Kunming
City of Eternal Spring
General Information
Other Name: Yunnanfu, District: Yunnan, State: Southwest China, China
Area: 27.701 km²
Languages Spoken: Mendarin,local dialects
Long Distance Code: +86871
Importance: Kunming is the political, economic, communications and cultural center of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government.
Best Time to Visit: November to February and March
International Access: Connected with most part of the world by air.
Description
Kunming is a prefecture-level city and capital of Yunnan province, in southwestern China. Because of its year-round temperate climate, Kunming is often called the "Spring City" or "City of Eternal Spring".Location
Located in the middle of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Kunming is located at an altitude of 1,900 m above sea level and at a latitude north of the Tropic of Cancer.Climate
Temperate Climate
Called Kunming Lake, Dian Lake is in the southwest of the Kunming City. The lake was so named for an ancient Dian tribe living in this area. The crescent-shaped lake extends 39 kilometers from north to south and around 13 kilometers from west to east at an altitude of 1886 meters above sea level. Occupying an area of 306 kilometers, the lake have water capacity of 15,7 hundred million cubic meters. Dian Lake is surrounded by hills on four sides with the Jinma Hill in the east, Biji Hill in the west, Heshan Hill in the south and (sheshan Hill) Snake Hill in the north. The area on the lake shore is fertile with comfortable weather condition, abundant rivers for irrigation.
Dian Lake has a long history. In the Warrior Period, a Dian State was built in this region. Dian Lake with crystal clean water, ripple lake surface, boats sailing on the lake looks like a glittering pearl set on a mountain basin and reflects the surrounding mountains the blue sky. The area around the Dian Lake is clustered with sights of either beautiful scenery or rich cultural heritage. These include the Nanyun Nationalities Villages, West Hills, Grand View Park.
The Daguan Park is located at the terminus of Daguan Road and is 6 km from the city center, near Dianchi Lake and facing Taihua Mountain which is on the other side of Dianchi Lake.
The Park Scenic Area includes the three-storied Grand View Pavilion, which provides a spectacular view across sparkling Dianchi Lake to the distant Western Hills, and some winding corridors, bonsais, rockeries, trees and porches, willowed causeways, arch bridges, and archways centering around.
The pavilion was built in 1890. The roofs of the pavilion were painted golden, and the pavilion appears elegant in between the verdant trees. The pavilion faces north and south, with the south gate (the facade) facing water (Dianchi Lake); on both sides of the south gate were the couplet written by Sun Ranweng (1684-1763, a poor scholar in Qing Dynasty); this couplet of 180 Chinese characters is believed to be the longest antithetical couplet in the world and one of the most valued cultural treasures in Yunnan. The first part (on the right) of the couplet describes the beautiful and magnificent natural views around Kunming, e.g. the local mountains and extolling nature in an optimistic mood. The second part (on the left) reviews the 2,000 years' history of Yunnan, commemorating its rulers and warriors, battles and victories and indicating that no matter how successful or frustrated you are, all will be in nothingness in the end. The words are carefully chosen. The language is beautiful and elegant.
Inside the pavilion on the third floor, looking into the distance, you will have a panoramic view of Dianchi Lake and the Western Hills.
As a local comprehensive museum with an area of 5,000 sq meters, Kunming Museum has five regular exhibition halls and a temporary exhibition hall. The exhibitions in the five regular halls are as follows:
Dinosaur Fossil Exhibition:
Samples and models of dinosaurs are exhibited, imitating the process of the evolvement and distinction of dinosaurs.
Bronze Culture Exhibition
Displaying the bronze culture in Dianchi District from the Spring and Autumn Periods (770BC-476BC) and the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-25AD).
Sutra Exhibition of Dizang Temple
The sutras in Dizang (the Bodhisattva of Ksitigarbha) Temple are reputed as the masterwork of the Yunnan culture. They are also the major historic and cultural sites under the national protection.
Kunming City Exhibition
The "Kunming: a Historic and Cultural City" Exhibition includes two exhibition halls: the History Hall and the New Era Hall, demonstrating the history and culture, the scenery and the major achievements China has made in the recent 20 years.
Temporary exhibitions are usually held at the Temporary Hall. Some large-scale exhibitions are the Mao Zedong's Mementos Exhibition, the Paintings and Calligraphies Exhibition of some outstanding local artists, the Paintings and Calligraphies of celebrities in Yunnan and the Clothes Exhibition of the Minority Women in Yunnan.
