City: Yunnan
Top Things to do in Yunnan
Top Hotels in Yunnan
- 1. HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts Kunming, an IHG hotel
- 2. Sofitel Kunming
- 3. Crowne Plaza Kunming City Centre, an IHG hotel
- 4. Pullman Lijiang Resort & Spa
- 5. InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort
- 6. Banyan Tree Lijiang
- 7. The Bivou
- 8. Hilton Yuxi Fuxian Lake
- 9. Songtsam Tacheng Lodge
- 10. Holiday Inn Kunming City Centre, an IHG hotel
Top 10 Nature & Parks in Yunnan, China
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country. It spans approximately 394,000 square kilometres (152,000 sq mi) and has a population of 45.7 million (as of 2009). The capital of the province is Kunming, formerly also known as Yunnan. The province borders the Chinese provinces Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, and the Tibet Autonomous Region, and the countries Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar.
Restaurants in Yunnan
1. Jinsha River
2. Yunnan Stone Forest Geological Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,123 reviews
This forest of stone, formed by erosion over millions of years, is comprised of many stone peaks, pillars and stalagmites rising abruptly from the ground and extending as far as the eye can see.
Reviewed By OrderintheHouse
My wife and I enjoyed 8 days touring amazing Yunnan Province as part of a 24 day private Wendy Wu China Encounters tour in June and July 2018. Our Yunnan experience commenced with two nights in Shangri-La on the Tibetan border. We visited the ancient towns of Lijiang and Dali and concluded with two nights in Kunming. Along the way we felt so privileged to witness three absolutely incredible attractions – the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the absolutely awesome Shiilin Stone Forest, 80 kilometres south-east of Kunming. The Shilin forest has existed in China’s Yunnan Province for over 270 million years. Instead of trees the “stone forest” is made up of towering, pillar-like rock formations. The forest offers magnificent vistas of thousands of huge limestone karst formations and there are plenty of caves, crevices and waterfalls to enjoy as you walk through this splendid landform. To be truthful we were so amazed at what we saw before our very eyes – the experience took our breath away. We had our own guide who gave us a superb walking tour in the National Park. The place is packed with local Chinese tourists on most days and our guide was skilful in finding the less populous areas to visit. Along the way we experienced a couple of interesting local cultural moments – an old couple playing traditional music with fascinating musical instruments amongst the rock formations and a small group of ladies from one of the ethnic minorities in their colourful traditional dress sewing an equally colourful quilt – also amongst the rock formations. At one of the entrance/exits to the National Park we witnessed even more colour with large groups of ethnic minorities proudly wearing beautiful colourful traditional dress. One group was resplendent in rich red and yellow. However, it was the magnificent rock formations we really came to see and admire. These colourful moments were a nice added bonus. Many travellers to China marvel at climbing the Great Wall outside of Beijing and witnessing the Terracotta Warriors archaeology find outside Xian. We believe travellers, in the same breath, should be extolling the virtues of visiting the Stone Forest also. So, “The Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors and the Stone Forest “ – what a wonderful “must see” trilogy” for the discerning China traveller that would be.
3. Cangshan Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 332 reviews
Reviewed By JY-has-to-travel - Singapore, Singapore
Took a Didi from our AirBnB near Ancient town which costed 21 CNY to to Gantong cablecar station. Cabled up to Jade Belt road, and had a very enjoyable hike from that point till Zhonghe cablecar station before cabling down. Well paved route. Tranquil. Few hikers/ walkers. Just need to carry 500ml water with you as there are vendors selling water at each cablecar station point. Xima pool upper cablecar was closed due to strong winds. In my opinion, Qilongnv pools were mediocre. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the walk thoroughly and would be happy to do it once more if we ever visit Dali again.
4. Yulong (Jade Dragon) Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 690 reviews
Also known as Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the snowcapped Yulong Mountain is a sanctuary for rare animals and plants.
Reviewed By CatherineO502 - Brisbane, Australia
We didn’t want to take a cable car up the mountain so went out from Lijiang in a taxi to the mountain - the entrance fee to the mountain park is 100Y per person. At the tourist centre the buses for Blue Moon Lake/White Water River are downstairs (the buses to the glacier cable car are on the level you enter at). The ticket for the bus to Blue Lake was 20Y - Blue Lake is the second stop on the bus. While it is a bit odd that Blue Lake is man-made the location does give spectacular views of the mountain. Getting a bus back to the tourist centre was very orderly. We had organised for our taxi driver to come back to pick us up which worked out well.
5. Lugu Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 888 reviews
Reviewed By Sijia22 - Sydney, Australia
One of the last female dominant societies in China, nested away around a fully natural lake, outside the busy cities and approx. 3000m above sea level. We stayed here for one night during April 2019 and whilst everything looks old, the lake is a beautiful light blue-ish silk colour that we have never seen before. It is truly unique and we have been to many famous lakes around China and all around the Asia Pacific. No lake is as tranquil or natural as the Lugu lake. We came via car from Lijiang (4 hour drive) but it's also possible to enter from the eastern Chengdu side. We went around the lake, took the boat to a famous little island where they shot a popular entertainment show, crossed the wedding bridge, experienced the bonfire dance at night and stayed at a nice hotel at the edge of Da Luo Shui. The hotel was called 'San Se Yun' or 'three colour cloud' but I couldn't find it on TripAdvisor. If you don't mind the long drive (or you can fly here from Kunming or Chengdu) and want to experience going back in time to a nice hideaway tribal village, then spending a day (or a few days) at Lugu Lake would be a nice choice.
