Why is Stone Forest so special?
The most dramatic of these attractions in Kunming is the Stone Forest, known since the Ming Dynasty as the ‘First Wonder of the World’. An old local saying says that ‘If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.’ Obviously, ranking the first at its age, size and typical formation, the Stone Forest is one of the most important attractions of Yunnan.
Introduction
History of Stone Forest
Geographically, the Stone Forest is a special topography called Karst landform, which is mainly formed by the chemical reation that limestone can be eroded by water with carbon dioxide. The specific formation of Stone Forest can date back to about 270 million years ago. At that time, this area was a part of ocean in which many oceanic living beings inhabited. As time went by, the corpses piled up gradually and fossilized into a thick limestone seabed, which rose up to form a table land because of the movements of the earth’s crust. Then a large number of lava from volcanoe eruption covered the limestone and cooled down, forming a thick basalt protective layer consequently. About 50 million years ago, the basalt layer flaked away and the water from rainfall and underground slowly eroded the limestone surface.
Main Attractions in Stone Forest
Walking through the Stone Forest, visitors marvel at the natural stone masterpieces and are bewitched by the intricate formations. The magnificent, strange and steep landscape creates countless labyrinthine vistas, including:Major Stone Forest, Minor Stone Forest and Naigu Stone Forest, all of which feature stones in various formations. Animals, plants, and even human figures can be found here. Some are elegant, some are rugged, and each is lifelike with its own distinguishing characteristics.
● Minor Stone Forest(小石林）
The Minor Stone Forest is also call Ashima Scenic Area. The big and thick stone walls like a screen deliver this scenic area into several parts. Of all, the most famous scenic spot is ‘Ashima’. When the night comes, it is colorful and charming under the glittering lights.
● Major Stone Forest（大石林）
The Major Stone Forest consists of intensive stone peaks, just like a stretch of stone basin. The stone forests here have straight shapes and smooth lines, among which the highest stone pillar is more than 40 meters in height.The magnificent, strange, and steep landscape creates countless sights, including Lotus Peak, Ashima Rock, Sword Peak Pond, Shilin Lake, and ‘a Gleam of Sky’.
● Long Lake (长湖)
Long Lake is a karst lake that is three kilometers (two miles) long but only 300 meters wide. The lake features underwater stalagmites and stalactites and a small island in the center of the water.The source of the Dadie Waterfall, Ba River, is a branch of Nanpan River. In the rainy season, up to 150 cubic meters (196 cubic yards) of water per square inch plummet down the 88 meter (288 feet) drop.
Legend & Minority Culture
Story about Ashima
Many beautiful legends originate in this magical place, passed along by the native people known as Sani, a branch of the Yi ethnic group. One particular story about the faithful love of Ashima, a beautiful, clever and warm-hearted Sani girl, is the most popular and has been told for thousands of years. As the legend goes, Ashima was kidnapped by an lanlord’s son and forced into marriage. Her lover, Ahei, made every effort to save her. However, on the way home, Ashima was swept away by a flood and turned into what is known as the Ashima Rock, which can be found in the Minor Stone Forest. Her passion and perseverance for freedom and true love still encourage today’s Sani people.
Torch Festival of Sani People
The Sani people celebrate their national festival – the Torch Festival – every lunar year on June 24. They take part in traditional performances such as wrestling, bull fighting, pole-climbing, dragon-playing, lion-dancing and the A-xi Moon Dance. During this time, the Stone Forest is alive with a particular0ve atmosphere, making the area even more attractive than usual.
How to Get There
Stone Forest is 78km from Kunming. Travelers can take public coach at bus stations in Kunming to Stone Forest. This will take about 1.5 hours. From Kunming Changshui International Airport, travelers can take the travel bus to there, and it will take about 2 hours. Shilin Yi Autonomous County also has a train station, and it has trains to Kunming, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanning, Zhanjiang, Guiyang, Hongguo, etc. Shilin Train Station is only about 4km from Stone Forest, so traveler can get the spot easily.
Another way to get to Stone Forest is taking a private car, and this is the fastest and most convenient way. It only takes about 1 hour. If you book tour with us, we will provide you the private car with a private driver and a tour guide to make your trip worry-free.
How to Get Around in the Park
Travelers will purchase the ticket at Visitor Center which is 2km from the entrance of the scenic area. Travelers can take cable car to from the Visitor Center to the entrance and the price is ¥25/person. The cable car will also drive in the scenic area (since the scenic area is quite large) and it will pass by all five attractions of Stone Forest Scenic Area, including Major Stone Forest, Minor Stone Forest, Bushao Hill, Lizi Yuanqing and Eternal Mushroom. Once purchase the cable car ticket, travelers can take any cable car in the scenic spot by showing the ticket in the same day.
Naigu Stone Forest is 8km from Stone Forest Scenic Area, and traveler can take the travel bus commuting between the two areas to there. The running time for the travel bus is 9:00 ~ 19:00 and it will departure every half hour. Please check with the working staff for the detailed position of the bus.
Recommended Stone Forest Tours
Top 3 Stone Forest tours chosen by most customers to explore Stone Forest in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us. We provide some tour routes for tourists to choose.
1 Day Kunming Stone Forest Group Tour
1 Day Kunming Stone Forest Tour by High Speed Train
1 Day Kunming Stone Forest Tour with Nuohei Ethnic Village Discovery
Useful Travel Tips
1. Torch Festival
June 24th in Chinese lunar calendar is the traditional Torch Festival of Yi people. At this time, Stone Forest will hold grand bullfight, wrestling and song and dance activities to celebrate. Yi people will dress in their traditional costumes to anticipate the celebration. At nightfall, the bonfire and torches will be lit up, and people will dance and sing around the bonfire. This is the best time to experience the ethnic culture of Yi people.
2. Best seasons
Best time to visit is from March to October. Most ethnic festivals are during this time, and travelers can also appreciate various flowers during this time. Stone Forest is located in the subtropical humid monsoon climate zone, and it features in continental monsoon climate. No hot summer nor severe cold winter, the climate here is rather moderate all year round.
3. Tickets
The entrance ticket for the Stone Forest is ¥175/person. The ticket for cable car in the scenic area is ¥25/person. The dance show in the scenic area is free.
4. Facility
In the front of the scenic area, there are parking lot and China post office.
