[Kunming Free Travel] How to enjoy a 2-day and 1-night Kunming tour, a comprehensive itinerary planning guide!
Contents
- Overview of Kunming itinerary planning
- Kunming Day 1
- Dianchi Lake
- Yunnan Nationalities Village
- Day 2 in Kunming
- Yunnan Provincial Museum
- Guandu Ancient Town
- Stone Forest Scenic Area
- Trip Planning Assistant
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This guide carefully plans a perfect 2-day and 1-night trip to Kunming for you. Covering local attractions, authentic food and popular shopping areas, you can easily travel around Kunming and enjoy a worry-free holiday. Whether it is an in-depth exploration of history and culture or a fashionable check-in in a modern city, this guide can meet your needs. Come and start your wonderful trip to Kunming!
Take a cruise on Dianchi Lake and feed red-billed gulls, watch peacock dances in the ethnic village, and unlock the beautiful waters and colorful customs of the plateau in one day.
Explore the museum to trace back the ancient Dian civilization, taste local baba in the ancient town, take pictures of the thousand-blade peaks in the stone forest, and connect all the historical and folk wonders.
| Date | Journey |
| Day 1 | Dianchi Lake->Yunnan Nationalities Village |
| Day 2 | Yunnan Provincial Museum->Guandu Ancient Town->Stone Forest Scenic Area |
Dianchi Lake, also known as Kunming Lake, is the sixth-largest freshwater lake in my country. It is known as the 500-mile Dianchi Lake. The lake is wide and very spectacular. Every winter, a large group of red-billed gulls from Siberia will stay here for the winter, so it is also a good place for bird watching and feeding. To appreciate Dianchi Lake, you can stroll, ride a bike, or take a boat tour along the lakeside, or you can climb up the Dragon Gate to overlook the lake, all of which are very pleasant.
Address: No. 1318, Dianchi Road, Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province
Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round
evaluate:
| Dianchi Lake is a place worth visiting when you come to Kunming. The lake water is clear, the air is fresh, and the scenery of the lakes and mountains on both sides is beautiful, which makes people feel happy. It’s a pity that it’s the wrong season now, so I didn’t see the sight of seagulls flying. It is recommended to take a cruise, which is easy and labor-saving and suitable for people who want to play in leisure mode. |
The accommodation was nice, with a warm, homey feel; clean and tidy, with an artistic touch. It was well-equipped, with a kitchen, massage facilities, and a TV. The window offered views of mountains and blue skies, and there were many attractions nearby.Yunnan Nationalities Village is located on the south side of Kunming city and is a popular tourist destination in Kunming. There are 25 ethnic minority villages built at 1:1 scale in the village, including those of the Dai, Bai, Yi, etc., each with different folk customs and craft performances. You can see the customs of Yunnan's many ethnic groups in one day. During ethnic minority festivals such as the Dai people's "Water Splashing Festival" in April and the Yi people's "Torch Festival" in July and August, lively celebrations are also held in the folk village.
Address: No. 1310 Dianchi Road, Xishan District, Kunming City
Opening hours: 09:00-22:10 (no admission at 21:25)
evaluate:
| Although the weather is hot and sunny, it is still worth a walk around. There are few tourists, so you can walk slowly and there is no queue to take pictures. You can also just take a quick look. It took a lot of thought to plant trees and flowers in such a large garden, and there is also a small train for transportation. |
The Yunnan Provincial Museum has a rich collection of cultural relics, including bronzes, ancient coins, ceramics, ancient calligraphy and paintings, steles, stamps and various handicrafts, totaling more than 10,000 pieces. It is the museum in Yunnan Province with the largest collection of cultural relics. Most of the collections are based on archaeological excavations. Among them, the ox-tiger bronze table from the Warring States Period, the four-ox gilded knight bronze shell storage vessel from the Western Han Dynasty, Guo Xi's "Visiting Friends in the Mountains and Rivers" in the Northern Song Dynasty, the golden Akāya Guanyin statue from the Dali Kingdom period, and the Garuda from the Dali Kingdom period are all rare treasures.
