A Family Trip to Ancient Dian Town: A Warm Winter in Kunming

My hometown Chengdu is wonderful except for the unbearable winter. Once winter comes, the sun is rarely seen for weeks on end, and the air quality is poor. Whenever a sunny day appears, the whole city celebrates like a festival, and it can even trend on social media. So in winter, Chengdu people like to escape to warm places, and the spring city Kunming, where it's spring all year round, is one of them.

This time, the Colorful Yunnan Ancient Dian Town we visited was a very good choice. I had been there once in the summer, and this winter I specifically brought the child for a trip. It's really perfect for kids, with hotels, hot springs, the Colorful Yunnan Happy World, a cute pet paradise, wetlands... In short, staying here for a few days never gets boring.

D1: Gudian Resort Hotel - Dora Cute Pet Paradise - Crowne Plaza Hotel Gudian Resort Hotel

If you're looking for great value, the nearby Gudian Resort Hotel is a good option. It's more like a wellness community with complete facilities, including a gym, restaurant, café, supermarket, hospital... everything you need.

The bathroom also has a child-sized toilet, and there are special baby toiletries, very thoughtful.

The family rooms are divided into boys' and girls' rooms, each equipped with many toys and a small tent, which the kids love.

Location: The Gudian Resort Hotel is not far, very close to Happy World, the wetland, and the cute pet paradise. There are also many different restaurants nearby. Overall, it's probably the most cost-effective choice here.

Gudian Dora Cute Pet Paradise

Gudian Dora Cute Pet Paradise was our first stop with the child, very close to our hotel, just across the street.

The park covers a total area of 117 mu, with the first phase, which opened on December 21, 2019, covering 66 mu. The park has 17 play areas, including Squirrel Tribe, Black-Necked Sheep Alliance, Kangaroo Village, Capybara Hot Spring, Sheep Herding Show, Hobbit Street, Alpaca Ranch, Riding and Hunting Area, and more, with 35 species and nearly 300 cute animals.

? Squirrel Tribe: There are very cute snow squirrels here. The characteristic of all these cute animals is that they are very friendly to people, especially children. We bought a bag of feed from the keeper, and the squirrels came running to ask for food without any shyness. At specific times, there are educational talks about these small animals, perfect for bringing kids. They have fun and learn something new.

? Black-Necked Sheep: The black-necked sheep is one of the online stars here, and carrots are their favorite. You can also buy carrots to feed them (many animals here like carrots, alpacas, piglets... so if you buy a bag and can't finish it, don't worry, there are plenty more cute animals waiting behind).

In a corner, there's a cute little black-necked lamb, said to have just been born in China. It looks like it just learned to stand up.

? Little Kangaroos: The kangaroos here are not very big, much gentler than those in Australia. The children aren't scared anymore. I remember last time in Australia, the kangaroos were bigger than the children! These kangaroos also have a special skill: they love to eat skewers.

? Piglets: The piglets here are very cute and very greedy. Their eating manners are not ugly but rather endearing.

Seeing such adorable pigs, how can you resist feeding them?

? Animal Show: At fixed times, there are wonderful animal shows in the park. Intelligent parrots ? and agile dogs ?... sometimes you marvel at how smart animals are, just like humans.

? Alpaca Area: Feeding alpacas in the alpaca area is also a great experience. But be careful, there are quite a few alpacas here, and some have bad tempers; if they notice you haven't fed them, they'll spit at you.

This alpaca is the most beautiful one! Very special!

? Hobbit Street: There is also a street modeled after Hobbiton Village. It instantly feels like you're in New Zealand.

? Peacocks: A group of peacocks here are competing to display their feathers.

? Raccoons: The raccoons here can also be fed. Although they may look a bit fierce, they are actually very gentle. However, for safety, a long spoon is used to feed them.