6. Meili Snow Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 203 reviews
Also known as the Prince Snow Mountain, it is famous for its main and yet unconquered peak, Kagebo Peak.
Reviewed By ThuptenTsering - Shangri-La County, China
North of Shangri-La,Drive to Dechen 180km.4-5 hrs, Dechen Yibong hike 4-5 days tour Secret Holly Glaciers,Waterfall,Lake.If you have still more days than local life style and cultural ethnic minorities village too. For further information contact English tour guide.Thupten Tsering phone no :13988788410.
7. Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,192 reviews
Reviewed By 12Maren - Hanoi, Vietnam
I have quite a severe fear of heights but I also enjoy a nice hike and good views so I did not want to miss out on this one. For me, there were two critical areas on the hike. The first one was at the very top of the 28 bends where there is an exposed rocky turn that gave me extreme vertigo so that I had to go on all fours. The second bit was the stretch of the trek shortly after Halfway Guesthouse going towards Tina's where the path becomes very rocky and narrow plus you share it with a pipe. This is also where the infamous waterfall crosses the path. I had to do this bit extremely slowly holding my partner's hand and looking at the path, nowhere else. The pictures my partner took here still give me vertigo. Overall I did it and I am glad I went but I would not be able to do it again knowing exactly what it is like now. Anyone that is worried about the heights might consider just hiking to Halfway Guesthouse and arranging alternative transport from there. A few final thoughts: - I am of moderate fitness and did not find it too strenuous overall. - We stopped at Naxi Guesthouse which was a great way of doing it as the guesthouse is the best in the gorge and you start the next day well rested to tackle the 28 bends. The ascent to Naxi Guesthouse is already exhausting! You are also ahead of anyone arriving by bus that day and have the path to yourself. - Second day we went from Naxi Guesthouse to Tibet Guesthouse with lunch at Halfway. Long day but doable. - Yes the bridge construction is visible at the start of the trail but it didn't bother us. You face the other way anyway and once completed this will be an amazing train ride. - Ignore the people complaining about roads and electricity lines, the whole area is still incredibly scenic and who are we to deny the local people a more comfortable lifestyle? - We went in mid November and it was perfect. Sun and blue skies every day, not too cold at night and barely any people on the trail. - Walnut Grove at the end of the trek is lovely and we ended up staying two nights at Tibet Guesthouse to relax and soak up the peaceful atmosphere. - Our bags were stored at Jane's, we are unsure if this place still functions as anything other than bag storage. We were going to have lunch there before starting the trek but they didn't do food. It looked very run down. - We arrived at the start of the trek by private driver from Lijiang, after dropping of our bags he drove us to the start of the path. This is recommended unless you want to walk up a dusty road. - We took a bus from Tina's to Shangri La, departs 3.30pm and costs 55RMB per person. It makes a ten minute stop at Jane's for people to collect their bags.
8. Zhu's Family Garden (Zhu Jia Huayuan)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 89 reviews
Reviewed By cremaprince
I found espresso in the most unlikely spot. The barista here speak a little English and make THE best shots in Yunnan. I highly recommend it to any caffeine deprived traveller.
9. Potatso National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 489 reviews
Reviewed By Au_and_Family - Singapore, Singapore
Potatso National Park is the first national park in China. It is located in the centre of Three Parllel Rivers, and is the World Natural Heritage. It is about 22 km from the Shangri-La County. It is a beautiful park surrounded with coniferous forests. Our walk took 3-4 hour slow and cool walk (in early Nov 2019) along the nice wooden-planked walkway from the starting to the endpoint. In the middle of the park, Shudu Lake, with its blue water under the clear blue sky, is a beauty of Mother's Nature. The reflection of the white clouds onto the blue water is an amazing beauty of its own. Chipmunks and small adorable birds contributed to the joy of our walk from the start to the endpoint. If walking is not a problem, walk and soak into the park's natural beauty is a better choice than taking a boat across the lake to cut down walking time.
10. Dongchuan Red Land
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 167 reviews
Reviewed By Au_and_Family - Singapore, Singapore
Dongchuan Red Land is a place of beautiful and colorful terraces. We have a rental car with a driver cum guide to bring us there. We saw many colorful terraces as we were driven to see Shuipingzi Rice Terrance (the Moon Rice), sunset at Luoxiagou in Songmaopeng, then to Huagou Thousand years of Nagarjuna—Red Soil Grand Sight. Sunrise next day at Damakan was marred by foggy morning weather. Later in the morning, we saw Qicai Slope (colorful slope), Jinxiuyuan, and Yuepuao—Luoshi Bay. It was a wonderful colorful experience.
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