About Kunming
What to see and do in Kunming
Weather in Kunming
Airport in Kunming
Visa
Kunming is approximately at the same location as northern Mexico, only on the other side of the world. However, because it's situated on a 1.2 -mile (2-km) high plateau and enjoys a protected location, with mountains to the north, east and west, it has a mild climate; with an average temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), making it spring all year round.
The jurisdiction of Kunming has an area of 3,844 sq. miles (6200 sq. km), including four city districts and four rural counties (which supply the city with fruit and vegetables year round). It is one of the major cities that mainland Chinese go to as tourists, over 2,000,000 per year, with another 800,000 foreign tourists visiting annually. If you're interested in finding out why so many people come to Kunming visit the Tourism section of this site.
Yunnan is home to 25 ethnic minorities, and is endowed with a remarkable traditional folk culture. And Kunming, the capital city, celebrated as "City of Eternal Spring", is well known for its diverse cultures, breath-taking natural scenery and pleasant climate.In tropical zone, Kunming is well-known for its comfortable weather condition all year round. The city has neither severe winter nor extremely hot summer. Weather and climate here is really mild with blooming flowers and lush vegetation all the time.
Standing side by side with its remarkable local folk culture, Kunming is a modern city with impressive skyscrapers and Hi-tech international Groups. The International Tourism Mart held here annually makes the city even more famous. Beautiful attractions here include Stone Forest, Xishan ( West Hill ), Jiuxiang and Yunnan Nationalities Village, Daguan Park, Black Dragon Pool and much more.
Kunming is a prefecture-level city and capital of Yunnan province, in southwestern China. Because of its year-round temperate climate, Kunming is often called the "Spring City" or "City of Eternal Spring".
What to see and do in Kunming:
Kunming flower and bird market, (Very central and situated within the area bounded by DongFeng Xi Lu to the south, WuYi Lu to the west, RenMin Xi Lu to the north and ZhengYi Lu to the east.). In September 2008 the market was undergoing major reconstruction: most of the small stalls had been torn down and the old houses were being demolished. It was unclear what was to replace the old market; there were conflicting reports of new buildings or buildings "in the old style" replacing them, as well as the possibility that the market will move indoors. However, some of the stalls on the edges of the market had remained in operation. Nontheless if purchasing cute little puppy dogs, live crickets, birds, live bird food, tortoises and other things creepy, crawly and/or fluffy is your thing then it is here to be had ... along with a few flowers and a great many trinkets. The most obvious stalls begin where WuYi Lu meets DongFeng Xi Lu but other sellers can be found on other streets within the district.
Kunming Zoology Museum, (Situated in the north of Kunming between the first and second ringroads, approximately 600 metres directly west of the Carrefore supermarket at the intersection of LongQuan Lu and BaiYun Lu. Bus routes 4 and 92 (route 4 terminates just around the corner) run close to the museum, alternatively take routes 9, 55, 59, 74 or 96 to the Carrefore and walk from there.). Anybody interested in Yunnan's animals through the ages could spend a couple of hours here. The museum is adjacent to, and indeed shares a compound with, a university science campus. The exhibits are arranged on five floors starting with dinosoars, fossils and skeletons on the ground floor and working up to a tropical rain forest replica on the uppermost floor. There are sections with preserved fish and amphibians, stuffed animals and preserved insects. The exhibits seem to concentrate on creatures that are, or were, to be found in Yunnan. Most exhibits are labelled in English and Chinese but the longer explanations and information boards are generally Chinese only. Overall it is a pleasant, clean, museum with the exhibits well presented and usually well lit. It isn't really an interactive museum; there is plenty to point at and peer at but not much to do. There is a small table offering momentos for sale but otherwise no shop. Nor is there any onsite catering. Entry updated September 2008. Admission: RMB 80, September 2008.
