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5-Day Kunming Itinerary

5-Day Kunming Itinerary

TL;DR — Kunming (昆明), the "Spring City" (春城) of Yunnan province, sits at 1,890 m altitude. 5 days covers the city itself (3 days) and a 2-day side trip to the Stone Forest (石林) UNESCO site plus Dali (大理) or Yuanyang Rice Terraces (元阳梯田). Best November–April for clear skies; May–October is rainy.

Day 1 — Kunming city

Morning: Western Hills (西山)

  • 08:00 — Western Hills Forest Park (西山森林公园), ¥40 entry, includes the Dragon Gate (龙门) grottoes carved into the cliff face, ¥30 extra. 3 hours, requires 30 min of climbing.
  • 11:00 — Take the Western Hills Cable Car (滇池索道) down to Dianchi Lake (滇池), ¥50 round trip. Dianchi is the largest lake in Yunnan.

Lunch

  • 12:00 — Eat near the lake, ¥60–120/person. Try crossing-the-bridge noodles (过桥米线, guòqiáo mǐxiàn) — the Yunnan classic.

Afternoon: Yuantong Temple

  • 14:00 — Yuantong Temple (圆通寺), ¥6, the most important Buddhist temple in Kunming (1,300+ years old), 1.5 hours.
  • 16:00 — Yunnan Provincial Museum (云南省博物馆), free (ID required), 1.5 hours. Bronze Dian-culture artefacts.
  • 18:00 — Walk Cuihu Park (翠湖公园) — Kunming's central park, locals play mahjong and dance.

Evening

  • 19:30 — Dinner at Zhengyi Fang (正义坊), the old town food street. Try mushroom hotpot (野生菌火锅) if in season (June–October), or steam-pot chicken (汽锅鸡) year-round. ¥100–200/person.
  • 21:00 — Drinks at Dianchi Road (滇池路) or the bar strip near Wenhua Alley (文化巷), ¥80–150.

Day 2 — Stone Forest (石林) day trip

Morning

  • 07:30 — Bus or train from Kunming East Station (昆明东站) to Shilin Station (石林站), ¥30, 1.5h. Or hire a car, ¥600–800 round trip.
  • 09:30 — Arrive at Stone Forest Scenic Area (石林风景区), ¥175 entry (combined ticket). Allow 4–5 hours.

The stones

  • The Minor Stone Forest (小石林) is the most photographed, with the Ashima Stone (阿诗玛) — the legendary Sani Yi woman turned to stone
  • The Major Stone Forest (大石林) is the larger, more dramatic labyrinth — 2 hours of walking
  • The Naigu Stone Forest (乃古石林) is less crowded, 1 hour away by shuttle, included in the ticket
  • Wear comfortable shoes — the path is uneven limestone

Lunch

  • 13:00 — Eat at the Sani Yi village (撒尼彝族村) near the entrance. Sani-style roasted lamb (烤全羊) if you have a group, or sour fish (酸汤鱼) for individuals. ¥80–150/person.

Afternoon

  • 14:30 — Optional: Yi Dance Performance (彝族歌舞表演), included in the ticket, 30 min.
  • 15:30 — Return to Kunming, arrive 17:00.

Evening

  • 18:30 — Dinner at Nanqiang Street (南强街巷), ¥80–150/person.
  • 20:30 — Kunming Old Street (昆明老街) night walk.

Day 3 — Dali (大理) overnight

Morning: train to Dali

  • 07:00 — High-speed train from Kunming Station (昆明站) to Dali Station (大理站), ¥145, 2.5h.
  • 10:00 — Arrive, drop bags at Dali Old Town hotel.

Lunch

  • 12:00 — Dali Old Town (大理古城), free to walk, ¥80/person lunch. Try Dali-style cheese (乳扇, rǔshān) and Dali-style cured ham (大理想肉).

Afternoon: Erhai Lake (洱海)

  • 14:00 — Rent an e-bike (¥80–150/day) at the old town.
  • 14:30 — Cycle the Erhai Lake (洱海) eastern shore, 40 km round trip to Xizhou (喜洲) village, 4–5 hours including stops.
  • 17:00 — Xizhou Bai-style houses (喜洲白族民居) and Xizhou baba (喜洲粑粑) — a flatbread stuffed with rose-flower jam or minced pork. ¥10–20.

