Things to do in Zhenyuan

Qianjiazhai Village

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Yunnan

Dianchi Lake

Dianchi Lake, also known as Kunming Lake, is the sixth-largest freshwater lake in China. Its expansive and magnificent surface has earned it the reputation of "five hundred li of Dianchi Lake" since ancient times. As one of the larger plateau lakes in Yunnan Province, Dianchi Lake is surrounded by numerous waterfront parks and wetlands, making it an unmissable stop when visiting Kunming. Every winter, large flocks of black-headed gulls fly all the way from Siberia to Dianchi Lake to spend the winter. This spectacle has occurred faithfully every year since 1985, and feeding the black-headed gulls along the lakeshore has become a highly popular winter experience in Kunming. Strolling along the sightseeing road on the east bank of Dianchi Lake is a great way to experience the lake up close. On one side is the vast, misty expanse of water, with the Western Hills stretching across the distance; in winter, the sightseeing road is especially lively, as residents and visitors alike stop by the lakeside to interact with the black-headed gulls. For a different perspective, you can take the cableway from the lakeside to Dragon Gate in the Western Hills and look down from above, taking in the entire Dianchi Lake at a glance. In the Caohai area at the northern end, you can also take a boat out on the lake and experience its vastness from the water. In recent years, through sustained governance, the water quality and lakeside ecology of Dianchi Lake have gradually improved, the wetland views along the lake are also continuously being restored, and the sightseeing environment has been significantly enhanced compared to the past.

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden

The Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is located in Yilun Town, Mengla County, Xishuangbanna. The park is divided into two parts: the eastern area and the western area. The West District is the main attraction. It includes more than 20 specialized botanic gardens. The “Exotic Flower Garden" is the most popular among tourists. Eastern District is a large area of ​​old-growth tropical rain forest. Most areas are paved with viewing trails, suitable for travelers who enjoy hiking.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Yunnan

Manting Imperial Garden

Manting Imperial Garden is located in southeastern Jinghong, Yunnan Province. This natural village-style park is also the oldest urban park in Xishuangbanna. At Manting Imperial Garden, travelers can explore the vine plant area and peacock garden to see diverse flora and fauna, admire the charming Dai and Thai-style architecture, and enjoy ethnic minority song and dance performances in the evening.

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Yunnan

Stone Forest Scenic Area

Stone Forest Scenic Area is located in Shilin County, Kunming, and is one of Kunming's key attractions. Stone Forest Scenic Area is a typical karst landscape, with stone peaks, stone buds, sinkholes, and underground rivers everywhere. The peak forest transforms into various forms—sword-shaped, tower-shaped, mushroom-shaped, and more—bizarre and magnificent. The entire scenic area consists of the Major and Minor Stone Forest, Naigu Stone Forest, Dadieshui, Changhu, and other sections. These sections are relatively scattered, and regular tours are mainly concentrated in the Major and Minor Stone Forest area. The Major and Minor Stone Forests are located in the same area. Walk along the path for 20 minutes, and on your left is the smaller Minor Stone Forest Scenic Area with relatively gentle stone peaks. Amid a dense cluster of peaks stands the famous Ashima Rock, where the towering peak forest transforms into a graceful Yi girl named Ashima, as if beckoning to you. This is a favorite spot for visitors to take photos. Besides the pretty Ashima, the Minor Stone Forest area also features views such as Shenjun and Cushi Qingtian, each with its own distinct shape. This is a test of your imagination. If your imagination is not vivid enough, it is recommended to hire a guide, under whose guidance you will gain a whole new understanding of the peak forest before your eyes. As you slowly drive along the highway, the roadside unfolds in turn with Tang Monk Rock, Stone Prison, Phoenix Preening Its Feathers, Lingzhi Rock, and more—each vividly lifelike and exquisitely true to form, displaying the wondrous craftsmanship of nature to you in all manner of poses. Walking along the passageway, you will unexpectedly arrive at the Major Stone Forest area. After passing such wonders as "Two Birds Feeding Each Other," "Rhinoceros Gazing at the Moon," "Lotus Peak," "Stone Forest Wonderland," and "Stone Screen," you may be feeling a bit tired. Taking a short rest at Lion Pavilion and admiring the reflection of the peak forest in Lion Pond across the way is a serene pleasure in itself. After seeing so many peak forests, it is only natural to feel some aesthetic fatigue. It is time to enjoy the water scenery. Board a cruise on Stone Forest Lake and drift across the water, where mountain scenery and lake views come together in one place, and all your stress and worries simply melt away. Naigu Stone Forest, also known as New Stone Forest or Mozhai Stone Forest, is composed of the Stone Forest Scenic Area, Baiyun Lake, Shifeng Mountain, and Yougu Xianpu Waterfall. Compared with the Major and Minor Stone Forests, this place presents another style. The peak forest here is overall grayish-black, with tall and densely packed stone pillars in castle, tower, and mushroom shapes. The simple and rugged grotesque rocks surge skyward like waves with magnificent momentum. Strolling through the black peak forest feels like entering a wild and primitive world.