The Kunming Zoo, (A few hundred metres north east of Green Lake. A few hundred metres east of Yunnan University. Buses 101, 92, 95 to south side. Buses 4, 22, 59. 74, 83 to north entrance.). The Zoo was built in 1953 and claims to have over 300 species. There is a peacock garden, butterfly enclosure, avery and aquarium. In spring the zoo is reputed to be a 'sea of flowers', in particular the blossom of cherry trees and weeping Chinese crabapple trees. Overall the zoo is a pleasant enough place but with a slight air of weariness and decay about it. Local people also use it as a place for performing exercise or playing cards and mahjong. Prices: in September 2008, RMB 10 with further RMB 3 charge inside for the butterfly and peacock park.
Yunnan Railway Museum, Kunming North Railway Station, 913 Beijing Road, Kunming, China (Section 1 (mainly maps and documents) is in the main railway station building. Section 2 (locomotives and rolling stock) is found approximately 500 metres to the east of the railway station.), China 0871-6138610 (August 2008). This is a smallish museum dedicated to the various narrow gauge railways constructed to link Yunnan with other places: the Yunnan-Vietnam railway, the GeJin-BiSeZhai-ShiPing railway, the Yunnan-Myanmar railway and the XuFu-KunMing railway. These railways were brought into existence principally through French-Chinese collaboration but, as the museum records, the equipment, rolling stock, machines and materials originated in various countries including France, Russia, China, England, the USA and Germany. The museum is in two sections: The first is easily found within the Kunming North Railway Station building and contains maps, documents, models, information boards and small artifacts. The information boards and artifact labels are generally in Chinese and English, but many of the copies of original documents and annotated drawings are in French and Chinese. The second section of the museum can be found by walking approximately 500 metres along the road alongside the railway line towards the east. (In other words, on emerging from the station building, turn right, climb over the low carpark fence and then follow the road as closely to the railway line as possible.) The second section of the museum houses various locomotives and rolling stock. Non-commercial photography is permitted but, as both sections of the museum are poorly lit, a tripod might be useful. Railway enthusiasts can probably browse contentedly for an hour or two but small children and people with no interest in history or railways might find 15 minutes to be more than long enough. Adults RMB 10, Children RMB 5. One ticket provided access to both sections. (valid August 2008).
Provincial Museum, 118 WuYi Lu, Kunming, Yunnan. #118. (Quite central, situated on the southern side of the junction of DongFeng Xi Lu and WuYi Lu. Bus routes 26, 52, 66, 73, 95, 98 and 100 all stop nearby), 0871-6179536, 6179528. 10am to 5pm, closed Mondays. A smallish museum containing artifacts from the past 2500 years. The items are presented quite and are reasonably well lit. For persons who are particularly interested in history one and a half hours might be sufficient. Descriptions are given in Chinese and English. Occasionally the museum hosts temporary exhibitions on the ground floor. The permanent exhibitions are on the two upper floors, access by stairs only. admission free (September 2008).
Kunming City Museum. A simple museum whose main attraction is a central pillar taken from an old temple (now destroyed) and other relics from the Dian kingdom (a tribute state of the Western Song dynasty). Admission free, and includes a tour. As at August 2006, the main attraction, the fossil & dinosaur exhibition is currently undergoing complete renovation & is not open for visitors. A large part of the museum is taken up by a series of shops selling fossils/minerals (warning : many of the fossils are fakes) plus overpriced Chinese paintings, textiles, porcelains & some furniture. Free entry.
