City Introduction

Kunming is the place integrating various natural landscapes and humanistic landscapes. Long history and unique geological structures have left many cultural and historical relics and scenic spots in Kunming. There are beautiful and touching “Ashima” in Shilin, five-hundred-li Dianchi Lake from Daguan Pavilion, and the nationalities villages demonstrating the essences of the nationalities; there are Dragon Gate in West Hills, camellia in Jindian, and black-headed gull on Green Lake, displaying the beauty in Kunming. Kunming has mild climate, without intense heat in the summer and severe cold in the winter. Its four seasons feel like spring. With pleasant climate, it is praised as “Spring City”. This was evidenced with the ancient poem, No fur coat is required in the twelfth lunar month in Kunming, no sweat is produced even though you are covered with light cotton quilt in the canicular days, cotton yarn is still stored in the coldest winter, and the willow leaves will grow in the new year. Kunming has 9 administrative districts, that is, Wuha District, Xishan District, Guandu District, Panlong District, Hi-Tech District, Dianchi Tourist Resort District, Chenggong District, Dongchuan District and National Econnomic & Technological Development Zone; 7 counties, that is, Fumin County, Songming County, Yiliang County, Xundian County, Shilin County, Luquan County and Jinning County; and a county-level city: Anning City.

The downtown area mainly covers Wuha District and Panlong District. The scenic spots by focusing on Green Lake include Yuantong Mountain, Yunnan Military Academy, Yunnan University and Yunnan Province Museum. There is the characteristic Railway Museum beside the North Railway Station of Kunming. Railway Station and Wujiaba Airport are situated in Guandu District. Dianchi Lake has a wide area and meets with Daguan River. From north to south, there are the scenic spots, such as Daguan Pavilion, Xishan Forest Park, Nationalities Villages and Dragon Gate and so on. Jindian Park in the east of the city and Qiongzhu Temple in the southwest of the city have their unique features. In Wenquan Town in the southwest of the city, there is famous Anning Spring. There is a beautiful Jiuxiang Karst Cave in Shilin Yi Autonomous County in the east of the city. Naigu Stone Forest and Shiling Scenic Resort are just on the south, which are the good places for suburban travel.

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

Kunming has a long history and splendid culture, and is determined by the State Council as one of the first 24 famous national historical and cultural cities. It has the city history of more than 2,200 years, and Dianchi Lake region has the civilization history of 3,000 years. About 30,000 years ago, there were people living in Dianchi Lake region.

 

 

 

 

Natural Environment

Situated in the middle of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in the southwest of China, Kunming has Dianchi Lake on the south and is surrounded by the mountains in three sides and by Dianchi Plain. Kunming is the frontier and gate of China to Southeast Asia, South Asia and even the Middle East, South Europe and Africa, having the geographic advantages of linking Guizhou and Guangxi on the east leading to the sea route, going through Sichuan and Chongqing on the north to reach the Central Plains of China, reaching Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia on the south, and linking Myanmar, India and Pakistan on the west. The altitude in the center of the downtown area of Kunming is about 1,891 m. Mazong Ridge of Gongwang Mountain is the highest point in Kunming City, with the altitude of 4,247.7 m. the intersection place of Jinsha River and Pudu River is the lowest point in Kunming City, with the altitude 746 m, and the altitude in most regions is 1,500 - 2,800 m. Kunming has the north low-latitude subtropical-highland mountain monsoon climate, and due to the influence of the wet and warm current from the southwest of the Indian Ocean, it has long daylight time, short frost period and annual average temperature 15°C, annual average daylight time about 2,200 hours, and the frost-free period over 240 days. It has mild climate, without intense heat in the summer and severe cold in the winter. Its four seasons feel like spring. With pleasant climate and annual precipitation 1,035 mm, it has typical temperate climate characteristics, the temperature in the urban area is 0 - 29°C, and the smallest annual temperature difference in China. Such climatic characteristics are hardly seen in the world. The flowers blossom all year round, the grass and trees are green in four seasons. So Kunming is honoured as “Spring City” and “Flower City”.

 

 

 

 

Climate Change

Kunming is suitable for travel all year round, but the best tourism time is from March to October because this is the time with the most beautiful scenes and the most nationalities festivals as well as the season with the most fruits and flowers. It has more tourist interests and more harvests in Kunming.

Kunming is “Spring City” and has temperate plateau wet monsoon climate with long daylight time and four seasons like spring, mild climate all year round, without intense heat in the summer and severe cold in the winter. So it is suitable for travel in four seasons. The annual average temperature in Kunming is about 15°C, the average temperature in the hottest month is basically 19 - 22°C, and the average temperature in the coldest month is 6 - 8°C.

But in Kunming, there is very large temperature difference in a day. In the winter and summer, the daily temperature difference may be up to 12 - 20°C, and the tourists are better to bring some woolen sweater or overcoat. The rainy season in Kunming is from May to October, basically having the shower every day. Once it rains, the atmospheric temperature will slightly drop, and it is better to bring trench coats. In autumn and winter, it is required to wear the weatherproof clothes in proper time.