The Visitor Center can provide wheelchair, baby carriage, umbrella, walking stick, etc. for visitors.
The Visitor Center also provide tour guide service in Chinese, English, Japanese, Thai, etc. for tourists, and the guide service will charge a certain fees, please check with the staffs in the Visitor Center for detailed price.
Tourists can find the location of toilets in the scenic area according to the infrastructure map on the back of the entrance ticket.
5. Accommodation
Travelers can stay overnight in Shilin County after visit, and there are also some 3-star hotels in the county. However, most travelers will choose to go back to Kunming for accommodation. Kunming has more choice for travelers and it’s more convenient to transfer to your next destination from Kunming.
Why is Dongchuan Red Land so special?
This area boasts the most typical and featured red soil in Yunnan highland. Experts regard it as the second marvelous red land in the world following the one in Rio Brazil. People who have been the first time to visit this land will be deeply impressive by the gorgeous scenes. Lands in deep red, purple, bright red, etc… cover thousands of mountains. When wind blows, the plants in fields wave tenderly. It is a colorful picture drew by the nature. Viewing it from away, it looks like a oil painting more than a Chinese painting.
Introduction
Geographic and Geomorphic Conditions
Red soil is a kind of low yield barren soil, mainly because of human and natural weather factors accelerated “red soil desertification”. Due to much people and less land, excessive development, deforestation, combined with the characteristics of the soil itself, the soil productivity of red soil area reduced and soil erosion is serious. Severe degradation happens in many regions, forming the “red desertification”. Steep slope land reclamation or excessive reclamation, or destroying forest for reclamation, destruction of surface vegetation leads to soil erosion and land degradation. In addition, in the southern mountain area hills, soil erosion is serious and the harm is greater than the loess plateau that the rocky exposed can not be recovered and forms a “red desert”.
Tourism Photography
The most suitable time for red soil photography is during May to June and September to December, different season can see different scenery. Potato flowers are blooming in the summer, meanwhile wheat mature, part of the red soil lay fallow in autumn, another part of the red soil has planted green barley or wheat, and at that time Yunnan own white rape flower has been in full bloom, more colorful. According to the locals, on the third day after the rain is the most beautiful time, the land is sodden and become more colorful under the sun. Clouds clear after the rain, the sun is shining, the sky is bluer, and the clouds change in different position, the sunlight and shadow in the field changes from time to time, every second is a new picture. If you are in luck, you can see a rainbow is connected to the red soil as an organic whole.
Walking on the soft wet red earth, standing out and overlooking, the field of red soil under the rain is as thick as oil color, bright shining brilliantly. Red is stronger, green is more gorgeous, yellow is exceptionally bright, and white is a piece of pure white…Farmers in the field work, what they do is like art, no, it is in creating art. To see the colorful color lump in their hands formed gradually and slowly changed, how wonderful it is! At that time the only thing to do is to use your camera.
If you want to feel the true red, you must follow the farmer’s footprint. They are the creator of the red land, is the real master of this land, here is also the most vivid and natural scenery between the heaven and earth. Under the blue sky, red soil, the family works with the cattle, what they left behind is a row and a line of loose soil. Children are also in the field, and they follow adults to do what they can. That unadorned faces with curious eyes and every simple and honest smile is the most beautiful. But, before you press the shutter, you have better to ask them first, later, also have better prepare some change, since you ask for their things, also should give some rewards back.
Best Sites for Photography
Within several dozens of miles radius from Huashitou Village, the most beautiful attractions of Dongchuan Red Land are Damakan Village, Qicaigou, Jinxiu Yuan, Luoxiagou Village, Yuepuao, Ancient Tree, Luosiwan, Shuipingzi, etc. Though there are many attractions, fortunately, most of them are comparatively concentrated.
The locations of the attractions form a “Y” shape with Huashitou Village as its junction (most tourists will accommodate at here). For detailed location information, please see the Map of Dongchuan Red Land on the right.
Damakan Village(打马坎): Best Sunrise
Damakan Village is located in the northwest part of the whole scenic area, and it’s the best place to shoot sunrise scene. It’s about 10km from Huashitou Village. Standing on the highway and you can overlook the red land and the beautiful sunrise. The scenery in Damakan is very magnificent, and with luck, it’s possible to see the cloud sea here.
Tips:
1. Since this spot is a high land, so the wind is very strong here, especially in the morning, please take some warm clothes with you.
2. The sunrise time will change according to different seasons. Please check the actual sunrise time with the local people.
Qicaipo (七彩坡, Seven-Color Slope)
Qicaipo is close to Damakan and is located in the way from Damakan to Huashitou Village, and it means seven colors slope in Chinese, which perfectly explain the scenery here. The colors here are very beautiful. It’s also located in a high point, and from different angles and in different seasons, the slope will show different patches of colors and bring you different visual impact. The best shooting time is in the afternoon.
Jinxiu Yuan (锦绣园, Embroidery Garden)
Jinxiu Yuan is located on the way from Qicaipo to Huashitou Village and it’s only 1km from Qicaipo. Jinxiu Yuan is actually a large concave ground and there is a sightseeing road built along its mountainside. Jinxiu Yuan has the greatest concentration of red earth in the whole scenic area, and comparing with the scenery of Damakan, it’s less grandeur, but more delicate. Best time for shooting is in the afternoon.
Luoxiagou (落霞沟, Sunset Valley): Best Sunset
Luoxiagou, means sunset valley in Chinese, has the most beautiful sunset scenery. located at the northeast to Huashitou Village, the scenery here is often changed with the wind, cloud, sunshine and the plants in the fields. People say there are no repeated sceneries in Luoxiagou in the 365 days. When you arrive at Luoxiagou and look down from there, wisps of smoke rise continuously from the village chimneys; fields and village have formed a perfect picture. Best time for shooting is from 16:30 to 17:30. During this time, sun will rise from the east mountain of Luoxiagou, and it’s most possible to appear torchlight like sunlight.
Luepuao (乐谱凹, Music Hollow)
Yuepuao is a village located in the south of Huashitou Village, very close to it. The scenery in Yuepuao is mainly made of colored fields, village and small forests. There is a beauty in the lines of the fields, just like the musical staff. The sunlight is good in before dusk, with luck, you can shoot the great sunset glow here.
