The complete Travel Guide to Yunnan, the most diverse Chinese province

Yunnan is one of the most beautiful and diverse provinces in China. In this travel guide, you can find the top things to do and see.

Yunnan (云南) Province in China is a beautiful, diverse, landlocked region known for its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and delicious cuisine. With its vibrant cities, picturesque countryside, and unique ethnic minority groups, Yunnan offers travellers an unforgettable experience.

One of the main reasons Yunnan is such a unique province is its remote location, far from Beijing. There is a local saying: “Yunnan, where the Mountains are High, and the Emperor is Far, Far Away.”

Even though this is an easily accessible province today, it wasn’t historically, which has made the local culture so different from the rest of the country.

When is the best time to visit Yunnan (云南)?

Yunnan is known for its incredible variety of landscapes, ranging from tropical rainforest in the deep south to the Tibetan Plateau in the north. This means you can find almost every type of climate.

In general, Yunnan can be visited year-round except during the rainy season, from May to August, when it rains heavily. Summer, especially August, also brings a massive influx of tourists escaping the unbearable heat elsewhere in China. If you have no choice but to travel that month, make sure you are mentally prepared.

Getting to Yunnan

Yunnan is located in southwestern China and is easily accessible by air, train, or bus. The province’s capital, Kunming, is a major transportation hub with several daily flights to and from all major Chinese cities. Alternatively, you can also get to Kunming by train. As always, when travelling in China, the best English-language website for booking trains, hotels, and flights is Trip.com. Other websites have fewer options and are generally more expensive.

Over the past few years, the government has built new high-speed railways connecting most of the province. You can now get to Shangri-la in the north, Xishuangbanna in the south, and almost every city. In short, travel to and from Yunnan and throughout the province has never been easier.

It’s also now possible to take a train from Kunming all the way down to Vientiane, Laos’ capital. In this article, I explain how to do it.

Things to do in Kunming, the spring city

Kunming, the capital, is known for its mild climate. The city is also home to several cultural and historical attractions. Here are some of the top things to do and see in Kunming (here you can find my complete Kunming Travel Guide):

• Stone Forest (石林): this is a natural geological wonder featuring towering karst formations. It is a popular attraction in Kunming and is a must-see for anyone visiting the city. If you are in the Stone Forest area, don’t forget to check the Jiuxi caves. Pro tip: head to the nearby Naigu to avoid the crowds.
• Guandu Old Town (官渡古镇): Kunming’s Old Town is a charming area full of narrow streets, ancient temples, and traditional shops and restaurants. It is a great place to wander and explore, and you can learn more about the city’s history and culture. However, like many similar places, the town is not old; it has been recently renovated.
• Western Hills (西山): The Western Hills are a series of picturesque hills and forests on Kunming’s western edge. The area has many temples, cultural attractions, and beautiful city views.
• Golden Temple (金殿): this is a Buddhist temple atop Mingfeng Mountain. It is known for its beautiful architecture and intricate gold-leaf decorations, and is a popular destination for tourists and locals.
• Yunnan Provincial Museum (云南省博物馆): The Yunnan Provincial Museum is a great place to learn more about the history and culture of Yunnan province. It has an extensive collection of artifacts and exhibits that showcase the region’s diverse history and culture, and it is free of charge.
• Green Lake Park (翠湖): Located in the city’s centre, Green Lake Park is a popular spot for locals and tourists. It is beautiful in early spring when all the trees bloom.
• The Kingdom of the Little People (小人国): this is one of the most controversial places in all of China. Long story short, it is a theme park where all the employees have dwarfism. Before judging the ethics of this place, I suggest you read this article.

Interesting places around Kunming

• Luoping (罗平): One of the most interesting places to visit is Luoping. Famous for its huge rapeseed fields, remember that it’s worth visiting only between February and April. I wrote a detailed guide about it that you can find here.
• Yiliang (宜良): Yiliang is a small town located only 1 hour by bus from Kunming. It’s famous for its Roast Duck, and the beautiful Jiuxiang caves.
• Mile (弥勒): another small town located only 30 minutes from Kunming, has become popular thanks to a new art park called Dongfengyun (东风韵). Here you can read my travel guide.
• Fuxian Lake (抚仙湖): this is the third-largest lake in Yunnan and the third-deepest lake in China. If you’re planning a trip without straying too far from Kunming, Fuxian is the right option. Here is my detailed travel guide.
• Puzhehei (普者黑): famous for the typical karst hills, the numerous rivers and ponds, and many caves. Summer is the best time to visit, when the ponds are filled with lotus plants in full bloom, making the landscape even more beautiful. You can find my travel guide here.
• Dongchuan (东川): a rural district not too far from Kunming, is famous for its Red Land, where iron-rich soil creates deep red hues across terraced fields. The stark contrast between the rust-colored earth, green crops, and blue sky makes it a popular spot for photography. You can find more info here.

