Kunming China location and climate. Kunming city, China. Kunming China how to get there
To get to the City of Eternal Spring (春城), you need to go to Kunming (昆明, Kūnmíng). It is the administrative center of Yunnan Province (云南, Yúnnán) in southwest China. The name of the city comes from the tribe of nomads of the same name who lived in these places many centuries ago. At first, these people wandered around Lake Dianchi, looking for a suitable place, and during the Han and Tang dynasties they decided to settle there. And the nomads did the right thing, because this is truly a place of eternal spring - in December-February there is such a comfortable air temperature that you can’t even call these months winter.
More than a hundred years ago, local residents found out that near the city there are rich deposits of salt and phosphates. The mining industry gradually began to flourish. At the same time, they took up mechanical engineering and the production of building materials. Well, agriculture has always flourished there - the conditions are very suitable. In addition, the geographical location of Kunming (latitude: 25° 2" 20" N, longitude: 102° 43" 6" E) contributed to the development of economic ties with the countries of Southeast Asia. In general, nomads once found a fertile place. The climatic conditions of these places allowed Kunming to become a major flower export base. It’s hard to even imagine how many flowers are sold at the Dounan specialized market - they buy 2.5 million yuan every day! Just a floral ocean. It is not for nothing that in 1999 the Flower Expo was held in the City of Eternal Spring. The incredible beauty of the exhibition forced the whole world to pay attention to the previously little-known Chinese city.
Kunming has existed for 2,400 years, but its real heyday began in 1910, when the railway was built to Hanoi, Vietnam. It was from then that active construction began, the construction of sports facilities and hotels, which allowed the small settlement to quickly turn into an attractive tourist center. Since the 80s of the last century, entrepreneurs from Thailand have become interested in it and opened branches of Kasikorn and Krung banks in Kunming. And the Thai princess Maa Kakri Sirindhorn began to regularly come to this city to study Chinese history and culture and establish friendly relations.
The history of Kunming is indeed interesting. Founded at the dawn of a new era, already in the early 200s it began to solely control the southern branch of the Great Silk Road, which passed through Burma and India. It was a rich time, which contributed to the development of many cities. And now the “Economic Belt along the Silk Road” proposed by the Chinese is spreading to the West, East, South and North. The implementation of this idea, according to experts, could be beneficial for approximately three billion people.
Kunming, unfortunately, like most populated areas in China, had to endure both the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. During these years, much was destroyed, even the city wall built in the 14th century, and the city itself became a reference point for the Chinese intelligentsia at that time. Nevertheless, life takes its toll, the city has been revived and even began to prosper. Representatives of many nationalities still live here: Han, Huie, Miao, Lisu, Zhuang... They communicate in a peculiar dialect that not all residents of this multinational country understand.
Kunming Metropolitan Region has five districts, one urban county, five ordinary counties and three autonomous counties. The administrative center itself consists of several districts: the old one, which is located outside the city wall, a commercial district, as well as a residential and educational district. History buffs, of course, are attracted by everything that is located outside the city wall, where, despite all sorts of disasters, many cultural monuments remain. This is where tourists tend to take a lot of photos of Kunming.
These places are lucky with the climate. Summers are long and warm, winters are short and not cold. If in the winter months the air temperature fluctuates around plus 15°, then in the summer it is approximately 24°. True, there were years when the temperature was minus - almost 7°, and in the summer it rose to 32°C. But this is rare, because Kunming is the City of Eternal Spring. That’s why it’s surrounded by flowers almost all year round. Only from May to October there is rain there, the rest of the time there is dry, warm bliss. So even the weather in Kunming, located in Yunnan province, contributes to the development of tourism.
It is convenient to get to these places by air. Kunming Changshui International Airport (IATA: KMG, ICAO: ZPPP) was built quite recently - in 2012. The Chinese hope that by 2020 it will serve 38 million passengers and become the country's busiest airport. Currently, planes are flying from here to most major cities of the People's Republic of China, as well as to Bangkok, Kathmandu, Dubai, Seoul, Hanoi - in general, in many directions. This is a truly modern airline complex with a wide runway and a terminal that resembles a large bird. In the near future, an airport should become the air hub of Kunming, a kind of city within a city with a population of 200 thousand people.Residents will work in the fields of logistics, aircraft maintenance, tourism and hospitality.
In addition, Kunming remains a major railway hub. From here you can go to (成都, Chengdu), (上海, Shànghǎi), (南京, Nánjīng), to Vietnamese Lao Cai, to Hanoi - wherever your heart desires. Kunming's two large railway stations (South and North) are equipped to accommodate high-speed trains. If quite recently Japan and Great Britain were considered the leaders in high-speed technologies, then since 2012 the palm belongs to China. The Chinese managed to increase the “flight” speed of trains to 350 km, but then were forced to drop it to 250 due to a lack of electricity. However, even this speed has significantly reduced travel time, and the construction of high-speed highways continues. Rail travel is so popular that tickets usually sell out three days before departure and go on sale ten days in advance. In the near future, two more railway routes are expected to be put into operation: to Vietnam through Honghe Prefecture and to Singapore through Laos, Thailand and Malaysia.
