One province. Endless ways to explore.

01 · SPRING CITY

Kunming · 昆明

A convenient gateway to Yunnan, where markets, local food, city parks and surrounding landscapes meet.

Kunming is a city that helps you unwind as soon as you arrive. With its mild climate and spring-like feel throughout the year, it is known as the “Spring City”. It is both a gateway to Yunnan and a place worth experiencing at an unhurried pace.

In the morning, watch red-billed gulls circle over Green Lake Park. In the afternoon, look for a steaming bowl of crossing-the-bridge rice noodles in the old streets. In the evening, see Dounan Flower Market come alive, home to one of Asia’s largest fresh-flower trading markets. Kunming’s charm lies less in a single spectacular sight than in the way everyday Yunnan life, local flavours and the province’s diverse cultures come together.

As a starting point, Kunming is well connected by air and high-speed rail. Whether you want to ease into the highland pace or welcome your first Yunnan morning in the city, it offers a gentle, relaxed beginning.

Best for: first-time visitors to Yunnan, market and food lovers, and travellers who prefer a slower pace.

02 · LAKES & OLD TOWNS

Dali · 大理

Erhai Lake, Bai culture and village lanes invite you to slow down between the water and Cangshan Mountain.

For many travellers, Dali is where the dream of Yunnan begins. The nineteen peaks of Cangshan rise above the landscape, Erhai Lake stretches out like a mirror, and Bai villages dot the lakeshore and fields. Life seems to move a little more slowly here.

Cycle along the western shore of Erhai and watch sunlight spill through the clouds onto the water. Have coffee beside the rice fields of Xizhou Ancient Town as the breeze moves through the crops, or find a lakeside guesthouse in Shuanglang and simply do nothing. Dali feels open, free and welcoming: lively in the old town, peaceful in its villages, rich in Bai traditions such as tie-dye and the Three-Course Tea ceremony, and shaped by stories from travellers around the world.

Here, travel is not about rushing from place to place; it is a way of living.

Best for: travellers who enjoy lakes, old towns, cycling, photography, slow living and an artistic atmosphere.

03 · HERITAGE & SNOW MOUNTAINS

Lijiang · 丽江

Historic lanes, Naxi heritage and mountain scenery, with quieter corners beyond the busiest streets.

Lijiang is an old town watched over by snow-capped mountains. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is snow-covered year-round, while streams, stone lanes and bridges wind through the old town. Naxi Dongba culture has been passed down here for centuries.

Walk through the old town early in the morning, before the crowds arrive, and listen to water flowing through its lanes. See the Impression Lijiang performance beneath the mountains, or visit Baisha Ancient Town to discover its murals, enjoy a coffee and look towards the peaks. Lijiang is more than its lively bar streets: Shuhe, Baisha and Yuhu Village offer quieter alternatives. Wander a little further and you can find a Lijiang of your own.

Best for: travellers interested in old towns, snow mountains, ethnic culture and photography, and those who like to alternate between lively and peaceful places.

04 · HIGHLAND SANCTUARY

Shangri-La · 香格里拉

Highland landscapes, Tibetan cultural heritage and wide-open skies. Plan for seasonal weather and time to adjust to the altitude.

Shangri-La is often rendered as “the sun and moon in the heart”. At this higher elevation, the sky feels closer, and grasslands, lakes, snow mountains and Tibetan Buddhist monasteries form a vast and deeply moving landscape.

Hike in Pudacuo National Park, where Shudu Lake can be mirror-still and meadows spread like a carpet. Visit Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, known for its solemn atmosphere, or join locals at Moonlight Square in Dukezong Old Town to turn the giant prayer wheel. Shangri-La’s beauty is both wild and spiritual. As the altitude is high and the weather changes with the seasons, allow time to acclimatise and bring suitable warm clothing.

Best for: travellers in suitable health who enjoy highland scenery, Tibetan culture, monasteries, grasslands and photography.

05 · TROPICAL SOUTH

Xishuangbanna · 西双版纳

Tropical gardens, rainforest experiences, Dai culture and distinctive flavours from southern Yunnan.

Xishuangbanna is one of Yunnan’s most Southeast Asian-feeling destinations. Warm and humid for much of the year, it brings together lush tropical rainforest, Dai villages, Buddhist pagodas, night markets and fruit stalls in a vivid tropical atmosphere.

Explore the unusual plants of the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, experience the rainforest at the Wild Elephant Valley or Primitive Forest Park, or sample Dai-style barbecue and a Lao iced coffee at the Starlight Night Market. The rhythm here is relaxed, vibrant and colourful. If you are looking for warmth, lush greenery and an atmosphere unlike elsewhere in China, Xishuangbanna is a compelling choice.

Best for: travellers who enjoy tropical scenery, rainforest, Dai culture, food and a warm winter escape.

06 · TERRACED LANDSCAPES

Yuanyang & Honghe · 元阳与红河

Terraced fields, village culture and shifting light for travellers drawn to landscapes and photography.

The Yuanyang Rice Terraces are a work of art shaped by the Hani people over a thousand years. Layer upon layer, the terraces climb from the foot of the mountains to their summits, changing colour and pattern with the light, sea of clouds and seasons.

At Duoyishu, sunrise can turn the terraces golden; at Laohuzui, evening light reflects the sunset across the water. On rainy days, clouds and mist veil the terraces. Beyond the fields, the Honghe region offers Hani villages, mushroom-shaped houses, long-street banquets and rich ethnic traditions. This is not a place to rush through for a quick photo. Stay, wait for the light, watch the clouds and feel the enduring connection between people and the land.

Best for: photography enthusiasts and travellers drawn to terraced fields, villages, ethnic cultures and changing natural light.