Situated 75 miles southeast of Kunming, the Stone Forest is a wonder of geology. About 200 million year ago the earth's crust shifted and forced the 200 acres of karst limestone stalagmites rise up from what was once a huge expanse of water. Paths wind through its spectacular valleys and around the weird rock formations and its reflecting pools. There are pavilions perched high on these pillars that offer sweeping views. Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Stone Forest has long been one of the most famous scenic spots in China.

The splendor of this place is highlighted by another feature that is the local Sani people, a branch of the Yi nationality. Most of all Sani girls excel at spinning, weaving and embroidering. And these people are born singers and dancers. Each day at sunset, boys and girls gather at the village platform. The boys usually play the three-stringed plucked instruments while the girls dance joyfully at a strongly rhythmic pace.

Golden Temple, located on Mingfeng Hill, 11km northeast of Kunming, is also known as Taihe Palace (the Hall of Supreme Harmony) and Tongwa Temple (the Bronze Tile Temple).
The temple was originally built in 1604 during the Ming dynasty. Chen Yongbin, the governor of Yunnan at the time. Built in 1890 with 250 tons of solid bronze, the present temple, 6.7 meters in height and 7.8 meters in width, is reputed to be the largest bronze hall in China, which gleams like gold under sunlight. Hence it got the name of "Golden Temple". Except for staircases and balustrades, which are made of marble, the walls, columns, rafters, roof-tiles, altars, Buddha statues, wall decorations, even the banner near the gate tower, were all made of copper.
Preserved in the Golden Temple is a double-edged sword that weighs more than 20 kilograms with the pattern of the Big Dipper on it. It is thought to be a magic weapon used by Zhen Wu, a Daoist deity, to guard the hill.

The temple lies on the northwestern outskirts of Kunming, some 8 miles (12 km) from the downtown area. Surrounded by wooded hills, the temple was built about 1280 at the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty by a famous monk. It was the first temple where Buddhism was preached to the believers in Kunming. The most spectacular attraction in this temple is the 500 life-size Buddha statues, which were the artistic creation of a well-known sculptor from Sichuan and his three apprentices. The work started in 1883 and was completed in 1890, in the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Qing Dynasty. Highly appreciated by tourists and artists both at home and abroad, this group of statues are reputed as "a pearl in the treasure-house of oriental sculpture".

Yuan Tong Temple

Yuantong Temple, a temple build in Tang dynasty with a history of over 1,000 years, is seated at the southern foot of Luofengshan Hill. The structure embodies the essence of the Tang architectural style. According to relevant records, the Meng royal family of Nanzhao Kingdom in the Tang Dynasty once built a temple called Putuoluo Temple on the present site. A giant Yuantong Hall was built in the monetary in the Yuan Dynasty, and it went through several renovations in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is the largest Buddhist complex in Kunming City proper.
Leading up to the main hall from the entrance is an extensive display of flowers and potted landscapes. The central courtyard holds a large square pond interested by walkways and bridge, and has an octagonal pavilion at the center. To the rear of the temple a new hall has been added, enshrining a statue of Sakyamuni, a gift from the king of Tailand.  

The Dianchi Lake is the largest lake in Yunnan Province and the eighth largest lake in China. It is 370 square kilometers in area, 44 meters in depth, and 1,885 meters in altitude. Its nickname is "Sparkling Pearl Imbedded in a Highland", and it was the model for the Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace in Beijing. It is a working lake, and traditional junks still sail the lake, the men laying the lines to hook the fish is their livelihood. At the same time, the lake is a pleasant destination for those wishing to get away from the bustle of the city itself.
At the lake's northern tip, Daguan Park (also known as Grand View Park) is within walking distance of the Western Mountains. Its tower is inscribed with poetry in praise of the lake's beauty. The inscription is said to be the longest antithetical couplet in China. The tower decorated with flying eaves and splendid paintings provides a fantastic view across sparkling Dianchi Lake to flocks of water birds.

Yunnan Ethnic Villages, four miles south of Kunming, is bordered on the south by the Dianchi Lake and on the west by the Western Mountains Forest Reserve. This is a theme park of sorts--an ethnographic display of the architecture and ways of life of Yunnan's minority population.
  Each of the 26 ethnic minorities has a village built on the premises. There is also a central square to symbolize unity among the various ethnic groups. In addition, there is a theater for the performance of ethnic songs and dances, a folklore museum, and a museum of ethnic waxworks.