Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, is known as the “city of eternal spring.” Located in the middle of the Yunan Plateau 6,300 feet above sea level, subtropical Kunming is skirted by mountains to the north, east, and west, while to the south lies a large lake called Dianchi.

Kunming has a mild climate and flowers bloom most of the year round. But its association with eternal spring can be misleading, because there are sometimes cold winds in winter, chilly days in spring, and heavy rains in summer. Generally speaking, though, the city's climate is kind to travelers most of the time.

Kunming has a history spanning more than 3,000 years. It is known to have been a small settlement as early as 109 B.C., trading in salt, silver, gold, silk and lumber. Through the eighth to the 13th centuries, it was the secondary capital of a small kingdom in the region, before falling to the Mongols in 1374. A small group of Mongols still exists at Tonghai, about 75 miles south of Kunming.

Yunnan Province, so named because of its location to the south of the Yun Mountains, is the home of 33 ethnic groups including the Han.

Yunnan Shilin World Geological Park

Yunnan Shilin World Geological Park is located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. It covers an area of 400 square kilometers. It is the first batch of China's key national scenic spots, national 5A-level tourist attractions and national civilized tourist attractions.

The main types of geological relics in Shilin are karst geological landforms, which are mainly karst geological parks with stone forest landforms. They have the most peculiar karst landforms (karst landforms) in the world. They have a long history, complete types, large scale and complete development. They have a wide range of scenic spots and numerous scenic spots, including small and small stone forest scenic spots, Changhu scenic spot and black pine Rock Scenic spot.

The scenic spot is 68.8 kilometers away from Kunming city. It takes about 1 hour and 36 minutes to drive. It can also take a bus from Kunming East Passenger Station to the scenic spot directly.

Dianchi Lake

Dianchi Lake is also known as Kunming Lake, Kunming Lake, Nanze Lake and Dianhai Lake. In the southwest of Kunming, the lake is 1886 meters above sea level and covers an area of 330 square kilometers. It is the largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province. Dianchi Lake is a national tourist resort in China with beautiful scenery. It is surrounded by Yunnan Ethnic Village, Yunnan Ethnic Museum, Xishan Huating Temple, Taihua Temple, Sanqing Pavilion, Longmen, Qiongzhu Temple, Daguanlou, Panlong Temple and Zhenghe Park. The resort covers an area of 18 square kilometers.

Haiyuan Park in Dianchi Lake has been built around 2.5 kilometers along the coast of Dianchi Lake. It is the most famous tourist resort in Dianchi Lake. The west side of Haiyuan Park connects Haiyuan Park to Longmen in Xishan, only one water away; the east side is close to golf course and national sports training base; and the north side is adjacent to "Garden Hotel" and "Yunnan Ethnic Village".  

Dianchi Lake is about 15 kilometers away from Kunming City. It can drive for about 30 minutes or take the city bus for about one hour and 20 minutes.

Yuantong Temple

Yuantong Temple is at the foot of Yuantong Hill in the northern part of Kunming. With a history of more than 1,200 years, it is one of the grandest as well as the most important Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province. King Yimouxun of the Nanzhao Kingdom built it during the late eighth century as a continuation of Putuoluo Temple, and the restorations  performed from the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) onward had not changed its unique mixed architectural style of the Yuan (1271 - 1368) and Ming (1644 - 1911) 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.

Cuihu park

Cuihu Park is situated at the foot of Luofeng Mountain in Kunming City, Shanxi foot of Wuhua, opposite the main entrance of Yunnan University, formerly known as Vegetable Haizi. It was originally a lake bay in Dianchi Lake, but later became a Wangqing Lake because of the decline of water level. Because weeping willows and blue water constitute its main characteristics, it was formally named Cuihu Lake at the beginning of this century.

Cuihu Lake is mainly built in the Qing Dynasty, such as Huxin Pavilion and Guanyulou in the scenic area of Huxindao. Every winter, a large number of seagulls fly from Siberia to Kunming for winter. Some of them live in Cuihu Lake, which fully illustrates the four seasons of Kunming like spring.

Cuihu Park is located in Wuhua District of Kunming City. It can take bus No. 10, No. 65 and No. 84 to Baihui Mall Station and walk for hundreds of meters.

Old Town of Lijiang

Old Town of Lijiang is located in the ancient urban area of Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. It is located in the middle of Lijiang Dam and in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. As a minority city, the overall layout of Lijiang ancient city integrates the essence of Han, Bai, Yi and Tibetan nationalities. It has its own unique style of Naxi nationality and is one of the types with distinct characteristics and styles in Chinese folk houses.

