Se hva du kan gjøre og oppleve i Kunming

The Western Mountains (also referred to as "hills") make for an excellent day trip into nature. You can take a 20-minute cable car trip to the top; the 'Dragon Gate' carved into the side of the hill is an unmissable highlight, which also affords spectacular views of Kunming and Dianchi Lake. The tomb of Nie Er, the composer of the national anthem of China, rests on the hill.

Take a lakeside stroll along Lake Dianchi in Haigeng Park and take in the view of Kunming's "sleeping beauty" – Western Mountainous – resting in the distance. The park is a popular public recreation area; you'll see locals fishing and barbecuing around here.

Daguan Park is set to the west of Kunming, with Dianchi Lake close by. Its pavilion, with a history of more than 300 years, is a three-storey square structure with flying eaves and golden lacquered ornaments. A historic couplet of 180 characters hangs down the pavilion, lauded as "number one couplet in the past and present". In winter, the Siberian sea gulls stop by on their migratory flights.

The World Horti-Expo Garden is a botanical garden containing a grand exhibition of horticulture from all over the world. Situated in the northern suburbs of Kunming, it is also located close to the Golden Temple scenic spot at 4 km from downtown.

This park contains the most prestigious Taoist temple in Yunnan. The serene Golden Temple standing on the Mingfeng Mountain is the largest bronze temple in China. It was built by General Wu Sangui, and dates back to the early Qing Dynasty (17th century). Rare plants and tea flowers flourish in this traditional Chinese-style garden. It has become a local traditional custom to enjoy the blooming flowers in the park every annual Temple Fair, which is held on the 9th day of every Lunar New Year.

The natural landscape of the stone forest is a spectacular limestone formation, which has been named a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Exposed to rain and winds and eroded by the elements, the limestone ranges were shaped by time into a vast forest of stone. The karst formations are believed to be 270 million years old and are located just under 100 km away from Kunming.

The Green Lake is known as the Jade of the city. Two long dikes divide the lake into four parts. Brightly painted pavilions, tree-lined walks and exercising locals all add to the appeal of the park. During the winter months, black-headed gulls from Siberia migrate to Green Lake and entertain the crowds of visitors as they circle around and snap up bread fed to them by birdwatchers and visitors. There used to be a military school in the neighbourhood, where the famous Chinese generals Zhu De and Ye Jianying were educated in the 1910s.

This sprawling theme park showcases the cultural diversity of China's Yunnan Province. Each of the 26 ethnic groups represented in the park has a "station" of its own, often featuring typical residential homes, folk art (such as dance, song, or crafts), and offerings of traditional food. It can easily take a whole day to see everything, so we recommend you pick the villages you're particularly interested in beforehand. Maps are available at the entrance.

The splendid Yuantong Temple is the most important Buddhist site in the entire province, with a history of nearly 1200 years. Unlike at other temples, you enter at an elevation and make your way down through tranquil temple grounds – these feature ornate pavilions and halls (the main hall maintains Yuan dynasty architecture), mountain caves and stone staircases. carved directly into the cliff sides.

This riveting folk dance show features several segments, each representing the culture and traditions of a different ethnic minority inhabiting the province. Showmanship and choreography have received glowing reviews, and combine modern and traditional elements to create one compelling 90-minute performance that culminates in a stupendous "Peacock Dance".

Kunming's popular Nanping Street is a pedestrian-only commercial area packed with shops and restaurants, both local and international. It has continued to be the city's liveliest stretch for decades, and remains busy with shoppers and diners even after sundown.

The stretch of Guanxing Road is most active June through September, when local restaurants take full advantage of the high wild mushroom season. Establishments that specialise exclusively in mushroom hot pot only open during those months, but some remain in operation through the year.

This popular local chain serves one of Yunnan's most iconic dishes: the so-called "crossing-the-bridge noodles" (guòqiáo mĭxiàn). True origins of the name are lost in time; legend has it, there was once a lady who discovered a way to keep noodles from getting soggy and broth from cooling down while she carried them across the bridge to her husband – the liquid was kept separate from noodles and insulated with chicken fat to stay hot longer. Today, mixian remains one of the much-loved local specialities. Order at the counter, then proceed to the second floor to find a seat and hand your receipt over to a waiter. Your broth and noodles will arrive shortly, accompanied by a wide variety of add-ins you can mix into the soup. Everything gets cooked right then and there, and is ready to eat within a couple of minutes.

A wonderful find in busy Wenlin Street, Hongdouyuan is a traditional Chinese restaurant heralded as a local must-visit. Their speciality are the fried red beans, but the menu extends to include countless Yunnan and Northern Chinese dishes. Four menu items will make a feast for two.

Head here for a feast of Yunnan specialities – it's an upper-range establishment so expect prices higher than average, but the experience is worth it. It helps to have a Chinese speaker on your team, but use the menu illustrations in lieu of one.

Heavenly Manna is a well-known local restaurant set steps away from Cuihu Lake. It's a tiny space, but the atmosphere is convivial, and the environment not at all intimidating even to those not yet entirely accustomed to eating out in China. The menu is clearly illustrated with photos and features a plethora of Yunnan specialities.

Whether it's the beautiful historic building the restaurant is housed in or the selection of mouthwatering Yunnan cuisine that are more of a draw, Shiping Huiguan is a great address for upscale dining in Kunming. You order through an iPad, where each dish is illustrated with the respective photo. Seating is available in the atmospheric courtyard.

