Guide 2
Day Trips
Kunming is a good base for trips into the countryside of central Yunnan. These are the three that most visitors consider, with a note on how much time each one really needs.
Stone Forest (Shilin)
About 80 kilometres southeast of the city, the Stone Forest is a landscape of tall grey limestone pinnacles shaped by water over millions of years. It is part of the South China Karst World Heritage Site. Marked paths wind through narrow gaps and up to viewpoints. The area is home to the Sani, a branch of the Yi people, and their embroidery and music appear throughout the park.
- Getting there: high-speed trains from Kunming South to Shilin West take around half an hour, followed by a bus or taxi to the gate. Buses also leave from the city’s eastern bus station.
- Time: a full day. Arrive early, before the tour groups.
- Tip: the main Major Stone Forest is the busiest. The Minor Stone Forest and the quieter northern areas reward a slower walk.
Western Hills and Dragon Gate (Xishan, Longmen)
About 15 kilometres from the centre, the forested Western Hills rise straight up from the western shore of Dianchi. A path of steps, tunnels and small temples was cut into the cliff over many years, leading to the carved Dragon Gate with views across the whole lake.
- Getting there: metro and bus, or a taxi, to the foot of the hills. A cable car crosses from the lakeshore and electric shuttles run inside the scenic area.
- Time: half a day, or a full day if you walk the whole way up.
- Tip: clear winter mornings give the best views across the lake.
Dongchuan Red Land
Around 250 kilometres north of Kunming, the hills near Dongchuan are farmed in patchwork fields where the iron-rich soil shows through as deep red. The colours change through the year as crops are planted and harvested. It is a landscape for walking and photography rather than a single sight.
- Getting there: the roads are long and winding, so most people hire a car with a driver or join a small tour.
- Time: best as an overnight trip, staying in a village guesthouse to see sunrise and sunset.
- Tip: autumn and early winter, after the rains, are popular for clear skies and freshly ploughed red fields.
Further afield
With fast trains from Kunming South, Dali (about two hours) and Lijiang (about three hours) are easy to reach, but each deserves at least two nights rather than a day. The same applies to Xishuangbanna in the far south, on the line towards Laos.
Before any day trip. Carry your passport: it is needed for train tickets and often for entry tickets too. Book train seats early around Chinese public holidays, when trains and scenic areas fill up fast.