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Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do in Kunming [2025]
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Stone Forest Scenic Area
4.7
/5
14655 reviews
8.8
From AU$ 29.48
Based on 54 reviews
66.8 km from downtown
Phone 0871-67711439
Address: Extension of Shilin Middle Road, Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Kunming
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Highlights:
See the bizarre karst peaks
Ashima rock: unique & captivating
Saved by 1275 users7186 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
I took my elderly mother out for a trip. I took the high-speed rail to Shilin West in the morning, and then chartered a car to visit the Shilin Scenic Area. When the weather is good, the scenery of Shilin is very beautiful. It is worth a visit if you can take your time to enjoy it on your own.
It's more beautiful than I imagined. The wonders of nature are so interesting! You must hire a full-time tour guide after entering the park. Children can learn a lot of knowledge. The tour guide Zhang Liping is beautiful and kind. She took a lot of beautiful photos for us, and took the children to find fossils of coral shells and clover, and also took stamps to collect. Super good!
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Dianchi Lake
4.7
/5
8292 reviews
8.5
Based on 296 reviews
23.8 km from downtown
Address: 1318 Dianchi Road, Xishan District, Kunming City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
No.1 of Water fun & Cool Retreats in Kunming
Highlights:
Surrounded by mountains & Daguan Tower
Majestic plateau freshwater lake
Saved by 918 users3934 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
The Xishan Scenic Area is worth visiting. The scenery is great. The cable car slides over the battery and the scenery is unobstructed. The Xishan Longmen Grottoes are strange, dangerous and magnificent. It is worth the trip. Fortunately, on the way to the ethnic village, I listened to the advice of the driver and came to this scenic spot. It is much better than the ethnic village I was going to.
The scenery is very good, and the cable car is very convenient to go back and forth. I came here in mid-July and there were basically no seagulls. There are just too many places that charge fees. The blessing bell costs 10 yuan to hit it three times, and it costs 20 yuan per photo to take pictures and check in. After getting off the cable car, if you go to other attractions, you will be charged again.
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Yunnan Nationalities Village
4.4
/5
13492 reviews
8.4
From AU$ 16.97
Based on 513 reviews
Dianchi Lake Scenic Area/ Sunac World | 9 km from downtown
Phone 0871-64311255
Address: 1310 Dianchi Road, Xishan District, Kunming City
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-5 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
12 villages & 26 cultures
Experience lively folk shows & festivals
Saved by 725 users5973 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Yunnan Nationalities Village, this time I brought my children to play. I came here more than 20 years ago. I remember that a heavy rain caused diarrhea with my classmates. The happiness is still there, but the memory is far away. But it is still a place I highly recommend. This time I brought my children here as the first stop in Kunming.
The ethnic village is still a place worth visiting. The ticket is not cheap, but the half-price student ticket is OK. It is very good for children to understand the characteristics of various ethnic groups. The consumption inside is also very good, not very high. The experience is good. It is worth coming.
No.
4
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Yunnan Wild Animals Park
4.7
/5
4386 reviews
8.1
From AU$ 21.18
Based on 21 reviews
Kunming Wild Animal Park/The Golden Temple scenic spot | 10.4 km from downtown
Phone 0871-65018888
Address: Yunnan Zoo, Panlong District, Kunming
Recommended sightseeing time: 4-5 hours
No.2 of Family-Friendly Attractions in Kunming
Highlights:
Elephant shows & red panda meetups
Feed & interact with red pandas
Saved by 191 users3558 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Very large zoo, the animals are well-fed, the staff are enthusiastic, and the cost is average. Capibara, pandas, and giraffes are all good, it is worth bringing children to play
The overall design is reasonable, the route is clear, and you don't have to worry about taking the wrong road or affecting the viewing by sightseeing bus. The sightseeing bus is very necessary, and you can take fewer roads without animals. The experience is still good. It is much better than the other wildlife parks I have visited before, and there are more projects to experience, and the experience is better!
No.