Old Town of Lijiang is a famous historical and cultural city, which is mainly characterized by colorful local ethnic customs and recreational activities. The main scenic spots in the city are Sifang Street, Mufu, Wufeng Tower, Heilongtan, Wenchang Palace and so on.            

Old Town of Lijiang is 497 kilometers away from Kunming, and it takes about 7 hours to drive.

Erhai

Erhai is located in the suburb of Dali, Yunnan Province. Although it is called the sea, it is actually a lake. It is the second largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province. Erhai is not only beautiful in scenery, but also rich in products, delicious in fish and shrimp, which provides the living environment and unlimited development for the people around it. Erhai is also a national scenic spot and nature reserve. Aquatic products are rich in resources, mild climate, beautiful scenery, pleasant scenery, known as the "Pearl of the Plateau".

Dali City invests in the construction of wetland ecological park Erhai Park for the protection of Erhai Lake, and establishes the tourist landscape highway around Erhai, which is 115 kilometers long. It is one of the most worthwhile scenic spots to visit. Erhai is 318 kilometers away from Kunming City, and it takes about 3 hours to drive from Kunming City.

Yulong Snow mountain

Yulong Snow Mountain is a group of snow mountains in Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. It is located in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County. It is the latest equatorial snow-covered mountain range in the Northern Hemisphere and the first batch of 5A-level tourist attractions in China. Yulong Snow Mountain is called "Olu" in Naxi, which means that the silver rocks are black and white because of their distinct lithology. It is also called "Black and White Snow Mountain". It is the sacred mountain of the Naxi people. It is said that it is the incarnation of the Naxi protection god "Sanduo".

Yulong Snow Mountain has developed tourist attractions mainly: glacier park, Ganhaizi, Blue Moon Valley, spruce flat, yak flat and so on. Yulong Snow Mountain is about 514 kilometers away from Kunming, and it takes about 7 hours to drive from Kunming.    

Shangri-La

Shangri-la Tibetan means "the sun and the moon in the heart". It is the seat of the municipality and capital of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province. It is located in the northwest of Yunnan Province and the hinterland of Hengduan Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is the junction of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet provinces, and also the site of the world natural heritage "three rivers flowing side by side".

Shangri-La once appeared in English writers'novels and was yearned for by people. She was soon made into a film and won many Oscars. The main scenic spots in Shangri-la are Meili Snow Mountain, Haba Snow Mountain, Pudacuo National Park and Songzanlin Temple.

Shangri-La is 632 kilometers away from Kunming. It takes about 9 hours to drive from Kunming.

Xishuangbanna

Xishuangbanna is a Dai Autonomous Prefecture, located in the southernmost part of Yunnan Province of the People's Republic of China. It is a minority Autonomous Prefecture under the jurisdiction of Yunnan Province. It is connected with Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. It has dense forests and abundant plants. Therefore, Xishuangbanna is known as the "Kingdom of Plants".

Xishuangbanna is known as the "Kingdom of Plants". The main scenic spots in Xishuangbanna include Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park, Menglon Botanical Garden, Peacock Lake, Wild Elephant Lake, National Museum, etc. Xishuangbanna is 541 kilometers away from Kunming. It takes about 7 and a half hours to drive from Kunming. It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to fly from Changshui Airport to Gasa Airport in Xishuangbanna.

Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake is situated at the junction of Yanyuan County in Sichuan Province and Ninglang County in Yunnan Province. It is under the joint jurisdiction of Sichuan Province and Yunnan Province. In the Mosuo language of the Naxi people, "Lu" is a mountain ditch and "Gu" is a lake in a mountain ditch. Lugu Lake tourist attraction is surrounded by mountains and mountains. It has a snowpack period of more than three months a year. Lugu Lake is regarded as "Mother Lake" by the local Mosuo people because of its rich forest resources, beautiful mountains and rivers, fresh air and charming scenery. It is also known as "Penglai Wonderland".

Lugu Lake has many scenic spots, such as the ropeway of the Goddess of Grim, the Mosuo Folklore Museum of Lugu Lake, Luowa Wharf, Bowa Island, Liwubi Temple, Luoshui Temple, Caohai, Rig Peninsula, and walking bridges.

Lugu Lake is about 526 kilometers away from Kunming City. Because it is in a mountainous area, it departs from Kunming City for about 10 hours’ drive.