Kunming in Brief
Reputed as “City of Spring”, Kunming is the political, economic, cultural and transportation center of Yunnan Province. Located in the central part of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Kunming has a population of 6.25 million with an area of 21.5 thousand square kilometers.
As a popular tourism city, Yunnan welcomes thousands of visitors from home and abroad every year. With unique natural landscape, brilliant culture and colorful ethnic customs, Kunming definitely attracts more and more travelers in future.
Boating on the Dianchi Lake, which is considered as ‘a pearl on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau’, will help you to escape from the hustle and bustle life in the city and have a good relax. If you are interested in karst landforms, besides Guilin, Stone Forest and Jiuxiang Scenic Spot are also good choices. You can experience amazing stone masterpieces, numerous strange and steep intricate formations and various labyrinthine vitas there. Green Lake Park is the most beautiful park in Kunming. Every November and December, countless black-heoded galls are coming from remote Siberia to overwinter.
As a second largest and important city of the Nanzhao Kingdom over 1,000 years ago, Kunming is also a city with long history. There are many historical attractions in the city. Built in the Nanzhao Period, Yuantong Temple is the oldest and largest temple in Kunming. Huating Temple and Taihua Temple, suited in the West Hill, are Buddhist temples also with long history. Besides, Dragon Gate Grotto has the largest and most beautiful Taoist stone carvings. In the Bamboo Temple, you can not only experience Buddhist culture, but also appreciate precious painted sculptures of 500 arhats.
26 ethnic groups inhabit Kunming, such as Yi, Hui, Bai, Miao, Hani, Dai, etc. They are hospitable, good at singing and dancing. You can experience their distinct life styles, customs and cultures, taste delicious snacks with unique flavor and wear colorful costumes. Yunnan Ethnic Villages, the Dai Nationality Village, the Bai Nationality Village and the Yi Nationality Village are recommended.
Colorful Kunming is waiting for you to appreciate its picturesque natural landscapes, ancient architectures and brilliant cultures.
