A Five-Day, Four-Night Summer Escape in the Spring City of Kunming

📍 Kunming · 👁 3 reads · ❤️ 71 likes

Ever since having a child, the focus of my life has changed. Our trips, once carefree getaways for two, are now centered around family travel. Hand in hand, little one by my side, we explore the world and create unforgettable, beautiful memories. Summer in Xiamen is unbearably hot, and seeing her cooped up at home day after day makes this old mother a bit anxious. A sudden inspiration flashed through my mind: why not take a spontaneous trip?

1. Kunming, with its pleasant climate and year-round spring-like weather, fits my need for a summer escape.

2. Rich culture and diverse local customs offer my child experiences unlike any before.

3. A paradise for food lovers, with an abundance of delicious cuisine.

1. ID and other documents: it goes without saying to bring these. Nowadays, you also need to show your health QR code. Search for 'Yunnan Health Code' on the mini-program and fill in your personal info in advance—you'll be checked all along the way.

2. Pack pretty dresses, straw hats, sunglasses, an umbrella, etc. Expect a rain shower every day this season, but when the sun comes out, UV rays are strong—so sun protection is a must.

3. Bring your phone, camera, drone, and other shooting gear. It's also wise to pack some common medicines, just in case.

Day 1. Xiamen – Kunming, checking into Ancient Dian Holiday Hotel.

Day 2. Bosu 8000·Ancient Dian Camp – Ancient Dian Wetland Park.

Day 3. Colorful Yunnan Happy World.

Day 4: Ancient Dian Dora Cute Pet Paradise – Ancient Dian Hot Spring Villa – Check into Crowne Plaza Kunming Ancient Dian Town.

Day 5: Return journey.

The flight from Xiamen to Kunming takes about three hours. After arriving at Changshui Airport, take a taxi to Colorful Yunnan Ancient Dian Town Resort. The entire journey is on expressways, roughly an hour’s drive.

A visit to Kunming isn't complete without seeing Dianchi Lake, but I also wanted a family-friendly trip. After poring over many travelogues and guides, I found that Colorful Yunnan Ancient Dian Town Resort fit the bill perfectly.

Covering about 1.2 million mu, Colorful Yunnan Ancient Dian Town Resort sits along the southeastern shore of Dianchi Lake in Kunming. It integrates culture, tourism, health and senior care, business exhibitions, and living into a first-class domestic resort destination. With beautiful scenery and high oxygen levels, it attracts many people for vacations and retirement.

This is a large-scale comprehensive outdoor sports camp. For a city-kid, activities like live CS, climbing, balance bikes, camping, and whole roasted lamb are all so novel and fun. While having fun, kids can also build team spirit and outdoor hands-on skills—learning through play, enriching and enjoyable.

In the Stargazer Astronomical Science Museum, you can get up close with reptiles like lizards and snakes. Brave kids can even hold them.

My child has always been fascinated by the mysterious starry sky. At the Astronomical Science Museum, you can observe solar prominences, bask in the moonlight and starscape, and even simulate flying a plane, enjoying hands-on fun.

And my favorite was this patch of pink muhly grass—I'd seen it online before, but seeing it right before my eyes was truly dreamlike and ethereal.

Themed around ancient Dian fishing and hunting culture and the wetland scenery of Dianchi Lake, it blends humanity and nature, showcasing the beauty of natural ecology.

The 46 painted pleasure boats docked at the pier are full of local ethnic character. Walking along the corridors feels like traveling back in time to the ancient Dian Kingdom—even the drizzly rain adds an unusual air of mystery.

If you want to penetrate deep into the wetlands, a rowboat is the best choice. The scenery along the riverbanks is beautiful, full of ecological beauty. Sitting leisurely on the boat, chatting and enjoying the views together, this sense of natural bliss is intoxicating.

Covering over 700 mu, it's the core of the entire Ancient Dian Town Resort, divided into seven major themes featuring ancient Dian culture, ethnic culture, and regional culture. In addition to natural scenery, there are various entertainment projects and grand performances, so you'll enjoy a whole day of fun here.