In this cute pet paradise, children are not just visiting but are guests visiting the animals' homes; the animals are the hosts, and humans are the guests. The park has built a whole beach for children, and there are slides with the black-necked sheep, trampolines with the alpacas, and sheep herding on the hillside, along with other ecological play projects. ? Ticket: 48 yuan/person (same price for adults and children) Family package: 128 yuan (2 adults + 1 child)

Gudian Mingcheng's Yixinyuan Restaurant, when you come to Kunming, don't miss it. It's located next to the Gudian Resort Hotel, easy to find, and is already a very famous restaurant brand in Kunming. This restaurant mainly serves authentic Yunnan cuisine, but with the chef's improvements, these dishes not only look very appealing but also retain the traditional flavors of Yunnan cuisine. Most are a bit spicy, which suits our Sichuan palate well.

Gudian Mingcheng Crowne Plaza Hotel

If you have higher accommodation requirements when visiting Gudian Mingcheng, I recommend the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It's right next to the Colorful Yunnan Happy World, and you can even see the amusement rides from your room. The hotel has specially designed two types of family rooms, one for boys and one for girls, with meticulous attention to detail.

We stayed in the girls' room with Xiaomeng. As soon as you open the door, a pink princess-style room greets you. The room is warmly decorated, with a large bed and a bunk bed, accommodating 2 adults and 2 children. There are many toys, a tent, and dolls on the floor for the kids to play with.

The bathroom is also specially designed with a child toilet ladder, very practical for younger children. There are special children's toiletries, a very thoughtful touch.

Outside the balcony is the Colorful Yunnan Happy World, and a bit further is Dianchi Lake, offering a great view.

Crowne Plaza 1887 Buffet Restaurant

In the evening, the hotel's buffet is very rich. We went around Christmas, and the festive atmosphere was strong. The dessert section was beautifully presented and tasted great. There were also Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and lobster, really generous.

Desserts were all exquisite.

D2: Colorful Yunnan Happy World

Colorful Yunnan Happy World is the largest theme park in Yunnan. What makes it different from other theme parks is its strong Yunnan ethnic characteristics, set against the backdrop of ancient Dian culture, integrating elements of ethnic minority culture, ancient Dian battlefields, and rainforest secrets. It has created a theme park with 7 major zones – Dream World, Four Seasons Flower Sea, Dian Fantasy Wonderland, Vientiane Tribe, Dian Army Camp, Frost Moon Cold Island, and Primordial Secrets – and 81 rides, each zone guarded by a deity: "Winged Tiger," "Elephant God," "Tiger God," "Eagle God," "Flower Spirit," "Stone Spirit," and "Peacock Spirit."

With such a large park, how should you play? Today I'll share our route for reference if you come with kids. The park's opening hours are 10:00–19:30 (winter), and I suggest arriving before 10:00 to be among the first in, so you don't have to queue for anything. Several showtimes are basically fixed, refer to this schedule to plan your day. 14:00 "Colorful Yunnan" at Vientiane Tribe. 15:30 "Ancient Dian Grand Parade" route marked by red dashed line on the map (on Saturdays and holidays). 17:30 "Ancient Dian Storm" at Dian Army Camp. 19:00 "Peacock Princess" at Four Seasons Flower Sea by Kunming Lake (fountain at the entrance). 19:30 Colorful Dianchi Fireworks Show at the main gate. Showtimes may vary daily; listen to the announcements after entering.

Or follow the Colorful Yunnan Gudian Mingcheng Resort WeChat account for the latest showtime schedule daily.

At 10:00, after entering the park, early in the morning there were few people. If with children, you can start from the Dream World on the left; the kids will love it.

? Dream World: Houses made of cakes and candy-sprinkled pools—this is a magical world for little ones. The area includes 11 rides, keeping them entertained for half a day.

? Frog Jump: Recommendation: ★★★☆☆. The little frog bounces up and down in jumping motions, like riding on a frog's back. Kids really love it~

? Baby Paradise: Recommendation: ★★★★★. A place for toddlers, with many toys and multimedia fairy tales. It's an interactive entertainment experience center with lots of parent-child activities, such as multimedia interactive walls, driving school, and rotating slides. If it's too sunny outside, this is a good spot.

If you find the outdoor rides too thrilling, the indoor ones are completely fine.

The rides here are more suitable for children under 5.

After coming out, there are many shops selling small toys. Kids love playing with bubbles, so we bought one.