Evening

  • 19:00 — Return to Dali Old Town. Dinner at Renmin Road (人民路), ¥80–150/person. Wild mushroom hotpot in season.
  • 21:00 — Walk the Old Town gates (古城门), lit at night, free.

Day 4 — Cangshan Mountain and Dali Old Town

Morning

  • 08:00 — Cangshan Mountain (苍山), ¥40 entry, take the Ximatan Cable Car (洗马潭索道) to 3,966 m, ¥282 round trip. 3 hours round trip including the cable car and walking. Bring layers — 20°C cooler at the top.
  • 12:00 — Lunch in the old town, ¥80/person.

Afternoon

  • 14:00 — Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple (崇圣寺三塔), ¥75, 1.5 hours, the famous Dali landmark (Tang dynasty, 840 AD).
  • 16:00 — Dali Museum (大理博物馆), free, 1 hour.
  • 17:30 — Train back to Kunming, arrive 20:00.

Evening

  • 20:30 — Light dinner near the train station, ¥60/person.

Day 5 — Yuanyang Rice Terraces (optional long day trip) or Kunming relax

Option A: Yuanyang Rice Terraces (元阳梯田)

  • 05:30 — Long day: shared car or mini-bus tour from Kunming, 5h each way, ¥400–600/person.
  • Skip this option unless you are deeply into photography — the drive is punishing.

Option B: relax in Kunming

  • 09:00 — Dianchi Lake (滇池) morning walk, free, watch fishermen.
  • 11:00 — Haigeng Dam (海埂大坝), free, the best view of the lake and Western Hills.
  • 12:30 — Lunch, ¥60–100/person.
  • 14:00 — Kunming Botanical Garden (昆明植物园), ¥10, 2 hours, or Yunnan Ethnic Village (云南民族村), ¥90, 3 hours.
  • 17:00 — Jinma Biji Archway (金马碧鸡坊), the central landmark, free.
  • 19:00 — Farewell dinner at Dianchi International, ¥150/person.

Where to stay

| City | Area | Hotel price/night (mid-range) | |---|---|---| | Kunming | Dongfeng Square | ¥300–550 | | Kunming | Dianchi | ¥400–700 | | Dali | Old Town | ¥350–700 | | Dali | Erhai lakeside | ¥500–1,200 |

How to get to Kunming

  • From Beijing: 3h flight or 11h high-speed train
  • From Shanghai: 3.5h flight
  • From Hong Kong: 3h flight
  • Kunming Changshui Airport (KMG): major hub for Southeast Asia and Yunnan
  • Kunming Station (昆明站): high-speed trains to Dali, Lijiang, Xishuangbanna

Costs (5 days, mid-range, per person)

| Item | Cost (CNY) | |---|---| | Hotel (4 nights) | 1,800–3,400 | | Meals (15 total) | 1,500–2,800 | | Stone Forest tour | 350 | | Dali round trip | 290 | | Cangshan cable car | 282 | | Three Pagodas | 75 | | E-bike Dali | 120 | | Misc transport | 200–400 | | Total | 4,500–7,500 |

Practical tips

  • Altitude — Kunming is at 1,890 m, Dali at 2,090 m. Most travellers have no issue, but drink water
  • Weather — "Spring City" but actually 5–25°C in winter, 15–28°C in summer. Always bring a layer
  • Sun — strong UV, bring sunscreen and a hat
  • Wild mushroom season is June–October. The famous matsutake (松茸) appears in August
  • The Stone Forest is best on weekdays — weekends are mobbed by Chinese tour groups
  • Dali Old Town is heavily touristed but the back streets (Renmin Road south end) are still authentic

Verdict

5 days in Kunming + Dali is the right amount. The Stone Forest is a half-day, the city sights another day, and Dali deserves 2 full days. Add a 6th–7th day for Lijiang (丽江) and the Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡), or Shangri-La (香格里拉) for Tibetan monasteries.

Verify with: the Yunnan Tourism Bureau (ynta.gov.cn) for seasonal closures (Cangshan cable car closes in high winds), and the 12306 train app for Dali tickets. Stone Forest is closed during the Yi Torch Festival in late June.