• The best times to visit Kunming are spring and winter. The rainy season is from May to October. Actually, Kunming has moderate weather throughout the year. It can be cold in winter and hot in summer, but it’s not as severe as elsewhere; flowers bloom all year round! That is why Kunming is given the nickname “Spring City”.
• Transportation to Kunming is very convenient. It can be accessed from the main cities of China by flights and bullet trains. There are also direct flights between Kunming and many overseas cities (when COVID-19 measures ease [Nov. 2020]).
• Two nights or three days is suggested to explore Kunming. You can cover all the famous attractions such as the stone forest, West Hill, and Dianchi Lake. It is also interesting to visit a local wet market and Green Lake Park if you want to have an experience of local life.
• Starting from Kunming, you can explore Yunnan.
  Go west for the classic Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-la journey into the Tibetan foothills.
  Go north for the colorful Dongchuan Red Land.
  Go east in spring for Luoping’s canola flowers.
  Or go south for the Yuanyang Rice Terrace, Pu’er tea, and the tropical rainforest of Xishuangbanna.

Kunming weather

Average daily temperatures in summer in Kunming are 16–22°C (61–72°F) and the typical winter range is 3–16°C (36–61°F). Rainfall is concentrated from May to October, peaking with the summer heat, when almost daily rain then keeps temperatures moderate.

The weather can be very changeable in a single day in the wet monsoon months, and the temperature difference is big between daytime and night, especially in the dry, cooler months (November–April). So, an extra jacket/coat is a must all year round.

Sun protection is very important when you visit Kunming. You still can get sunburn even if you don’t feel the heat of the sunlight. Read more

Naigu Stone Forest

The Stone Forest Scenic Region covers numerous scenic areas and spots. There are actually two main areas to see the Stone Forest: ‘The Greater and Lesser Stone Forests’ and ‘Naigu Stone Forest’. When people say “the Stone Forest”, it always refers to ‘the Greater and Lesser Stone Forests’, the must-see Kunming attraction for Chinese tourists. We recommend that you see the less-visited Naigu Stone Forest to guarantee a better (less-crowded) experience. Read more

Dongchuan Red Land

Dongchuan Red Land is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of Kunming. It is a perfect place if you love idyllic scenery and photography. The best times are May to June for the views of potato flowers and wheat and September to November for views of buckwheat and Dongchuan’s special white rape (canola) flowers. Sunrise and sunset are charming there.

It is suggested to travel by a private car, because the scenic spots are scattered. Read more