There is also a subway in Kunming, the first line of which opened in 2012. More than 20 stations are currently operating, and a third line is being built, which is planned to open in 2016. In total, the Kunming metro will have four lines with a length of 160 km. As in all Chinese cities, bus service is developed there. There are so many buses in Kunming that the roads had to be widened. In addition, the authorities began to pay the most serious attention to training drivers not only to drive, but also to park, to eliminating parking for bicycles and scooters on sidewalks, and to planning routes. To date, several special bus lanes have been built. However, traffic congestion remains a problem for the city. Buses run on 200 city routes and over long distances. Therefore, the city has a Southern Bus Station, Railway Square and a Bus Station, from which regular buses and those with sleepers depart. At the same time, there is no exact timetable; departures depend on the vehicle’s occupancy. You can also take a taxi or rent a bicycle to explore Kunming. Rental - 2 yuan/hour.
Along with several large Chinese cities, Kunming often hosts the International Education Fair (China Education Expo), which provides a unique opportunity to obtain the latest information in this area and attract foreign students to study at Kunming universities, among other things. Among them, educational institutions such as the Medical University, the College of Metallurgy, the University of Science and Technology, the University of the Arts, and the School of Business are especially popular. In addition, this city has more than 300 research institutions, many of which are world famous.
The successes of this city's healthcare are also widely known. More than 70 percent of medical services here are provided by private clinics in Kunming. State medical institutions are more accessible to visitors: the Provincial Red Cross Hospital, the People's Hospital and the Emergency Medical Center. If necessary, qualified assistance will be provided in each of them. The Physical Recovery Center and the HIV/AIDS Treatment Center are also well known among specialists.
Kunming is also famous for its original cuisine, which has absorbed the subtleties of Sichuan, Shandong, Guangdong and Suzhou culinary schools, adding all kinds of seasonings to their variety. Foreigners tend to be wowed by delicacies such as Yiliang dried duck, Zhubao chicken stew, Fanhua turtle meat and rose petal pumpkin. Guoqiao rice strings and imperial chef's cakes are also in demand. You can try all this in the famous restaurants “Taili Guoji”, “Haitian”, “Tsuihu Jianye”. But no less interesting is heading to the Kundu night bazaar with its street of snacks, bars and nightclubs. There is also Shanjie Snack Street, where delicacies are sold at very reasonable prices. You might even stumble across an amazing dish like guò qiáo mĭxiàn - rice noodle soup covered in a thin layer of oil that keeps the food hot.
Considering that this city, located in Yunnan province, was included in the “short list” of the List of cultural and historical monuments, of course, it is advisable to choose the sights of Kunming that you should visit first. This is not easy to do, since there are a lot of interesting places. For example, the Golden Palace on Mount Minfengshan, built in 1602. There is a roof, doors, an altar, statues of gods - everything is made of yellow bronze with a total weight of more than 200 tons. This is the largest bronze palace in China. An interesting bamboo temple with an art gallery. It is interesting to look at the arches of the Golden Horse and the Green Rooster on Jinbi Street and once again smile at the ability of the Chinese to come up with names for everything, and also visit, for example, the Green Lake Park with its numerous tea shops and the favorite of local residents, red-billed gulls, or visit a mosque with a 400-year-old history and the pagoda of the Tang Dynasty, arousing admiration for its unusual architecture. Those who want to completely relax and forget about everyday work can go to the Stone Forest with its life-giving air and stunningly beautiful waterfalls. Water falling from a great height literally fascinates tourists who are willing to spend many hours in these places. But truly untouched nature and picturesque landscapes invite tourists to the ancient Burma Road, along which the Great Silk Road passed. It seems that there are no special attractions there, but the places are so beautiful that no one forgets to take photos of Kunming, which will remind them of the unusual journey for a long time.
On such a trip there is only one problem - how to manage everything? After all, it would be nice to visit festivals and exhibitions in Kunming. There are, for example, the BigScreen film festival showing Chinese and Italian films, Yunnan Mulicultural with a demonstration of documentaries, and an anime festival that has long conquered the world. No less interesting is the regional China Kunming Import & Export Commodities Fair, which annually attracts thousands of foreign guests in June and where billions of dollars in contracts are signed. But even without the fair, Kunming delights the soul of a true shopaholic. Shops in Kunming offer original locally made products: jianshui art and ceramics, homespun handkerchiefs, jade, marble and pewter items. If you need to buy something larger than souvenirs, you can go to the Kunming Department Store, which is located at the intersection of Dongfengsilu and Zhengyilu streets. There are a lot of clothing, shoe and household appliance stores around. And there is a river nearby, so you can relax. History buffs can visit the ancient Muslim quarter of Shuncheng Jie, where they sell beef jerky, coffee beans and the famous Pu-erh and Tocha teas. By the way, in this area there are also good hotels at reasonable prices.