Luosiwan and Wafangliangzi
Luosiwan and Wafangliangzi is in the south of Yuepuao, and Wangfangliangzi is 2km south of Luosiwan. If you go to Dongchuan from Kunming, then you will see these two attractions first. Luosiwan is suitable to shoot along with the sunlight, and sunrise and sunset here are also quite good. Wafangliangzi is in a highpoint and from here, you can overlook the view of Yuepuao. A funny thing in Wafangliangzi is tourists can find wonderful model in here: an old man wears his sheep fur coat and smokes with his pipe with his dog sitting beside him. He postures for tourists as model, though no mandatory fees are charged, it’s a usual practice to give some money to him for his to show a respect for his modeling work (you can give as much as you want, and it doesn’t have to be much).
Ancient Tree
The Ancient Tree is actually a thousand-year-old fir which is rooted in hill alone in the east of Huashitou Village. The hill is covered with cobblestones and it’s actually not a “tree-friendly” place. However, the Ancient Tree has lived several thousands of years, and it’s kind of a magic. The local people think the tree is a sacred tree and they will worship the tree every year.
Shuipingzi
Shuipingzi is also called Moon Field, and it’s located in the northeast of Huashitou Village. If you drive from the Dongchuan township, then Shuipingzi is the first attraction you will encounter. The red earth here stretches itself to the horizon. In spring, you can shoot the irrigation scenery of the paddy fields, while autumn is great time to shoot the golden paddy fields.
Best Time to Visit Dongchuan Red Land
The most beautiful time to visit and shoot Dongchuan Red Land is from May to June and September to December, and the snow scene in March is also stunning. This land will show different beauties to tourists in different seasons.
In spring, white buckwheat flowers and potato flowers will spread all over the land, and the land will be covered with patches of red, white and green. May to June is the most colorful time. During this time, red earth, golden wheat and highland barley, and green potato seeding constitute the so called god’s palette. In September, the red land is cut into colorful patches with golden buckwheat, white winter rape flower and green potato seeding. November is beautiful for the golden rapeseed and other green seedings. In most cases, Dongchuan will snow in March, and the red land will be stunning after the snow in a sunny day. Generally, after raining, the red land is more beautiful than usual time.
How to Get there?
Dongchuan Red Land is located in the northeast of Kunming, and travelers can take public coach to get there; however, this will spend more than 5 hours to get there.
By Long-distance Bus
Kunming North Bus Station: Fazhe-bound buses departing at 8:00 & 14:00 daily pass by Huashitou Village. Just try to let the driver know that you want to get off at Huagou. Bear in mind that the bus moves on extremely slowly and it takes 5~6 hours to arrive, as there are a few chaotic local markets along the road.
Kunming Eastern Bus Station(Dongchuan Qichezhan): frequent buses run to Dongchuan County from 6:30am to 10pm / 3.5 hours; There are only 2 buses from Dongchuan County to Red Soil at 8:30 & 12:50:00, 1.5 hours. Charter a van if you missed the scheduled buses. By Private Car
By Private Car
If travelers take a private car, then there are two routes for them. One is taking the traditional highway route, and the route is over 200 km and will cost about 3 ~ 4 hours. Another way is taking the special travel route for Jiaozi Snow Mountain, and this route is only about 150 km and you can get there by 2 ~ 3 hours.
If you book tour with us, we will provide private driver and tour guide together with a private care for you, and this is the most convenient and comfortable way. Our email is @YunnanExploration.com and telephone is 86-871-63511469.
Transportation in the scenic spot
The scenic spot of Dongchuan Red Land is rather large, so even you get there, it’s suggested to charter a private car to transfer among attractions.
Recommended Visiting Route
1 ~ 2 days will be enough to visit Dongchuan Red Land, if you want to experience more village life of Dongchuan, then you can stay longer. The travel route can be very flexible as long as you put Damakan visit in the morning and Luoxiagou in the afternoon. These two places are the best place for sunrise and sunset.
We provide some popular routes for tourists:
2 Days Kunming Dongchuan Red Land and Jiaozi Snow Mountain Tour
2 Days Dongchuan Red Land Photography Tour
8 Days Yunnan Photography Tour with Dongchuan Red Land and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
Nearby Attraction
Jiaozi Snow Mountain is well-known as the First Mountain in the middle of Yunnan. Looking from a long distance, the snow mountain looks like a sedan chair placed in the millions of flowers, hence the name Sedan Chair Snow Mountain. As the best snow view in the low latitude of Southeast Asia, Mt. Jiaozi, rising 4223m above sea level, is a beautiful scenic spot.
Travel Tips:
1. Photography tips
If you are not self-driving, then in the scenic spot you need to rent car to take pictures. You can ask for help in the hotel you stay in..
From Dongchuan, the attractions passing by in order are: Shuipingzi Rice Terrance (the most famous is called Moon Rice Terrace)—Luoxiagou (sunset ditch) in Songmaopeng—Huagou Thousand years of Nagarjuna—Red Soil Grand Sight “T”crossing road From “T” crossing road to right is Qicai Slope (colorful slope)—Jinxiuyuan—Damakan From “T” crossing road to left is Yuepuao—Luoshi Bay and Tile-roofed House Notice: Each scenery has its own characters, especially in different time the scenery is different. Suggest shooting enthusiasts try to stay two nights because the weather is changing that you will make a lot of classic images. During the sunrise people can go to Damakan to appreciate the beautiful sunrise scenery and other time to visit Qicai Slope, Jinxiuyuan, Yuepuao, and Nagarjuna , in the evening people can go to Luoxiagou to take pictures of setting sun.
2. Accommodation
In Dongchuan district, there are many hotels and hostels, and most of them are located in the bus station. Both ¥20 bunk and ¥120standard room are available. Accommodation is tight in the golden weeks (May 1st ~ 7th and October 1st ~ 7th). In Dongchuan Red Land scenic area, the accommodations are all private hostels. It’s suggested to stay overnight at Huashitou Village, since it’s in the junction position of the whole scenic spot. The hostels here are normally family-owned, and tourists can also eat at here.
