Kunming is a beautiful city located in the southwestern corner of China. It is the capital of Yunnan Province.
Known as the "Spring City," Kunming enjoys some of the best weather in China. With a consistently pleasant climate and some of the freshest and cleanest air of any major city in China, Kunming is covered all the year round with the rich verdure of trees and plants. Besides, Kunming is also a renowned historical and cultural city in southwest China. In ancient times it was an important gateway to the celebrated Silk Road which conducted to Tibet, Sichuan, Myanmar and India. The city's highland scenery is alluring; its karts landform is attractive. Its people are known for their varied and exotic habits and customs, and its land is pockmarked with historical artifacts, places of cultural interest, and gardens landscaped with a picturesque taste.
Area Code: 0871
Zip Code: 650000
Location: With an elevation of 1890 meters (6200 feet) above sea level, Kunming is located in central Yunnan and north of the Dianchi Basin. It is bordered by Dianchi Lake on its south side, and mountains on every other side.
Climate: It belongs to the subtropical plateau monsoon climatic zone; the annual average temperature is 14.7°C and the yearly precipitation is 1024 mm.
Area: 8488 km²
Population: 6.08 million (Permanent Population)
Fame: City of Spring, City of Flower
Ethnic Groups: Predominately Han Chinese with considerable quantities of Yi, Dai, Bai, Miao and other ethnic minorities
History: Inhabited by Chinese for 2,000 years; remaining a remote outpost until the 8th Century, thereafter, becoming a secondary capital of the kingdom of Nanzhao which centered to the northwest of it at Dali, obtained wide fame in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) . In ancient times, Kunming was an important gateway to the celebrated Silk Road which led to Tibet, Sichuan, Myanmar, and India. Today, it is the gateway for tourists, domestic and international, to experience exotic South China.
dining
Kunming is a city where various kinds of Yunnan cuisines are concentrated. Kunming cuisine can be traced back about 4,000 years ago to a rich array of various local flavors of the numerous minority ethnic groups dwelling in the surrounding valleys and riverside. With inland people moving into this area in government relocation programs since the Ming Dynasty, Kunming cuisine gradually absorb the flavors from other cuisines in China and formed its own unique characters, which is featured by its moderately hot, mildly spicy, sour and oily tastes.
The most well-known dishes are Qiguo Chicken, Honey Ham, Fresh Mashed Broad Bean, Fried Meat of Barking Deer, Fried Pork slices with Rose and Rutabaga, and Kunming Braised Duck.
Kunming is also rich in local snacks and delicacies. When dusk falls, many streets are lined with food stalls which serve various local snacks. The top ten delicacies are: Across the Bridge Rice Noodles, Four Happiness Rice Balls, Buckwheat Buns, Taishi Pie, Dudu Dumplings, Shepherd's Purse Dumplings, Braised Rice with Ham and Beans, Small-pot Rice Noodles, Stewed Mushrooms, and Assorted Cool Rice Noodles.
Qiguo Chicken (Steamed Chicken in Yunnan Style)
The steamed chicken was popular among the local people in southern part of Yunnan Province as early as the Qian Long reign. The cooking method of steamed chicken is as follows: put the chicken meat cubes together with condiments into a pot and steam it for 3 to four hours. The chicken meat cubes taste tender and delicious and emits a mouthwatering smell. Sometimes, people also add some special medicinal herbs in the meat to help the gourmets reach a perfect balance of yin and yang.
Across the Bridge Noodles
Across the Bridge Rice Noodles is the most distinctive food in Yunnan dish. Before the meal, a bowl of hot soup, a bowl of rice noodles, some slices of meat, fresh vegetable slices, thin sheets of bean curd, Chinese chives, pea tips, coriander and some other ingredients are to be prepared. The soup is the most important, which is boiled from chicken, duck and pig bones. It is rather hot although there is no steam flowing from it. When these are ready, first put in the raw meat slices and stir them till they are done; then put in the ingredients, vegetable slices and rice noodles. It deserves to be called a delicacy with rich nutrition, good-looking, good smell and good taste.
However, please take care, don't take the soup before anything else for fear it may scald your lips and tongue.
Yiliang Roast Duck
Yiliang roast duck has a history of over 600 years. It is prepared in a very special way. The duck roasted in such a way that its skin becomes yellow in color and tastes crisp, its meat, flaky and soft, sweet and tender, good looking, good smell and very tasty indeed.
shopping
It is very convenient and relaxed to go shopping in Kunming. The distance between each market inside the city is nearer, the business districts compare for the concentration, and the Qingnian Road, Dongfeng Road and Zhengyi Road are all quite good shopping districts. The flower market in Shangyi Street in Kunming is very famous, the flowers can be sold for the catty; The flowers and birds market of the Jingxing Street not only sell the flowers and birds, but also have a great deal of national minority handicraft products. The handicrafts products of Kunming are very well-known, such as the tooth craving in Kunming, wood carving in Jianchuan etc. The main local special products are the dry goods of various wild germ, the race wax to dye, tie to dye etc. There are still the birthplace of famous cigarette- Yun Cigarette and Hongtashan.
entertainment
The nightlife in Kunming is not the rowdiest, but a few popular places often draw considerable crowds. While a plethora of small bars dot the city, expect most of these locales to show signs of life only on the weekends. Decent live music is also now starting to hit Kunming, and an occasional show here or there is certainly not to be missed. Several local Chinese discos provide a quality alternative to bars when closing time is approaching or when the crowds are filtering out.