A lot, because this is a tourist city. Prices, as elsewhere, depend on the location and number of stars. You can stay in the 5-star Intercontinental Kunming at: No. 5 Yijing Road, National Tourism Area Of Dianchi, Kunming, China, 65022. Beautiful rooms with lake views, signature cuisine in the restaurant. Nearby attractions include Yunnan Nationalities Village and Haigeng Park. Cost - from 1200 yuan. The 3-star Inmao Hotel at 59 Yongsheng Road Beijing Road South Section, Kunming looks more modest. Nevertheless, there are nice large rooms, and the location is excellent - almost in the city center. You will have to pay from 450 yuan per night. Well, a completely budget option is, of course, a hostel. Such as Cloudland International Youth Hostel at No.23 Zhuantang Road, Wuhua District, Kunming. Only 35-40 yuan per night in comfortable conditions with free Internet, billiards and tennis. There is a shower, the restaurant serves European and Chinese cuisine. The bus stop is very close, so you can easily explore the city. The main thing is not to forget to take a Kunming card or install a mobile off-line application for your phone or tablet. In order not to search for the necessary information for a long time, before traveling to Kunming it is worth writing down for your relatives that the telephone code of China is 86, the city of Kunming is 871. To call from Russia from a landline phone, you need to dial the subscriber number 8-10-86-871. From a cell phone: +86-871-subscriber number. As a rule, in such wonderful places promises to call loved ones are forgotten, so let them have the opportunity to call themselves.
Kunming is considered one of the best resort cities in China. It attracts many tourists from all over the world, with almost two million travelers visiting it every year. This figure is evidence that the city is truly interesting for its sights, amazingly beautiful landscapes and, no less important, it is very comfortable for those who want not only to see a lot of interesting things, but also to have a great rest.
TOURISTS' ANSWERS:
There are no grandiose buildings and not many ancient relics in Kunming. Vacationers come here in search of untouched nature, colorful landscapes, rare flora and fauna, safari-type activities and a large number of different indigenous peoples with their ancient customs. Boasting an abundance of beautiful lakes, waterfalls and hills, trees, gardens and flowers, Kunming is an ancient island of culture. It is one of the top ten tourism destinations in China.
Kunming is the administrative center of Yunnan Province, and in addition, in the PRC it is also known as the political, financial, cultural and transport center of this administrative unit. The city, which is located in the middle part of the Yungui Plateau, is home to approximately five million people.
Kunming captivates locals and foreigners with its original beauty, earning it the nickname “City of Eternal Spring.” For four months of the year, these places have favorable weather conditions, thanks to which people from all over the world come here to admire the beauty of the mountain views.
This resort center is visited by many vacationers, this happened due to the fact that it was included in the list of cities - monuments of cultural and historical significance. The infrastructure in Kunming is of a high standard; many restaurants, hotels and clubs are being built here. Kunming has extensive tourism resources.
Fans of the ancient culture of China come to this country from everywhere; it is in Kunming that they have the opportunity to get a complete impression of the richness of national traditions and the customs of the local population. And, of course, admire the unusual flora and fauna here.
Golden Temple
The Golden Temple is known as a major attraction in Kunming. This building is the largest ancient temple in the republic, which is located on Mingfengshan Hill. This temple houses the Hall of Supreme Harmony, or the Palace of Teiha, where you can get acquainted with the relics of Taoism, one of the oldest religions. The temple was erected in the thirtieth year of the reign of Emperor Wan Li of the Ming Dynasty (17th century). Its constituent parts are beams, doors, roof, figures of gods, etc. - were cast from yellow bronze, their total weight reaches two hundred tons.
Bamboo Temple
The surrounding area of Kunming is very interesting for tourists. The Bamboo Temple, or Qiongzhusi, which is located ten kilometers east of the city, was built during the reign of the Mongol Yuan dynasty. In the main pavilion of the temple there are three Buddha figures from that time. The temple is especially famous for its five hundred statues of tubs, which were made from clay in 1883-1890 - they were made by Sichuan craftsmen. The Buddha's disciples are depicted in a special way - emphasizing their individuality, the main thing in them is their human qualities. Craftsmen made images that characterize all groups of society. They have an amazing variety of facial expressions, gestures and postures.