3. Weather
Kunming’s weather is moderate all year around, however, Dongchuan Red Land is an mountainous area, so the temperature here is normally lower 4℃ to 8℃ than Dongchuan town. Besides, it’s windy in the scenic spot, and there is a large temperature different between day and night, so travelers need to prepare some warm clothes. Even in summer, it’s suggested to bring long sleeves with you. Another thing need to be noticed is that the UV is strong here, so remember to bring sunglasses, hat and sunblock with you to protect from sunburns.
4. Shower
Most of the hotels in there used solar energy, if there are too many tourists then it might be lack of hot water, so people who want to take shower should pay attention to the hot water.
Why is West Hill so special?
Western Hills boasts an excellent environment with flourishing flowers and dense forest, providing tourists an excellent environment to enjoy the tranquility and marvelous scenery. They have also been given another name – ‘Sleeping Beauty Hills’ for the hills because its skyline looks like a beautiful young lady laying beside Dianchi Lake with her face upward and her hair trailling into water.
In the Western Hills, Huating Temple, Taihua Temple, and Sanqing Pavillion are shaded by flourishing woods and tall bamboo bushes. The exquisite Gragon Gate Grotto is built along the precipice cliff. The grand and magnificent beauty of lakes and mountains, and the rich cultural deposits make the Western Hills charming and mysterious.
Introduction
Western Hills Overview
Western Hills is called 西山(Xishan) in Chinese, and it’s a scenic forest park located in the west suburb of Kunming, 15km to the city center, with the beautiful Dian Lake sitting on the east of it. Western Hill has always been reputed as the “top scenery in central Yunnan”. The whole scenic spot is made of several mountains, including Biji Mountain, Huating Mountain, Taihua Mountain, Luohan Mountain, etc. and they are reach out for over 40km, and the highest altitude is 2500m. Western Hill is a large forest park, and also a national scenic spot which perfectly combines the natural scenery with the cultural relics. Historic sites are surrounded by quiet and peaceful green forests, including the most famous Dragon Gate, and Huating Temple, Taihua Temple, San Qing Pavilion, etc. It’s a perfect place for walking and relaxing.
Main Attractions in Western Hills
In Western Hills, there are wonderful scenic spots such as Huating Temple, Taihua Temple, Sanqing Pavilion, and Dragon Gate. The undulating hills, verdant trees and melodious bird singing together with the magnificent ancient building make you feel peaceful in the modern city.
At the altitude of 2025 meters, Huating Temple was first built in 14 century. It had been destroyed and rebuilt several times most recently in 1923. As one of the largest Buddhist temples in Yunnan Province, the buildings inside the temple are imposing and spectacular.
● Taihua Temple(太华寺）
Taihua Temple gained its name for it is located on Taihua Hill. Originally built in the Yuan Dynasty (1206 – 1368), the temple is the oldest one in Western Hills. Daxiong Baodian Hall, Piaomiao Pavilion, Sizhao Hall are in the temple. The temple is famous for the beautiful rare flowers on the grounds. It is also a good place to watch the grand spectacle of the rising sun.
● Sanqing Pavillion(三清阁）
Sanqing Pavilion is built on the cliff at Luohan Hill. Being over 300 meters (approximately 984 feet) above Dianchi Lake, the pavilion looks like a ‘castle in the air’. This temple has a Taoist influence, and ‘Sanqing’ in Taoism refers to the loftiest stature. The pavilion is a good place where you can not only visit the temples, but also enjoy a panoramic view of Dianchi Lake.
There is a saying – ‘If you do not visit Western Hills, you haven’t visited Kunming; if you do not come to Dragon Gate, you haven’t been to Western Hills.’ Being the outstanding scenic place in Western Hills, Dragon Gate is a big exquisite stone carved edifice. The stone paths, stone rooms, stone grottos, and stone Buddhist figures are all carved with excellent craftsmanship on a large natural rock. Like Sanqing Pavilion, Dragon Gate was also built on cliff. You can stand on the edge of the cliff holding the railing, looking downward to experience the steepness of the hill and enjoy the spectacle of Dianchi Lake.
Best time to travel Western Hills
The best time is from March to October -spring, summer and autumn is the suitable time to visit Western Hill and Dragon Gate.
How to Get There
Western Hill is located at the west suburb Kunming City, and it’s very convenient to get there from the city center. There are many public buses driving from the city center to Western Hill, and public bus will take about 1.5 hours to get there. A better way is taking taxi or private car to there, and it will need about half hour.
How to Get Around West Hills
Cable Car: in Haigeng Park which is next to Yunnan Nationalities Village, tourists can take the “Dian Lake – Dragon Gate” cable car to get to the lower cableway station of Dragon Gate (Park Service Center is here), and this is ¥35/person. This will take about half hour and tourists can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Dian Lake on the cable car. Then tourists can take cable car from there to get to the entrance of Dragon Gate – the upper cableway station, this is ¥25/person; or tourists can take battery car to the entrance, this will take ¥8/person. Travelers who love hiking can also walk to the entrance, and it’s only about 2km.
Travel Bus: after arriving at the parking lot of Western Hill, tourists can take the travel bus commuting between the entrance of Western Hill to the lower cableway station, and the ticket for the travel bus is ¥25/person, and the travel bus will make stops at Huating Temple and Taihua Temple. After getting to the lower cableway station, tourists can choose to take cable car, or battery car or walk to the Dragon Gate entrance.
Travel Route: tourists can take cable car or travel bus to the Park Service Center (the lower cableway station), then take cable car to the upper cableway station, and walk down the mountain and visit the Dragon Gate and San Qing Pavilion on the way. After arriving at the Dragon Gate Entrance, take battery car to the Park Service Center, then take travel bus to get back and visit Taihua Temple and Huating Temple on the way. This is the most popular and relaxing way. For hike lovers, they can walk most of the journey.
Useful Tips
1. Ticket
There is no ticket for Western Hill, however, the attractions on the Western hill are charged. The ticket for Dragon Gate scenic spot is ¥40/person, and this includes Dragon Gate Grottoes and San Qing Pavilion. The joint ticket for Taihua Temple and Huating Temple is ¥20/person. Cable ticket from Dian Lake to lower cableway station of Dragon Gate is ¥35/person; cable ticket from lower cableway station to upper cable way station of Dragon Gate is ¥25/person; battery car ticket on the mountain is ¥8/person.