Kunming Botanical Gardens. These gardens are 12 kilometers from Kunming proper and, together with the Black Dragon Park, constitute a national scenic area. The gardens have introduced precious flowers, traditional medicinal herbs, important trees and endangered plants of the province. Also they have cultivated many plants for domestication and the protection of their migration. The gardens have collected some 4,000 species of plants and established 10 special plant gardens and experimental districts. The camellia garden is unique in the country and has collected 40 spucles of camellias. Yunnan Province boasts more than 100 species of camellia. These gardens were one of the earlies gardens to collect the cedar. Tanhua Temple Tanhua Temple, also called Taohu Nunnery, free admisson. was built in 1634, the seventh year in the reign of Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty. It is located at the foot of Mt. Tuiying of the Jinma Mountain range in the eastern outskirts of Kunming City, about 4 kUometres away from the city centre. According to historical records, before the temple was erected, there had been a thatched shack where Shi Shiqiao, a scholar of the Ming Dynasty, buried himself in books. During the reign of Chongzhen, Shi Tai, grandson of Shi Shiqiao, donated the estate for the shack whereon tanhua Temple was built. In the backyard there was an epiphyllum tree, which is called "tanhua" in Chinese and honoured as "Buddha's Flower", hence the name "Tanhua Temple". Tanhua Temple was built by the end of the Ming Dynasty. It went through many renovations during the reigns of Kangxi (1662-1722) and Qianlong (1736-1795) in the Qing Dynasty. It has been well-known for its flowers and plants ever since Yingding, the abbot, took charge of this temple. It has been a scenic spot for more than three hundred years, and an epitome of Kunming, "the Flower City of the Southern Frontier." Yingding (1864- 1922), a native of Kunming came to the temple in his childhood, and studied Buddish sutras under Xuliang, the abbot. Xuliang loved the boy very much because he was clever and could memorize every word he had learned.
He was later sent to study Confucian doctrines under Wang Zhongyu, a Confucian scholar. He attained great achievement in poetry. After the death of Xuliang, Yingding inherited the abbotship. His diligence changed the bleak temple into a garden "full of fragrance from flowers." His gardening skills were well known in the city. The epiphyllum tree was planted in the side court of the depository of Buddhist Scriptures. There is a stone tablet on which four characters are carved: "The Epiphyllum Brings Luck." After the erection of the temple, the original epiphyllum withered and died. The epiphyllum nowstanding taller than the eaves of the temple sprang from the root of the original one at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, and is about three hundred years old. The epiphyllum's leaves are broad and its twigs supple. It stands slim and graceful. When it bursts into flowers in mid-summer, the strong fragrance greets your nose, gladdens your heart and refreshes your mind. This epiphyllum is, in fact, a unique Yunnan magnolia, belonging to the lily magnolia family. It is an evergreen ornamental plant suitable for gardening.
The big loquat tree in the backyard is said to have been planted in the early Ming Dynasty by Lan Mao (1397-1476), a famous doctor and the author of the book Meteria Medica of Yunnan. In recent years, the old temple has resumed its original grandeur and achieved great development. It has become one of the most famous scenic spots in Kunming. When you enter the gate, coming into view are flowers alongside the road and the wall which embraces a rockery studded with flowers. You seem to have come to a world of flowers. In this south of the temple, there is the Southern Garden with flowers and rockeries. The peaks of the rockeries look like a forest, each having its own style.
The exuberant azalea, cypress, magnolia and bamboo vie with the rockeries for beauty and gracefulness. The winding paths among the flowers and the zigzagging corridor surround the Lotus Pond, where you can watch fish. You are delighted to see fishjumping out of the water, and feel fascinated with the blooming of flowers. In the east of the temple there is a the East Garden, covering about fifty mu shaded by tall cedars and cypresses. Within the garden there are seven small gardens, namely, Yi Jian Xuan, Peony Garden, Magnolia Garden, Azalea Garden, Camellia Garden, Chinese Flowering Crabapple and Cheery Garden, and Children's Playground. They are ingeniously connected by foot-paths and corridors. The beauty of these gardens lies not only in the matching of the flowers with plants, but also in the interior layout of each garden. You will be greeted by picturesque scenes wherever you rove in these gardens, which combine the classical architectural style with that of the minority nationalities in Yunnan. Tanhua Temple, though occupying a small area of less than a hundred mu, is so enchanting that visitors will linger on without any thought of leaving. When he was in Yunnan, Zhu De (1886-1976), Commander-in-Chief of the People's Liberation Army, admired very much Monk Yingding's skills of cultivating magnolias and other flowers.