Lake Dianchi
Dianchi Lake is located in the southwest of Kunming. This lake is the largest in the province. It covers an area of almost three hundred square kilometers. Its waters are replenished by twenty rivers and springs.
Along the shores of Lake Dianchi there are a large number of interesting places - for example, Daguan Lou Gongyuan Park, in which there is a tower with the same name. Mountains stretch along the western coast, overlooking the lake. On its shores there is a national aboriginal settlement, Xishan Forest Park, Daguanlou Tower, Guanying Mountain, White Fish Mouth Mountain, Sea Crest Park, Zhenghe Park, as well as a large number of parks and temples. Vacationers have the opportunity to ride along the lake and admire the silence and beauty reigning here.
Taihua Temple
Taihua Temple was built during the Yuan era. The pride of this park is its huge collection of various flora, including camellias and magnolias. Many famous personalities of past centuries, such as Emperor Kangxi, the fourth of the Manchu Qing dynasty, used to admire the sunrise here. Near the top - namely between the Taihua and Sanqing temples - is located the tomb of Nie Er, a famous Yunnan musician in the past, whose merit is the composition of the national anthem. He died tragically in Japan - drowned while heading to the Soviet Union.
You can climb up using a cable car. Sanqing Temple is located here. Once upon a time, a country house of a prince of the Yuan Dynasty was located here. Subsequently, the temple became a place of worship for the three main deities of Taoism. The thirteen wooden buildings located here, located on the edge of the cliff, are striking.
Dragon Gate
Next is the Dragon Gate - the most important curiosity in the Western Mountains. Here, galleries, statues, grottoes and pavilions were carved into the cliff. One of these grottoes is the largest in Yunnan. The first of the grottoes, the one located on top of Phoenix, was erected between 1781 and 1835. Taoist monk Wu Laiqing and his assistants continued this work - and thus the Qiyun Cave arose. Local residents also got involved in the work - and after seventy-two years, they built the Dragon Gate and Datian Temple. According to legend, one of the craftsmen stayed here for twenty years while he carved the figure. However, when there was nothing left to complete the work, he suddenly made a reckless mistake. His grief was so great that he threw himself off the cliff. The path that runs along this cliff is so narrow that only two people can fit on it at one time. From this place you can see a stunning landscape - the surface of the lake sparkles under the sun, like a huge diamond.
The length of the shore of this lake is one hundred and fifty kilometers. It stretches from north to south for forty kilometers. The northern coast is occupied by arable land, and there are also settlements here. The lake stretches towards the south all the way to the horizon, and there is no end in sight.
Cuihu Jade Lake
This lake, which is fed by the waters of nine underground springs, is located in the northwestern part of Kunming, in a park with the same name. There is a pavilion in the center of the lake - it was built in the 17th century. There are two dams on the lake - one of them runs from north to east, it is crossed by three bridges, and it is known as the “Dam of the Governor of Rouen”. The second is called Tan Di, it was built in 1919, it stretches from east to west.
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Kunming is the administrative center of Yunnan Province. The history of Kunming has ancient roots. The first settlements in this place arose in the Paleolithic - they are approximately thirty thousand years old. Back in the third century BC, there was an outpost of Dianwanguo in these places (this was during the Warring States period) - later Kunming became the capital of this state. During the Tang (VII-X centuries AD) and Song (X-XIII centuries AD) dynasties, the “temporary capital” of the empire was located in this place for a total of 490 years, which is why Kunming received the nickname “Eastern Capital.” .
The rulers of the Mongolian Yuan dynasty settled here in 1275 AD, as a result of which Kunming again turned into the trade, financial, political and cultural center of the state. After the defeat of the Yuan troops took place and the rule of the Ming Dynasty (XIV - XVII centuries AD) was established in the Celestial Empire, the city was transformed into the administrative district of Yunnan. At that time, its current name, Kunming, arose. At the same time, these places were visited by the wandering Venetian Marco Polo, who designated Kunming as “a city of trade, arts and crafts, inhabited by pagans, Christians and Muslims.” In addition, there was another definition for Kunming - it is “the city of eternal spring” - it received it thanks to the favorable climate that persists in these places throughout the year.
Kunming and its surroundings contain a large number of ancient attractions. Most of all, foreign tourists are familiar with the buildings of the Tang Dynasty (VII - X centuries AD) - these are the Eastern Pagoda and the Western Pagoda - Dunsyta and Sisyta; one of the largest Buddhist buildings in Southeast Asia is the Yuantong Temple; Qingzhengusi Mosque; arch of the Golden Horse and arch of the Green Rooster; Zhenqing Square. Also very popular among vacationers are the Yunnan ethnic villages, which are located in the Dianchi and Jiuxiang regions, Xiling Park, as well as the snow-capped peaks of the Yulongwan and Luquan Jiaozi mountain ranges - here are such wonders as Jinxi - “Golden Temple”, panoramic park, Lühu - “ Green Lake", Zhusi - "Bamboo Temple", as well as Tanhua Temple.