2. Best seasons
The best seasons to visit Western Hill are spring, summer and autumn (from March to October). The scenery in winter is not good as the other seasons. During March to October, the Western Hill is covered with green trees and colorful flowers, and the scenery at this time is very beautiful and tranquil.
3. Walking Notice
There are many stairs in Dragon Gate Scenic Spot, so it’s suggested to wear comfortable shoes to walk.
Recommended West Hills Tours
Top 3 West Hills tours chosen by most customers to explore West Hills in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us. We provide some tour routes for tourists to choose.
1 Day Kunming City Highlights Tour with Yunnan Ethnic Villages and Western Hills
11 Days Western Yunnan and Myanmar Border Cycling Tour
Why is Green Lake so special?
Enjoying elegant sightseeing of trees, flowers, lakes, and animals, etc. make Green Lake very shining jasper, and that is why it gets the honorable name of the “Jade of Kunming City”. To provide a better place for visitors to enjoy the beautiful sightseeing, the Green Lake Kunming has been built as a garden with many charming natural sceneries, and it is being a great place to go for visitors in Kunming.
How to get to Green Lake:
Independent Travel
Since Green Lake Kunming is situated at the downtown, it takes a little time to arrive at this place very easily either by bus, subway, or taxi, or other vehicles.
By Bus:
Take public bus No. 1 and get off at Yunnan University station; take public bus No. 101 and get off at Cuihu station; take public bus No. 4, 5, 26, 69, 83 and 96 and get off at Baihui Shangchang station, and walk to Green Lake Park; take public bus No. K2, 54 and 61 and get off at Xiaoximen Station; public bus No. 133 behind Carrefour Plaza at the city center is available to go to Green Lake directly.
By Subway:
Take the Metro Line 2 to Chuanxingulou Stop (穿心鼓楼站), and walk about 1 km toward the west.
- From Kunming Railway Station – 5 km; 20 min
- From Kunming North Railway Station – 3.5 km; 18 min
- From Yuantong Temple – 2.4 km; 8 min
Private Tour (Top Recommended):
If you want to get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers sightseeing, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Green Lake Kunming with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing.
Introduction
1. History & Culture of Green Lake Park
The Ruandi Embankment across Green Lake from south to north was built by Ruanyuan, the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, in 1834. And the Tangdi Embankment extending from east to west was built by Tangjirao in 1919.
2. Main Attractions in Green Lake
♦ Goldfish Island
Goldfish Island is a good place for walking, resting and tea tasting. There are cedar, camphor and other trees grow on the island. Flowers around the paths, birds singing and slow wind on the island are so pleased for visitors.
♦ Bamboo Island
Bamboo Island is full of bamboos on the island. Folk artisans and singers usually get together here. They sing songs, dancing, acting and do some improvisational performances, making the island very lively.
♦ Lotus Temple
Lotus Temple, built in 1867 during Qing Dynasty.
3. Activities
♦ Bird-watching in Winter
Each year, in November and December, groups of black-headed gulls fly from Siberia to Green Lake to spend the winter holiday here. It is a good time to do birdwatching in winter.
Recommended Green Lake Tours
Top 3 Green Lake tours chosen by most customers to explore Green Lake in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us. We provide you with some tour routes.
4 Days Best Kunming City Tour with The Stone Forest
5 Days Kunming Spring City Golf Course and Lake Resort Tour
Best Time to Visit Green Lake Park
It is suitable to visit the park all year round, especially in summer and winter. In summer, the lotus blossom very well. In winter, groups of gulls fly to the lake, which is very grand scene.
Nearby Attractions
Yuantong Temple (圆通寺)
Only several hundred meters away from Green Lake Kunming, Yuantong Temple is the biggest and one of the most ancient Buddhist temples in Kunming with a long history of over 1200 years. Visiting this sacred temple, you can not only appreciate the special buildings combined with Chinese garden styles, but also know about the three systems of Buddhism in China, which is unique in domestic. (Opening hour: 8:00-18:00; Fee: ￥ 6 / person)
Useful Travel Tips
There are lots of cafes and restaurants nearby, and at the central of the city, 500 meter far from the lake, many local famous and delicious foods are offered, you can taste these foods after you enjoy the picturesque park.
You can also take One Day Kunming Highlights Tour Including The Green Lake.
Accommodation
There is several hotels nearby Green Lake, such as Green Lake Hotel and Grand Park Hotel.
Why is Dianchi Lake so special?
Embraced by several peaks and alluring waters, Dianchi Lake is just like a sparkling jewel embedded in Kunming. The lake is crescent-shaped, stretching 24 miles (39 kilometers) from north to south and more than 8 miles (13.5 kilometers) from west to east. Occupying an area of 116 square miles (300 square kilometers), Dianchi Lake is the largest lake in China. More than 20 rivers converge into it.
The Dianchi Scenic Area is quite mesmerizing, where natural scenery and human landscape blend perfectly. It can be divided into two districts, namely West district and East district. What makes Dianchi Lake distinctive is that the color of its water changes with the clouds and sunshine of the day. Around Dianchi Lake also lie many places of interest, such as West Hill, Daguan Park, Yunnan Ethnic Village and so on. These featured attractions are all ideal getaways for visitors to get close to nature to relax.
Introduction
the History of Dianchi Lake
The Chinese character for the lake is a phonosemantic compound of the radical 氵 (“water”) and the character 真, whose current pronunciation is zhēn but whose Old Chinese pronunciation has been reconstructed as tin.
Dianchi Lake was the site of the capital of the independent kingdom of the Cuan (爨) during the first millennium AD. At that time, it was known as Kunchuan (昆川).
Biodiversity of Dianchi Lake
Together with other Yunnan lakes (Fuxian, Qilu, Yangzong, Xingyun, and Yilong), Dian Lake is recognized as an ecoregion. Among three major Yunnan lakes with a high number of endemics, the two other being Fuxian and Erhai, the most drastic loss of biodiversity has been seen in Dian. Of the 25 native fish species and subspecies in Dian Lake, 10 are endemic to the basin: Acheilognathus elongatus, Anabarilius alburnops, Anabarilius polylepis, Cyprinus micristius micristius, Liobagrus kingi, Pseudobagrus medianalis, Silurus mento, Sinocyclocheilus grahami, Sphaerophysa dianchiensis and Xenocypris yunnanensis. Today the only endemic fish known to survive in the lake itself is Anabarilius alburnops, but it is endangered. The remaining have not been recorded there since the 1990s or earlier, and most of these are likely extinct. Two other species, Schizothorax grahami and Yunnanilus nigromaculatus, are endemic to the general region, but have also disappeared from Dian Lake itself. Among the non-endemic natives, only gold fish and Asian swamp eel still live in Dian Lake. In contrast to the status of the natives, the lake is now home to more than 25 introduced fish species.