Don't miss the Ferris wheel known as the 'Eye of Dianchi.' At 108 meters high, it's Yunnan's first super-tall Ferris wheel. Sitting in it, you'll get a panoramic view of the entire Dianchi Lake and Ancient Dian Town Resort.

The second experience was the Flying Cinema. With 4D special effects, it takes you flying across all of Yunnan, offering a bird's-eye view of magnificent scenery and a taste of local customs from all over the province. You feel completely immersed, and it's stunning. Afterward, I found myself silently adding a few new destinations to my bucket list.

Another must-see is the 'Chronicles of Ancient Dian,' a spectacular live-action show that uses sound, light, wirework, equestrian stunts, and high-tech stage machinery to plunge the audience into the epic and stirring reality of ancient Dian warfare. This immersive story of ancient Dian warriors resisting invaders and protecting their homeland is deeply moving.

The 'Drums of the Secret Realm' kicked off with wild and fervent drumming, and a fire-breathing performance pushed the atmosphere to a climax.

The square on the other side featured the Bharatanatyam dance and the gentle breeze dance, transporting the audience from a secret realm to another land to experience distinct customs.

After the show, you can even take photos with the performers.

If you crave thrills, there are the park's signature rides: Elephant Play Dragon roller coaster, twin-tower space shot, Tiger Leaping Gorge rapids ride, Snow Eagle wide-wing coaster, etc., guaranteed to pump up your adrenaline in an instant.

With up to 81 attractions, there's something for everyone. As a timid person, I preferred gentler options. The Kids' Dream Park suits both children and me—besides high-altitude adventure challenges, there's the Baby Paradise, focused on indoor parent-child interactive projects.

Ride the colorful sky train that loops around the entire park, covering all seven themes: Frosty Moon Cold Land, Primal Floods Secret Realm, Myriad Tribes, Children's Dream World, Four Seasons Flower Sea, Dian Army Camp, and Fantasy Dian City.

The Carnival Parade, with dazzling floats and singing, dancing performers, will have you swaying to the rhythm involuntarily, completely immersed in this sea of revelry.

The Summer Beer Carnival also kicked off, turning the square into a sea of joy. On stage, songs and dances alternated with bright lights; off stage, crowds bustled with excitement.

Munching on specialty barbecue and sipping malty beer, I thought to myself: 'If only every day could be filled with such laughter and joy.'

At 9:25 p.m., a bonfire was lit in the entrance square. Under the sparkling lights of the Eye of Dianchi, everyone danced and sang around the fire, their laughter echoing and worries melting away.

Suddenly, the Ferris wheel lights went out. Just as we were taken aback, nearby drone lights came on—at first like scattered stars, then gradually gathering into a brilliant river of light, illuminating the boundless night.

Reluctantly walking out of the joy gate, there was yet another surprise waiting: a spectacular fireworks display made the Colorful Yunnan Ancient Dian Town shine even more brilliantly.

Kids love getting close to small animals, and the Ancient Dian Dora Cute Pet Paradise fulfilled their wish.

As soon as we entered, we encountered a tiny squirrel just one month old—palm-sized and looking drowsy in my hand, it was absolutely adorable.

The black-faced sheep, just like in Shaun the Sheep, nodded its thanks at me when I approached with carrots.

Posing with capybaras, watching groundhogs dig holes, feeding fluffy bunnies, watching piglet races, raccoons eating biscuits... These animals roam freely outdoors, and you can interact with them up close.

These animals love human contact and can melt your heart instantly. This kind of interactive experience beautifully satisfies children's natural love for animals. Even as a not-so-young lady, my heart turned to mush seeing them.

The Ancient Dian Hot Spring Villa is built on the mountainside in harmony with the original ecology of Yunnan's folk culture and regional character. Its 72 forest pools dot the hillside like stars. Here, you can commune with nature and overlook the entire Ancient Dian area.