? Carousel: Recommendation: ★★★★★. A must for revisiting childhood. Whether you're young or old, the slowly rotating carousel brings relaxation and joy from cherished memories. Plus, it seats many people, so queues are short.

? Spinning Cups: Recommendation: ★★★. Feel the sensation of spinning.

Exiting Dream World, we came across a group of Russian girls performing.

? Barbecue Tribe: At noon, it's time for lunch. There are many restaurant options inside the park. We ate at the Barbecue Tribe, all Yunnan specialty dishes: hand-shredded roast chicken, hand-shredded roast fish, roast lamb leg... Highly recommended to experience this ethnic way of eating.

? Frost Moon Cold Island: Set against the backdrop of snow mountains and Naxi legends, with the "Snow Eagle Wide-Wing Roller Coaster" as the main attraction, recreating a snowy landscape. ? Snow Eagle Wide-Wing Roller Coaster: Recommendation: ★★★★★. The red train visually conveys the thrill. The seats are on the sides of the track, not above or below, making it the most exciting roller coaster in the park~\\(≧▽≦)/~.

Frost Moon Cold Island also has the intense collision of ice bumper cars, dizzying spinning couple rides, and a music express train—common rides in many local parks, a good way to buffer the roller coaster's thrill.

? Vientiane Tribe: Meaning "all-encompassing," it gathers multi-ethnic features, from architecture to ride packaging, with Dai and Bai elements. At 14:00, don't miss the spectacular show "Colorful Yunnan" here.

Before the show, the park's mascots warmly greet our children at the entrance.

Zhang Xiaomeng has loved watching performances, especially song-and-dance shows in theaters, since she was little.

"Colorful Yunnan" is a compilation integrating traditional arts of Yunnan's ethnic minorities, creating a spectacular showcase of Yunnan's colorful and wonderful ethnic customs. With 3D holographic projection, 90-degree curved LED screens, and surround wall projection, it perfectly presents the unique traditional charm of Yunnan's folk customs and the modern beauty of its stunning landscapes.

After the show, don't miss the foreign band performance outside either.

After watching the show, we boarded the "train station" in the Vientiane Tribe to ride the Ancient Dian train that circles the park.

This little train moves very slowly, allowing you to tour the entire park from above.

Midway, it passes through the entire Dream World, very dreamy.

Upon reaching the Dian Army Camp station, you can get off. The next event, the "Ancient Dian Grand Parade," also starts from here...

? Ancient Dian Grand Parade: A wonderful journey through the mysterious natural scenery and ethnic minority culture of Yunnan, centering on the unique ancient Dian culture. It creates a passionate, lively atmosphere with distinctive floats, gorgeous floats, exquisite costumes, graceful performances, surprising mechanical effects, and immersive music, delivering a visual and auditory feast.

Besides these shows, there are occasional performances along the main path by flower fairies, happy clowns, ethnic choirs, and cartoon characters—great for photo ops.

? Dian Army Camp: At 17:00, "Ancient Dian Storm" is performed here.

There are many scenes and buildings set against the history of the Dian army, especially the "Ancient Dian Stunt Theater," which brings the battlefield to the stage, recreating the grand history of King Changqiang's era.

Built against the backdrop of the ancient Dian military camp, the Ancient Dian Stunt Theater is one of the three major shows in the park. The tall gates and restored ancient Dian facade, the fully three-dimensional stage, and the equestrian performances woven into the story create an effect of returning to the ancient Dian battlefield, letting you feel the passion of the battlefield.

? Peacock Princess (Water Show): At 19:00, a multimillion-level water screen show. Through a dreamlike stage connecting water and sky, blending Yunnan folk culture with high-tech special effects, it beautifully interprets the sincere and touching love story of the Peacock Princess and the prince, and the epic romantic legend.

? Colorful Dianchi Fireworks Show: At 19:30, after watching the water show and leaving Happy World, thinking everything was over, there's still a spectacular fireworks show outside for everyone.