The Yunnan lake newt (Cynops wolterstorffi) was endemic to the lake, but it has not been seen since 1979 and is considered extinct. Many native hydrophytes have also disappeared from the lake.
Pollution Management of the Dianchi Lake
The pollution and the management of it is the eternal but sad topic of the province and government. Although the country and some global administrations like the World Bank have invested lots of money to help the progress of pollution management and have made some environmental improvement at Dianchi Lake, it can not completely solve the problems of pollution. Dianchi is still one of the most serious polluted lakes in the world, guests may find the water is of extremely green color in the lake.
Best Time To Visit Dianchi Lake
For the comfortable weather in Kunming, it is suitable to have trip here all the year round. What special in winter is that sea gulls will come to winter here and most of the local people will enjoy their time with sea gulls, such as taking photoes and feeding sea gulls.
How to Get here?
By Bus
Take Bus 24, 44, 73, 94, 135, 172 or 233, and get off at Haigeng Gongyuan (Haigeng Park) Station.
By Taxi
Take a taxi to the Haigeng Park (near Dianchi Lake)costs about RMB25 yuan, it is about 12 kilometers from the Nanping Pedestrian Street of Kunming.
Passenger car
There is special line for traveling to Dianchi, you can take that car in the city center.
Private Tour (Top Recommended)
If you want to get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers sightseeing, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Dianchi Lake with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing.
Nearby Attractions
Tourists can not only visit Dianchi Lake, but also can visit some famous attractions near it, such as West Hill Forest Park, National Sport Training Centers, Yunnan National Museum, Yunnan Minorities Village, Daguan Park and other attractions, they are very close to the lake.
Yunnan Ethnic Villages ( 云南民族村)
The Yunnan Ethnic Village acts as a good shortcut to understand the social customs of the ethnic groups in Yunnan. It has a natural sun-bathing area where you can escape from the heat of summer. Twenty-five ethnic nationalities have their respective villages and conduct many activities to present their unique folkways and beautiful clothes. Also you can enjoy the water screen movie and an elephant performance, have a taste of the local dishes and buy pretty handicrafts.
Daguan Park (大观园)
Daguan Park is vibrant with rock gardens, pavilions, bridges and murmuring water. It is famous for the longest couplets in China on the Daguan Pavilion (dà guān lóu 大观楼). The Daguan Pavilion was built in the year 1828. It commands a lovely view. The couplet written in the Qing (qīng 清) Dynasty (1644-1911), contains 180 characters brimming with literary grace. During festival evenings, gatherings take place here
Baiyukou Park (白鱼口公园)
Baiyukou Park is on the west bank of Dianchi Lake. Here a small hill looks like a white fish opening its mouth to Dianchi Lake. Near the Irregular shore line, beautiful gardens are hidden among green trees. In spring, the cherry trees are in blossom, adding luster to this serene place. Overlooking Dianchi Lake, you can see white sails of boats on the glistening lake and gulls skimming over the waves.
Haigeng Bank (海埂)
Haigeng Bank is about four kilometers (2.5 miles) long while ranging in width from forty meters (131 feet) to three hundred meters (984 feet). The bank, like a floating jade belt, is in fact a watershed of the Dianchi Lake. Slender willow twigs sweep the lake in the gentle breeze. In the south is a wonderful natural swimming pool which is always crammed with people in midsummer.
Kwan-yin Hill(观音山)
Kwan-yin Hill is bordered by the vast lake and has an altitude of 2,040 meters (6,693 feet). Lofty peaks on this hill seem to thrust themselves straight towards the sky. A Kwan-yin Temple built here in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was once a popular resort of Buddhism. Remaining are a seven-tier brick pagoda, houses, and a gate to the Kwan-yin Temple.How to get there: A Taxi ride to the northern section of the lake near Daguan Tower lakeside from the city center should cost you a mere Y15. You can also take bus 24 , 44 and get off at Haigeng Bank.
Recommended Dianchi Lake Tours:
Top 3 Dianchi Lake tours chosen by most customers to explore Dianchi Lake in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us. We provide some tour routes for tourists to choose.
1 Day Kunming Cycling Tour Around Dianchi Lake
6 Days Northeast Yunnan Winter Birding Tour to Dianchi Lake, Nianhu Lake and Dashanbao
9 Days Yunnan-Guizhou Winter Birding Tour with Dianchi Lake, Caohai Lake, Nianhu Lake and Dashanbao Nature Reserve
Travel Tips:
1.Recommended travel itinerary in Kunming including the Dianchi Lake: Visitors can firstly go to the West Hill Forest Park for a visit, then take the cable car from Longmen (the gate of the dragon) to Dianchi lake (Ticket price at RMB30).
2.There is no entrance fee charged at the Dianchi Lake, the entrance fee for Haigeng Park is RMB8 yuan. If guest do not want to take boat during the visit, a half day is enough for a visit to Dianchi Lake. If you want to explore the lake further, you can rent a bicycle and spend two days to cycle around the Dianchi, it is about 200 km.
Why is Yunnan Ethnic Villages so special?
This theme park displays the colorful folklore and architecture of 25 ethnic groups residing in Yunnan Province. The theme park offers shows and performances, folklore and wax museums, as well as replica buildings found in the villages of each ethnic group.Villages of over 25 minorities including the Yi, Dai, Miao, Jingpo, Wa, Hani, Naxi, Dulong and others have been built here. Through various displays and re-creations of the original villages, the Yunnan Ethnic Village displays the diverse local ethnic culture. Villages of different styles are well arranged and show visitors their unique charm. Displaying a variety of buildings, lifestyles, and religious beliefs in the region, the village is a microcosm of Yunnan’s colorful and diverse ethnic culture.
