Kunming
Discover Kunming
Kunming (昆明; Kūnmíng) is the capital of Yunnan Province in China. Known in China as the City of Eternal Spring, Kunming is at an almost-tropical latitude but with a 2000 m (6600 ft) altitude, which gives it a very temperate climate. However, in winter it has been known to snow, so if visiting in December–February, pack warm. Also, when it rains - it's cold. Because of the altitude, the UV rays in Kunming are quite harsh, and it is advised to stay protected from direct sunlight. See Sunburn and sun protection.
What to Experience in Kunming
Taste of Kunming...
Many restaurants in Kunming offer localized food delivery. One particularly convenient restaurant delivery service in Kunming is called Lazy Bones Home Delivery. They deliver food for restaurants like Daddy's Diner all over Kunming. Unfortunately they charge a small fee. You can find them on the web or call ☏ +86 871 532 2515. For breakfast, try one of the stands or carts selling ¥1 steamed buns and other cheap food. The Vegetarian Restaurant is a few doors to the left of the Kunming Zoo main entrance on Yuan Tong Lu, serves somewhat pricey imitation meat dishes from a 1,500-year-old tradition. Dishes range from ¥3.5 to ¥98. The crispy "duck" is especially good. In the Kunming Flower and Bird Market, there is a great pizzeria set in a Qing dynasty courtyard house. The prices are more expensive than eating local dishes, but the atmosphere and quality of the food are outstanding. To find it, head to the flower and bird market and as you walk round, keep your eyes peeled for their sign above the stalls. Along Wenlin Jie there are many Western cafes and restaurants. This street is commonly known as Western Street and the taxi drivers know it well! These cafes include: The main club area is in the Wuhua district, specifically Kundu Bar Street. Clubs are open until 05:30 or 06:00. There are probably more than 10 clubs to suit every style and taste. This long street is full of 20-30 small lounges/bars that locals and university students visit.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsKunming is well connected to anywhere in China or Southeast Asia and reasonably easy to reach from outside that region. 25.101944102.9291671 Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG ). It receives flights from South-East Asian cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, as well as plenty of domestic connections throughout China. When flying into the airport, look out the window for beautiful terraces in the countryside near the city. (updated Nov 2025) The new Changshui Airport is about 25 km north-east of the city area, and the old Wujiaba airport has been demolished. Immigration can sometimes be congested. A taxi ride to the city centre will take approximately 30–40 minutes, at peak times you can expect to double this, as Kunming suffers major traffic congestion. The airport is served by metro Line 6, which goes to the East Bus Station, where you can transfer to line 3, and go on to Tangzixiang, the interchange station for Line 2 in downtown....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Kunming has generally good roads but they are often badly overloaded with traffic, and not only at peak times. By Western standards, the driving is often appalling; see Driving in China. For any journey by ground transport, a generous allowance for traffic delays is good planning. The metro system consists of five lines, with more under construction. The metro operates from approximately 07:00 to 22:00, and fares are ¥2–10 depending on distance traveled. To buy a single-journey ticket card, select your destination on one of the ticket machines and insert the required cash. The machines give change, but only accept paper money—no coins, cards, WeChat, or Alipay. Swipe your ticket to enter the metro and insert it when you leave, similar to the Shanghai metro system. Line 6 from the airport to downtown was the first line to go into service, followed by Line 1 and Line 2, which temporarily combined as one line run from south to north through the city center and via Kunming Railway Station.
Where to Stay
There are a number of so-so budget options around the railway station and along Beijing Road north of the station. If you are arriving in China through Kunming, note that there is no telco store in the Kunming Changshui Airport. A convenience store at the arrival hall (level B1) sells one at a hefty price of ¥100, it is not clear what is included in that price (as of Mar 2019). Kunming is in general a very safe city, and tourists are very unlikely to be victims of violent crime. It is generally not a problem for women to roam the streets alone at night. Just be sure to avoid the touts at the airport, train stations and tourist attractions as they are bound to rip you off. Instead, use public transport or a ride hailing app like Didi Chuxing. Otherwise, the biggest risk to tourists is the ever-present electric scooters; they are much quieter than motorcycles, though they will usually use their horn to let you know that they are coming. Dianchi Lake (滇池) is highly polluted.
Money & Budget
Many restaurants in Kunming offer localized food delivery. One particularly convenient restaurant delivery service in Kunming is called Lazy Bones Home Delivery. They deliver food for restaurants like Daddy's Diner all over Kunming. Unfortunately they charge a small fee. You can find them on the web or call ☏ +86 871 532 2515. For breakfast, try one of the stands or carts selling ¥1 steamed buns and other cheap food. The Vegetarian Restaurant is a few doors to the left of the Kunming Zoo main entrance on Yuan Tong Lu, serves somewhat pricey imitation meat dishes from a 1,500-year-old tradition. Dishes range from ¥3.5 to ¥98. The crispy "duck" is especially good. In the Kunming Flower and Bird Market, there is a great pizzeria set in a Qing dynasty courtyard house.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Kunming is in general a very safe city, and tourists are very unlikely to be victims of violent crime. It is generally not a problem for women to roam the streets alone at night. Just be sure to avoid the touts at the airport, train stations and tourist attractions as they are bound to rip you off. Instead, use public transport or a ride hailing app like Didi Chuxing. Otherwise, the biggest risk to tourists is the ever-present electric scooters; they are much quieter than motorcycles, though they will usually use their horn to let you know that they are coming. Dianchi Lake (滇池) is highly polluted. Do not swim in the lake or eat fish caught in it.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Kunming
A view of a city at night time
A group of people standing on top of a red structure
a street lined with parked cars and purple trees
a flock of seagulls flying over a body of water
a sign that is on the side of a building
a group of boats floating on top of a lake
limestone formations in the stone forest yunnan china
a flock of seagulls flying over a body of water
green mountain under white and blue cloudy sky
a street with buildings on either side
A view of a city at night time
A group of people standing on top of a red structure
a street lined with parked cars and purple trees