Being one of the National Scenic Resorts in China, Stone Forest Scenic Resort is 83km from Kunming and has a complete range of karst formations. Among the most wonderful attractions in this area are the following eight scenic spots: Large & Small Stone Forests, Naigu Stone Forests, Large & Small Zhiyun Caves, Qingfeng Cave, Long Lake, Moon Lake, Fairy Lake, Feilong Falls. Standing upright in the Stone Forest are innumerable cliffs and peaks, lofty and majestic, steep and precipitous, charming and enchanting.
An interesting legend related the attraction goes that a heroine Asham of the Sani( the Sani people are a branch of the Yi nationality living in Yunnan province) was bore into a poor family in today's Yunan region. The girl was very clever and she began helping her father herd sheep at the age of 12. One day in the mountains she saved a boy named Ahei who had lost his way while picking wild fruit. Ahei, a 12-year-old orphan, had to toil for the landlord. Sympathizing with the poor boy, Ashma took him home. Ashma's parents took pity on Ahei and fostered him. Ahei and Ashma grew up together and they fell in love with each other. They got married and lived a happy life. But Ashma was later abducted by the man, Azhi, the landlord's son who was eager for the lady's beauty. When Ahei-the husband learnt the event, he killed the landlord and his son and rescued his wife-Ashma. The lovers went into the stone forest and lived happily there ever after, giving birth to fine sons and daughters who are said to be the ancestors of the Sani people.
From afar, it really looks like a dense forest but as you walk closer, you will find "trees" are all slender stone pinnacles. The sight is vast covering some 350 kilometers. The Yi and Sani ethnic group who live there are hardworking and good at singing and dancing. Their folklore and culture are colorful and multifarious, backed up by a long history.
This area's altitude is 1760 meters. This results in perennially pleasant weather, with the annually average temperature of 15.6 Celsius. The Stone Forest is connected with Kunming both by highway and railway, enjoying an easily accessible transport.
10 Days China Golf Tour / PC-101 (10 Days / 9 Nights)
Shanghai-Kunming-Shenzhen-Hong Kong
10 Days Shanghai, Kunming with Shenzhen Mission Hills Value Golf Tour Destinations: Shanghai,Kunming,Shenzhen,Hong Kong
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Shanghai
Day 2 : Shanghai
Day 3 : Shanghai
Day 4 : Shanghai-Kunming
Day 5 : Kunming
Day 6 : Shenzhen
Day 7 : Shenzhen
Day 8 : Shenzhen
Day 9 : Shenzhen
Day 10 : Shenzhen-Hong Kong
Shanghai-Kunming-Shenzhen-Hong Kong
10 Days Shanghai, Kunming with Shenzhen Mission Hills Value Golf Tour Destinations: Shanghai,Kunming,Shenzhen,Hong Kong
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Shanghai
Day 2 : Shanghai
Day 3 : Shanghai
Day 4 : Shanghai-Kunming
Day 5 : Kunming
Day 6 : Shenzhen
Day 7 : Shenzhen
Day 8 : Shenzhen
Day 9 : Shenzhen
Day 10 : Shenzhen-Hong Kong
14 Days China & Yunnan Tour / PC-102 (14 Days / 13 Nights)
Shanghai-Lijiang-Shangri La-Kunming-Xian-Beijing
Shanghai / Kunming / Lijiang / Shangri la / Xian / Beijing Exploring the majestic and colorful culture of 52 ethnic minorities, marveling at the diverse and wild landscape, and experience the rapid changes from the ancient to the modern in the golden triangle cities –this China tour is the most COLORFUL! Visit: Yu Garden and Bazaar, The Bund, Jinmao Tower, Lijiang ancient town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture, Shangri La, Dianchi Lake and Dragon Gate, Stone Forest, Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Walls, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall, Sacred Road, Experience: Explore the majestic and colorful culture of 52 ethnic minorities in Yunnan; Get lost in the wild landscape and enjoy yourself in the backpacker’s paradise; Experience the stunning contrasts of ancient and present, traditional and modern, east and west among the golden triangle cities.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Shanghai
Day 2 : Shanghai