 

 

 

 

Useful Information

Medical service In Kunming City, there are many hospitals, such as People’s Hospital, Military Region General Hospital, and the First Affiliated Hospital, ensuring convenience in medical service. In addition, there are many 24h convenience pharmacies, thus ensuring very convenient medical service and drug purchase.

Yunnan Province Emergency Center (No. 6, Jinfeng Garden, Qingnian Road): 0871-63100120

Yunnan Province People’s Hospital (No. 173, Jinbi Road): 0871-63161030

First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (No.1 of Panjiawan): 0871-65324888，65324894

Kunming City First People’s Hospital (Xunjin Road): 0871-63188176，63188177

Kunming General Hospital under Chengdu Military Region (No. 44, Daguan Road): 0871 - 65319157, 65319159 Post Office

Kunming Postcode is 671000, there are express delivery companies, such as China Post, SF and Yunda, ensuring high convenience for mailing the things. Safety Notes

Kunming has good public security. But during the travel, it is required to take care of your backpacks and objects in the crowding places, and prevent the thieves. In addition, it is better not to act singly in case of the nighttime travel or play in the bar, and not to stay or saunter for a long time in the solitary place.

 

 

 

 

Religion

Kunming is a multi-nationality city, with 26 nationalities, to form the inhabited villages or mixed streets including Han, Yi, Hui, Bai, Miao, Hani, Zhuang, Dai, Lisu and so on. In the long-term production and life, the nationalities influence and are integrated with one another, while maintain their folk traditions and extend many unique lifestyles, custom habits and cultural arts. The compatriots of the nationalities living in Kunming are kind and hospitable, good at singing and dancing, with simple and unspoiled folk customs. Either from the etiquette, catering and wonderful costumes, or from vernacular buildings with different styles and the entertaining weddings full of humors, you can experience fresh nationality characteristics.

 

 

 

 

Tourism Service Number

Area Code of Kunming is 0871, and here are some telephone numbers convenient for the people:

Fire service: 119

Police Tel: 110

Emergency Center: 120

Traffic accident: 122

Weather forecast: 12121

Kunming Tourist Complaint: 0871-63164961

Yunnan Tourist Complaint: 0871- 65275315

Yunnan Province Emergency Center: 0871-63100120

Yunnan Province People’s Hospital: 0871-63161030

Kunming Tourism Tel.: 0871-3163620

Kunming City Tourism Quality Complaint Number: 0871 - 3164961

Taxi: 0871-3131111

Taxi Supervision Number: 0871-3312533

Yunnan Province Emergency Center: 0871－63100120

 

 

 

 

Notes

Special tips

Shopping: The flowers are better to be purchased when the market in Kunming will be closed, and the price is 1/5 that in the inland area and even lower.

Sunscreen: Kunming has the altitude of 1,900 m and strong ultraviolet, so it is better to apply sunscreen cream.

Atmospheric temperature: In Kunming, there is large temperature difference between daytime and nighttime, and there are four seasons in a day, so it is necessary to prepare windproof and weatherproof coats; and it is better to prepare cold-preventive clothes during the travel in the autumn and winter when in Kunming.

Foods: The temperature of crossing-the-bridge noodles soup is generally over 80°C. When the soup is ready on the dining table, make sure not to taste it, otherwise the lip will be easily burned.

Photography: Yunnan Military Academy (outside the west gate of Green Lake Park) and Jinma Biji Historic site are very suitable for photographing with the sunshine.

 

 

 

 

Festivals(Important/Historical/Folks Ones)

Yunnan is a province with the most nationalities in China and these nationalities have their own unique festivals. In Kunming, you may participate in the following festivals, and experience the folk customs and cultures of the nationalities.

Jindian Temple Fair

Time: January 9 (Chinese lunar calendar)

Location： Jindian Park

Introduction: Jindian Temple Fair is held in Jindian Park, and there are various famous and specialty local products and specialty foods, various flowers gather in the garden, with large mass cultural and artistic activities.

The folk Miao Nationality Jump Flower Festival

Time: January 2 - 7 (Chinese lunar calendar)

Location： The Miao Villages

Introduction: The annual Jump Flower Festival of the Miao people. Every year, the Miao people coming from the villages swarm to the open and wide slope land among the Miao villages. “Flower Pole” is an important sign for the Jump Flower Festival. Generally a tall and big pine or cypress is chosen and bundled with flowers and colored flags.

March 3

Time: March 3 of lunar calendar

Location： Xishan Forest Park, Jindian Park etc.

Introduction: March 3 is the festival for spring travel, flower appreciation and spring outing of the Kunming people. It will be boisterous in Xishan Forest Park, Jindian Park, etc.

Torch Festival of the Yi ethnic people

Time: June 24 (Chinese lunar calendar)

Location： Lunan County-Shilin County

Introduction: The traditional Torch Festival of the Yi people is held in Lunan County-Shilin County. During the festival, the people in the villages kill chickens and goats, and prepare delicious foods. In this day, the men and women, and the young and the old are well dressed up and gather in the designated place. In the daytime, the bullfight and wrestling activities are held, and in the nighttime, the torches are lighted, when the people gather in the square, pile the torches as a tower, and sit around the fire, singing and dancing in great pleasure.