How big is Kunming?
Click the picture to enter Google online map of Kunming
Normally, Kunming as most visitors know refers to the urban area including the four districts which are Wuhua, Guandu, Panlong and Xishan. But, Kunming is much larger than what you know.
Shilin County
The Naigu Stone Forest
80 km southeast Kunming, Shilin is known for the Stone Forest which is a UNESCO site. It is also the hometown of Ashima a legendary Yi beauty. Other sites to visit include the Dadieshui Waterfall, Changhu Lake, Yuehu Village, Suoyishan Village, Guishan Forest Park, Xiaoqingkou Village, Azhuodi Village and Weize Village (one of China’s intangible heritage sites).
Yiliang County
The Lion Hall of Jiuxiang Karst Caves
52 km southeast Kunming, Yiliang is dubbed the granary in central Yunnan Province because it is a large producer of rice. The most famous site is the Jiuxiang Karst Caves. Other sites include the Yangzong Lake Resort, Spring City Golf, Yanquan Scenic Area and Xiaoshao Mushroom Village etc.
Jinning County
The Arhat sculptures in Panlong Buddhist Temple
On the southern bank of the Dianchi Lake, it is 50 km from downtown Kunming. As the centre of the Dian bronze culture, Jinning is the hometown of the Chinese great navigator Zheng He in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Main sites to visit include the Panlong Buddhist Temple, Yi ethnic town of Xiyang, the cradle of Dian bronze culture Shangsuan and Zhenghe Park etc.
Xundian County
The Red Army Museum in Kedu
A Yi and Hui autonomous county 90 km northeast Kunming, Xundian is an important passage connecting Kunming to Sichuan and Guizhou provinces in the southwest of China. Main sites to visit include the Beidaying grassland, Zhongling National Forest Park, Kedu Red Army Museum, Dangui Red Tourist Village, Shiban River Scenic Area and Fenglongwan Scenic Area etc.
Fumin County
The peasant choir in Xiaoshuijing
23 km northwest Kunming, Fumin has been an important linkage in the north of Yunnan connecting Tibet and Sichuan etc. Fumin is a typical agriculture county in Kunming, with the cash plants, vegetables and flowers accounting for about half of its economy. It is worth mentioning that the red bayberry of Cijiu Town is the most famous among the local fruits thus each year a festival is organised dedicated to it. Plus Miao peasant choir of the Xiaoshuijingg Village, Fumin is therefore an undoubtedly a GOOD destination for country tour in Kunming.
Songming County
Yunnan Provincial Flower Demonstration Zone in Songming
One of the counties under jurisdiction of Kunming City, Songming which is a Model Green City of China is 30 km from Kunming downtown. It is an important cradle of the Dian culture as well as the hometown of Lan Mao (1397-1470) who is a reputed Chinese herbalist and poet in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Main sites to visit in Songming include the Yunnan Provincial Flower Demonstration Zone, Xingyao Water Town (including a lavender park, a horsemanship club and a golf club etc), Fajie Temple Park, and Haichao Temple Park, etc.
The Yunnan Provincial Flower Demonstration Zone located in Xiaojie Town (55 km from downtown) of Songming County is an important flower plantation base around Kunming; a worth-going site inside the Zone is the Chennong Agriculture Exposition Garden.
Luquan County
The Jiaozi Mountain
90 km north Kunming, Luquan is a Yi and Miao autonomous county. Since the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), it has been an important linkage in the north of Yunnan connecting Tibet and Sichuan. The Jiaoping Road across the Jinsha River (Yangtze River) connects Luquan to Huili of Sichuan. Main sites to visit in Luquan include the Jiaozi Mt and Red tourist spots such as the Jiaopingdu Ferry etc.
Chenggong District
Formerly called Chenggong County, it is located at the east shore of the Dianchi Lake and is about 20 km from downtown Kunming. Known as a place of fruits and vegetables in Yunnan, Chenggong is crowned the Flower Capital of Asia. Today, it has been developing into a new town of Kunming.
Dongchuan District
Dongchuan may be is the furthest district 150 km northeast of Kunming. It is regarded as the Copper Capital in South China and is most famous for the Redlands a famous photography destination in Yunnan. Each year, the exciting event Dongchuan Debris Flow Autocross attracts lots of visitors.
Anning City
Jinfang forest Spa
A county-level city 30 west Kunming, Anning is the must go-through from Kunming to Dali and Lijiang by road. It is known for the hot spring in Wenquan town and the Caoxi Buddhist Temple. Other sites to visit include the Fahua Temple Grottos, Qinglongxia Valley and Bajie Town etc.
