Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), officials in Kunming spent efforts to erect pavilions in the Green Lake of Kunming. Green Lake is the most popular park in downtown Kunming and attracts multitudes of visitors from home and abroad each year to witness the beauty of its emerald-like water, weeping willows, and red-beaked seagulls who traveled from Siberia to spend the winter since 1985. The lake has two dams, the Ruan Dam and the Tang Dam. The Ruan Dam stretches from south to north and was first built in 1834. Ruan Yuan, then general governor of Yunnan and Guzhou provinces in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) constructed the dam. The Tang Dam, from east to west, was built in 1919 and built by Tang Jiyao, then military governor of Yunnan province in the early Republic of China (1912-1949). The Two dams divide the Green Lake into five sections, namely Huxindao (an isle in the middle of the lake) and Guanyulou (Fish-Viewing Pavilion) at the center, Shuiyuexuan (Water and Moon Pavilion) and Jinyudao (Golden Carp Isle) in the southeast, Zulidao (Bamboo Groves Isle) and Jiulongchi (Nine Dragons Pool) in the northeast, Huludao (Calabash Isle) and Jiuquqiao (Zigzag Bridge) in the south, and Haixinting (Lake Center Pavilion) in the west.

The Green Lake has so far become a stage for Kunming folk cultural shows. One will witness or experience different kinds of things in a day. In the early morning, one can join the exercise activities, such as Taiji and Kong Fu. During the day one could further enjoy assorted performances staged by local people. Yunnan Opera (Huadeng) is the most compelling.