The main areas for boozing and partying in Kunming are Kundu, Jinbi Plaza, around Green Lake Park, and the Yunnan University area. Kundu and Jinbi Plaza feature dozens of Chinese discos, bars, and KTVs. The Yunnan University area hosts several Western bars and cafes that double as bars in the early evening, as well as a few Chinese bars. Click here for a map of downtown Kunming, including: bars and discos in Kundu, Jinbi Plaza, Green Lake Park, and the Yunnan University area.
transportation
Airplane
Kunming Wujiaba International Airport is located 7 kilometers southwest of Kunming city. It is one of the most important and busiest international airports in China as well as the hub airport in South-West China.
Currently the airport has already opened 150 internal airlines, and 20 international airlines to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, New Delhi, Seoul, Tokyo, Rangoon and etc. There are also daily flights to Hong Kong and Macau as well as over 56 of China’s major cities. In addition, the airport also services direct flights to most sizeable cities in Yunnan including Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Jinghong in Xishuangbanna, and others.
A taxi between the city center and the airport will cost 20 - 30 RMB and should take 20 - 40 minutes (possibly more during heavy traffic.) Civil aviation buses also make the commute and should cost 15 - 20 RMB. In addition, public buses No. 52, 67, and 78 serve the area for 1 RMB per person (2 RMB if air-conditioned) but will almost definitely take more time to arrive than a taxi will.
Railway
Kunming has four railway stations, namely Kunming North Railway Station, Kunming Railway Station, Kunming East Railway Station, and Kunming West Railway Station. The trains lead to nearly all major cities in the country and cross over the boundary to reach Hanoii.
Kunming Railway Station, also known as Nanyao Railway Station, is the main railway station in Kunming. It is 4 kilometers from the center of the city. This station is more useful to travelers because most outbound trains depart from here. Trains to Dali, Yuxi etc., operate daily.
Second is the North Railway Station, about three kilometers north of the city center. This station is important for tourists who plan to travel to Vietnam for here you can make a trip further to Hanoi.
Train tickets can be booked in most hotels in Kunming or you can book tickets 7 days prior to your departure at the Ticket Booking Office open from 8 am to 5:30 pm.
Kind Notice: It is impossible to get your Vietnam Visa in Kunming. So, you must obtain your Vietnam visa in Guangzhou, Beijing, or other major city in advance if you are planning a trip to Vietnam.
Bus
There are over 50 bus lines that zigzag throughout almost every section in Kunming. It usually costs a mere 1 RMB to take a public bus. Most of the buses are Automated Collection Bus, so you need to prepare enough charge before you get on the bus. The morning class bus is general at 6:00-6:30; the last bus is at 22:00-22:30. Therefore city buses are not ideal after big shopping sessions - a taxi is probably the wiser choice.
Taxi
Taxis are quite plentiful in Kunming - over 6000 taxis roam the city streets. The taxies in Kunming are mainly Santana and Jetta. 8 RMB is charged for the first 3 kilometers and after that 1.8 RMB is added for each additional kilometer. After 10:00 P.M., the start price is 9.6 Yuan, 2.7 Yuan/ kilometer. The start price of Xiali is 7 Yuan within 3 kilometers, later 1.6 Yuan/ kilometer. After 10:00 P.M., the start price is 9.6 Yuan, 2.4 dollars/ kilometer. Fares also increase while sitting in traffic, so taking taxis during rush hour may cost a bit more if there is excessive traffic.
Besides, most taxis in Kunming are now charging a 1 RMB "fuel surcharge" that is proudly displayed on the passenger-side dash of every taxi.
highlights
The Water Splashing Festival
Dai nationality has a population of more than 840,000, and lives mainly in Xishuangbanna, known as "Land of Peacocks" and Dehong Prefectures in which people believe in Hinayana of Buddhism. Dai people have a long history. They are characteristics of a gentle disposition. They are good-looking and you will be amazed to find that even in a remote area every woman wear beautiful make-up. They have been long well- known for their dancing skill. Most of Dai villages are built along rivers with thatch bamboo houses.
The Water Splashing Festival, held by the Dai Nationality in the sixth month of the Dai calendar (in the middle of April), is the grandest ceremonial occasion for the Dai. It is also known as the festival for bathing Buddha. The festival is related to the Buddhist legend of dragon sprinkling fragrant showers on Lord Buddha at his birth. The Buddhist legend has gradually been mingled with the customs of the Dai people since their conversion to Buddhism. Currently, the festival is a combination of the Flower Collecting Festival and the Water Splashing Fair.
At present, Water Splashing Festival is a traditional festival for the Dai people in Xishuangbanna and other places to celebrate Dai Calendar New Year, and to give best wishes to each other. The festive activities include bathing Lord Buddha, sprinkling water onto each other for good fortune, dragon boat racing, launching rockets and the Kongming Lantern, going to the fair, etc. Young girls dance the Peacock Dance accompanied by the elephant leg drums. Young boy and girl throw a finely embroidered purse to the person he or she is in love.
The 3rd Month Fair
Bai nationality has a population of more than 1,120,000, mainly live in compact communities in Dali Prefecture. The Bai has an age-old history and flourish culture. Witness to the development of Bai history is the Three Towers in Dali, rock caves on the Shibaoshan Hill, the architectural complex of temples on the Jizushan mountain.
Bai people are diligent, simple and honest, admire the color of white (Bai in Chinese means white). The main festival is the large-scale "The 3rd Month Fair". Originally, this festival was called Avalokitesvara's Festival. It was Avalokitesvara who opened up the Dali area, subdues Monster Luocha and brought prosperity to the people. Every year from the fifteenth to the twentieth of the third lunar month, people gather at the Triple-Pagodas Temple to pay homage and express thanks to Avalokitesvara. Along with the economic development, trade becomes brisk at the gathering. Finally it has become a yearly fair. In addition to trading commodities, there are horse racing, performance of operas, folk singing and dancing.
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