Scaling Mountains for Scenic Views: A Wild Kunming Adventure!
In quiet moments, I leaf through my old diaries, catching up with my past self and trying to fill in the gaps of missed chances. This self-drive trip to Kunming is just that—a dream come true for my Yunnan travels. I'd passed through the Spring City countless times, but never had the chance to dive into its backstreets for local delicacies, nor the time to pause by Dianchi Lake and listen to the waves laugh...
I'm writing this travelogue to remember my first road trip with Mr. Chen. It was just the two of us this time, hand in hand, wandering the unfamiliar city, stopping and going as we pleased; driving through rugged mountain forests to soak in nature's wild charm; sharing a bowl of chicken rice noodles in a late-night ancient town; splitting a flower cake; the winding, steep slopes of Sanjiacun, the enchanting Minghua Valley, and all the tender care he showed me along the way. I want to record it all and never forget.
On this trip, I craved wild freedom and the exhilaration of mountain fun, so we chose the 2020 BJ40 City Hunter Edition. Driving it on the open road gave us urban comfort without any worries about lack of power on mountain trails. Both its performance and looks matched my vision for this journey.
Within our means, a self-drive trip is the best way to travel. We could stop whenever we liked and stay a while. The spacious interior and comfy seats were perfect for chatting about life and future plans along the way, making the future feel promising and our days sparkling.
This was my first true visit to Spring City Kunming. In my mind, Kunming blooms with eternal spring and seas of flowers. To me, real travel means going with the flow—no need to plan, just eat whatever you fancy and wander wherever you want. So I had no itinerary before coming, just followed my heart yearning for freedom. This was a heart-led trip, so I might have missed some classic spots, but travel isn't about ticking boxes; it's about pleasing yourself.
Day 1: Dianchi Haigeng Park – New Yunnan Provincial Museum – Dounan Flower Market – Guandu Ancient Town
Day 2: Sanjiacun Reservoir – Minghua Valley – Return journey
Before the journey officially begins, let me show off my big car~ Its beautiful quiet blue, paired with strong, sharp lines, gives it full marks in looks. On the road, heads turned constantly. Once we stopped and someone even came up to ask about the driving experience.
The cockpit wasn't as stiff and upright as I expected. For a rugged off-roader, it was comfortable enough. The interior space is generously wide—just look at this huge trunk capacity. My pretty clothes, cosmetics, and camera gear all fit with room to spare.
Day 1: Dianchi Haigeng Park – Museum – Dounan Flower Market – Guandu Ancient Town
Dianchi Lake is a calling card of Kunming. Early in the morning, bathed in the glow of sunrise, we saw the beauty of the Spring City. The buildings near Dianchi are mostly villas or low-rise houses, never too tall. With morning mist hazy and complemented by the dawn light, it was like a beauty's sleepy eyes.
Aerial footage of the nearby coastal avenue showed vast, rippling blue waters stretching endlessly. A few colorful boats drifted quietly on the lake, calm and blending sky and water. Kunming's air was infused with a rich osmanthus fragrance, a lovely scent that filled our nostrils from the moment we landed, impossible to ignore and making my mood especially bright.
Dianchi Haigeng Park
Accompanied by the morning beauty of Dianchi, we followed the onboard navigation of the 2020 BJ40 City Hunter Edition to Dianchi Haigeng Park. Willows swayed gently here, and the lake breeze was delightful. Though still early, the park already bustled with people—some exercising, some sightseeing—each enjoying the beauty of Dianchi in their own way.
Sitting on a wooden bench in Haigeng Park, the lake breeze softly stroked my face. Even in the sun, I didn't feel hot. The Spring City is so livable, and Kunming Lake deserves huge credit. The rippling water and rhythmic waves made just sitting and feeling the breeze a beautiful way to idle away time. Right then, Mr. Chen was behind me, fixing my travel moments through his lens.
Haigeng Park is an urban park, a great spot for locals to relax. Besides pavilions, marble boats, the sea-view promenade, and lush lawns, you'll also find gorgeous cherry blossom groves and millions of seagulls that fly here from winter to spring. You'll see the harmony and romance between humans and nature spectacularly embodied.