5
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Western Hills
4.5
/5
3161 reviews
7.9
From AU$ 37.75
Based on 207 reviews
Dianchi Lake Scenic Area/ Sunac World | 11.3 km from downtown
Phone 0871-68426668
Address: Xishan District, Kunming City
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
50-foot natural stone gateway
Cable car ride overlooking temples
Saved by 573 users1639 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Xishan Scenic Area is a very cost-effective scenic spot with a pleasant environment. It is not tiring to walk up the mountain. You can take pictures while walking. The scenery is very good. The view of Dianchi Lake from the mountain is very beautiful.
It is necessary to buy a combined ticket for the Xishan Scenic Area ticket, the electric car, and the scenic area bus. If you want to walk, you have to walk a lot. It is much more expensive to buy them separately. The scenery of the scenic area is very beautiful and the mountain is not too high. It is healthier to climb.
No.
6
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Old Street Kunming
4.7
/5
434 reviews
7.6
Nanping Pedestrian Street | 731m from downtown
Phone 0871-68378663
Address: Wuhua, Kunming, Yunnan, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No.2 of Night Attractions in Kunming
Highlights:
Panoramic view & charming old town
Local snacks & ethnic crafts gathered
Saved by 1003 users415 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Kunming Old Street is the most well-preserved historical and cultural district in the center of Kunming. It consists of more than ten streets and alleys, including Guanghua Street, Jingxing Street, and Wenming Street. Its history can be traced back to the Dali Kingdom period more than 900 years ago. The existing buildings are mainly in the style of the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, combining the value of market life and cultural heritage.
The main reasons why Kunming Old Street is worth recommending are as follows:
Profound historical and cultural heritage
🌟Ancient buildings witness the changes of time: The oldest of the Kunming Old Street building complexes has a history of nearly 900 years. The existing structure was formed during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. It has well preserved the characteristic residential and commercial buildings of the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. For example, the Ma Family Courtyard combines the "one seal" and "four-sided five-courtyard" styles and is a representative of Bai ethnic minority residential buildings.
• Many historical sites carry the memory of the city: There are historical sites such as the "Tongqingfeng" bank of Wang Chi, a giant businessman in Yunnan in the late Qing Dynasty, Nie Er's former residence, and Fulin Hall, as well as the Confucian Temple, the Memorial Hall of the Victory of the Anti-Japanese War, etc., which carry the history and culture of Kunming.
Strong atmosphere of market business
👍Special markets are dazzling: Jingxing Street was once the most traditional flower and bird market in Kunming. Now, together with Yongdao Street, it gathers various flowers, birds and insects, antiques, wood carvings, jade, Yi embroidery and other special commodities, full of strong market atmosphere.
✨Century-old shops inherit classics: There are many century-old shops in the block, such as Fulintang Pharmacy. Since its establishment in 1857, it not only sells medicines, but its store building is also a key cultural relic protection unit in Kunming.
Rich and diverse specialties
❤️Traditional snacks are available: Kunming Old Street is a good place to taste Yunnan specialties. You can eat authentic small pot rice noodles, tofu rice noodles, old milk potatoes, etc. here, and you can also taste special desserts such as roasted milk fan and rose cold cake.
🍜Unique atmosphere of food experience: In the quaint streets, find a special shop, sit by the window to taste the food, watch the people coming and going outside the window, and feel the slow time of old Kunming, which is unique.
Perfect tourism and leisure functions
🚗Convenient transportation and superior location: Kunming Old Street is located in the core area of Kunming City, in the city center, with very convenient surrounding transportation. It is easy to reach whether by public transportation or by car.
😘Rich and diverse leisure and entertainment: There is the Oriental Bookstore, a century-old bookstore that is quiet in the bustling city, and the Ma Family Courtyard Theater, which provides real-life drama experience. In addition, the Kunming Old Street is brightly lit at night. It is a national-level night culture and tourism consumption cluster with a rich and colorful nightlife.
No.
7
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Yunnan Provincial Museum
4.6
/5
987 reviews
7.6
Based on 42 reviews
Guandu Ancient Town | 10.3 km from downtown
Phone 0871-67287185
Address: No.6393 Guangfu Road, Guandu District, Kunming City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
No.3 of Family-Friendly Attractions in Kunming
Highlights:
Near Kunming Zoo & Green Lake
Diverse ethnic artifacts on display
Saved by 231 users714 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Thank you very much to the tour guide, Ade! I didn't do any homework before the trip, but he told me the story along the timeline, which opened the mysterious veil of Yunnan for me. His explanation was profound and very appealing. I appreciated the bronze treasures, political culture, and Buddhist heritage of the Provincial Museum. The last part of the explanation of the Republic of China period in Yunnan expanded the historical information of this period, especially the Battle of Songshan, which deeply touched me and brought me to tears. I was in awe of the martyrs of the expeditionary army! I returned with a full load!