East and West Pagodas
These pagodas are located in the southwestern part of Kunming. The East Pagoda was destroyed by an earthquake, but it was rebuilt in the nineteenth century. The Western Pagoda is more interesting. It is located on the bustling Dongjie Market Street. Old people usually prefer to relax around this pagoda - they play cards here, drink tea and talk with each other. It’s a very interesting time to spend time here, drinking tea and watching what’s happening nearby.
Yuantong Temple
This temple is the largest Buddhist complex in Kunming. The age of this building exceeds a thousand years. It was built at the end of the eighth century AD, at first it was called Butolo. However, during the wars in the twelfth century it was severely damaged, and in 1301 a new temple, Yuantong, was erected on its bridge. The architecture of the building is impressive in its grandeur. There is a huge arch near the entrance. If you climb it, you can see the complex from a bird's eye view. From this arch there is a path to the pond, which is located in the central courtyard. There are bridges over this pond, and in its center there is an octagonal pavilion. A gallery stretches along the shoreline to the main building of the complex - the Yuantong Hall. The enormous size of the figure of Buddha Sansha, as well as the two dragons that entwined the columns, are amazing. Above the hall there are two old caves called Chaoyin and Yougu. According to legend, a monster used to live in them and kill people. To tame him, one of the monks built a sacrificial altar in front of them.
Arches of the Golden Horse and Green Rooster
These arches are located on Jinbi Street. They are 19.5 meters high and 14.7 meters wide. They are carved with the most famous landscapes in Kunming. In the central part of the upper crossbar there are the hieroglyphs “Jinma” - “Golden Horse” and “Biji” - “Green Rooster”. For five centuries, these arches have seen the rise and fall of Kunming. They were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and rebuilt in 1999. These arches were erected taking into account mathematical laws and astronomical knowledge. Before their destruction in the sixties, locals gathered here, expecting a miracle - in the afternoon for the "Mid-Autumn Festival". In the evening hour, between five and seven o'clock, on the day of the autumnal equinox, at a time when the sun was sinking to the horizon and the moon was rising from the east, the shadows cast by the two arches were united. Among the locals, this event was called “jinbijiaohui,” which means “unification of sunlight and moonlight.” This happened only once every sixty years. But historical records do not indicate the exact dates on which this happened, so it is unclear when to expect such a phenomenon again. However, people still expect it.
Zhenqing Square
The construction of this square - another wonder for tourists - began in 2001 and ended in 2003. This project is the largest designed to preserve the historical heritage of Kunming. In the center of the square there is a huge building - the Zhenwu Temple. It was erected during the Yuan era for the purpose of worshiping Emperor Zhenwu, who is a Taoist saint. Since the Ming Dynasty, this temple has been called the “Zhenqing Taoist Temple.” At the beginning of the Ming era, Taoism, which is the traditional religion of the Chinese, became very popular. The temple was repaired in 1431, and in 1441 it was expanded. In addition, during the Qing era, others such as Dulei and Yanling were built near this temple. In the first of them, sacrificial offerings were made to the gods of lightning and fire. The second one was built by a rich salt merchant in order to worship his ancestors. Zhenwu Temple is the largest ancient architectural complex in Kunming. Its architectural style combines the features of two dynasties - Ming and Qing. It is also interesting that this architecture incorporates the classic local features. The square is surrounded by the administrative, commercial and financial parts of Kunming. They plan to organize exhibitions on historical and cultural topics of the province at Zhenshin Square. In addition, there will also be - according to the creators' plans - an exhibition center where you can see handicrafts from Yunnan province. For cultural exchange, concerts of local opera and folk art groups will be held on the ancient stage between the buildings.
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Stone Forest
This beautiful place is located one hundred and twenty kilometers from Kunming and is known as the largest and most popular tourist attraction. This reserve was created in 1931, and in 1982 the State Council included it in the list of picturesque landscapes of the state - as a natural monument.
After the lowering of sea levels, which occurred several million years ago, as a result of movements of the earth's crust, deep cracks formed in the rocks, which were subject to erosion throughout this time. This Stone Forest consists of many bizarre rocks ranging from five to thirty meters in height, which are scattered over an area of 26 thousand hectares. Besides these rocky peaks, there are also caves, waterfalls and lakes. According to legend, the rocks were given to lovers as a place of solitude by Taoist immortals.
The rocks have interesting names - for example, “Ten Thousand Year Mushroom”, “Mother and Son”, “Camel on an Elephant”, “Buddha Stone”, “Rhinoceros That Looks at the Moon”, “Beautiful Girl Coming Out of the Water”.
