Discover the best places in Kunming

Embrace a slower pace of life by unwinding in the many coffee shops, bars and bookshops around Green Lake. Further south, Dianchi Lake and the nearby Western Hills offer scenic walks, biking trails and panoramic views. A visit to the UNESCO-listed Stone Forest is not to be missed, where huge naturally formed stone pillars populate a boundless karst landscape. The city reflects Yunnan’s remarkable cultural diversity, with Han Chinese living alongside many ethnic minorities. Join the Yi and Tibetan people’s open-air evening dances, appreciate Bai artistic traditions, explore Buddhist temples, taste a bewildering range of snacks at the markets and experience the colourful festivals of different minorities throughout the year.

Kunming is a city that never sleeps. The evenings come alive through bustling street food markets, a thriving live music scene and nightclubs that add a youthful energy to the city’s relaxed atmosphere. Locals often round off the evening with an outdoor spicy Kunming-style barbecue, featuring charcoal-grilled meat, vegetables and mushrooms.

The most famous dish is the Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles, which consists of several courses of meat, veg and noodles cooked in boiling chicken broth. Other must-try specialties include Lu Mian (noodles in a thick gravy with minced meat), Steam Pot Chicken, and the many varieties of hotpot – especially the Wild Mushroom Hotpot, sure to persuade even the fussiest diners to become mushroom lovers. The cuisine is generally spicy, aromatic and rich.

By exploring Kunming its unique charm quickly becomes clear. Here, a slower rhythm of life, vibrant arts culture and diverse ethnic heritage come together to create a truly distinctive city.