The 10 Best Free Things to do in Kunming, Yunnan

November 4, 2021 Trinity Boughner

Kunming is the capital and largest city of Yunnan province in southwest China. Known as Yunnan-Fu until the 1920s, today it is a prefecture-level city and the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of the province as well as the seat of the provincial government. Kunming is also called the Spring city due to its weather. The headquarters of many of Yunnan's large businesses are in Kunming. It was important during World War II as a Chinese military center, American air base, and transport terminus for the Burma Road. Located in the middle of the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, Kunming is located at an altitude of 1,900 metres (6,234 feet) above sea level and at a latitude just north of the Tropic of Cancer. Kunming has as of 2014 a population of 6,626,000 with an urban population of 4,575,000, and is located at the northern edge of the large Lake Dian, surrounded by temples and lake-and-limestone hill landscapes.
Restaurants in Kunming

1. Dongchuan Red Land

Xintian Town,Dongchuan District, Kunming 654109 China
Excellent
59%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 167 reviews

Dongchuan Red Land

Reviewed By Au_and_Family - Singapore, Singapore

Dongchuan Red Land is a place of beautiful and colorful terraces. We have a rental car with a driver cum guide to bring us there. We saw many colorful terraces as we were driven to see Shuipingzi Rice Terrance (the Moon Rice), sunset at Luoxiagou in Songmaopeng, then to Huagou Thousand years of Nagarjuna—Red Soil Grand Sight. Sunrise next day at Damakan was marred by foggy morning weather. Later in the morning, we saw Qicai Slope (colorful slope), Jinxiuyuan, and Yuepuao—Luoshi Bay. It was a wonderful colorful experience.

2. Huating Temple

Centre of Xishan Scenic Resort, Xishan District, Kunming 650100 China
Excellent
33%
Good
67%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 12 reviews

Huating Temple

3. Green Lake (Cui Hu)

No.67 Cuihu South Road, Wuhua District, Kunming China
Excellent
38%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 792 reviews

Green Lake (Cui Hu)

Reviewed By richardmS8948WS - Singapore, Singapore

Nice park full of local culture -- especially on a Saturday with all the dancing Aunties. I'd recommend you have a coffee in the Cafe on Bamboo Island. Actually don't I like how quiet it is there and I don't want too many people to discover it :)

4. Kunming City Museum

Tuodong Lu 120, Kunming China
Excellent
30%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
21%
Poor
7%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 43 reviews

Kunming City Museum

5. Dian Lake (Dian Chi)

Southwest of Xishan District, Xishan District, Kunming 650228 China
Excellent
31%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
19%
Poor
5%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 293 reviews

Dian Lake (Dian Chi)

The shores of the sixth largest freshwater lake in China have many scenic spots.

Reviewed By JimmyDe - Kunming, China

Rent an ebike from ebike sales shop and ride along the southern shore of Lake Dian Chi. There are some access roads (usually dirt) where you can approach the lake. There is also a Wetlands park where you can walk alongside the lake a bit and get a nice view of the lake. The park is free but you have to pay for ebike or car parking. You can see locals fishing in their sailboats. Would love to find a local to take me out one day - will have to investigate that.

6. Yunnan Provincial Museum

No.6393 Guangfu Road, Kunming China +86 871 6728 6223 http://www.ynbwg.cn
Excellent
36%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
25%
Poor
6%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 36 reviews

Yunnan Provincial Museum

Reviewed By beardysam - London, United Kingdom

Firstly, this museum used to be in Wuyi Road in Wuhua District and there are still some old photos on Tripadvisor so be careful or you will end up at a (perfectly acceptable) modern art gallery. The new museum is located at No.6393, Guangfu Road, Guandu District. It’s large copper coloured front faces an equally large theatre hall separated by a large plaza. This is actually one of the best museums I have seen in China so far. Instead of exhaustive collections of jade from dynasties past and fibreglass communist dioramas, equal weight is put on each stage of Yunnan’s storied history. The history is told plainly through the items and artefacts on display, with only a little bit of fibreglass here and there. Prehistoric fossils fill the first floor and plenty of child-friendly displays of dinosaurs abound. Early hominids progress into Bronze Age artefacts including some stunning depictions of wild beasts, livestock, and their various interactions. Once Yunnan man learnt how to kill beasts, they then turned on each other and the warring states period is mostly spiky things to make you wince. The floor above is a tour of the various cultural threads to Yunnan, including minority groups, the various flavours of Buddhism and The Kingdom of Dali. Only then do we reach the dynasties and mandatory revolutionary exhibit. These are all surprisingly balanced and go over Yunnan’s specific role in each stage of Chinese history. Finally, there was nearly no English whatsoever besides the named item plaques so maybe an audio guide would be better than nothing. It is child friendly otherwise. The entrance is free. Depending on your tolerance for museums you can spend a few hours here or the better half of a day.

7. Yunnan Wholesale Tea Market

Xiaozhuang Village, Panlong District, Kunming 650000 China
Excellent
43%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
5%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 21 reviews

Yunnan Wholesale Tea Market

8. Guandu Ancient Town

South-east's suburbs of Kunming, Guandu District, Kunming 650041 China 0871-7376593
Excellent
29%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
24%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 72 reviews

Guandu Ancient Town

9. Jinma Biji Historic site

the junction of Sanshi Street and Jinbi Road, Wuhua District, Kunming 650021 China
Excellent
25%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
32%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 119 reviews

Jinma Biji Historic site

10. Haigeng Park

No.1318 Dianchi Road, Xishan District, Kunming 650228 China
Excellent
38%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
18%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 45 reviews

Haigeng Park

Reviewed By GoTravelasia99 - Malaysia, null

We went there in a sunny morning. It was very windy but didn't stop us from enjoying feeding the seagulls. It was so relaxing and everyone seemed to enjoy the company of the seagulls. Definitely recommended to be visited by families.

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