Tourists can walk along the paths in this Stone Forest. The park consists of three parts. The first is the Lesser Stone Forest (Xiao Shilin), which is located near the northern entrance - there are a large number of grottoes here; The second is Wai Shilin; The park's most exciting attractions are located at Lotus Peak (Liang Huang Feng). From the Wang Feng Ting Pavilion, which is located at the top, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of this natural wonder - the Stone Forest. The best time to visit the park is in the evening, because then the rocks begin to cast amazing shadows. In the central part of the Lesser Stone Forest there is a meadow that covers an area of two hectares - here on the twenty-fourth day of the lunar month the Torch Festival is held. This celebration lasts for 24 hours, during which time sports competitions take place. At night there is a procession with torches, accompanied by songs and dances.
Near the entrance to the park, vacationers will be able to purchase souvenirs - products of the Sani tribe - namely wallets, handbags, shoes and embroidery.
Thermal springs of Anyina
These thermal springs are located forty kilometers from the city, near the village of Anyin. They were discovered at the beginning of the Han Dynasty, but they began to be used only in the 15th century. The waters of the springs contain many minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium and others. Taking water procedures is most recommended for those people who suffer from skin diseases and rheumatism. The water has a temperature of 45 degrees.
Koshi Si Temple
This temple is located a kilometer west of the Anyin thermal springs. It was built in the Tang era. Subsequently, it was rebuilt several times - for various reasons. In the main hall, which was completed during the Song Dynasty, there is a figure of Buddha. This figure is credited with magical properties due to one very unusual phenomenon. Once every sixty years - on the evening of the fifteenth day of the eighth month according to Chinese chronology - a moonbeam, passing through a small window, falls directly on the middle of the Buddha's eyebrow and forms a point of light on it. Over time, as the Moon rises higher, the point moves until it reaches the Buddha's navel and disappears.
Western Xishan Mountains
The Western Mountains are approximately fifteen kilometers from Kunming. They stretched out in a wedge shape to the west of Lake Dianchi. These mountains are shaped like a girl whose locks of hair fall into the waters of a lake - for this reason they are also known as the Sleeping Beauty Mountains. The touching legend about these mountains and lake is known to every local resident. The girl, waiting for her beloved, cried for days, so much so that eventually a lake was formed from her tears, now called Dianchi.
Huating Temple.
Near the foot of the mountains is the Huating Temple. Previously, it was the country house of a noble family from Dali. In the 14th century it turned into a temple. Curious statues have been preserved within its walls - for example, two jasper figures of Buddha were donated by Burmese Buddhists, a gilded figure was donated by Thai believers, and a copper statue of the deity Zhunti has as many as three eyes and eighteen hands! In the corner of the park there is a garden with stupas. About a dozen of them are dedicated to deceased monks who lived here. The Haihui Tower is more interesting - it has two floors. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the spirits of the dead have lived in it. On weekends and holidays, locals come here with flowers, fruits and incense to worship the spirits of their ancestors. This is how they honor their memory. Due to the convenient location of Huating Temple, many locals bury their loved ones here. When you enter this temple, at that very moment you take your breath away and feel as if you have entered the other world. The urns containing the ashes appear ghostly in low light.
National village in Yunnan
The national village in Yunnan is located on the lakeside territory of Morskoy Crest and is separated from the forest park by water. The village was founded in 1992 and includes twenty-six national settlements. In our time, settlements have already been built by thirteen nationalities - Dai, Bulan, Bai, Wa, Jino, Yi, Nasi, Lagu, Hani, Tibetans, Jingbo, Deyang and Zhuang. Here is the National Rally Square, a hall where traditional song and dance concerts are held, a hall with a laser background and other buildings.
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The city of eternal spring is what the Chinese call Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province. The metropolis received this honorary status thanks to its mild climate and abundance of flowers, delighting residents and guests of the city throughout the year. With a history dating back more than 2,000 years and its location on the Silk Road, Kunming has become one of the most important cities in southwest China and a major tourist destination in the region. Travelers from all over the country come here to enjoy clean air (smog is a serious problem in the central and northern parts of the country), visit natural attractions (primarily the Stone Forest) and have fun.
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How to get to Kunming
There are no direct flights to Kunming from Moscow; you need to get there through Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing. From the first to Kunming the flight is 2.5 hours, from the second and third - more than 3 hours, flights are operated by China Eastern Airlines, Tianjin Airlines and Hainan Airlines.
Changshui Airport is 25 km from the city center. There are excellent transport connections between the airport and Kunming: shuttles run, line No. 6 of the metro is laid (trains run every 15 minutes). A taxi ride to downtown will cost 130 CNY, but you need to keep in mind that there are often traffic jams at the entrance to the city. Prices on the page are as of August 2018.
