4-Day Trip by Air and Train: Xi'an to Kunming, Baise, and Back to Beihai

The weather in Xi'an is gradually turning cold, and as usual, we should fly south to escape the chill. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to see the renowned 'Number One Long Couplet in the World' and the site of the Baise Uprising along the way. Through Ctrip, I booked a 400-yuan flight from Xi'an to Kunming and a hotel near Daguan Pavilion on Dianchi Lake.

Day 1: After lunch, we took the subway to Xi'an Airport, and the flight departed at 3:25 PM, arriving in Kunming two hours later. We took a 60-yuan taxi directly to the hotel. After freshening up, the couple went downstairs to a 'Yunnan Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles' shop. We each had an authentic serving, which tasted good, averaging 50 yuan per person.

Day 2: For breakfast, we again had rice noodles each, 10 yuan per person. Then we walked about ten minutes to Daguan Pavilion Scenic Area. The park is located on the shore of Dianchi Lake in the western suburbs of Kunming, named after the Daguan Pavilion. Covering over 700 mu, it is the largest park in the city. In the Qing Dynasty, the commoner scholar Sun Rangweng ascended Daguan Pavilion and, inspired, proudly wrote a 180-character long couplet, vividly displaying the scenery of Dianchi Lake and thousands of years of Yunnan's history, stunning all. With its grandeur, profound meaning, and magnificent momentum, it has been praised for centuries and renowned as the 'Number One Long Couplet in the World,' elevating Daguan Pavilion to one of China's four famous towers.

Currently, the park is open to visitors for free. Inside, you can explore pavilions, towers, small bridges over flowing water, and mountain-lake scenery. Coinciding with the return of seagulls, flocks of gulls dance over the lake, the rippling blue water set against blue sky and white clouds, and lush flowers and trees alongside various buildings create an elegant, timeless atmosphere.

Daguan Pavilion faces Dianchi Lake and gazes at the Western Hills, commanding the full panorama of lake and mountains – truly a perfect viewing spot.

After visiting Daguan Park, we took a 16-yuan taxi to Haigeng Dam, an excellent place to feed and watch seagulls. The area was crowded with people, and seagulls filled the sky. People held bread, engaging in close, friendly interactions with the gulls, creating beautiful scenes of harmony and happiness with nature.

Then we took a 13-yuan taxi back to the hotel and had Qianyu fish hotpot for lunch. Similar to black fish but more tender, smooth, and delicious, it cost about 96 yuan per person.

After resting at the hotel, in the afternoon we rode shared electric bikes to Cuihu Park, known for its beauty among Kunming residents. Here, the water glistens and green trees shade the shores; the couplet outside the Lotus Zen Temple by Cuihu's embankment, 'A world of fish amid ten acres of lotus flowers, half the city's willows brushing towers and pavilions,' fits perfectly. With water emerald on all sides, bamboo green in all seasons, and willows verdant in spring and summer, it is called 'Cuihu' (Green Lake); hailed as the 'Jade in the City' and 'Green Gem' set in Kunming. Because nine springs flow into a pool from the northeast, it is also known as 'Nine-Dragon Pool.' Willows are planted throughout the park, and many lotuses grow in the lake, with the spring water from Cuihu directly feeding into Dianchi Lake. Covering about 21 hectares, with 15 hectares of water surface, it is one of the city's most beautiful parks. Beyond unique scenery, visitors can feel a strong cultural atmosphere, as the famous Yunnan University is nearby. Here, sipping tea, browsing books, and discussing past and present add a special charm.

Leaving Cuihu Park, you come to the renowned former site of the 'Yunnan Military Academy,' known as the 'Century-Old Academy, Cradle of Generals.' It ran 22 terms and trained nearly 10,000 cadets. Many prominent generals emerged, most notably Zhu De and Ye Jianying, marshals of the Republic, giving it the title 'Cradle of Generals' and a significant place in modern Chinese history. The site covers 70,000 square meters, with buildings largely well-preserved; it is a national key cultural relic protection unit and a 'National Patriotic Education Demonstration Base.'

Afterward, we leisurely rode through and strolled around Kunming's Old Street and new town. Kunming Old Street, with a history of nearly 900 years and a length of about 435 meters, carries countless memories and stories of the city, as well as the childhood joys and current pleasures of many. Here you can eat authentic small-pot rice noodles, find quirky Yunnan antiques, and discover century-old medicine shops. With its mottled, simple yet inclusive and contemporary feel, Kunming's past and present can be experienced here. The new town, with its high-rise buildings, echoes the old street from afar, adding a sense of historical culture and modern development.

Then we rode through the streets and alleys of Kunming, slowly returning to the hotel area for dinner and rest.

Day 3: After breakfast, we took a taxi to the train station. I had pre-booked a high-speed train ticket from Kunming to Baise through 12306 for 190 yuan. About 3 hours later, we arrived in Baise City, Guangxi, enjoying the scenery and red songs along the way – this was a red tourism trip.

Baise is in the western part of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, spanning over 36,000 square kilometers, with a permanent population of about 3.6 million. It has deep cultural roots and rich resources in history, culture, landscape ecology, and red tourism. It is a special area that combines revolutionary old district, ethnic minority area, border area, rocky mountain area, and reservoir resettlement area – five regions in one.

The hotel I booked was just over a hundred meters from the station exit, very convenient. After checking in, we rested and chatted with staff and locals to get travel tips, preparing for the next day's visit.

Day 4: After breakfast, we took an 11-yuan taxi to the 'Baise Uprising Memorial Park' scenic area, located on Houlong, Panlong, and Yinglong mountains east of Baise City. It is a thematic park of revolutionary history and culture, a national 5A scenic spot, and one of China's 12 key red tourism sites. The Baise region is a cradle of the Chinese revolution and the birthplace of the Seventh Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. The memorial park is built into the mountains, with steps leading upward, its grandeur conveying profound meaning. The total area is 360 hectares, with 182,200 square meters of construction land. The lush greenery and imposing forest of steles highlight the red theme. It combines education with entertainment, leisure with learning, to remember history, carry forward traditions, and benefit the people.

After about two hours of touring, we took an 8-yuan taxi back to the hotel, checked out, and headed to the train station to wait. We took the high-speed train, admiring the beautiful scenery along the way, and arrived in Beihai about 3 hours later. A 16-yuan taxi ride brought us home, marking the perfect end of the journey.

The per-person cost for this trip was about 1,000 yuan, and it was absolutely worth it!