Travel Guide > Asia > China > Yunnan > Kunming
Kunming (昆明) is the capital of Yunnan Province. It is known as the "City of Eternal Spring" because of its year-round sunshine and pleasant, moderate climate. An easy-going and convenient hub for travel in Yunnan, Kunming has a population of around 6 million. It's also noticeably unpolluted for a Chinese city of this size.
The temperature is pleasant all year, from a daytime average of about 16 °C in winter to about 24 °C in summer. Rainfall is higher during the summer months, but there are plenty of hours of sunshine all year round.
The Kunming Wujiaba International Airport (KMG) has flights to most major cities in China, as well as to other parts of Asia. Some of the major local airlines servicing this airport are Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines. There are several foreign airlines flying into Kunming, which include Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Silk Air, Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines.
Direct trains to destinations including Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, Chengdu, Guiyang and Nanning, also to Hanoi in Vietnam.
If you have access to a car, Kunming is well connected to other large cities by modern, major highways.
Buses to many major cities across China. There are also many buses to local destinations within Yunnan, including Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
Buses are many and frequent. Taxis are cheap and convenient.
There are plenty of opportunities for cheap, tasty food. One option is a small cluster of noodle-and-dumplings places to the north of the central square. The street markets offer interesting snacks to the adventurous. If you're craving Western food, there are a few Western and fusion places on Dongfeng Lu, East of the Central Square.
| Property | Address | Type | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camellia Youth Hostel | No.96, Dong Feng Road East | Hostel | 65 |
| Fairy Land Hotel Express | 150 Chuanjin Road | Hotel | 62 |
| Green Lake View Hotel | No. 222 Ren Min Zhong Road. | Hotel | 80 |
| Kunming Cloudland International Youth Hostel | 23 Zhuan Tang Lu | Hostel | 86 |
| Kunming Danzhao Youth Hotel | #164 Longquan Road | Hostel | 73 |
| Kunming International Youth Hostel | Yutu Hotel, Province Libarary Side Building No.141 Que Hu Nan Road | Hostel | 62 |
| Mercure Hydro Majestic Kunming | No.118 South Huancheng Rd. Kunming | Hotel | 72 |
| Mingtong Yinxiang International Hotel-Kunming | No.93 Mingtong Alley Kunming | Hostel | 67 |
| The Hump Hostel | Jinmabiji Area Jinbi Road | Hostel | 88 |
| Yi-YaSunkm Inn | B1 floor 17, Dazhen Square, No. 408 Beijing Rd. Kunming | Hotel | 85 |
The Western travellers favourite is the Camellia Hotel which offers a range of accomodation from small dorms to fairly nice doubles. If you book a room here, ask for it to be at the front of the hotel - these rooms are refurbished and double-glazed, the ones at the back of the hotel are scruffy and cost the same.
There are plenty of top-end 4- and 5- star hotels in Kunming, including the monstrous and shiny Kai Wah Plaza International, and the Green Lake Hotel.
This is version 14. Last edited at 22:08 on May 21, 09 by Lavafalls (+3). 19 articles link to this page.

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