At the main gate hangs a plaque inscribed with five Chinese characters, Yun Nan Min Zu Cun, saying Yunnan Nationalities Village. A logo of a flying golden phoenix is right below the plaque, symbolizing good wishes to the village. On the lawn near the gate is a group of white elephant statues, as it is a custom here to welcome distinguished guests with elephants.
List of the main 25 Ethnic Minorities in Yunnan
List of the 25 Ethnic Villages in Yunnan Ethnic Villages
Introduction
the Basic Information of Yunnan Ethnic Villages
Located by the Dianchi Lake and at the foot of the Western Hill, the Village is a major part of Kunming Dianchi National Tourist and Holiday Zone. Opened to the public on February 18, 1992, the community is 8 km away from the city of Kunming proper and covers an area of 1,340 mus. The whole community contains 26 villages, and so far the Dai Village, the Bai Village, the Yi Village, the Naxi Village, the Wa Village, the Jinuo Village, the Lahu Village, the Bulang Village and 4 other villages have been completed.
The village is not only celebrating ethnic minorities, but it is also designed to give the world a snapshot view of both the natural scenery and cultural importance of Yunnan including: precipitous hills and beautiful lakes, parks, woods, old and modern treasures. Now the community has become a must-see for domestic and overseas visitors to Yunnan.
the Main Villages in Yunnan Ethnic Villages
• Dai Village
After entering, the first site coming into view is the Dai Village. Occupying 4.4 acres (1.8 hectares), the village is surrounded with water on three sides. Bamboo houses built on stilts are shaded with trees and flowers. A meandering path paved with red sandstones leads to a sacred Burmese-style temple. The lofty white tower, exquisite pavilions and bridges are very impressive. As a nationality loving singing and dancing, Dai People are proud of their peacock dance and music played on cucurbit flutes, which perfectly match each other.
• Bai Village
The typical Bai Village is composed of some traditional Bai residential houses with rooms on three sides and a wall (with the door) on the southern side. Tourists should never miss the occasions of Bawang dances and March Street (a festival normally celebrated from March 10th to 21st of lunar calendar in Dali)
• Yi Village
In the west of Harmony Square is the Yi Nationality village. It covers more than 8.4 acres (3.4 hectares). Since Yi People show respect to tigers, you can see a tiger rockery as well as a wall engraved with three tigers. A giant totem column is erected in the center of the magnificent Solar Calendar Square. Carved on the column are patterns of the sun, fire, tigers and the Eight Trigrams of ancient China. Around the column, there are ten black and white stone spheres facing different directions, symbolizing that life originates from the sun and the moon. The twelve lifelike carvings of Chinese zodiac animals on the peripheral add a lot of fun to the village. The distilleries, bullrings, and Mo Qiu, which is similar to a seesaw, represent authentic Yi culture.
• Naxi Village
Naxi Village is located to the east of Bai Village. Tourists can appreciate Naxi folk culture (called Dongba Culture), especially the local Dongjing music, the so-called sound of nature.
• Mosuo Village
Next to Naxi Village is Mosuo Village, which still maintains the matriarchy clans and the customs. What are special in Mosuo Village are the exquisite wood houses, delicious food, beautiful girls and last but not the least, the mysterious custom of walking marriage. Mosuo people’s marriage culture is quite uncommon. They prefer a visiting relationship between lovers—an arrangement they sometimes refer to in their language as sisi (zou hun in Chinese, meaning walking back and forth; or azhu zou hun, meaning friend marriage. Azhu means friend in Mosuo language). A Mosuo woman is free to receive male visitors after the coming-of-age ceremony at 12. A lover may stay overnight in her room but will return to his own mother’s home. Children born from such a relationship live with their mother. In Mosuo society, lovers can end their relationship at any time. For example, a woman may refuse her lover by simply no longer opening the door. Their marriage relationship is not a formal one.
• Achang Village
With a courtyard building as the main body, and the village gate, workshop is corresponding, such as a grey tile brick wall and stone column is characteristic. Achang people are hospitable and respect the old and cherish the young. There are guest to nap, the host entertain the guest with good tea and serve better wine; When propose a toast or pour tea, avoid to accept without comity. There is custom that the host will try to persuade guest to drink and eat, whether people who can drink liquor or tea, it is taboo that guest does not accept; When guest is persuaded by the host during dinner-time, no matter you are full or hungry, you’d better receive what the host give with bowl holding in both hands. Receiving with both hands or get up to salute is regarded as a great respect.
• Zhuang Village
Zhuang compatriots of Yunnan province mainly gathered in Wenshan prefecture, they live in Ganlan or Malan local-style dwelling houses, good at planting and diligent about farming, and they have customs of sun-worship, “Three Eternity Emperor” worship, ancestor-worship, and the custom of the master of elder is the leader. They regard highly of bronze drum, love silver ware, can sing and dance. They are hospitable and love to eat five-color glutinous rice, rice wine, and roasted tea. They have a national consciousness of self-esteem and self-confidence, their excellent traditional cultures are still intact that remain the ancient ethnic traditional culture essence of Baiyue minority.
• Tibetan Village
Covers an area of 21 mu, the village has top residences and carving type flat local-style dwelling houses building. Sacred Tibetan Buddhist temple, magnificent welcome white pagoda, the “white yak” sculpture is symbol of auspicious peace and unique style of Tibetan architecture mutual set off, bring out the best in each other. During the festival, singing folk songs, dancing Guozhuang dance and Xianzi dance, riders are even competing for archery.
What to do in Yunnan Ethnic Village
1. Watching Ethnic Singing and Dancing Performances
The ethnic singing and dancing performances and the folk performances are from 9:00 to 17:00, mainly in the Dancing Hall and Tuanjie Square. The Asian Elephants performances are specially recommended.
