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The capital of Yunnan Province in southwest China, a highland city nicknamed the 'Spring City'. Nearby is the Stone Forest (Shilin), inscribed as World Natural Heritage in 2007 as part of the 'South China Karst', and west of Dianchi Lake rise the Western Hills, with the cliff-carved Dragon Gate and old temples. In winter, gulls fly in to spend the season by the lake. Ideal for travelers who want natural scenery together with ethnic minority culture.
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Check prices →The Stone Forest's official site describes a spring-like, mild climate all year, so any season works. In winter, gulls arrive from Siberia and stay around Haigeng Dam and Haigeng Park. The Yi people's traditional Torch Festival at the Stone Forest falls on the 24th day of the 6th lunar month each year. Sights can be crowded during Spring Festival and National Day holidays, so plan with some slack.
Runs from Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) to the Stone Forest Scenic Area and Shilin county town (about 96 km). It leaves the airport at 9:30, 10:30, 13:00, 15:00, 16:30 and 18:30, and returns from Shilin at 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 12:30, 14:00 and 16:00 (tickets at the scenic area's individual visitor center). Times may change, so check on the day.
The airport's official site could not be reached, so transport to the city (routes, hours and fares) could not be verified this time. Check the official Kunming Changshui International Airport information before you arrive.
Take Metro Line 3 to Xishan Park station and leave by Exit A for the Western Hills Scenic Area entrance. It's the easiest way from the city.
Buses 6, Fu-6, 51 and 94 terminate at the Western Hills. Buses 6 and Fu-6 leave Minshan depot 6:30-22:00 about every 8 minutes; bus 51 leaves Juhuacun depot 7:00-19:30 about every 30 minutes. The ride from the city takes about 1 hr 30 min.
A cable car across Dianchi Lake linking Yunnan Nationalities Village with the Western Hills, also connecting the Dianchi National Tourist Resort, Haigeng Park and Haigeng Dam. Board near the Nationalities Village to ride straight up toward Dragon Gate; one way is listed at CNY 35 (check official info).
Stone Forest direct tourist buses leave Kunming East Bus Station 7:20-16:30 every 30-40 minutes (CNY 30 one way, about 1 hr 30 min); return buses run 8:30-18:00. By train it's 20-odd minutes from Kunming South to Shilin West, then bus 99 to the scenic area.
Good for: Temples, cliff views, nature walks
The hills rising west of Dianchi Lake hold Huating Temple, Taihua Temple, Sanqing Pavilion and the cliffside Dragon Gate. Metro Line 3 runs straight from the city.
Good for: Lakeside walks, winter gulls, ethnic culture
A lakeside area with Yunnan Nationalities Village, Haigeng Park and Haigeng Dam. The cableway links it to the Western Hills, so the two pair well in one day.
Good for: Karst scenery, day trips, Sani Yi culture
About 78 km from Kunming, home to the Stone Forest Scenic Area and Naigu Stone Forest, where the culture of the Sani Yi people, symbolized by the legend of Ashima, lives on.
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Inscribed as World Natural Heritage in 2007 as part of the 'South China Karst', and also a World Geopark and national 5A scenic area. Five zones — Big Stone Forest, Small Stone Forest, Wannian Lingzhi, Liziyuanqing and Bushaoshan — are packed with sword-, pillar- and tower-shaped rocks; the tallest free-standing pillar in the Big Stone Forest is over 40 m. Entry CNY 130 (includes the Shilin Karst Geology Museum); electric shuttle CNY 25. Check official info for opening hours.
About 10 km² of stone forest 8 km north of the main scenic area. Its dark rocks feel wilder and more rugged than the blue-gray main site. Over 6 km of stone paths; the east zone takes 2-3 hours and the west zone 1-2 hours. Check official info for fees.
A path and grottoes hewn into a sheer cliff from Sanqing Pavilion to Datian Pavilion, a major Taoist grotto in Yunnan. Listed as a Yunnan provincial cultural relic in 1983, with Dianchi Lake spread out below. Dragon Gate entry CNY 30, Dragon Gate ropeway CNY 25 one way, sightseeing car CNY 10 one way.
Temples and a Taoist complex in the Western Hills forest, free to visit. Huating Temple is known for its 500 arhat statues and Taihua Temple for camellias and magnolias; Taihua's sea-view tower is a good spot for sunrise over Dianchi. Sanqing Pavilion strings 11 wooden buildings over nine levels up a cliff.
A 2.4 km embankment along Dianchi's Caohai, facing the Western Hills across the water. It topped a 2010 vote for 'Kunming's best gull-watching spot', and in winter black-headed gulls from Siberia spend the season around Haigeng Park. The annual dragon boat race is held here too.
A cultural theme park opened in February 1992 that showcases the architecture, song and dance, costumes and customs of Yunnan's ethnic groups, including festivals such as the Torch Festival and the Water-Splashing Festival. A national 4A scenic area; check official info for fees and hours.
A park on Dianchi's north shore, famous for the 180-character long couplet by Qing poet Sun Ranweng, hailed as 'the longest couplet under heaven'. It was listed as a national key cultural relic in 2013. Check official info for fees and hours.
Yunnan's highland forests yield wild mushrooms such as jizong, ganba fungus, boletes and qingtou mushrooms, served stir-fried, deep-fried or in soup. Jizong preserved in oil is also popular.
A traditional food of the Sani people of Shilin, made from fresh goat's milk. Pan-fried rubing and 'huojia rubing', steamed with slices of ham, are classic Shilin dishes.
A specialty of Yi households in Shilin: local buckwheat flour made into pan-fried cakes and dipped in honey — fragrant and sweet.
A spring-only Shilin feast of wild greens and edible flowers, stir-fried, dressed cold, in clear soup or cooked into omelets.
Fermented tofu with over 200 years of history, ranked among Yunnan's best-known preserves alongside Xuanwei ham. Seasoned with salt, chili, star anise and Sichuan pepper.
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Morning Stone Forest direct bus from Kunming East Bus Station, walk the Big and Small Stone Forests, bus back to Kunming in the afternoon (last bus from Shilin 18:00), then wild mushroom dishes for dinner.
Metro Line 3 to the Western Hills in the morning, Huating and Taihua temples, then Dragon Gate; cableway to Yunnan Nationalities Village in the afternoon, and gull-watching at Haigeng Dam in winter.
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