He often went to see the flowers and enjoy a cup of tea together with Yingding, whose style of coriversation and calligraphy he more than admired. Soon they became close friends. In the early spring of 1922 when he visited the temple, Zhu De wrote a poem for Yingding, who carved it on a stone tablet to commemorate the event. On March 9th of the same year, Moon Yingding passed away but the stone tablet remains.
Karst Topography.
Dianchi. The Dian Chi Lake, also called "Kunming Lake", "Kunming Pond", and "Southern Lake of Yunnan" in ancient times, is a plateau lake with beautiful scenery, the lake is 40 by 8 kilometers and is 1,886 meters above sea level. The lake water and the sky seem joining mutually like a city sea, dense mist and rolling water are on the surface of the lake, and sails are strolling above the water. It claims to be "a pearl on the Yungui Plateau" for a long time. Being the largest lake in Kunming and the sixth largest fresh water lake in China, Dian Chi Lake is 300 square kilometers (116 square miles) in surface area, 1,885 meters (6,185 feet) in altitude and about 40 kilometers (25 miles) in length (from north to south). The west side of Dian Chi Lake is the mountain forest, while on the east side are lands dotted with the fisheries and agribusinesses. Traditional fishing boats still sail on the lake, hooking and netting. Taking a boat to voyage between the blue sky and the green water, breathing the fresh air and viewing the birds flying just at your side, what an enjoyable, light-hearted and free moment it is! When the weather is fine, there are white flocculent or massive clouds floating in the cerulean sky, the cyan water waves under the golden sunshine and the surrounding mountains reflect their silhouettes on the water.
If you take a walk on the lake shore you will feel intoxicated by the beautiful landscape. The most beautiful view of Dian Chi Lake appears at dawn and sunset, the refraction of the ethereal rays glitter on the water surface just like thousands of silver fishes swimming and playing. At night, when the breeze is fleeting over the water and the world is brimming over with hazy moonlight, Dian Chi Lake lies in silence and breathes in peace like a sleeping beauty. The ocean-like Dian Chi Lake is the best place to go for those people who wish to get away from the bustling city and be close to the nature. Facing such a beautiful and capacious place, one may forget everything even himself, the only thing left is the amazing scenery before you. On the West Mountain, you can overlook the crossed green fields and the vast green Dian Chi Lake, the high and low peaks ranged at random at distance and emerald forests and elegant meditation rooms closely.
Having the advantages of beautiful scenery and rich plants on the mountain, the West Mountain has already become a large-scale forest park after the transformation by Kunming City Government. Nearly 3,000 kinds of woody plants are growing on the mountain and the Ginkgo, Yulan magnolia and epiphyllum are unique in Kunming. The sago cycas, metasequoia, yew podocarpus and peacock China fir handed over in the geology history and the rare plants in the Dianzhong Plateau such as moss, alangium and Yunnan camphor tree are in addition to the above. The Longmen is the most beautiful scenic spot on the West Mountain. If climbing the Longmen and overlooking the endless Dian Chi Lake, you will see the green wave ripples and the pretty scenes of the lake. If enjoying the Dian Chi Lake on the close Grand View Pavilion, you will see that the waving water is running to your eyes and the sails are strolling in the light mist on the lake.
Green Lake Park (CuiHuGongYuan), (Located near Yunnan University in the north western part of town.), n/a. A pleasant, smallish expanse of park and lake that serves as a mellow hang-out. Musicians sometimes practice along the paths. Plenty of goldfish and lotus plants can be seen. In the mornings it is a popular place for people to perform their morning exercises. During December and January many seaguls arrive in the region and in the mornings many people feed the birds or photograph them as they swoop past to catch the thrown food. There are a number of restaurants and tea shops near the lake and the northern edge is close to WenLinJie (Wen Lin Street) where there are many restaurants (Chinese, Korean, Western, Indian). Entry is free.