? Transportation:

1. Self-driving routes

① Kunming city – Kunyu Expressway, from Fuyou toll station to Old Kunluo Road Chenggong direction – Zhongguang Road – Huanhu Road – "Colorful Yunnan·Ancient Dian Town"

② Kunming city – Guangfu Road – Huanhu East Road – Huanhu South Road – "Colorful Yunnan·Ancient Dian Town"

③ Kunming city – Guangfu Road – South Ring Expressway – Kunyu Expressway (exit at Dayu) – Gudian Road – Huanhu South Road

2. Bus routes

One-way distance: 38km. Operating hours: 8:00-18:00. One-way time: about 1 hour. Fare: 12-20 yuan. Buses can be taken at Haigeng Dam, Kunming South Railway Station, Wujiaba Depot, Panjiawan Depot, Huangtupo Depot, and Beishiqu Depot, getting off at Colorful Yunnan·Ancient Dian Town.

3. Free shuttle buses in the park

Route: Happy World --- Intercontinental Hotel --- P5 Happy World Parking Lot --- Hot Spring Villa --- P1 Vigorous Town --- P3 Wetland Park

Boarding point: Happy World main gate. Operating hours: 9:30-21:00. Interval: 10-15 minutes.

4. Direct buses

Gudian Resort direct bus schedule:

Nanya Fengqing Diyicheng: (one-way ticket 10 yuan) Departures 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00; return 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, and 20 minutes after park closing.

Colorful Yunnan Diyicheng: (one-way ticket 5 yuan) Departures 10:00, 10:30, 11:00; return 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, and 20 minutes after closing. (Special dates may adjust.)

Notes:

1. Colorful Yunnan Happy World operates day and night sessions during specific times (like Halloween) with different ticket prices.

2. Some water rides may get your clothes wet; you can bring your own raincoat and shoe covers or buy them inside.

3. Inflatable toys like swim rings, floats, air mattresses, surfboards; glass items, scooters, roller skates, any powered vehicles, and strollers deemed unsafe by staff; drones and remote-controlled aircraft; pets or other animals (except service animals for the disabled, with pet storage at the main entrance) are not allowed.

4. Children under 1.5 meters (excluding) and seniors over 65 (including) and people with disabilities must be accompanied by a supervising adult with a ticket.

5. Large rides have height restrictions; Dream World has facilities suitable for children of all ages.

Inside Colorful Yunnan Happy World, there are many restaurants. For dinner, we ate at Dianwang Restaurant. All very authentic Yunnan specialty dishes, each carefully plated by the chef, ensuring beauty without losing flavor. Dianwang Restaurant is right outside the "Ancient Dian Storm" theater; after watching the show, it's just about dinner time, so the location is perfect. After dinner, head to the main gate to continue watching the "Peacock Princess" water show.

D3: Lanyunshe - Gudian Premium Wetland - Gudian Hot Spring Villa Lanyunshe

In Gudian Mingcheng, Lanyunshe occupies the best viewing spot by Dianchi Lake, consisting entirely of standalone villas.

Lanyunshe No. 6 and Lanyunshe No. 9 can now be booked online, accommodating ten to fifteen people, including tickets to Happy World, a dedicated chef to prepare meals according to guests' requirements, and professional butlers and drivers on standby. Perfect for family trips, gatherings, and parties.

Entering this luxury villa worth 200 million yuan, the luxurious decoration and interior showcase the owner's prestige.

The second floor has four bedrooms, enough for the whole extended family on vacation.

Master bedroom bathroom.

The basement has a private spa room and entertainment room.

Gudian Premium Wetland

Behind Colorful Yunnan Happy World is the beautiful Gudian Premium Wetland. I remember "Youth Travel Diary 2" and "Day Day Up" both filmed here.

Gudian Premium Wetland covers over 1100 mu, serving as the ecological barrier of Dianchi Lake, a benchmark demonstration area for the transformation of ecological landscape wetlands around Dianchi. It leads a new direction for ecological management of plateau lakes and initiates new thinking on the harmonious coexistence of people and water, and the harmonious development of water and land, building a water ecological civilization where people, water, and land coexist harmoniously.