Top things to see in Southern Yunnan

• Yuanyang Rice Terraces (元阳梯田): these are the best rice terraces in China. Since 2013, they have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Keep in mind that winter is the best season. Here you can find more info.
• Samaba Rice Terraces (撒玛坝梯田): also located in the Yuanyang area, they are, however, accessed from a completely different area. Very few people know about this area (including Chinese people), and there are still very few tourists. I wrote about them here.
• Xishuangbanna (西双版纳): located on the border between Myanmar and Laos and crossed by the Mekong River, Xishuangbanna is often considered the Thailand of China. Here is my travel guide. Mengla is home to some of the last wild Asian elephant herds. Here is my guide on how to see them.
• Pu’er (普洱): you might have heard about this place if you like drinking tea. In the past few years, it has become one of the most popular types of tea in China. The city, formerly known as Simao, doesn’t offer that much, but you can explore the surrounding tea and coffee plantations in the Jingmai Mountain area (here’s my guide). Fun fact: 98% of the coffee produced in China comes from Yunnan, and Pu’er is an important production centre.

Top things to see in Northern Yunnan

• Dali (大理): along with Lijiang, Dali is the other most famous place in Yunnan. The old town was the capital of the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom. It’s a touristy spot like Lijiang, but it’s worth visiting (here is my guide).
• Shaxi (沙溪): halfway between Lijiang and Dali, Shaxi is a small village almost forgotten by tourists. It’s a city of farmers, but since 2000, the local government has launched a program to renovate the city’s most important buildings. In my opinion, it’s worth spending a night there. Here you can find my guide.
• Lijiang (丽江): this is likely the most famous and most touristy place in Yunnan. Nevertheless, a visit to Yunnan is not complete without a visit to the Old Town (here is my guide). The good thing about Lijiang is that it can be used as a starting point to explore other nearby places like Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 玉龙雪山.
• Baisha (白沙) and Shuhe (束河) old towns: these two old towns are located a few km from Lijiang, and you can visit both in a day trip. Recommended. Here is my guide to Baisha.
• Shigu (石鼓): located along the ancient Tea Horse Road, Shigu is also famous for the 140-degree bend of the Yangtze River. You can hike up a small hill for a beautiful aerial view of the landscape. Here is my detailed guide.
• Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡): with a maximum depth of approximately 3,790 meters from the river to the mountain peak, it is one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyons in the world. It can be visited on a day trip from Lijiang (but two days are better).
• Shangri-La (香格里拉): the principal city of the Tibetan area, Shangri-La lies at an elevation of over 3000 meters. You can visit the ancient town, destroyed by fire a few years ago and since rebuilt. It still attracts many tourists, especially during the summer, when people try to escape the scorching heat elsewhere in China. I recommend spending a few days there to explore more remote areas, such as Yubeng. You can find my guide to Shangri-La here.

• Tacheng (塔城): If you decide to visit Shangri-La and are interested in wildlife, don’t forget to check out Baima, where you can observe the rare Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkey. I wrote an extensive article about the conservation efforts in the area. You can check it out here.
• Dashanbao (大山包): one of the lesser-known places in Yunnan, this is the right place to visit if you are mainly interested in remote areas with abundant nature. Here is my travel guide.

Top things to see in Western Yunnan

• Binzhonglu (丙中洛): it is located in one of the least visited areas of the province, at the northern end of the Nujiang Valley, near the border with Tibet. Surrounded by spectacular mountains and deep gorges, it is often considered one of Yunnan’s most scenic areas, yet it remains largely unexplored. I talked about it here.
• Dulongjiang (独龙江): this is one of the most remote areas in the province where you can find the last women of the Dulong minority with tattooed faces. I’ve talked about it here.
• Laomudeng (老姆登): a remote, little-known village in the Nujiang Valley, mainly inhabited by the Lisu minority. Surrounded by mountains and pristine natural landscapes, it offers an authentic glimpse into local life, far from mass tourism. I talked about it here.
• Tengchong (腾冲): a city famous for its hot springs, dormant volcanoes, and rich historical heritage tied to war and trade with Southeast Asia. Although more touristy than Binzhonglu, it still has authentic corners worth exploring. I talked about it here.
• Yingjiang (盈江): a hidden gem along the China-Myanmar border where you can easily photograph hundreds of species of birds, including the beautiful Great Hornbill. Read my story here.

Safety and Health

Yunnan is generally a safe place to travel. One thing to keep in mind concerns its geography. The province is at high elevations, so you may experience altitude sickness if you are not used to it, especially if you fly in from other parts of China. Kunming, the capital, lies at an elevation of 1800 meters, and Shangri-La is well over 3000 meters.

In terms of personal safety, Yunnan is pretty safe. I lived there for several years, and I’ve never heard of anything particularly scammy (unlike bordering Vietnam). Don’t forget to get travel insurance before your trip. I recommend this one.

Final Thoughts

Yunnan is a beautiful and diverse region that offers travellers a unique and unforgettable experience. Whether you are interested in exploring vibrant cities, experiencing the rich culture and traditions of ethnic minorities, or taking in the province’s stunning natural beauty, Yunnan has something for everyone. If you can only pick ONE province to visit in China, I’d recommend Yunnan.

If you’re interested in an even more unique experience, and maybe even living there for a short period on a study vacation, I recommend contacting this Chinese school (the same one where I studied many years ago), which specializes in teaching Chinese to foreigners: [email protected]. If you mention my name (FABIO), you’ll get a small discount.

Don’t forget to get a VPN before coming to China. If you prefer an eSIM, this one works well. Here, you can find my complete travel guide to China. On this page, you can find itineraries I prepared to give you ideas for where to go in Yunnan.