2020 National Day Yunnan Kunming 3-Day Free Travel Guide, Nearby Hotel and Hostel Recommendations on Nanping Street

If summer by the sea is heaven, then Kunming is the perfect choice for autumn and winter.

Clear skies, mild climate, Yuxi cigarettes, the underwater ancient city, Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles, the sandy soil forests of Chuxiong, ape-men and dinosaurs, the endless rape flowers in Luoping, Qujing, the warm hospitality and straightforward, generous Yi people—traveling in Kunming, you constantly feel the brilliance and hope of spring.

【Kunming Dounan Flower Market】

Yunnan is a sea of flowers. When in Kunming, you must not miss visiting the flower market. There is a wide variety of flowers at low prices, with a large bunch of roses costing less than 10 yuan. Buying a bunch of flowers for yourself is romantic and meaningful.

Kunming Dounan Flower Market has now developed into Asia's largest fresh-cut flower trading market, known as the Flower City. It is definitely worth a visit~

Also known as Kunming Lake, it is shaped like a crescent moon at an altitude of 1,886 meters. Dianchi Lake is surrounded by dozens of peaks, with mountains embracing the water, and the sky and clouds reflecting off the surface. The scenery changes infinitely throughout the day with the variations of sunlight and clouds, appearing bright and beautiful. Free admission!

The Dianchi Lake dam is my favorite place. It feels wonderful—a warm, romantic, and peaceful spot. You can ride a tandem bike or fly a kite on the dam~

Daguan Tower is built by the water, originally constructed during the Kangxi reign. To reach the southern garden (Yuyuan Garden), you need to take a boat. It features old buildings and gardens, with beautiful scenery and a quiet atmosphere. It is also the former residence of Harlem Yu's grandfather. During festivals, garden parties are often held here, and sometimes traditional lantern fairs take place, making it very lively. In winter, you can see black-headed gulls at Daguan Tower; in summer, lotuses; and in spring and autumn, tulips—all are beautiful.

Yuantong Mountain is shaped like a willow leaf, featuring mainly animal displays along with various flowers. It is the most scenic and most visited park in Kunming city. Cherry blossom viewing is a great pleasure for Kunming locals, and the 'Yuantong Flower Tide' is one of Kunming's famous sights. Inside Yuantong Mountain, there is Yuantong Temple, a ancient Tang dynasty temple that is the largest Buddhist temple in the city, known for its vegetarian meals. Whether you are Buddhist or not, the vegetarian food here is worth trying.

【Yunnan Military Academy】

The Yunnan Military Academy was a renowned modern military school in China, originally established by the Qing dynasty to train a new-style army and strengthen border defenses. Along with the Tianjin Military Academy and Fengtian Military Academy, it was known as one of the three major military academies, later gaining equal fame with the Whampoa Military Academy and Baoding Military Academy. It cultivated many outstanding military strategists and revolutionaries, such as Zhu De, Ye Jianying, and Choi Yong-gun.

Nanping Street is a city showcase of Kunming's history, culture, and customs, featuring five vivid themed sculptures along the way. Nanping Pedestrian Street is now Kunming's commercial center. New Kunming Cinema, Carrefour, Watsons, New Department Store, Suning, Parkson, and the snack street are all in this area—my favorite place!

【Guandu Ancient Town】

Guandu Ancient Town has a long history dating back over 1,000 years. Guandu is the starting point of Kunming, preserving not only ancient architecture but also the authentic old Kunming accent—Guandu dialect; original lantern opera performances, reenacting the ancient style of 'singing lanterns' from the Ming and Qing dynasties; and the renowned Guandu snacks that spread their fragrance far and wide... If you want to find the flavor of old Kunming, whether it's the ancient charm, old Kunming dialect, or local snacks, Guandu Ancient Town is a great choice.

【Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles】

Yunnan's crossing-the-bridge rice noodles have a long history and are one of the most beloved foods of Yunnan people. When in Yunnan, not having a bowl of crossing-the-bridge rice noodles would be a regret for your Kunming trip. Additionally, small-pot rice noodles, soy-sauce rice noodles, fried rice noodles, cold rice noodles, clay-pot rice noodles, and jar rice noodles are also very popular.

Yunnan steam pot chicken is prepared with great care and unique seasoning requirements, naturally resulting in a distinctive taste. The chicken pieces are tender, the broth is sweet and delicious, and the aroma spreads far and wide, leaving a lasting impression.

'Roasted Erkuai' is a local folk snack in Yunnan. It is made by pressing cooked rice into a block, usually a round thin pancake. It is grilled over charcoal, then coated with sauce and fillings. The fragrance of rice combined with the flavor of the sauce makes it a popular delicacy loved by locals.

Bean braised rice is made by braising freshly picked tender broad beans, cooked ham, and rice together. It has the fragrance of ham and broad beans.

Recommended food streets: Heping Village Snack Street, Nanping Street Snack Pedestrian Street, Xiaohuayuan Desheng Bridge, Snack City inside Daguan Commercial Area.

【Kunming Qingcheng International Youth Hostel】

Kunming Qingcheng International Youth Hostel is located in the center of Kunming, with an excellent location. It is close to the subway station and airport bus stops, offering convenient transportation. Within a 10-minute walk, you can reach Kunming's main city landmarks: Cuihu Park, Yunnan University, Yuantong Temple, etc. The surrounding area is fully equipped with supermarkets, and delicious food and drinks are within easy reach. Eating, accommodation, travel, shopping, and entertainment—none are missed. It is only 1.6 km from Nanping Pedestrian Street, a gathering place for snacks.

The common area of Qingcheng is also great. The sunny courtyard and bar have a special charm. You can play billiards together, arrange a game of Werewolf, or sit at the bar with a small drink and listen to music quietly. On sunny days, in the sunlit courtyard, you can reminisce about 'those years'—very comfortable~

【Dajiaoshi International Youth Hostel】

The location is good, and the interior environment is very pleasant and comfortable. Next to it is Zuantang Park, which is very quiet at night.

This is also a paradise for food lovers. It is about a 3-minute walk to Daguan Night Market and Snack Street, as well as Kunming's largest market, 'Zhuanxin Farmers Market.' This market gathers various Kunming time-honored foods, bringing together fresh fruits from Yunnan, lamb rice noodles, tofu rice noodles, Dai-style chicken feet, etc., for a one-stop experience. It is said that the shop owners often invite friends from all over the world to buy ingredients at the market and then cook together, allowing everyone to taste global cuisine.