Village of Ethnic Culture. Expensive and basically a minority disneyland, this tourist attraction highlights how the Han Chinese view their minority citizens as ethinic sideshows. Tromp around and see faked architecture of various Yunnan minorities. If you don't have any time to get outside of Kunming, this might be your best bet to experience the province's minority culture. Otherwise, don't bother, just hang out in the real thing in Xishuangbanna or in the northwest.
Jindian (Golden Temple) Park, (On the MingFeng mountain, seven kilometers north-east of Kunming). The park, sprawling for more than 133.3 hectares on the Mingfeng Mountain, is a national forest reserve comprising natural scenery mingled with sites of historical interest and man-made gardens. Some 12 percent of the surface are lakes or ponds. On the Mingfeng Mountain stands the exquisite and serene Golden Temple, 6.7 meters in height and 7.8 meters in width, and cast of 250 tons of solid bronze. It is the largest bronze hall in China. A day ticket purchased at the Southern gate of what is now known as the 'World Horti-Expo Garden' is RMB 100, June 2008.
Western Mountain Forest Reserve. The forest reserve on the west bank of the Dianchi Lake consists of the Huating, Taihua and Luohan mountains, which extend for more than 40 kilometers at an altitude of 2,500 meters above sea level. This is a colossal natural forest reserve, its lofty chain of mountains crisscrossed by gurgling brooks and streams. Ancient trees heap up rich piles of foliage, and birds warble and flutter in the midst of fragrant flowers. Viewed from the southeast corner of Kunming, the entire forest reserve looks like a beautiful maiden reclining leisurely by the Dianchi Lake, her long hair quivering in the limpid water. Hence the nickname of the Western Mountains Forest Reserve, " Sleeping Beauty". Longmen (Dragon Gate) Built on the steep rock hills, the carved stone " Dragon Gate " consists of the major part, which was cut from the 46th year of Qianlong Era (178l) to the third year of Xianfeng Time in the Qing Dynasty. No tourist can but be astonished at such elegant carving on such precipitous hills. On March 3, every lunar year, hundreds of Kunming people crowd up to the hills for celebrating their traditional distinguished gathering called "Spring Touring", dancing and singing on the green western hills.
Stone Forest, located about 2 hours by bus from Kunming. This is a UNESCO listed site of remarkable Karst geography. Good weekend trip & lots to see. It is not possible to change currency at the sole local bank & their ATM often does not work. Very good Youth hostel (RMB 160/night double) or can get room at Stone Forest Hotel (inside the nature reserve) for RMB 200/night for good a/c double room (including horrible breakfast). Local restaurants are pricy but noodle shop in main street has great food from RMB 3 per bowl. Getting there: luxury buses depart regularly from east side of Kunming main railway station - RMB 26 to Stone Forest - other buses may charge RMB 90 for the same trip. Note : if one of the touts working in front of the train station assist you to find your bus their RMB 10 commission will be added to your fare.
The stone forest near Kunming
Entry is a little pricy at RMB 140 per person per day but you can get an annual pass for RMB 160 for unlimited entry to the Stone Forest & 4 other nature reserves.
Jiuxiang Scenic Spot. This scenic spot is 20 sq km in area and includes 5 tourist attractions, Diehong Bridge (5 km southeast from Jiuxiang Street, famous for the karst caves, the twin waterfalls and the huge natural stone dam cluster), Dasha Dam (consisting of picturesque karst caves and thick forest), Sanjiao Cave (5 km north of Jiuxiang Street, famous for the karst caves), Alu Long [a scenic area 6 km west of Jiuxiang Street, famous for the excavated Yi Nationality cliff paintings of Qin 221BC-206BC) and Han (206BC-220AD) dynasties] and Mingyue (meaning the bright moon) Lake. Jiuxiang is known as the "museum of karst caves", which boasts its caves as the largest in scale and number (there are about a hundred karst caves) and has the most wonderful in-cave scenes in China. The caves in Jiuxiang fall into 4 cave clusters: Sanjiao Cave, Dashang Cave, Diehong Cave and Dasha Dam Cave. 66 out of the numerous caves in the area are profitably exploitable and the karst cave cluster is the largest of its kind on Yunnan-Guizhou plateau. The caves in the area are praised for their grandeur, wonder grotesquerie and natural beauty. Jiuxiang, the birthplace of the aboriginal Yi ethnic people, has a strong minority custom color, a long cultural history, and widely spread old myths and tales. These include Hunting Festival, the Worship the White Dragon Festival, Love Song Contest, Bullfighting, Wrestling, Sanxian Dance (Sanxian is a three-stringed plucked instrument), Rattle Stick Dance and so on. Tourists should take enough clothes since they may get wet in boats when they visit the karst caves and the gorges. The folk songs and dances and the local food are also special. What's more, Yangzonghai Lake Scenic Spot and Little White Dragon Forest Park are not far from Jiuxiang Scenic Spot. Tourists can take buses at the gate of the Jiuxiang to go there.
