by Geoff Paul

Created on: December 03, 2010

Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in south-west China, has much to offer the discerning traveller. It is known as the City of Eternal Spring because of its mild climate, and can be visited any time of year. While it does of course have its cold days (usually in December and January), and its rainy season (summer time), you can normally count on plenty of sunshine.

Yunnan Province is home to 25 minority ethnic groups: there are Tibetans in Shangri-La, Naxi in Lijiang, Bai in Dali, and Dai in Jinghong, to name just a few. If you do not have the time to travel to these places to see the cultures for themselves, you have the chance to see them all at the Minority Village in Kunming. About half an hour from the center of Kunming, this popular attraction consists of ethnic ‘villages’ constructed in a fairly authentic fashion, and manned by guides wearing traditional costumes. Here you can spin a Tibetan prayer wheel, enter a Miao church and snack on Bai cheese. It is a huge area, but you can rent four-seat quadricycles for your group to get around. If you prefer a regular museum, opposite the Minority Village complex is the tasteful Minority Museum.

For examples of genuine living culture, visit Green Lake Park right in the heart of Kunming. Entrance is free, and once inside you meander around a series of islands, usually packed with local people enjoying the fresh air. Groups gather to practise dances, others play traditional instruments or drink tea and snack on sunflower seeds. Energetic visitors can rent boats.

Kunming’s most famous attraction is the Stone Forest, which is actually located two hours to the south east of the town. Karst mountains have been eroded in fascinating shapes, looking a little like trees emerging from the ground, and each rock has its own story if you believe the tour guides. The area is home to the Sani Yi minority group. The scenery is spectacular and well worth the day trip.

Don’t forget the sample the local food. The highlight is ‘Over the Bridge Rice Noodles’, a speciality served up in many restaurants. The easiest place to find this dish is in the chain called the Brothers Jiang.

Kunming used to be a provincial backwater with low buildings and poor facilities. Like the rest of China, it has boomed in the last ten years, and now boasts skyscrapers, enormous malls, and an underground railway is being built. While this development has impacted Kunming’s traditional charm, there are still a few old streets in the center that are worth a visit. The area around the old Bird and Flower Market is quite interesting, and this is the place to buy souvenirs.

One advantage of the modernisation is that Kunming is easy to get to, with flights from most Chinese cities as well as from Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok. A high speed rail link to Shanghai is under construction. Within the province, buses, trains and flights connect Kunming to other travel destinations. Kunming is the gateway to south west China, and well worth a visit.

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