New Choices for Yunnan Travel: Escape the Heat at Ancient Dian, with Diverse and Fresh Family Fun

Colorful Yunnan, beautiful Kunming. In the scorching summer, the Spring City Kunming remains mild and cool. So, the Maoxian family decided to visit a long-desired spot—the Kunming Ancient Dian Town Resort. For years, the Kunming municipal government has been building top-notch tourism brands, making this resort our first choice for a Yunnan family trip. Day 1: Accommodation: Ancient Dian Resort Hotel Dinner: Yixinyuan Restaurant

On the first day, we checked into the Ancient Dian Resort Hotel.

The hotel is 53 kilometers from Kunming Changshui Airport, about an hour's drive. From downtown Kunming to the Happy World, it's about 35 kilometers. There are direct buses K31 and K38, and Metro Line 9 is under construction. For a family outing, driving is a great way to travel.

The hotel's exterior, with its pink-white walls and black roofs, is simple yet elegant. On the right, a Gothic-style imitation bell tower instantly adds a touch of European charm. When night falls, the building even takes on a castle-like atmosphere. From this small detail alone, I fell in love with this hotel.

We stayed in a family room at the Ancient Dian Resort Hotel. Opening the door revealed adorable wallpaper and children's decorations. The two-bedroom apartment was fully furnished, making it feel like home. Exhausted, I flopped onto the big bed, the soft down duvet wrapping around me, and the plush pillow was equally comfortable.

The hotel offers suites for families, with a spacious and inviting living room, finely crafted tables, and a soft, uncluttered sofa. For families with kids, this is the perfect place to rest. Outside the window, bright sunshine and lush scenery were heartwarming whether in the morning or during an afternoon nap.

For dinner, we chose Yixinyuan Restaurant, a 24-year-old brand of authentic Dian cuisine. The dishes were exquisite and packed with local flavor. The spicy chicken, stir-fried cured pork, and signature dipping sauces were unforgettable. If you're adventurous, you can also order a seasonal mushroom feast, letting your senses awaken on this leisurely holiday.

Staying in such an elegant and cozy room, savoring authentic Dian dishes, and letting time slip by slowly with family—it's only when you're with the ones you love that the scenery truly becomes meaningful.

Afternoon activities: Dianchi Wetland, boating; Dinner: Special Peacock Hand-grabbed Feast; Accommodation: Ancient Dian Resort Hotel

The next day, we officially began our family's refreshing summer escape. Our first stop was the 8000-set Camp. Surrounded by dense trees, lush vegetation, fragrant flowers, and neat lawns, Little Keduo happily hopped around, getting up close with nature, which thrilled him.

The 8000-set Camp is a nationally renowned outdoor activity center for teenagers, combining fun rock climbing, live-action CS, balance bikes, kayaking, and many other outdoor sports. With nearly 50,000 square meters of grounds, it provides a base for team building and professional training. The camp now has foxtail grass and pink muhly grass, making every snap a sweet family moment.

Driven by curiosity, we let Little Keduo try a balance bike, mainly because he had just learned to walk. But the staff showed immense patience and professional guidance, which touched our whole family.

On a nearby lake, many kayaking enthusiasts were eagerly trying their hand at slicing through the waves and speeding swiftly down the water—an experience rarely had. As for the three of us, we chose to relax in a camp tent, enjoying precious family time.

Of course, you must try the live-action CS in the camp. Unlike video games, everyone wears camouflage uniforms. Adults and kids alike had a blast, shrieking and attacking with gusto. Dodging, hiding, then popping out to shoot—a whole sequence that brought us to peak excitement.

In fact, such outdoor experiences can boost children's love for sports and improve their mental and physical agility.

Our second stop was the Star Traveler Astronomy Science Center. Every child dreams of leaving Earth to explore the unknown starry universe, and this center fulfills that dream. Beyond a healthy body, children should also cultivate an interest in science and technology. At a deeper level, humanity will never give up exploring the unknown, and among our next generation, heroes who soar through the cosmos will surely emerge.

Our third stop was the Ancient Dian Yihai Grand Wharf. With its charming scenery and vast lake, the wharf has won the Excellence Award of the Cross-Strait Four-Region Architectural Design Awards from the Hong Kong Institute of Architects. The corridor's architectural style is retro and rugged, and boating on Dianchi Lake offers views of dotted sails merging with the clear sky.

Dianchi Lake is so vast it can only be described in acres. A strong wind merely ruffles its surface. Taking a gentle sniff, a faint lotus fragrance wafted by. Though I couldn't locate the lotus pond, the scent had already seeped into my heart. When the moon rose above the treetops and night deepened, the wharf's beauty truly began to unfold. If a poet stopped here, he'd surely find inspiration, composing verses under the moonlight and letting a child personally feel the hazy artistic conception of poetry and painting.

If you visit the wharf during the day, you must take a painted pleasure boat. In the distance, clouds wrapped around the ridges, the mountains lush green, and forests stretched for miles. The Happy World was within sight, the Ferris wheel drawing closer, intoxicating in its charm.

Boarding the painted boat, we rocked to the lake's center. Looking around, the azure sky enveloped everything, and the emerald lake rippled in our hearts. Laughter and chatter from visitors filled our ears, while vibrant green hills and trees delighted our eyes. Rowing further, even more scenery came into view.