Yuantong Temple, At the foot of Yuantong Hill in the northern part of Kunming. With a history of more than 1,200 years, Yuantong Temple is the grandest as well as the most important Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province. King Yimouxun of the Nanzhao Kingdom built the temple during the late eighth century as a continuation of Putuoluo Temple, and the restorations to the temple performed from the Qing Dynasty onward had not changed Yuantong Temple's unique mixed architectural style of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. Unlike all other Buddhist temples, which are built on an ascendant, you enter Yuantong Temple from above and descend along a gently sloping garden path. The view before you starting your peaceful walk beneath the gigantic cypress trees that line the garden path to the temple with its extensive array of flowers and foliage is deeply restful and impressive. A memorial archway with four Chinese characters -Yuantong Shengjing (Yuantong Wonderland)-is standing on the halfway; you can see the entire temple from here.
The temple complex is built around Yuantong Hall (Mahavira Hall), which is known as the Fane on the Water for it is surrounded by a very large pond filled with limpid water and fish. A delicate stone bridge which has an elegant octagonal pavilion stands in the center connects Mahavira Hall and the temple entrance. The pavilion is connected to the rest of the complex by various bridges and walkways. Sakymuni, Amitabha and the Medicine Buddha, all Yuan Dynasty statues, are found in the main hall. The surrounding 500 Buddhist Arhats who are carved in the walls are rare treasures noted for their perfect proportions and lively appearances. Also in this temple hall are two ten meter high pillars from the Ming Dynasty that are each engraved with a dragon - one yellow and one green - who are trying to extend their bodies and claws into the air as if they are ready to fly. Like the Arhats, they impart the feeling that at any moment they could spring into action. Outside, on each side of the main hall, there are stone staircases that are carved out of the mountainside and wind their way to the top of the hill. As you climb these stairs, there are ancient inscriptions along the way and various tone artworks that are considered the most important historical relics in Kunming. From the top of the stairs, you are presented with a terrific panoramic view of the entire complex. It is from here that you can most appreciate the architecture of the remarkable temple complex. In 1982, Thai Buddhists sent a copper statue of Sakymuni to Yuantong Temple as a symbol of friendship, and the statue is three and a half meters high and four tons in weight.
A few years later, in 1985, a Copper Buddha Hall was built in a combination of Chinese and Tai styles to house this exquisite gift. Surrounding the temple pond are a series of halls where you will find old women praying, people sitting and chatting, ongoing classes in Buddhist scriptures, a magnificent calligraphy studio, an exhibit of temple photographs taken at the end of the Qing Dynasty by Auguste de Francois, a temple shop, a restaurant, and more. Yuantong Temple is a working temple that also represents the Buddhism of China today. Along with the patronage of the local people of Kunming and Yunnan in general, Buddhists from around the world come here on pilgrimages to pay homage, there are special Buddhist services two times each month, and the Buddhist Association of Yunnan Province is located here. Yuantong Temple plays a very important role in history and in the modern world.
