exhibition of horticulture from all over the world. Situated in the northern suburbs of Kunming, it is also located close to the Golden Temple scenic spot at 4 km from downtown.

This park contains the most prestigious Taoist temple in Yunnan. The serene Golden Temple standing on the Mingfeng Mountain is the largest bronze temple in China. It was built by General Wu Sangui, and dates back to the early Qing Dynasty (17th century). Rare plants and tea flowers flourish in this traditional Chinese-style garden. It…

The natural landscape of the stone forest is a spectacular limestone formation, which has been named a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Exposed to rain and winds and eroded by the elements, the limestone ranges were shaped by time into a vast forest of stone. The karst formations are believed to be 270 million years…

The Green Lake is known as the Jade of the city. Two long dikes divide the lake into four parts. Brightly painted pavilions, tree-lined walks and exercising locals all add to the appeal of the park. During the winter months, black-headed gulls from Siberia migrate to Green Lake and entertain the crowds of visitors as…

This sprawling theme park showcases the cultural diversity of China's Yunnan Province. Each of the 26 ethnic groups represented in the park has a "station" of its own, often featuring typical residential homes, folk art (such as dance, song, or crafts), and offerings of traditional food. It can easily take a whole day to see…

The splendid Yuantong Temple is the most important Buddhist site in the entire province, with a history of nearly 1200 years. Unlike at other temples, you enter at an elevation and make your way down through tranquil temple grounds – these feature ornate pavilions and halls (the main hall maintains Yuan dynasty architecture), mountain caves…

This riveting folk dance show features several segments, each representing the culture and traditions of a different ethnic minority inhabiting the province. Showmanship and choreography have received glowing reviews, and combine modern and traditional elements to create one compelling 90-minute performance that culminates in a stupendous "Peacock Dance".

Kunming's popular Nanping Street is a pedestrian-only commercial area packed with shops and restaurants, both local and international. It has continued to be the city's liveliest stretch for decades, and remains busy with shoppers and diners even after sundown.