Dianchi Hidden Route|On my sixth visit to Kunming, I found 90% of its beauty
Friends, as someone who has been to Kunming six times in a month, I can responsibly say: 90% of Kunming’s most beautiful scenery is hidden along the free and less crowded Dianchi Lake area. Stop crowding the Haigeng Dam! Today, I’m sharing a private “Dianchi Greenway One-Day Tour” route that takes you southward to encounter a dawn redwood forest, a sea of purple flowers, white sandy beaches, and a “seaside” sunset, guaranteed to refresh your impression of Kunming!
🗺️ Highlight Route: Dianchi South Shore Tour Guide
This route connects my 10 favorite hidden gems along Dianchi Lake, all free to visit, highly photogenic, and far less crowded than the city center. You can flexibly choose spots based on your time and interests.
Morning Segment: Wetland Seclusion and Forest Secrets
1. Haihong Wetland Park: The first stop departing from the city. Facing the Western Hills, the lake water is crystal blue. The water forest boating here is a popular activity, but simply strolling along the lake is also very pleasant.
2. Fubao Village “Little Sanya”: Navigate to 📍Fubao Little Sanya. A large lawn planted with palm trees, it truly feels like a seaside resort, perfect for simple camping, enjoying the breeze, and daydreaming.
3. Baofeng Wetland · Submerged Corridor: Walking on the glass corridor, with Dianchi’s lake water and aquatic plants on both sides, little fish swim through as if you’re taking an “underwater walk,” a very special experience.
Afternoon Segment: Flower Sea, Beach, and Sunset Climax
4. Jiangwei Village: Near the mouth of Luolong River into Dianchi, spring often brings vast flower seas (like small yellow flowers), with wide-open views.
5. Dianchi Greenway Lavender: One of the highlights of this trip! A huge area of purple vervain flowers (visually similar to lavender), combined with Dianchi Lake and the sky in the distance, making photos extremely cinematic.
6. Laoyuhe Wetland · Water Forest: Avoid the crowds in the main lake area and delve into the straight dawn redwood forest. Sunlight filters through the treetops, casting dappled shadows, like stepping into the Land of Oz.
7. Haiyan Village Beach: One of the classic spots to watch the sunset by Dianchi Lake. Navigate to 📍Qing Art Museum, then turn left. Along the lake are many unique check-in spots, with romance at its peak in the evening.
8. Niulian Small Fishing Village: A newly emerging art village with white sandy beaches and fresh architecture by Dianchi Lake, perfect for Instagram-style photos.
9. South Dianchi Beach + Whale Bay: Highly recommended for those who want to see the “sea”! Navigate to Parking Lot No. 2; on the left is a peninsula shaped like a small whale (Whale Bay), and on the right is a long beach with lake waves lapping the shore, giving a strong seaside vibe. Wait here for a Dianchi sunset to perfectly end your day.
💡 Tested Practical Guide (Follow to Avoid Pitfalls)
• Transportation: Strongly recommend driving or renting a car, as the spots are spread out and driving is most flexible. You can also combine cycling and taxis; some greenway sections are excellent for cycling.
• Time Allocation: Visiting all 10 spots takes a full day; it’s best to start before 9 AM. If short on time, focus on these four: Haihong Wetland, Lavender Flower Sea, Laoyuhe Water Forest, and South Dianchi Beach.
• Touring Logic: Morning light is best, with bluer lake water, ideal for wetland and landscape photos; afternoon light is front-lit, perfect for portraits and flower seas; evening is reserved for beaches and sunsets.
• Essentials: Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses (strong UV on the plateau); comfortable walking shoes; water and some snacks; power bank (photos drain battery fast).
🍜 Food and Light Drunkenness: Authentic Kunming Taste Journey
Play at Dianchi, eat back in the city. For dinner, I recommend returning to Cuihu Park or downtown for food:
• Must-try snacks: Small pot rice noodles, tofu pudding rice noodles, grilled milk fan, Guandu baba (rice cake).
• Main meals: Wild mushroom hotpot (frozen mushrooms in winter), authentic Yunnan cuisine (choose places popular with locals).
• Surprise discovery: While exploring small shops with friends this time, we stumbled upon Yunnan Small Copper Pot Liquor. As someone who doesn’t usually drink baijiu, I was attracted by it—it’s brewed using grains from Ailao Mountain and fragrant glutinous rice from Xishuangbanna with traditional methods. It tastes sweet with a glutinous rice aroma, smooth and easy to drink. We had several glasses with barbecue and didn’t feel hungover the next day. The small bottle packaging is perfect as a souvenir, adding a slightly tipsy memory to your Yunnan trip.
📝 Final Words
This Dianchi South Shore route reveals a quieter, richer, and more layered Kunming. It requires you to slow down and feel it at cycling speed or a walking pace. When the sunset dyes the lake golden, you’ll understand why I come to Kunming again and again.
A small final suggestion: Some areas along Dianchi are still undergoing ecological improvements, so please protect the environment and take your trash with you. May you find your own piece of blue in Kunming’s breeze.