Strolling along mountain paths, winding through serene landscapes dotted with flowers and rocks, the hot spring pools on both sides shrouded in mist. At the mountaintop infinity pool, soaking while gazing out at the Ancient Dian Town, all trivial thoughts fade away, leaving only a sense of pure beauty—it felt like my soul was cleansed.

This is a secluded spot halfway up the hot spring villa mountain, with rich classical Chinese aesthetics—every snapshot looks like a masterpiece.

Sitting on the ground in the pitter-patter of light rain, sipping tea and arranging flowers, joyfully cultivating the mind and body through taste and sight.

As a foodie, food is my eternal pursuit. During my days at the Colorful Yunnan Ancient Dian Town Resort, I've savored many Yunnan specialties without ever leaving the resort—so convenient.

The barbecue feast at Bosu 8000·Ancient Dian Camp thrilled the kids. The whole roasted lamb with crispy skin and tender meat is made from Ningxia lamb, paired with local dipping sauce—the taste is wonderful. Best of all, we got to experience the joy of cooking it ourselves.

At the Suxuezhai in the resort's Vitality Town Food Plaza, we enjoyed a Yunnan-style Peacock Feast. Various delicacies are arranged around a peacock head, resembling a fully-fanned peacock—vivid and lifelike.

Flowers, herbs, insects, and fish all become unique delicacies on the table. One dish allows you to enjoy multiple flavors, pleasing both the palate and the eyes. After a day of fun, we were so captivated by this stunning food that we couldn't help but dig in heartily.

The Yunnan-style steam pot chicken in the Happy World is made by filling a special ceramic pot with chicken. During cooking, steam condenses into a delicious broth—the method is elaborate, the taste exquisite, and unforgettable.

Little Knife Duck, named because it hangs like a bronze knife, uses ducklings aged 18 to 20 days. With crispy skin, tender meat, juicy bones, and aromatic flavor, it truly lives up to its reputation.

On the mountain top of the Hot Spring Villa, the restaurant 'Muyuntai' features not only great food but also a popular infinity pool, the Qiongtai Bathing Pool. You can watch the sunset while soaking, and the elegant setting plus tempting cuisine wash away all fatigue.

For a different experience, I chose two hotels for this Kunming trip.

The family room at Ancient Dian Holiday Hotel is filled with cartoon elements from the lobby to the room. The two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment layout is as cozy as home, fully equipped with a refrigerator and stove—perfect for multi-generational family stays. There are even toys and bunk beds for the kids.

With such a pleasant climate and comfortable temperatures, it's no wonder many elderly people buy property here to retire.

Crowne Plaza Kunming Ancient Dian Town is located within the resort, just a wall away from the Colorful Yunnan Happy World—some balconies overlook the roller coasters. The hotel lobby epitomizes ancient Dian charm, with warm, understated tones, a balance of simplicity and complexity. As an IHG member, the quality here goes without saying.

With a strong focus on family vacations, the kid-friendly themed rooms are the top choice for families traveling with children.

The comfortable bedding, spacious bathtub, and expansive balcony ensured a night of sweet dreams after a tiring day.

I've lost count of how many times I've visited the colorful land of Yunnan. What does Yunnan look like in your eyes? I'm sure every traveler holds their own answer. On the return journey, I felt unexpectedly reluctant to leave. The Colorful Yunnan Ancient Dian Town Resort—a place my heart longs for, my spirit yearns for. If I can, I will definitely come back.

Table of Contents

1. Why Choose Yunnan

2. Preparation

3. Itinerary

4.【About Fun Activities】

5.【Bosu 8000·Ancient Dian Camp】

6.【Ancient Dian Wetland Park】

7.【Colorful Yunnan Happy World】

8.【Ancient Dian Dora Cute Pet Paradise】

9.【Ancient Dian Hot Spring Villa】

10.【Mid-Mountain·Puyu Health Garden】

11.【About Food】