Grand View Pavilion. The Park of the Grand View Pavilion in the western part of Kunming races the Dianchi Lake in the south and the Western Mountains in the west. The pavilion, with a history of more than three hundred years, is a three-floor square structure with flying eaves and golden-lacquered ornamentation. The top floor of the pavilion provides an all-embracing view of the vast Dianchi Lake and the peaks of the Western Mountains. A 180 character couplet is hanging down the pavilion, which is lauded as the 'number one couplet past and present'. The Park of the Grand View Pavilion is the most fascinating garden in urban Kunming.
Qiongzhu (Bamboo) Temple. An amazing work of art hidden in a temple a mile or two up the mountains encircling Kunming. A mixture of life-like figures in totally fantastical positions (man whose eyebrows grow down to the floor, monks ridding giant fish), this is some trippy artwork that's worth the trip
annual temperature averages around 14.5 C (about 58.1 F), and foliage remains green all year thus obtain its name of the 'Spring City'. January is the coldest season at about 8 C(about 46.4 F) while July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 18 C(about 64.4 F). While there is no obvious peak or low seasons for tourism in Kunming; many visitors prefer the lively period from March to October.
Since the temperature between day and night may vary between 12 C(about 53.6 F) to 20 C(about 68 F), pack warm clothing for night, carry sunglass, and apply sun block. Take along water and fruits to avoid dehydration.
The city in SpringBecause during the Kunming rainy season, May to October, the temperature may drop suddenly, a lined raincoat is recommended.
Kunming is a city abundant in natural attractions and colorful cultural scenes. The Kunming International Tourist Festival held every April 10 to May 10 promotes tourism throughout Yunnan Province as well as within Kunming. The festival features performances and activities in Kunming downtown and local scenic spots that attract tourists from all over the world. A minority residential area, Kunming is home to various ethnic minority groups. These groups sponsor many minority festivals throughout the year, especially from March to October, including the Knife-pole Festival of Lisu in March, the Water-splashing Festival of Dai in April, and a Torch Festival.
It is also the season when most fruits ripen. During this period, you will enjoy not only the stunning natural landscape, but also the fascinating minority cultures.
January 15 C to 2 C
February 17 C to 3 C
March 20 C to 6 C
April 24 C to 9 C
May 25 C to 14 C
June 24 C to 16 C
July 24 C to 17 C
August 24 C to 16 C
September 23 C to 14 C
October 20 C to 12 C
November 17 C to 7 C
December 15 C to 3 C
Kunming Wujiaba International Airport (IATA: KMG, ICAO: ZPPP) is an airport located in Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China. The airport is located 4km south-east of metropolitan Kunming. Originally built in 1923, the airport has been renovated numerous times into a modern facility that ranks as China's seventh-largest civilian airport.
Location: Kunming Wujiaba International Airport lies in the southeastern outskirts of Kunming City, only about four kilometers (about 2.5 miles) away from the downtown area.
Brief intro: One of the most important and busiest airports in China, Kunming Wujiaba International Airport was built in 1923. After a series of renovations it has become a beautiful modern airport, with a 58,000-square meter (about 14 acre) Waiting Building, 34 gates, 17 Waiting Halls, one airstrip and a 250,000-square meter (about 62 acre) parking lot. Within the airport there are restaurants, shops, a small flower market and other services. From the Kunming International Airport you can fly to 74 domestic and international destinations.
Facilities
Restaurants
There are cafeterias and restaurants providing you both traditional
Chinese food and western food service.
Lounge
Tel: 0871-7116333 or 0871-7116444 or 0871-7116339 (for domestic service)
0871-7115896 (for international service)
Service
Ticketing
It is located on 2 F in the Waiting Building.
Airport ticket selling phone: 0871-7112191
General desk for ticket booking: 0871-7114277 or 0871-7114278
Information counter
You can find it on 2 F of the Waiting Building.
Tel: 0871-7114300
Baggage storage and a bank are also available on the 2 F of the Waiting Building. There are also ATMs on 1 F for your convenience.