Walking along the lake bank, watching the distant water sparkle under the sun like a Milky Way fallen to earth, always reminds me of the phrase 'solid gold years.' There were cleaning boats collecting trash on the lake; thanks to those workers, Dianchi retains its timeless beauty.
A must-visit at Dianchi is the internet-famous glass walkway. It extends into the middle of the lake, and the photo spot at the entrance is quite charming, mixing coastal vibes with a touch of childlike fun.
To reach the famed 'Mirror of the Sky,' you first cross this marine-themed bridge, with starfish, jellyfish, and whale patterns on the ground—kids will love it.
After crossing the glass bridge, you'll reach the prime photo spot. There was a queue for photos, with the mirror surface reflecting blue sky and white clouds. This is probably what the real Mirror of the Sky looks like!
I couldn't resist queuing for pictures too, but with so many people, the photographer hurried us along—barely a minute per person. Without planning poses and angles in advance, photos can easily turn out wasted.
There was only this one spot freed up on the glass walkway. Though I wasn't entirely satisfied with the shot, I still left my brilliant smile at Dianchi, capturing the shimmering spring water looking its radiant best!
Tips: The entrance fee is 20 yuan, and a small bottle of mineral water is included. Also, walking under the midday sun means strong UV rays here, so sunscreen, a sun hat, and sunglasses are a must to avoid sunburn.
On the way out of the park, we saw two eucalyptus trees growing together. Locals call them 'Lianli Strange Eucalyptus'—one graceful and tall, the other rough and robust, their branches intertwined and shade overlapping, full of tender affection and deep devotion.
At the park entrance, there's a small garden with many pigeons and several photo spots. The 10 yuan entrance fee is worth it for photos, but more people love feeding corn kernels to the pigeons. Kids were having a ball.
New Yunnan Provincial Museum
They say to quickly understand a city, you should visit its museum. So, we headed to the New Yunnan Provincial Museum.
I drove straight into the museum complex. Though I couldn't park on the plaza, the side angle was nice. The new museum building borders Guangfu Road to the north, Baoxiang River to the west, faces Yunnan Grand Theater across to the east, and Jihong Road to the south. Its spacious surroundings give a grand and solemn visual impact from both street and river views. As a landmark in Kunming, a photo stop is a must.
The new building's exterior is copper red, reflecting Yunnan's reputation as 'the kingdom of non-ferrous metals.' The multi-story slit shapes resemble the 'Stone Forest,' embodying the weathered stone shapes and exuding natural charm. Inside, the main structure is planned in a 'hui' (回) shape, inspired by Yunnan's traditional 'Yikeyin' residential style, radiating strong Yunnan flavor.
Facing it is the Yunnan Grand Theater, another dazzling presence in Kunming! It's a 'first-class in Western China, leading in the country' modern, multi-functional cultural arts center. The entire building looks like a woven hat—this 'Crown of Yunnan' is an important window for Yunnan's cultural exchanges and a brilliant highlight of urban public facilities in Southwest China. Friends who love architectural aesthetics shouldn't miss it in Kunming.
Dounan Flower Market is proof of Kunming's title as the Spring City. Walking into this flower market, a dazzling array of fresh blooms and greenery unleashed my inner girlish excitement. Flowers in Kunming are not only diverse and vividly colored but also dirt cheap. Walking through the market, mingling fragrances of countless flowers, I felt myself softening.
Flowers here are cheap: five yuan for a bunch of sunflowers, ten yuan for a large bunch of baby's breath. Even from elderly vendors without stalls, you can get four bundles of fresh flowers for ten yuan. I often wonder if flowers were this cheap in Chongqing, our happiness index would rise quite a bit.
Before we left, Mr. Chen bought me a bunch of sunflowers. I actually wanted much more—mosquito-repelling plants, hydrangeas, scented geraniums... But I had more traveling to do and couldn't take good care of them along the way. So we took home only the sunflowers, hoping our life and future always face the sun like they do!
Guandu Ancient Town, one of the famous historical and cultural towns in the Kunming area, was once a renowned ferry crossing in Yunnan. Now it's a tourist hotspot! From afar, the grand archway dazzles and impresses with its magnificence. The town is rich in cultural relics and historical sites, gathering many Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasty landscapes, including five mountains, six temples, seven pavilions, and eight shrines.