Search for flights to Wuhan (the closest airport to Kunming)
Transport
The city is literally stitched with a network of bus routes (more than 100), the service of which ends at 22:00. Afterwards you can take a taxi; a medium-distance trip will cost 30 CNY. There is also a subway in Kunming, consisting of three lines.
Citizens and guests actively use bike rental: there are dozens of stations with bikes in the central part, and rental is inexpensive. Parking is mostly free, but you will have to pay for parking in a covered, guarded parking lot.
Kunming Hotels
The central part of the city has a ring structure; most of the hotels are located within the second ring. The average cost of a standard double room in a five-star hotel is 800-1300 CNY per day. Many of the 3* hotels are located along the north-south Beijing Road that runs through Kunming. Price for a double room - 150-200 CNY (including breakfast). A bed in a youth hostel costs 40-50 CNY, an apartment for a day can be rented for 200 CNY.
Cuisine and restaurants
Kunming is the territory of Yunnan cuisine. Thanks to high humidity and mild temperatures, fruits and vegetables are grown in the region all year round.
A notable local dish is guoqiao misian, chicken broth with a layer of butter to prevent it from getting cold. First, thinly chopped “hearty” ingredients are dipped one by one into a cup of broth: bacon, chicken, pork liver or pieces of squid and carp. Then comes the turn of vegetables, and after them - rice noodles.
Kunming is the land of wild mushrooms; stewed jizong is considered one of the most favorite dishes of city residents. This mushroom, which tastes like chicken, is collected from the surrounding mountains, then dried and crushed. Then the pork tenderloin and chili are chopped. Mushrooms, pork and peppers are dipped in a protein batter and fried in oil. Afterwards, the delicious pieces are sprinkled with ginger and garlic and drizzled with sesame oil.
Dinner in a simple cafe with good service will cost 150-200 CNY for two with alcohol. You can have lunch there in fast food eateries (besides local ones, there are KFC and Pizza Hut) for 25-25 CNY per person.
Sights of Kunming
A feature of many Chinese cities is the almost complete absence of ancient architecture in megacities (monasteries do not count). Kunming is no exception; most of its attractions are related to nature and are located closer to the outskirts or even outside the city.
Perhaps the main symbol of the region is located 100 km east of Kunming. This is a unique complex of karst formations - the Stone Forest. The rocks here are so high, thin and graceful that they really look a lot like petrified trees. However, some “sculptures” look even more unusual; in them you can recognize human, animal, and plant figures.
250 million years ago there was a sea in this place, at the bottom of which limestone had accumulated for centuries. Then the sea dried up, revealing not yet so elegant stone blocks. The final touch was applied by time and wind.
You can get to the Stone Forest by bus from East Station (Zhaoqing Road) in 1.5 hours. Transport runs every 20 minutes in summer and 40 minutes in winter. Entrance to the Stone Forest territory - 175 CNY.
In the northeastern part of the city, on top of Mingfeng Hill stands Tongwa Temple, also known as the Golden Abode (Songyuan Road). A staircase leads to it, at the end of which there is a medieval wall. In it there is the Linsing Gate, passing through it you get inside the temple. Entrance: 27 CNY, travel by buses No. 10, 47, 57, 69, 71, 76, 142, 146 and 147, stop "Jindian".
Among the treasures of the sanctuary is a double-edged sword engraved with the constellation Ursa Major. According to legend, this 20 kg sword belongs to Zhen Wu, the Taoist deity who guards Mingfeng Hill.
The best place to get acquainted with the history and traditions of the region is the Yunnan Provincial Museum (118 Wuyi Lu St.). Its funds contain more than 200 thousand items, the main part of the exhibits are bronze vessels, utensils from Buddhist monasteries, porcelain, paintings and calligraphy. The most valuable items of the museum are a bronze box from Mount Liya decorated with images of a tiger and a bull, a golden statue from the medieval kingdom of Dali, a crown with precious stones from the Ming Dynasty (14th century) and the painting “Journey to Mount Xishan” by the famous 11th century artist Guo Xi.
And we are back in China! This time we came to the city of Kunming in Yunnan province, and today we will tell you about this wonderful place.
But first, a little background: we got here from Vietnam by land by train. In the last post I talked about, and so from there we drove to the border town of Lao Cai, quickly and without any problems crossed the border with China () and took the train to Kunming.
Early in the morning the train arrived at the station in Kunming, which looks more like a giant starship :-) We have already forgotten how huge everything is here in China, the Chinese simply have a mania for gigantism. On the other hand, this is one of the key points in the south of the country; more than tens of thousands (and maybe hundreds of thousands) of people pass through here every day, so such sizes are justified.
Immediately upon exiting the city, you find yourself in a whirlwind of bright signs, lots of people, and the smells of Chinese food that you can’t confuse with anything else.
