Yunnan University boasts beautiful scenery, with attractions such as Huize Courtyard and Yingqiu Courtyard worth a visit. Particularly notable is the famous Ginkgo Avenue, one of the most beautiful sights on campus. Upon entering the campus from the south gate, you will encounter 95 steps, symbolizing the 'supreme power'. Behind Huize Courtyard is the Zhigong Hall, a typical Chinese-style building with red pillars and intricately carved beams, currently serving as the university's main auditorium. To the east, there is a row of relatively low houses, which were examination halls during the imperial examination era, known as the 'Gongyuan'.
Stone Forest Scenic Area
A Yi ethnic group settlement and the hometown of Ashima, this place not only boasts unique karst geological landscapes but also the romantic love stories of the Sani people. It is famous for the grand Torch Festival held on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month and the annual Bull King Contest in summer, with the most renowned bull being the Stone Forest Bull King 'Optimus Prime'. In Stone Forest, men are generally called 'Ahei Ge' and women 'Ashima'. Stone Forest offers a scenic experience at every step, with no need to deliberately seek angles or add filters, as nature has already bestowed this land with its most original appearance. Sometimes, there is an immersive feeling of 'being in the midst of these stones', while at other times, there is a sense of observing the passage of time. As you delve deeper step by step, you may break a light sweat, but your heart becomes increasingly calm. Often, as you walk further, it gets cooler, and when you look up, you find yourself in a 'narrow sky', reminiscent of the narrow alley you used to chase your friends through as a child.
Dianchi Lake
Dianchi Lake boasts beautiful scenery and is a national-level tourist resort in China. It is the largest freshwater lake in Yunnan. It is adjacent to Daguan Park and faces Xishan Forest Park and Yunnan Nationalities Village across the water. You can stroll along the lakeside on the east bank or take a boat tour. In winter, you can feed the red-billed gulls. You can also visit Yunnan Nationalities Village to experience the diverse ethnic cultures of Yunnan Province. During winter, there are many seagulls here, and various biscuits and bread for feeding the seagulls are sold by the lake. If you like these little flying elves, you can buy some to feed them.
Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Autonomous Township
Located in Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Autonomous Township, Yiliang County, Yunnan Province. It is a scenic spot mainly featuring a group of karst caves and is a national key scenic area. There is a widely circulated saying in Yunnan: 'On the ground, see the Stone Forest; underground, explore Jiuxiang.' Jiuxiang Scenic Area is located in Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Autonomous Township, Yiliang County, 90 kilometers from Kunming. The area is densely forested with rich flora and fauna resources, featuring magnificent mountains and canyons as well as splendid underground karst caves, making it a typical karst landscape. The famous Lion Hall covers an area of over 15,000 square meters, with a huge rock on the cave ceiling without any support, which is considered a miracle. The scene in the movie 'The Myth' where Jackie Chan and Kim Hee-sun fly around in a tomb was filmed here.
Guandu Town is one of the famous historical and cultural ancient towns in Kunming. It was already a prosperous commercial and handicraft town during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the Tang dynasty, it was part of the Nanzhao Kingdom and an ideal stopover for the nobility of the Dali Kingdom when they visited Dianchi Lake. The ancient town is rich in cultural landscapes, featuring five mountains, six temples, seven pavilions, and eight temples, with various bustling shops. The most notable is the Miaozhan Temple, known as the 'first of the six temples,' with its Vajra Throne Pagoda at the entrance being particularly eye-catching. The local specialty food is Guandu Baba, known locally as Mai Baba. The most famous is the Eyeglasses Baba on the Vajra Pagoda Commercial Street, with sesame and peanut fillings being the most popular.
Yunnan Ethnic Village features primarily natural village-style residential buildings, integrating garden landscapes, beautiful waters, and green trees. The park includes 25 ethnic minority villages such as Dai, Bai, Yi, and Jingpo, each showcasing different customs and craft performances. Among them, the Dai and Yi villages are the most worth visiting. The Yi village also features unique Yi-style earth houses, distilleries, and cultural buildings. During ethnic festivals like the Water Splashing Festival and Torch Festival, lively celebrations are held in the scenic area, making it a great time to visit.
Dongchuan Red Land
Located in the northeast of Kunming, the soil here contains high levels of iron and aluminum, creating dazzling colors. It is considered the most magnificent red land in the world outside of Brazil. From a distance, it appears colorful and vibrant, making it a paradise for photography enthusiasts. The attractions are relatively scattered, forming three main sightseeing routes: the northwest line, the northeast line, and the south line. The most convenient way to explore is by chartering a car. The best times to visit the Red Land are from April to May when the wheat is ripe, from September to December when the rapeseed flowers are in full bloom, and from February to March when there is occasional residual snow in the fields.
Yunnan Cuihu Park
Once a bay in Dianchi Lake, it became a clear lake due to the drop in water level. It is one of the most beautiful parks in the city, known as the 'Jade in the City'. Ruan Dike and Tang Dike divide Cuihu into five scenic areas, and the park also has other attractions such as the Jiangwu Hall. Every winter, thousands of red-billed gulls from the north come to Cuihu to overwinter, frolicking in the water and competing for food, adding endless charm to Cuihu.