Although some historic sites in Guandu are damaged, the essential remains have been preserved. The courtyard walls made by pounding snail shells mixed with clay are still vividly present. Centuries-old earthen houses still stand, which is truly precious.
Many say ancient towns nowadays have lost their charm, becoming overly commercialized. Yet it's precisely because of commercialization that we can see so much lively local flavor. Folk artisans making sugar figurines—a few deft moves and a lively little candy figure is done, so adorable.
Then there are roadside night market stalls and various ethnic specialty shops. Walking on the flagstone paths of Guandu Ancient Town, I felt the city's rhythmic pulse and down-to-earth life traces—unpretentious and genuine, such authentic social scenes bring you closer and make you feel part of it.
We stayed in Guandu Ancient Town until 11 p.m. before driving away. This also let me discover how the 2020 BJ40 City Hunter Edition stands out at night: its sleek LED light strips shine dazzlingly, making it another distinctive presence on the road.
Day 2: Sanjiacun Reservoir – Minghua Valley – Return
To be precise, Sanjiacun Reservoir isn't really a scenic spot, but it's been a trending check-in place in Kunming in recent years. Named after the nearby village, it lies west of Kunming, at the foot of Qipan Mountain. The water quality is excellent and the scenery beautiful, making it a popular hiking route. On the drive up, we met several groups of hikers.
The road near Sanjiacun was rough and uneven, full of mud puddles, waterholes, and loose gravel. Luckily, our ride was powerful—climbing slopes, fording ditches, crushing gravel with zero stress. If we were in my family sedan, it would've gotten stuck long before. For wild, free travel, you need a vehicle like the 2020 BJ40 City Hunter Edition.
We parked by the roadside and noticed quite a few people fishing nearby. Sanjiacun Reservoir is a protected water source here. From an aerial view, it's like a blue mirror, a brilliant pearl on the mountaintop. There's a fair amount of algae on the water's surface, signaling a top-notch ecological environment.
The reservoir is lined with neat rows of metasequoia trees, which I heard change color with the seasons. In autumn and winter, red sequoias reflect in the water, exceptionally beautiful. Now, in high summer, they were a lush green. Standing on the dam, mountain wind blew through, even carrying a slight chill.
A flock of ducks swam leisurely across the lake! Some algae-removal workers were also at work, maintaining the reservoir's water health. The dam is now enclosed with iron fencing, apparently to prevent safety hazards and protect water quality.
Sanjiacun is densely forested. Following the dam toward the mountaintop, you can reach Qipanshan National Forest Park. Unfortunately, limited time meant we didn't schedule a visit.
Tips: Qipanshan National Forest Park is beautiful, with an entrance fee of only 10 yuan, and you can drive right in. If you have enough time, I highly recommend it.
Minghua Valley is near Sanjiacun Reservoir, and you can drive right to its entrance. It's a lovely estate for leisure, entertainment, and sightseeing, with gorgeous scenery and fresh air. The entire hillside is planted with flowers—at this time, there were vast fields of roses, lavender, and sunflowers.
The entrance area had iron fencing covered in blooming flowers, and many passersby stopped for photos there!
Tips: The entrance fee for Minghua Valley is 10 yuan. It's quite large and you can explore without time limits.
It's most famous for its alpine azalea sea, but unfortunately the azalea season was over, leaving only a grove of green shade.
A short walk uphill leads to rose fields, with multi-colored roses that are simply beautiful. Wandering among them and taking photos is probably a girl's favorite activity! When the sun wasn't out up the mountain, it was pleasantly cool, with gentle breezes—no rush, completely relaxing.
Crossing a ridge, you reach a sea of purple lavender. Strolling through it, any casual snapshot looks lovely.
Just a small road away from the lavender is a sea of sunflowers. Tall, lush sunflowers cheerfully turned their cute heads toward the sun. I walked on the little dirt country path, smiling into Mr. Chen's camera. Every moment was filled with the joy of this trip!
Going to see the world we love with the one we love, walking in a strange city, breathing different country air—this wild trip gave us not only on-the-road freedom and a longing life but also faith in love.
The road ahead is long and full of obstacles, but we'll get there if we keep going! With Mr. Chen's companionship and care all the way, and the 2020 BJ40 City Hunter Edition safeguarding our journey, the comfort and joy were beyond words. Unlocking freedom and living a passionate life—that's exactly what I truly long for.