Address: No. 6393, Guangfu Road, Guandu District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province
Business hours: Open from 09:00 to 17:00 tomorrow (no admission at 16:30)
evaluate:
| I booked the 1.5-hour Chinese tour guide service at the Yunnan Provincial Museum on Ctrip.com and was quite satisfied with the overall experience. The tour guides are very familiar with the museum's exhibits and historical background. Their explanations are rich and vivid, and they are able to present complex knowledge points in an easy-to-understand way. The tour guide service covers several important exhibition halls of the museum, such as the "Ancient Yunnan Exhibition", "Light of Civilization Exhibition" and "Dominance of South China Exhibition", which show the development process of Yunnan from ancient times to ancient civilization. The tour guide not only introduced the historical value of the exhibits, but also shared some interesting historical stories and cultural backgrounds, allowing visitors to have a deeper understanding of Yunnan's history and culture. |
Guandu Ancient Town is located in the southeastern suburbs of Kunming. It is a famous historical and cultural ancient town in Kunming. It was already a place with developed commerce and handicrafts during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The ancient town is rich in cultural landscapes. Temples, attics, etc. are all worth seeing. There are also many bustling shops. It is a good place for shopping and sightseeing around Kunming. In addition to sightseeing, there is also a wide variety of traditional snacks here, and don’t miss the famous Guandu Baba.
Address: About 100 meters northwest from the intersection of Guduchang Street and Yunxiu Road, Guandu District, Kunming City (about 100 meters south of Kunming Yunzhiduan International Youth Hostel)
Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round
evaluate:
| -Rich in history and culture: Guandu Ancient Town is one of the birthplaces of ancient Dian culture. It has many historical sites such as "Five Mountains", "Six Temples", "Seven Pavilions" and "Eight Temples", such as the Tuzhu Temple in the Tang Dynasty, the Fading Temple in the Song Dynasty, the Miaozhan Temple in the Yuan Dynasty, and the Vajra Pagoda in the Ming Dynasty, with profound cultural heritage. - Unique architectural style: The ancient town has diverse architectural styles, integrating architectural features from different dynasties such as the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The Vajra Throne Pagoda in front of Miaozhan Temple is the earliest built and best-preserved Vajra Throne-style stone pagoda in my country. It and the two dense-eaves brick pagodas of Miaozhan Temple are staggered in height, forming a unique landscape. - A wide variety of delicious food: You can taste a variety of Yunnan specialties, such as Guandu Baba, small pot rice noodles, pea flour, fried potatoes, grilled stinky tofu, etc., which are affordable and taste authentic. - Rich travel experience: There are Yunzi Chess Hall, Wutongzouyin Training Hall, Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Base, etc. in the ancient town, where you can learn about Yunnan Go culture, Wutongzouyin production skills and other intangible cultural heritage. In addition, traditional cultural activities such as lion dancing, dragon dancing, and opera singing are often held. - Convenient transportation: Located in the southeast of Kunming's main city, the transportation is very convenient. You can take Metro Line 1 to Xingyao Road Station or Huancheng South Road Station, transfer to the bus or take a taxi. There are also many buses that go directly to the ancient town. - High degree of commercialization: With the development of tourism, the commercial atmosphere of Guandu Ancient Town has gradually become stronger. There are more shops and snack stalls on the streets, which may make some tourists feel that the original tranquility and simplicity of the ancient town have been lost. - Some scenic spots are not well protected: Although some important cultural relics and historical sites in the ancient town have been well protected, there are still some ancient buildings that are damaged and aged to varying degrees and need further protection and repair. - Many tourists: As one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kunming, Guandu Ancient Town has many tourists, especially during holidays and weekends, which may affect the travel experience. |
The Stone Forest Scenic Area is located in Shilin County, Kunming, and is one of the key attractions in Kunming. The Stone Forest is a typical karst landform, with stone peaks, stone buds, sinkholes and underground rivers everywhere. The peaks and forests are transformed into various shapes, such as swords, towers, mushrooms, etc., which are strange and magnificent.
The several major areas of the Stone Forest Scenic Area are relatively sparsely distributed, with the Big and Small Stone Forest Scenic Area as the center. The Naigu Stone Forest is located about 12 kilometers north of the Big and Small Stone Forest Scenic Area, the Dadieshu Scenic Area is located about 29 kilometers southwest of the Big and Small Stone Forest Scenic Area, and the Changhu Scenic Area is located 26 kilometers southeast of the Big and Small Stone Forest Scenic Area. Conventional stone forests refer to large and small stone forests.