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Wild Elephant Valley

Located in the heart of the Mengyang sub-reserve of the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, Wild Elephant Valley is one of the main habitats for wild Asian elephants in China. Situated at the junction of the eastern and western sections of the Mengyang area, it serves as a corridor where wild Asian elephants gather and interact, which is how it got its name. A visit to Wild Elephant Valley offers two main experiences: learning about Asian elephants and immersing yourself in the tropical rainforest. The attraction features walking trails winding through the rainforest and an elevated elephant-watching boardwalk. Strolling along these paths, you can take in the atmosphere of the tropical rainforest and spot rare tropical plants along the way. You may also come across footprints, dung, and other traces left by wild elephants, and with some luck, even catch sight of a herd roaming through the forest. The Elephant Science Park is the core experience area of the attraction, where visitors can observe the daily behaviors and habits of Asian elephants up close through natural behavior displays. At the entrance of the park, there is an elephant canteen where visitors can hand-feed bananas, cucumbers, and other fruits and vegetables to the elephants, enjoying the fun of close interaction with Asian elephants. The elephant observation deck area is a zone where wild Asian elephants frequently roam. It was established by researchers for monitoring and research, and is now also an ideal spot for visitors to wait for wild elephants to appear. The Asian Elephant Museum within the attraction systematically introduces the species knowledge and conservation status of Asian elephants through science exhibitions. Riding the tropical rainforest sightseeing cableway offers a panoramic view of the rainforest with its intertwined vines, and with luck, you may even spot wild elephants foraging and playing beneath the cableway; the elevated patrol and elephant-watching boardwalk allows visitors to safely observe the rainforest ecology from the canopy layer, and even when encountering wild elephants, they can watch safely from above. In addition, small attractions such as the butterfly garden, snake and lizard garden, and orchid garden each have their own distinctive features and can be visited along the way.

No. 12 of Best Things to Do in Yunnan and Guizhou

Dongfengyun Scenic Area

Mile's “Dongfengyun” town is a characteristic town with cultural tourism, health care and art as its core. The tens of thousands of acres of vineyards and hundreds of acres of lavender fields Souvenir the Attraction add color to the town. All year round, there are flowers in full bloom in spring, evergreen trees in summer, yellow ginkgo trees in autumn, and quiet and peaceful things in winter. Play in the charm of Dongfeng, flower field windmills, lakeside trails, and special-shaped buildings, bringing you a visual feast of art. Sculptor Luo Xu took the red soil from this plateau and used the red bricks from this land to implant unique-style buildings into the original landforms, and built a group of red brick art buildings in various shapes. The kaleidoscope displays the only two sets of "Thousands of Chorus Pottery Figurines" in the world, and the Half Cloud Art Living Room creates a Zen and quiet Refreshment environment. International Art Center, Agricultural Reclamation Museum, Flower Hill, Seal Workshop... Here, architecture tells stories and art conveys emotions.  Eat at Dongfengyun, where the Seal Shop and Cultural and Creative Market, which combine local snacks from Mile, bring you a food carnival. Stay at Dongfengyun, MGallery Art Hotel, with 5 different themes to meet your business, administration, parent-child, vacation, and honeymoon needs; Niuduoluo Music Farm, takes you into a different rural life; Art Inn, with modern intelligent technology, allows you to experience the butler-style immersive stay experience cared for by artificial intelligence. Here, life becomes poetry, allowing time to flow slowly in the poetry and paintings of art, and allowing the soul to rest quietly in the long river of years. The wind rises, the clouds fall, wine is consumed among the flowers, and life is filled with the rare charm of the east wind.

2026 Global 50 - Hot Springs Attractions

Rehai Scenic Area

You will see hot springs everywhere at Tengchong Thermal Sea Scenic Area. As soon as you come in, the “Hot Sea Giant Boiling Pot” - a round geothermal pool that can hard-boil eggs - will catch your eye. You will see many geyser vents as you make your way around the path that rings the inside of the park. The Yugu Hot Springs within the scenic area offer more than 20 open-air and semi-enclosed bathing pools. The Meinu Hot Springs offer multiple open-air bathing pools, cavern pools, and large swimming pools. Accommodation is available within the Tengchong Hot Sea Geothermal Scenic Area, where you can relax in a private hot spring in your room.

No. 17 of Best Things to Do in Yunnan and Guizhou

Cangshan Mountain

Cangshan Mountain, also called Diancangshan Mountain, is located on the west side of the Erhai Lake in Dali. It's scenery is spectacular and it is one of the four scenic spots of Dali. The main peak of the mountain is snowy all year round and the mountain is often shrouded in clouds. You can take the cablecar up the mountain or walk up the mountain. After ascending the Cangshan Mountain, you can overlook the beautiful Erhai Lake and Dali Ancient City.

No. 13 of Best Things to Do in Yunnan

Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park

Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park is located in the eastern part of Jinghong, north of the Lancang River, and is a well-preserved tropical valley rainforest south of the Tropic of Cancer. The park boasts a wide variety of plant species, and along the rainforest trails, visitors can observe unique botanical wonders of the tropical rainforest such as buttress roots, strangler figs, cauliflory, and single trees forming a forest. The park covers a large area, so electric bikes are used for touring, with multiple stops along the way. Peacock mountain villa is a major highlight in the park. When the keeper blows the whistle, hundreds of peacocks glide in flocks from the opposite mountain forest down to the lake surface to feed, creating a spectacular scene. Visitors can also feed the peacocks up close in the breeding area. The Aini village recreates the traditional village life of the Aini people, a branch of the Hani ethnic group, where you can watch ethnic song and dance performances and join in water-splashing interactions. Jiulong flying waterfall is often accompanied by folk music performances, and the Manshuanglong white pagoda and the monkey breeding base are also worth a visit along the way.