Kunming Travel Tips on Weather, Transport, Food, Shopping and More
This Kunming travel guide outlines everything from must-see highlight attractions to off-the-beaten-path experiences, and includes comprehensive Kunming travel tips on transportation, climate, accommodation, food, and safety -- especially helpful for first-time visitors.
Best Kunming Travel Time
Kunming, renowned as the City of Eternal Spring, is a city with pleasant all the year round without muggy summer and cold winter. Four seasons are all best time to visit Kunming. However the peak time comes in spring, with great temperature, lush green trees and colorful flowers adorning every corner of the city. Interestingly, during this period, tens of thousands of red-billed gulls flying from Siberia will inhabit waters such as Dianchi Lake and Green Lake.
You can also look forward to Kunming's highlights in different seasons and months:
- March to May (Spring): Various flowers are in full bloom at the Stone Forest, Dianchi Lake, and Yuantong Mountain.
- September to November (Autumn): It is the best time to climb Western Hill and explore ancient towns.
- June to August (Summer): Escape the summer heat during Kunming's rainy season.
- December to February (Winter): Enjoy watching red-billed gulls at Dianchi Lake with your children—Kunming's unique winter ecological scenery.
Please note: Kunming experiences significant temperature differences between day and night; even in summer, it's recommended to bring a jacket.
Kunming Safety Tips
Is it safe to travel to Kunming? Yes. You can have a safe and enjoyable trip to Kunming whether you will travel solo, or with kids or seniors.
However, you still need to watch out your bags when on bus or in crowded areas since pick pocketing are common. There are also some reports about the scam at some barber shops, massage centers and other small shops which forced travelers to pay larger amount of money than was quoted. Try the similar services in your hotel, which would be safer and more reliable.
Getting to Kunming
1. By Airplane
Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) is one of the most important international aviation hubs in Southwest China. Domestically, you can reach Kunming from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hong Kong, Guilin, and other cities by direct flights. Internationally, you can fly to Kunming from Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and other Southeast Asian countries, as well as some European countries.
From Kunming Airport to the city center, approximately 25 kilometers, you can choose to take the airport bus (about 40 minutes) or a taxi (around CNY80).
2. By High-Speed Rail/Train
It is also very convenient, thanks to the expanding of China's high speed rail. Kunming South Station is the major high-speed rail station, connecting Guiyang (approximately 2 hours), Dali (approximately 2 hours), Lijiang (approximately 3 hours), Xishuangbanna (approximately 3.5 hours), Shangri-La (approximately 4.5 hours), Nanning (approximately 5 hours), Chengdu (approximately 6.5 hours), and many other nearby cities.
Getting Around Kunming
Kunming city is easy to travel around with various means of transport.
Top Attractions to Visit on Your Trip to Kunming
When planning a Yunnan tour, here area top things to see and do.
If you has 4-5 days for the trip to Kunming, consider visiting nearby attractions including Fuxian Lake and Dongchuan Red Land, which are suitable for photography and relaxation.
>> Recommended Kunming Tours
Where to stay in Kunming
There are various hotel types in the following areas, ranging from luxury to budget options.
- Near Cuihu Park: Most recommended for first-time visitors to Kunming to enjoy its elegant surroundings, with walking distance to attractions like Yunnan University and Yuantuong Temple.
- Downtown Nanping Street/Jinma Biji Square: Foodies and shoppers will love it, with convenient transportation and vibrant nightlife.
- Near Dianchi Lake Haigeng Dam: If you are families or vacationers seeking relaxation, hotels in this area offer views of red-billed gulls and the lake.
- Near Kunming South Railway Station/Kunming Railway Station: Here, transit or business travelers can choose from numerous hotels here for easy access to high-speed rail and subway transfers.
Kunming Local Food to Try
Kunming cuisine is a blend of sour and spicy flavors, which is greatly affected by the minority’s cooking way; there are many local restaurants serve kinds of specialties.
Kunming also offers kinds of snack food, like cross-bridge rice noodles, four happiness rice balls, steamed potted chicken, yiliang roast duck, buckwheat bun, taishi pie, dudu dumpling…western restaurants and café around the Green Lake is also worth a visit.
>> Recommended 3 days Kunming Highlights Tour
Kunming Shopping Tips
Kunming is also the capital to minorities groups of Yunnan province, make it a great place for local ethnic souvenirs including craft works as well as jade jewelry. Flower and bird market of the city is a great place to see kinds of plants, flowers as well as other interesting stuff ranged from antiques to jewelry. It is also a good venue to see how local people did business.
In addition, Pu'er tea, dried wild mushrooms, and Yunnan ham (Xuanwei ham) are also popular local specialties for your Yunnan travel to Kunming.
Kunming Travel Tips at Night:Nightlife / Entertainment
Kundu - a Chinese disco district in Kunming is a nightlife place which offers many bars, pubs and ktv at night. Appreciating Singing and Dancing of Yunnan Style is the highlight of Kunming nightlife.
Kunming Festivals
China Kunming International Cultural Tourism Festival is a great event in Yunnan province during April to May every year.
During the festival, various activities are organized such as the opening ceremony, the get-to-gether in Yunnan Ethnic Village, Stone Forest "Torch Festival", Xishuangbanna Water-Sprinkling Festival, Wenshan Zhuang Antiphonal Singing Fair, Mengba Naxi Customs Festival of Dehong Prefecture, Lisu Evening Party of Nujiang Prefecture, Ruili Chinese-Myanmese Carnival, Luoping Rape Flowers Festival, Luliang Colorful sand Forest and Sculpture Festival, Deqen Shangri-La Art Festival, Lijiang International Dongba Culture Tourism Festival, trans-national tours by driving a car, International Park Direction Contest, the golf invitational tournament for celebrities, the Chinese-Myanmese ethnic knife dance contest, Dali March Street Fair, the tourism commodities fair, the exhibition of costumes of the Ethnic groups in western China, China Pu’er Tea Festival, orchid Fair, etc.
Additional Kunming Travel Tips
- Kunming is located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau at an altitude of approximately 1900 meters. Ultraviolet radiation is strong, so be sure to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
- While mushrooms and wild vegetables are delicious, do not pick or eat them indiscriminately; they must be consumed in reputable restaurants.
- Yunnan is a multi-ethnic region; always obtain permission before taking photos or entering minority villages.
- Please protect the local ecosystem.
>> Related reading: Top Yunnan Travel Tips for Family with Kids
A Private Kunming Tour with Easy Tour China
Kunming is one of the gateway cities for an in-depth Yunnan tour where you’ll be entranced by ancient towns & villages, spell-binding nature, and mysterious ethnic minority cultures.