The Big and Small Stone Forests are located in the same area. After buying a ticket at the gate and entering, walk along the corridor for 20 minutes. On the left is the Small Stone Forest Scenic Area, which is smaller in scale and has slightly flat stone peaks. In a dense cluster of peaks, the famous Ashima Stone stands here. The majestic peaks and forests turn into a jade village facing you. In addition to the beautiful Ashima, the Xiaoshilin area also has other landscapes such as the Divine Horse and the Sky-supporting Cluster of Stones, all of which are of various shapes. This is a time to test your imagination. If your imagination is not rich enough, it is recommended to hire a tour guide. Under his guidance, you will have a new understanding of the peaks and forests in front of you.
Going slowly along the road, you will see Tang Monk Stone, Stone Prison, Phoenix Combing Wings, Ganoderma Lucidum Stone, etc. on the roadside. All of them are lifelike and vivid, showing you the wonders of nature in various postures.
Walking along the corridor, you will inadvertently come to the Dashilin area, passing by such wonders as "Double Birds Feeding", "Rhinoceros Looking at the Moon", "Lotus Peak", "Stone Forest Scenic Spot", and "Stone Screen". You may be a little tired from walking, so taking a rest in the Lion Pavilion and appreciating the reflection of the peaks and forests in the Lion Pond opposite is also a kind of peaceful enjoyment. After seeing too many peaks and forests, you will inevitably feel aesthetic fatigue. It's time to check out the water view. Take a cruise on Shilin Lake and sail on the lake, where the beautiful scenery of mountains and waters gather in one place, and all the stress and worries disappear.
If you don't want to walk so hard, there are Yi girls driving electric cars around the scenic area, and they will stop when you wave. You can also enjoy the wonders of the stone forest, and if you meet an enthusiastic female driver, she will tell you some anecdotes.
Naigu Stone Forest is located 13 kilometers north of Big and Small Stone Forests. It is also called New Stone Forest or Mozhai Stone Forest. It consists of a stone forest landscape, Baiyun Lake, Shifeng Mountain, and Secluded Valley Fairy Waterfall. Compared with the Big and Small Stone Forests, this place has a different style. The peak forest here is gray-black in color as a whole, with tall and dense stone pillars in the shapes of castles, towers, mushrooms, etc. The ancient and rough rocks rise into the sky like waves, majestic. Walking in the black peak forest, it feels like entering a wild world.
Address: Shilin Avenue, Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Kunming City, Yunnan Province
Business hours: Open from 07:30-18:00 tomorrow (admission stops at 18:00)
evaluate:
| As a Chinese 5A-level tourist attraction and a world natural heritage site, the Stone Forest Scenic Area has attracted many tourists with its unique karst landforms, rich ethnic culture and convenient transportation conditions. Despite problems such as crowded tourist seasons and high ticket prices, its magnificent natural scenery and profound cultural heritage still make it a popular destination for tourism in Yunnan. The following are some common evaluation contents: - Stunning natural landscape: The Stone Forest Scenic Area is famous for its unique geological landscape. The stone pillars, stone peaks, stone walls and other shapes are various, forming a magnificent natural picture. The stone pillars here are densely packed with various shapes. Some are like swords, towers, and mushrooms; some are like people, animals, and objects. They are lifelike and leave a deep impression on people. - Profound historical and cultural heritage: Shilin Scenic Area not only has unique natural landscapes, but also contains rich historical and cultural heritage. This was once the place where the ancestors of the Yi nationality lived, leaving behind many ancient cultural relics, such as the Yi Torch Festival and the legend of Ashima, which add a strong cultural atmosphere to the scenic area. - Rich tourism resources: In addition to the stone pillars, the Stone Forest Scenic Area also has many other tourism resources, such as the Stone Forest Lake and the strange caves, which provide tourists with rich tourism options. In addition, there are various entertainment facilities and performance activities in the scenic area, such as boat rides, grass skiing, ethnic song and dance performances, etc., allowing tourists to enjoy a rich and colorful entertainment experience while appreciating the beautiful scenery. - Convenient transportation: The Stone Forest Scenic Area has convenient transportation, and tourists can easily reach the scenic area. The scenic area is about a 1.5-hour drive from downtown Kunming. Visitors can choose to travel by car, train, plane and other modes of transportation. In addition, there are complete transportation facilities in the scenic area, such as electric cars, cruise ships, etc., which are convenient for tourists to visit the scenic area. - Complete supporting facilities: The dining and accommodation facilities in the Stone Forest Scenic Area are relatively complete, and tourists can choose different accommodation and dining options according to their needs. There are hotels, guesthouses, inns of various grades in the scenic area, as well as various specialty restaurants and snack stalls, providing tourists with abundant choices. |
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