The explanation is very exciting and it is very helpful for children and parents to understand the history and culture of Yunnan. I will recommend it to my friends. I will look for professional explanations when I come to Yunnan Expo. Thank you 🙏
No.
8
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Colorful Yunnan Paradise
4.7
/5
3279 reviews
7.5
From AU$ 44.54
Colorful Yunnan Paradise | 29.7 km from downtown
Phone 0871-67831333
Address: South of Huanhu South Road, Jinning District, Kunming
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-6 hours
No.4 of Family-Friendly Attractions in Kunming
Highlights:
Ferris wheel view of park
Ferris wheel view of Dian Lake
Saved by 369 users3059 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
I went there after the May Day holiday. Although nine projects were closed for maintenance, it was still a good experience overall. It was really satisfying to have the whole place to myself with few people. The two roller coasters were also very friendly, but I didn't dare to ride them. I liked the iceberg one and could ride it twice or more. The other projects were also great, and each time lasted long enough. The aerial train can take tourists to the east and west (or north and south) areas, which is very convenient and saves walking time. The park is well planned. It would be even more perfect if there was a family electric car. In a word, the experience was good!
very good ...
No.
9
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Shangrila-Dynamic Yunnan
4.6
/5
2758 reviews
7.3
From AU$ 41.99
Based on 301 reviews
First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Pan Jia Wan | 950m from downtown
Phone 18908841113
Address: Kunming Conference Hall No.81 West Dongfeng Road.Wuhua District, Kunming China
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No.4 of Night Attractions in Kunming
Highlights:
Yunnan's canyon terraces & rainforest
Spectacular light & sound visual feast
Saved by 299 users1234 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Great performance, from the stage to the costumes, they are very attentive. Although there is no storyline, each dance and performance is very ethnic and shows the culture of different ethnic groups. It is worth seeing. Although you are not allowed to take pictures, the pictures are so good that you can't help it.
"Yunnan Impressions" is a musical directed by the famous dance artist Yang Liping. It combines the essence of tradition and modernity and fully demonstrates the rich ethnic customs of Yunnan. The entire theater is immersed in darkness, with only the lights on the stage flashing. As the music sounded, every movement and every look of the dancers were full of power, reflecting the beauty of masculine tension.
The dance drama contains multiple chapters, "Sun", "Land", "Singing", "Worship" and "Spirit of the Bird", etc. Each chapter shows the essence of the original song and dance of Yunnan's ethnic minorities.
The dancers of "Solo Dance under the Moonlight" used abstract and beautiful body language to express the holiness of the moonlight and the delicacy of emotions, which is very artistic.
The "Singing" part shows the interesting scene of Yi young men and women looking for their loved ones through singing and dancing, which is both humorous and full of ethnic characteristics.
The performance of the children further highlights the dancing and singing talents of ethnic minorities. The timbre and range are very contagious, and the stage performance is confident and calm.
No.
10
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Jiu Xiang
4.7
/5
3097 reviews
6.9
From AU$ 29.27
Based on 117 reviews
66.6 km from downtown
Phone 0871-67511998
Address: Within the territory of Jiuxiang Yizu Huizu Township, Yiliang County, Kunming City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
No.3 of Water fun & Cool Retreats in Kunming
Highlights:
Elevator ride & boat tour
Explore caves via 174ft elevator
Saved by 375 users1192 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
This is a unique underground karst landform scenic spot in China. It is located on the outskirts of Yiliang, Yunnan. The transportation is convenient. The scenic spot is large in scale. There are caves, dark rivers, canyons and other scenic spots. The characteristics are distinctive. The film "Myth" of Jackie Chan is the exterior scene taken here.
An underrated attraction. Worth a special trip. Especially suitable for family trips, it combines geography with natural wonders, which is impressive. Children love it!
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