Following the lake's flow, we took in the resort's full panorama. Some say that when in Kunming, you must interact with the water, and that's absolutely right. The water temperature stays around 10-odd degrees all year; dip your hands in to feel the true temperature of the Spring City. Bringing wine on a boat trip adds to the poetic and picturesque mood, complemented by songs and flute tunes; the lake views, mountain sights, bird songs, and floral fragrances are utterly captivating.

Liveliness belongs to the day, and tranquility belongs to the night. We must learn to chase liveliness and also embrace stillness. Only by calming the mind can we truly see life. This is a lesson that will greatly benefit our children.

The 8000-set Camp has local snacks. If with a large group or a few friends, you might arrange a barbecue and a whole roast lamb for a flavorful, enjoyable life. For dinner, we chose the food plaza near the Ancient Dian Resort Hotel. If it's your first time in Yunnan, the special Peacock Hand-grabbed Feast is a must-try.

Time flew by, and on the third day, we finally visited the much-anticipated Colorful Yunnan Happy World.

Make sure to set aside a full day for this—it's absolutely worth it.

Amusement parks exist everywhere, but theme parks with distinctive features are rare. The Colorful Yunnan park is hugely famous, and we'd long wanted to experience it. Before we even entered, we were drawn in by the riot of colors and the sound of gongs and drums—it was the park's opening welcome dance.

The park is packed with fun rides, almost all included in the ticket. There are 81 attractions in total, including five oversized imported rides. Among them are heart-pounding thrills like the Twin-Tower Space Shot, the Primordial Stone Hammer, the Snow Eagle Wide-Wing Roller Coaster, and the Dragon-Playing Roller Coaster. For couples and families, there's the Eye of Dianchi Ferris Wheel, the Colorful Train, the Carousel, and the Couple's Flying Ride. For families with children, the park also has the educational and fun Baby Paradise and a series of kid-friendly rides.

The kids were eager to try everything. The thrilling roller coasters, the nostalgic pirate ships—some new attractions even surprised many parents. And the 108-meter-high Ferris wheel was the biggest hit.

Riding the Ferris wheel, we rose slowly to the park's highest point. Looking out, everything was joyous and lively. Visitors ran carefree, and the festive atmosphere infected everyone.

If I had to recommend one attraction, the Flying Cinema would top the list. It uses holographic 5D effects—you fly while being introduced to Yunnan's scenic spots, cultural treasures, and local customs. It takes you through the beautiful landscapes and traditions of greater Yunnan, letting you tour the Land of Colorful Clouds virtually. The audio-visual impact is stunning. Even locals think it's worth seeing, so tourists shouldn't miss it.

The park also hosts multiple interactive shows: Wind Dance, Bharata Dance, Ancient Dian Storm Chronicles, Summer Carnival Parade, and Drums of the Hidden Realm. Each is mesmerizing and refreshingly novel. The performers and staff are charismatic and thoroughly engaging.

In the evening, be sure to bring the kids to the Summer Beer Carnival, which runs from July 25 to August 23, with the beer festival held every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during this period. Join the bonfire party—there will also be spectacular drone shows, really impressive ones. The kids had the most fun, munching on barbecue, while the dads chatted over beer. As night deepened, the bonfire party hit its peak.

Performers sang and danced, and everyone mingled in high spirits, the atmosphere incredibly romantic. Looking back, fireworks burst into bloom in the sky above the Ferris wheel, shooting upward into resplendent flowers. Standing beneath them, they sparkled like a meteor shower.

A full day of fun—this is the right way to enjoy a summer escape in Kunming, Yunnan.

On the last day, we visited Dora Cute Pet Paradise. If you're traveling with young children, you absolutely cannot miss this place. Inside, a clown brother and a parrot friend greeted us warmly. Staff handed children stamp cards, and on the spacious lawn, photo-op signs were set up so kids could interact freely.

Built in original ecological forestland, this pet paradise is home to all kinds of adorable creatures: meerkats, capybaras, alpacas, groundhogs... so cute you'll want to slip them into your pocket. Beyond close encounters with these cute pets, Dora Cute Pet Paradise also offers a range of fun activities that foster emotional growth for both children and parents.

In the afternoon, we took Little Keduo to the Hot Spring Villa.

After days of traveling, many parents might be tired. At the Ancient Dian Hot Spring Villa, natural hot springs are drawn from 2,622 meters deep underground, rich in trace elements like metasilicic acid, lithium, sodium, calcium, and zinc.

There are 72 outdoor forest hot spring pools—surely one that suits you. In the rosy glow, you can rest or bathe, experiencing the distinct charms of all four seasons. Complimentary tea ceremony and flower arrangement experiences are also available. Amid warm forest springs and summer foraging, such a transcendent summer health retreat—does it tempt you?

Having dinner at the hilltop of the Villa is definitely a great choice. The Villa is elegantly and solemnly decorated, reminiscent of a poetic painting. At mealtime, the wide variety of dishes will satisfy everyone's taste buds.

At night, we returned to the Crowne Plaza Hotel. This is the Spring City's flagship brand, just a wall away from Colorful Yunnan Happy World. The highly recommended family room was spacious and generous, and the hotel was newly decorated in a European style, giving it an overall luxurious feel.

Entering the room, the air was fragrant and the children's setup was spot on. After freshening up, we snuggled into the big bed with our little one.

Deep in the night, we enjoyed the best sleep.

And so, our four-day, three-night family summer escape at Kunming Ancient Dian Town Resort came to an end.

A childlike heart is not a synonym for immaturity, but represents the kindness and enthusiasm that still reside in people.

May all the loves of summer be long and delightful.