Area near the station
Compared to Vietnam, it seemed very quiet here: the fact is that most bikes are electric, and therefore silent, but in Vietnam there is a cacophony of sounds and signals.
Kunming is the economic and administrative center of Yunnan province with skyscrapers, wide streets, offices of large companies and corporations.
Despite this, the city of Kunming leaves the impression of a calm and leisurely city in which it is pleasant to be and walk around. Grandmothers are falling asleep in the park
Kunming is also called the “city of eternal spring” for its mild climate. Since it is located at some altitude above sea level, it is not so hot here in summer, the average temperature in summer is about +20 degrees. And thanks to the southern latitudes in winter, in the coldest months the average temperature is about +8 degrees.
The city greeted us with rather cool weather (in contrast to Vietnam), so we had to wear sweaters, but it was so easy to breathe!
Sights of Kunming
There aren't many attractions in the city itself, but walking around during the day is a great idea, which we did while we were waiting for the train to Lijiang.
Green Lake Park
A great place to experience local life, watch people practicing Tai Chi, and maybe even join them :-)
The park is located on islands in the middle of the lake, where red-billed gulls fly in November, and people eagerly await this event.
Lake in the center of Kunming
We ended up here on Sunday and found ourselves at some kind of festivities, with concerts, round dances, music and general fun. The Chinese know how to have fun. Grandfather plays a local musical instrument
Yunnan Province is inhabited by many ethnic groups (more than half in China) and in the park they dress in traditional costumes, break into groups and have fun as best they can.
Three years ago, on our first visit to China, we were surprised by the activity of Chinese pensioners. And now we have met them: some are singing, some are dancing, and these have taken tea in thermoses and are reading something.
Mosaic of small ethnic groups of Yunnan
In Green Lake Park you can sit on the shore of the pond and feed the fish and swans. There are also many teahouses here, but their prices are steep!
Kunming Attractions - Green Lake Park
Kunming is home to a large number of Hui people (Chinese Muslims), so you can also find a mosque right in the city center, for example, a 400-year-old Nancheng Mosque.
Mosque in Kunming
In the city center there is a small pedestrian street Zhengyi Rd, where you can have a snack at street stalls and look at things in shops
Pedestrianized street
Bright colors of China
The Chinese do not hesitate to dismantle really old buildings and create the same ones in their place, but only from new materials that look like the old ones. These are the contrasts - the “ancient” gate against the backdrop of a skyscraper. This is what China is all about, they look to the future, but at the same time remember the past.
Contrasts
What else to see in Kunming? Go to Yuantong Temple northeast of Green Lake Park, and also visit Tang Dynasty pagodas (western and eastern). They were undergoing renovations during our visit.
The main attraction in the vicinity of Kunming is Lake Dianchi, as well as interesting places and the Xi Shan Mountains located on its shores.
In Kunming we saw a lot of unusual things - we tell you and show you!
Of course, I knew that in Japan they grow square watermelons, but the Chinese have gone further - they make laughing pears! By the way, here you can still buy and eat normal southern fruits; further to the north of China they will be more expensive. (there are also mangoes and herring in the photo).
Chinese pears
If this is your first time in the Celestial Empire, you hardly know about such delicious food as baozi - Chinese steamed pies. In Kunming, we found simply divine baozi with vegetables for 1 yuan - I marked the point on the map at the bottom of the post.
Here you can observe another unusual phenomenon: small live turtles packed in a keychain with some liquid. Many people buy them to release them, but there are also cases when they are simply worn for the sake of beauty until the turtle suffocates... The Chinese have a very peculiar attitude towards animals.
In recent years, China has come up with such a thing - insulation for riding a bike. Indeed, the wind here is cool, and driving like this is generally cold, so such a cozy thing is very useful!
And this is essentially a motorbike, only packed in a metal case - warm and comfortable, unless of course you are Chinese :-) Drawings from Disney cartoons on the side are also pleasing.
Kunming China how to get there?
Kunming Airport Changshui was built in 2012 and is planned to become the fourth busiest in China. From here there are flights throughout Asia, as well as to Europe and North America.
Several railway lines depart from Kunming in different directions: to Chengdu, Shanghai, Nanjing, to the Vietnamese border and further to Hanoi, there is a branch to the northwest to Lijiang, which we passed a little later.
There are four trains a day from the city to Beijing, with journey times ranging from 34 to 48 hours. Currently, high-speed railway lines are being designed that will connect the main city of Yunnan with the capital and other major cities of China - it is expected that trains will cover a distance of 3,000 km in 13-14 hours.
There are as many as 5 bus stations in the city: buses depart from the east in an easterly direction, from the west - in a western direction, and so on, so you can also get to Kunming by bus from neighboring large cities.