Airlines and other destinations of Kunming:
The following destinations are served from Kunming (as at February 2007):
International Airlines of Kunming
Air Bagan (Yangon)
Air China (Mal' [seasonal], Yangon)
Best Air (Dhaka)
China Eastern Airlines (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Dhaka, Hong Kong, Kolkata, Mandalay, Osaka-Kansai, Seoul-Incheon, Siem Reap, Singapore, Taipei-Taoyuan, Vientiane)
Dragonair (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong Airlines (Hong Kong)
Korean Air (Seoul-Incheon)
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur-Sepang)
Lao Airlines (Vientiane, Luang Phabang)
SilkAir (Singapore)
Thai Airways International (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai)
Vietnam Airlines (Hanoi)
Domestic Airlines of Kunming:
A China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 at Kunming Wujiaba International Airport
Air China (Beijing-Capital, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guiyang, Hangzhou, Lijiang City, Luxi, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Shenzhen, Wenzhou, Xiamen, Xishuangbanna-Jinghong)
China Eastern Airlines (Baoshan, Beijing-Capital, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dali City, Diqing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Guilin, Guiyang, Haikou, Jinan, Lijiang City, Lincang, Luxi, Luzhou, Nanchang, Nanjing, Nanning, Ningbo, Panzhihua, Sanya, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Shanghai-Pudong, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xi'an, Xiamen, Xishuangbanna-Jinghong, Yibin, Zhaotong, Zhengzhou)
China Southern Airlines (Anshun, Baoshan, Beijing-Capital, Changsha, Chongqing, Dali City, Guangzhou, Guilin, Guiyang, Haikou, Hangzhou, Hohhot, Lijiang City, Nanning, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Shenzhen, Wenshan, Xishuangbanna-Jinghong, Zhengzhou)
Deer Air (Shanghai-Hongqiao)
Hainan Airlines (Beijing-Capital, Haikou, Ningbo, Xi'an)
Lucky Air (Dali, Xishuangbanna)
Okay Airways (Changsha)
Shandong Airlines (Chongqing, Nanjing, Simao, Xishuangbanna-Jinghong)
Shanghai Airlines (Diqing, Lijiang City, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Xishuangbanna- Jinghong)
Shenzhen Airlines (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuxi, Xishuangbanna-Jinghong)
Sichuan Airlines (Beijing-Capital, Chengdu, Chongqing, Jinan, Lijiang City, Wanxian, Xining, Xishuangbanna-Jinghong, Yichang)
Spring Airlines (Changde, Nanchang, Shanghai-Hongqiao)
United Eagle Airlines (Chengdu, Nanjing, Wuhan)
Xiamen Airlines (Fuzhou, Xiamen)
To be able to travel to Kunming you need to have a valid China Visa, issue from your local government at the China Embassy, Chinese visa fall intofour types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visa is further divided into the following 8 categories each marked with a letter:
(1) Tourist and family visit visa (L-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for tourist purpose, family visit or other personal affairs.
(2) Business Visa (F-visa ) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice for a period of no more than 6 months.
(3) Student Visa (X-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for the purpose of study or advanced study for a period of six or more months.
(4) Work Visa (Z-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China to work and his or her accompanying family members, or to give commercial performances in China.
(5) Transit Visa (G-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is to transit through China on his or her way to a third country (or region).
(6) Crew Visa(C-visa)is issued to crew member performing his/her duties on board an international train, or on an international airliner, to a sailor on board an international ocean-liner or freighter, and also to their accompanying family members..
(7) Journalist Visa (J-visa)is issued to foreign journalists. J-visa has two categories: J-1 visa and J-2 visa. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists in China and their accompanying spouses and under-age children, J-2 visa to foreign journalists who visit China for temporary news coverage.
(8) Permanent Residence Visa(D-visa)is issued to a foreign citizen who has been approved by China's public security authority to reside in China permanently.
for Language guide please refer to: http://www.china-city-guide.com/beijing/pages/localguide.php for
free download of basic survival Chinese conversation in China.