Life is like poetry, just because I met him and it~ Please believe that someday, someone will be willing to trek mountains and cross valleys with you, rain or shine, to see the scenery.
About Accommodation: Leju Ethnic Culture Park
For this trip, we stayed at Leju Ethnic Culture Park, a chic and tasteful guesthouse in the Xishan District. Located by Leju Ancient Village in Kunming's Tuanjie Township, it's built into the hillside, blending Yi culture, Bai culture, and local traditions.
You can drive right into the courtyard. I parked our car in front of the Ajiazi Courtyard gate, on a wide path in a tranquil, elegant setting.
Leju is a compound courtyard with garden-like landscaping. Walking through it, every step reveals a new scene. There's a waterfront restaurant, a bar with Chinese and Western fusion, an infinity pool, and a calligraphy studio—refined, charming, and full of character.
The owner is a person of sentiment. The entire large culture park has only a few dwellings built, totaling just over a dozen guest rooms. Tucked inside is a museum with collections of culturally rich ethnic relics, calligraphy, paintings, and a variety of ethnic costumes and jewelry—true treasures worth savoring.
These courtyards resemble standalone villas, not only fully equipped but also offering high privacy and plenty of personal space. Downstairs is a common area for tea and chats.
Upstairs was our room, spacious and bright, with a window view of the courtyard's lush greenery. Far from the city's noise, the nights were remarkably quiet, with only the murmuring of insects. Mornings, we woke to birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, plants, and soil—another day full of energy!
Tips: Although Kunming is the Spring City, temperature differences are considerable. Most guesthouse air conditioners don't have a cooling function, so be sure to ask before booking!
The meaning of travel is simply discovering differences from everyday life through food, drink, fun, and joy. This time in Kunming, I tried many local delicacies.
At the grand archway entrance to Guandu Ancient Town, there's a cross-bridge rice noodle shop. The chicken soup was incredibly flavorful—by the end, I had drunk every last drop, which says everything about how good Yunnan rice noodles are! It's said there's a lot of subtlety in Yunnan rice noodles, with prices ranging from a dozen to thousands of yuan. I ordered a 36-yuan plain three-fresh rice noodle, and it was stunning enough. Unfortunately, I forgot the name of the shop.
The flower cakes sold in Guandu Ancient Town are also unparalleled. We randomly walked into a flower cake shop and bought two from the owner—one rose, one osmanthus—for 2.5 yuan each. They were soft on the palate, with your taste buds completely wrapped in the rich fragrance of flower petals. After finishing one, I went for another, and couldn't resist buying some to take home!
Jianshui stuffed tofu: remember to try the roadside Jianshui stuffed tofu. The joy of the bursting filling and the wonderful taste of tofu will leave a deep impression!
If you dare not try the Hundred Insect Feast, then sample these fried little insects from stalls—locusts, bee pupae, water centipedes. These protein-packed treats may just suit your taste.
There are also Dai-style bamboo tube rice and handmade corn cakes, both worth trying as specialty foods.
I also ate at a popular local seafood joint in Xishan District—Lao Ji Hao Zhai. The 226-yuan set meal for two came with 20 huge oysters, which we couldn't even finish. The succulent oysters with special dipping sauce were incredibly delicious, and the scallion noodles, small yellow croakers, and braised chicken feet were all exceptionally flavorful.
Lao Ji Hao Zhai showed me not to doubt Kunming's seafood chops just because it has no sea. Keep your expectations open, and you'll be rewarded with surprises.
A final word
Life in a big city moves fast, with immense pressure under all that concrete and steel. Busy day in and day out on the same routine, I often felt lost, unsure what my ideal life looked like. I wanted to strive for something better, to get closer to my dream life, yet found the harder I tried, the further away it seemed...
This trip to Kunming was about following my heart, chasing life on the road. I wanted to escape the city's clamor and embrace the wild freedom I'd long yearned for. A monotonous life occasionally needs ripples—challenges and fresh changes can awaken some primal passions!
This off-road self-drive trip with the 2020 BJ40 City Hunter Edition has already unlocked the first step toward the life I desire. To live the life you want, even if you must exert every effort, never yield, never give up—live with fierce passion, just that!