Gudian Premium Wetland Park is composed of three themed areas: "Kunming Lake," "Star-Plucking Sea," and "Lotus Picking Pond," combined with historical stories such as "Hanwu Opening Yunnan," "Zheng He's Voyages," and "Chen Yuanyuan," adding more depth.

? Love Square: If you want to experience a different outdoor feeling with your children, the cherry blossom valley, Love Square, and camping areas in the premium wetland are fully equipped to meet camping needs.

Outdoor tent campsites are ready-made, and many people come here for wedding photos.

On a good night, you can probably see a sky full of stars.

Walking down the wetland boardwalk, Dianchi Lake stretches into the distance. The winding boardwalk embodies the slow pace of vacation life.

Visiting the wetland in different seasons brings different feelings. I prefer coming in winter, basking in the warm sun, especially peaceful.

A family of three can also rent a bicycle; cycling around the wetland is easier.

As we cycled to the edge of Dianchi Lake, a flock of seagulls flew over. These seagulls are very smart; seeing people with feed, they come flying over.

Children especially love feeding small animals. They also try to imitate adults, letting seagulls take food from their hands.

After being pecked once, they refused to do it again, saying it hurts...

We arrived at the boardwalk corridor, where there was another large flock of seagulls, attracting many tourists to feed them.

By the pier, the painted boats float quietly on the water, aligned in a row.

Gudian Hot Spring Villa

"Gudian Hot Spring Villa" is one of the key tourism projects of Colorful Yunnan·Ancient Dian Town, a natural mineral open-air hot spring. The villa continues the "ancient Dian" theme, themed around "ancient Dian culture," "bronze culture," "ethnic culture," exuding a mysterious, magical, and sacred atmosphere.

The entire villa is exquisitely designed in an antique style, perfectly blending with nature. It's a high-end leisure villa integrating wellness, entertainment, fine dining, leisure, and accommodation. You can experience ultimate hot spring SPA (premium indoor and outdoor pools), hot spring houses, a heated swimming pool, health massages, aromatherapy, foot therapy, as well as food, chess, cinema, fitness, and many other services.

The infinity pool at the top of the mountain is a major feature, offering a panoramic view of the wetland, Happy World, and Dianchi Lake.

The villa is built along the mountain slope, half being private hot spring villa areas and the other half being the hot spring area, divided into four sections: Ancient Dian Secret Realm, Cloud Flower Path, Tea Zen Heart, and Jade Terrace Awakening, with a total of 72 outdoor hot spring pools of varying temperatures and effects. From herbal health pools suitable for the elderly to water play pools for children, all are standard.

We went straight to the infinity pool at the top. This is the most popular pool because of the excellent view; on a good day, you can soak while watching the sunset.

The villa also has a buffet restaurant, a steam room, and a spa center. Such configuration and scale surpass many independent hot spring resorts.

Gudian Banshan Hot Spring Hotel

If you want more privacy for soaking, you can stay at the Banshan Hot Spring Hotel inside the villa. Each room is an independent villa with two bedrooms, a living room, a private outdoor pool, and a small garden, very suitable for a big family. The whole family can soak in hot springs in their own courtyard while the children play carefree on the swing, undisturbed.

There are two rooms, one with a king bed and one with twin beds.

The room also has a mahjong room, so you can play a few rounds with family and friends in your spare time.

The living room is large, suitable for entertaining friends or chatting with family.

Muyuntai Restaurant is located next to the infinity pool at Gudian Hot Spring Resort. It boasts a prime location, and dining here at sunset allows you to enjoy both the scenery and the food. Here, you can also taste Yunnan delicacies with strong ethnic characteristics. In minority areas, grilled meat is common. Grilled chicken and grilled fish are always a must. The server brings out a large tray mostly filled with meat, then hands everyone a pair of gloves to tear and eat directly.

Every dish has unique Yunnan characteristics.

Fried insects are almost a must-try every time I visit Yunnan.

Elegant dining environment.

Every trip with a child is an important memory in their growth stage. This trip to Gudian Mingcheng will surely leave her with deep impressions. The happy moments with those cute animals at the pet paradise, the carousel at Happy World, the seagulls on the wetland pier.