Shows Timetable
| Colorful Clouds | Jingpo Village | 09:30-10:00, 11:30-12:00, 16:10-16:40 |
| Daogan Square | 10:10-10:40, 11:20-11:50, 17:00-17:30 | |
| Wa Village | 10:50-11:20, 12:00-12:30, 16:20-16:50 | |
| Yi Village | 10:40-11:10, 14:00-14:30, 16:10-16:40 | |
| Jino Village & Lahu Village | 11:40-12:10, 14:10-14:40 | |
| Mosuo Village | 13:20-13:50, 16:30-17:00 | |
| Bai Village | 10:30-11:00, 12:40-13:10, 17:00-17:30 | |
| The Call of the Plateau | Dianchi Stage | 13:20-14:10 CNY 150 for a normal ticket and CNY 260 for a VIP ticket |
| Elephant Show | Elephant Show Square | Ride elephant and take pictures: 10:30-11:00, 14:30-15:00, 15:30-16:00 Elephant show: 11:00-11:30, 15:00-15:30, 16:00-16:30 |
Note: The time schedule is subject to changes due to weather conditions and other factors.
2. Celebrating Festivals of Minority Ethnic Groups
1. Torch Festival of Yi- falls from June 24 to June 26 in Chinese lunar calendar (usually late June in western calendar).
2. Water Splashing Festival of Dai- falls in mid-April and lasts for 3-7 days
3. Hunting Festival (Lieshen Festival) of Yi- falls in February 1 to February 3 in Chinese lunar calendar (usually early March in western calenda)
4. Sanyuejie Festival of Bai- falls in March 15 in Chinese lunar calendar (usually in mid-April in western calendar)
5. Mizhi Festival of Yi- usually falls in November and women are not allowed to attend.
6. March 3 in Chinese lunar calendar- falls in late March or early April in western calendar; it is a day for spring outing of Kunming people.
3. Familiar Ethnic Culture
Yunnan Ethnic Village has managed to represent and exhibit the history, the cultures, the customs and the natural village houses of the 26 nationalities in this province. With the inclusion of precipitous hills, beautiful lakes and an integration of the customs, cultures, music, songs, dances, religious and architecture of the 26 nationalities, the village community has helped to show the world the true nature of Yunnan, a mysterious yet modern garden of ethnic cultures.
How to Get There?
• From Changshui International Airport to Village of Ethnic Culture
Kunming Changshui Airport is about 25 km from downtown, it takes about 100 RMB to Kunming city. And it is inconvenient to take public bus from the airport to the village because of transfering, so we recommend people to go to Village of Ethnic Culture from the airport by taxi which costs at least 100 RMB.
• From Kunming City to Yunnan Ethnic Village
By bus: You can take public bus No.24, 44, and 73 to Yunnan Village of Ethnic Culture bus stop.
By taxi: Taking taxi from downtown to Yunnan Village of Ethnic Culture takes about 30 minutes.
Transportation Facilities within the Tourist Site
| Quadricycle with 2 or 4 seats | CNY 100/vehicle (three hours) |
| Balance bike | CNY 80/hour |
| Electro car with 2 seats | CNY 80/hour |
| Sightseeing mini-train | CNY 30 per person |
| Sightseeing boat | CNY 20 per person |
| 13-seat battery car | CNY 500/car (two hours) |
| 7-seat battery car | CNY 300/car (two hours) |
Nearby Attractions
Except Yunnan Ethnic Village, you also can enjoy other chanrming attractions near Yunnan Ethnic Village.
Golden Temple was built in Ming dynasty and was reconstructed by Wu Sangui in the 10th year of the Kangxi Period (1671 A .D.) made by brass which is the mixture of copper and zinc. That’s why it is named as “the golden temple”. It is totally weighted250 tons and 6.7 meters high; it isthe biggest and heaviest as well as the best preserved copper templein China. It is a key national cultural and historical relics. The whole temple reflects the excellent metallurgical and casting technology more than 300 years ago in Yunnan.
The Western Hills and Dragon Gate
Western Hills boasts an excellent environment with flourishing flowers and dense forest, providing tourists an excellent environment to enjoy the tranquility and marvelous scenery. They have also been given another name – ‘Sleeping Beauty Hills’ for the hills because its skyline looks like a beautiful young lady laying beside Dianchi Lake with her face upward and her hair trailling into water.
The Kingdom of the Little People
The Kingdom of the Little People is a theme park located near Kunming, Yunnan that features comic performances by people with dwarfism. Supporters of the park claim that it provides employment to people who would otherwise be unable to find work, but it has been criticized for treating dwarfism as a humorous condition.
Recommended Yunnan Ethnic Village Tours
Top 3 Yunnan Ethnic Village chosen by most customers to explore Yunnan Ethnic Village in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us. We provide some tour routes for tourists to choose.
1 Day Kunming City Highlights Tour with Yunnan Ethnic Villages and Western Hills
1 Day Kunming Stone Forest Tour with Yunnan Ethnic Villages
11 Days Yunnan Ethnic Minority’s Markets Discovery and Long Street Banquet Celebration Tour
Travel tips:
1. Each village has performances from 09:00 to 17:00, usually taking place in the Dance Hall or in the Plaza of Ethnic Unity.
2. Asian Elephant Show Time: 10:30-11:30; 13:30-14:30; 15:30-16:30.
3. CNY 40 for one-way cableway to West Hill Forest Park, CNY 70 for round cableway.
3. CNY 40 for one-way cableway to West Hill Forest Park, CNY 70 for round cableway.
Introduction
Yunnan Nationalities Museum is located on the east bank of Dianchi Lake next to Yunnan Nationalities Village in Kunming City, China. Completed in 1995, it is a comprehensive ethnology museum. Covering an area of over 200 mu, the museum has a building area of 130,000 square meters. It consists of various exhibition halls, office building, report hall, storage and workshops. The ecological environment, religious customs, culture and arts and ethnic relics of the ethnic groups of Yunnan are collected in it.
The structure of Yunnan Nationalities Museum
The whole architecture looks like a courtyard with winding corridors featuring the local and minority nationalities’ styles.
Including 17 nationalities, Yunnan Nationalities Museum assembled 23 assistant research fellows and 28 lecturers. It consists of 5 sections: Administration Department, Exhibition Department, Cultural Relics Department, Research Department, Scientific Education Department, Development Department. The whole collection of the museum reached to over20,000. The museum has a exhibitions focusing on specific subjects.
In addition, the museum is not only a hall for showing the nationalities cultures, but also a beautiful scenic spot and ideal conference center. It has multi-function conference hall which is equipped with simultaneous interpretation system. Book store, handicraft shop, tea house and Artist studios or galleries are available for entertainment. Wish you a good time in Yunnan Nationalities Museum. It extends warm welcome to the visitors from all over the world.