The bustling Culture Alley in Kunming is a narrow street packed with bars and cafes. Eateries here serve a wide variety of Asian and international cuisines; its proximity to Yunnan University means local students frequent the area and keep it buzzing even after sundown.

The ice cream, excellent coffees, hot chocolates, western-style food and a nice environment that appeal to a foreign palate. They also offer many enticing options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

This longstanding Western-style cafe is an all-around great find: located in lively Wenlin Street, they serve exceptional coffee and a pleasant selection of both local and international food. The menu is in both English and Chinese, and features photos.

This sleek little cafe is almost Scandinavian in its minimalist design, and serves up a beautiful selection of cakes and pastries that are equal parts delicate and decadent. There's great coffee and tea, and staff speak English.

Following the resounding success of its namesake coffee house in the same street, Salvador's Loft recently opened its doors to multiple accolades from instant regulars. The cafe specialises in clean vegetarian fare, but serves up a wide selection ranging from tuna poke bowls to pasta and quesadillas. There's the usual coffee and tea, plus a selection of wine and even cocktails.

Led by a French expat, À table! is as authentic as it gets: Vincent – the chef – arrives in the shop early every morning to get the day's baguettes in the oven, and personally ensures the quality and freshness of all ingredients and final products. There is a wide variety of French cakes and pastries on offer, plus a selection of savoury meals.

For uncomplicated Western food, sports broadcasts, a bit of pool and the quintessential ice-cold Guinness, O'Reilly's is the place to be. Although admittedly more popular with expats than tourists, O'Reilly's is a pleasant pub to hang out, and the location at 52 Dongfeng Road also features a beer garden.

Some might argue a Bavarian beer hall may not be the quintessential Yunnan experience, but the Paulaner Bräuhaus Kunming has a lot going for it: there's the German beer, of course, plus a very welcoming English-speaking staff and live band playing on some nights. Food gets mixed reviews, but has reportedly become increasingly close to the German original in the past months.

Humdinger is one of those rare finds that has it all: it's a microbrew pub, so craft brews never stop flowing, plus they serve western-style dishes (many cooked wood-fired) and host live music shows on some nights. The place stays busy until late.

Perched on top of (arguably) Kunming's best hostel is a rooftop terrace that draws in locals and travellers with its affordable drinks, relaxed vibes, and sweeping views of Kunming from above.

This riveting folk dance show features several segments, each representing the culture and traditions of a different ethnic minority inhabiting the province. Showmanship and choreography have received glowing reviews, and combine modern and traditional elements to create one compelling 90-minute performance that culminates in a stupendous "Peacock Dance".

The bustling Culture Alley in Kunming is a narrow street packed with bars and cafes. Eateries here serve a wide variety of Asian and international cuisines; its proximity to Yunnan University means local students frequent the area and keep it buzzing even after sundown.

As the sun rises every morning, flowers wet with dewdrops are already on sale at this flower wholesale market. Various common and rare flowers can be found here, from tropical butterfly orchids to flaming gerberas. Flowers are normally sold in bulk, but the market is worth a brows if only for the sheer spectacle.

Kunming's popular Nanping Street is a pedestrian-only commercial area packed with shops and restaurants, both local and international. It has continued to be the city's liveliest stretch for decades, and remains busy with shoppers and diners even after sundown.

Another popular commercial area is that of Zhengyi Road, a stone's throw away from Nanping Pedestrian Street. If you continue westward, you'll come upon one of Kunming's popular Bird and Flower Markets (Jingxing) selling songbirds, fish, and folk crafts.

One of the largest wholesale tea markets in Yunnan features countless tea vendors and stalls selling all things tea, from brewing equipment to artisan porcelain tea sets. Pu'er hails from Yunnan, so there are plenty of varieties on offer. Apart from the native brews, it also sells the vast array of Chinese teas from other provinces. Mind that making yourself understood without at least some knowledge of Chinese will be difficult, so it's advisable to have a Chinese speaker on your team, or have your desired tea varieties all written down as you request them. Do not settle for the first price that's been announced.

The bustling Culture Alley in Kunming is a narrow street packed with bars, cafes and boutiques, with many stand-alone stores good for memorable souvenirs.

Kunming Changshui International Airport is a major air hub for South and Southeast Asia, now estimated to handle over 40 million passengers per year. Metro line 6 now links the airport with the city centre, but other means of transportation, such as buses and, of course, taxis, are also readily available.

The easiest way to get around by public transport is via the metro; Government Sqare station (or Dongfeng Guangchang) is a central reference point. The public bus system may be a little difficult for those who don’t speak Chinese, though route maps are available. Most buses run between 06:00 and 22:00. Ticket vending machines are used on most buses.

If you can, install the ride hailing app called Didi to easily hail rides with fares clearly indicated prior to boarding. You'll need a Chinese phone number in order to install and use the app. Taxis can also be hailed around the city: avoid the so-called "black" taxis (unlicensed) and only agree to the ride if metre is used. In some cases, drivers may refuse to use the metre (especially for long distance trips or the airport) - make sure to agree on the price before departure if you choose to ride. It's good to have the name of your destination in Chinese writing.

Richland International Hospital has English-speaking doctors and translators on staff.

Watsons has several locations across Kunming.

Country code: +86 Area code: 0871

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