Day 3 : Shanghai-Lijiang
Day 4 : Lijiang
Day 5 : Lijiang-Shangri La
Day 6 : Shangri La
Day 7 : Shangri La-Kunming
Day 8 : Kunming
Day 9 : Kunming-Xian
Day 10 : Xian
Day 11 : Xian-Beijing
Day 12 : Beijing
Day 13 : Beijing
Day 14 : Beijing
Shanghai-Lijiang-Shangri La-Kunming-Xian-Beijing
Shanghai / Kunming / Lijiang / Shangri la / Xian / Beijing Exploring the majestic and colorful culture of 52 ethnic minorities, marveling at the diverse and wild landscape, and experience the rapid changes from the ancient to the modern in the golden triangle cities –this China tour is the most COLORFUL! Visit: Yu Garden and Bazaar, The Bund, Jinmao Tower, Lijiang ancient town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture, Shangri La, Dianchi Lake and Dragon Gate, Stone Forest, Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Walls, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall, Sacred Road, Experience: Explore the majestic and colorful culture of 52 ethnic minorities in Yunnan; Get lost in the wild landscape and enjoy yourself in the backpacker’s paradise; Experience the stunning contrasts of ancient and present, traditional and modern, east and west among the golden triangle cities.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Shanghai
Day 2 : Shanghai
Day 3 : Shanghai-Lijiang
Day 4 : Lijiang
Day 5 : Lijiang-Shangri La
Day 6 : Shangri La
Day 7 : Shangri La-Kunming
Day 8 : Kunming
Day 9 : Kunming-Xian
Day 10 : Xian
Day 11 : Xian-Beijing
Day 12 : Beijing
Day 13 : Beijing
Day 14 : Beijing
China Golf Tour / PC-103 (15 Days / 14 Nights)
Beijing-Xian-Kunming-Lijiang-Shanghai
15 Days Beijing-Xian-Kunming-Lijiang-Shanghai Golf Tour Destinations: Beijing,Xi'an,Kunming,Lijiang,Shanghai Attractions: Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Stone Forest
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Beijing
Day 2 : Beijing
Day 3 : Beijing
Day 4 : Beijing
Day 5 : Beijing-Xian
Day 6 : Xian
Day 7 : Xian-Kunming
Day 8 : Kunming
Day 9 : Kunming
Day 10 : Kunming-Lijiang
Day 11 : Lijiang
Day 12 : Lijiang-Shanghai
Day 13 : Shanghai
Day 14 : Shanghai
Day 15 : Shanghai
Beijing-Xian-Kunming-Lijiang-Shanghai
15 Days Beijing-Xian-Kunming-Lijiang-Shanghai Golf Tour Destinations: Beijing,Xi'an,Kunming,Lijiang,Shanghai Attractions: Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Stone Forest
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Beijing
Day 2 : Beijing
Day 3 : Beijing
Day 4 : Beijing
Day 5 : Beijing-Xian
Day 6 : Xian
Day 7 : Xian-Kunming
Day 8 : Kunming
Day 9 : Kunming
Day 10 : Kunming-Lijiang
Day 11 : Lijiang
Day 12 : Lijiang-Shanghai
Day 13 : Shanghai
Day 14 : Shanghai
Day 15 : Shanghai
GOLF IN PARADISE- Yunnan / PC-105 (5 Days / 4 Nights)
Kunming
5 Days Kunming City Golf Holliday tour will let you experience the famous Spring City and its nice climate all the year around. Golf Courses Used: Kunming Spring City Golf Resort Mountain and Lake courses, Kunming Dianchi Lake-view Golf Club. Sight Seeing: visit the Stone Forest National Park, Western Hill, Dianchi Lake, the Green Lake Park and Yuantong Temple, Nationality Park. You also can enjoy the Dynamic Yunnan Performance about the 25 ethnic minorities dance and song in the theater. This is an ethnic culture tour and golf vacation tour.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Kunming
Day 2 : Kunming
Day 3 : Kunming
Day 4 : Kunming
Day 5 : Kunming
Kunming
5 Days Kunming City Golf Holliday tour will let you experience the famous Spring City and its nice climate all the year around. Golf Courses Used: Kunming Spring City Golf Resort Mountain and Lake courses, Kunming Dianchi Lake-view Golf Club. Sight Seeing: visit the Stone Forest National Park, Western Hill, Dianchi Lake, the Green Lake Park and Yuantong Temple, Nationality Park. You also can enjoy the Dynamic Yunnan Performance about the 25 ethnic minorities dance and song in the theater. This is an ethnic culture tour and golf vacation tour.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Kunming
Day 2 : Kunming
Day 3 : Kunming
Day 4 : Kunming
Day 5 : Kunming
Kunming, China Tours