Kunming is the capital of Yunnan and the usual first stop in the province. It’s known as the Spring City because it’s mild all year: summers don’t get hot and winters don’t get cold. Many travelers use it as a gateway to Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La, but it has enough to fill a couple of days of its own, and the Stone Forest is a half-day trip away.
| Elevation | 1,891 m |
|---|---|
| Mean temperature | about 15 °C |
| Dian Lake | 1,886 m, sixth-largest freshwater lake in China |
| Stone Forest | 120 km away, UNESCO 27 June 2007 |
| Black-headed gulls | December to March |
The Spring City
The city center sits at 1,891 meters on the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau, and the annual average temperature is about 15 °C. The climate is mild, the days are sunny, and frost is short. Each year from December to March, flocks of black-headed gulls fly south to spend the winter in the city’s lakes and parks. Because of the altitude, a few visitors feel the thin air on the first day, but it’s much milder than Lhasa or Lijiang.
Dian Lake
Dian Lake is on the city’s southwest side, at 1,886 meters. It’s the largest freshwater lake on a plateau in Yunnan and the sixth largest in China, with mountains on all sides. A causeway divides it into a small northern basin called Caohai and the main lake, Waihai. The lake has silted up and become polluted over the years, and it has been the subject of long cleanup programs, so expect a lake that’s better seen from the Xishan hills, on its western shore, than from the water.
The Stone Forest
The Stone Forest (Shilin) is 120 kilometers southeast of Kunming, a field of gray limestone pinnacles that rise out of the ground like a forest. It became a national scenic area in 1982, a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2004, and in June 2007 it was listed as part of the South China Karst World Heritage Site. It’s also the home of the Sani people, a branch of the Yi, and of the legend of Ashima, a girl whose story is told in a famous Yi epic poem. The best time to visit is said to be the Torch Festival, on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, when the Sani hold wrestling and dancing. Allow a full day with the transfers.
How long to stay
Kunming works best as a base of two nights, with the Stone Forest as a day trip and an easy day in the city. Then travelers usually fly or take the high-speed train to the north and west of Yunnan. See our guides to Lijiang, Shangri-La and Tiger Leaping Gorge, and our China tours.
Planning Kunming with Absolute Asia Tours
Absolute Asia Tours has planned private trips in Asia since 1989. For Kunming that means a driver and guide for the Stone Forest day, a hotel chosen for the lake or the old city, and an onward route through Yunnan that doesn’t rush the altitude changes. We’re rated 4.8 out of 5 across about 900 traveler reviews. Tell us your dates and we’ll plan from there.
Sources (read in Chinese, Chinese Wikipedia): 昆明市, 滇池, 石林风景名胜区. Last checked November 2026.
Kunming: FAQ
Why is Kunming called the Spring City?
Because summers are not hot and winters are not cold. The average annual temperature is about 15 °C.
How far is the Stone Forest from Kunming?
About 120 kilometers, a half-day trip each way with transfers.
Is the Stone Forest a World Heritage Site?
Yes, as part of the South China Karst, listed on 27 June 2007.
How high is Kunming?
The city center is at 1,891 meters.
When do the black-headed gulls come to Kunming?
From December to March.
How many days do you need in Kunming?
Two nights, including a day trip to the Stone Forest.
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
