Kunming Attractions
The Box
The Box is a cozy bar and restaurant located on Wenhua Xiang, near Yunnan University. This locale is popular among Kunming’s expats, especially the Italian crowd. The owners are very friendly and the atmosphere is extremely inviting. The pizzas and sangria are recommended. Prices are quite ...
The Box is a cozy bar and restaurant located on Wenhua Xiang, near Yunnan University. This locale is popular among Kunming’s expats, especially the Italian crowd. The owners are very friendly and the atmosphere is extremely inviting. The pizzas and sangria are recommended. Prices are quite reasonable, even compared to Kunming standards.
Find it on the map
The Box is located about one-third of the way up Wenhua Xiang from Wenlin Jie near the west entrance of Yunnan University.
Chapter One
Chapter One is one of the better bar options in Kunming. This book bar is one of the more enjoyable bars in town and holds its status with a growing number of loyal customers, where most other bars in Kunming seem to tire quickly. The drinks are cheap, the staff is friendly, and the a...
Chapter One is one of the better bar options in Kunming. This book bar is one of the more enjoyable bars in town and holds its status with a growing number of loyal customers, where most other bars in Kunming seem to tire quickly. The drinks are cheap, the staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is comfortable. There is plenty of room upstairs and downstairs to relax, read a book (Chapter One has a growing library of western books), surf the net (free wi-fi access), or mingle with other customers. Chapter One also seems to always have the most abundant supply of Beer Lao (very highly recommended) in Kunming and is now serving a growing menu of Indian food (also recommended).
Find it on the map
Chapter One is located on Wenlin Jie, a little bit east up the road and across the street from Teresa’s and Prague Cafe near Yunnan University. Public bus number 1 will get you very close and will save you a few RMB that you will be happy to spend on Beer Lao.
Grand Park Hotel (Former name: Harbour Plaza Kunming) 5-star
Harbour Plaza Kunming is one of Kunming’s nicest hotels. Room rates are on the pricey side, as one would expect in a 5 star hotel. Accommodation at the Harbour Plaza Kunming would best suite business travelers or those who can afford to travel in style.
Mobile Phone Street
For those seeking a cell phone, whether it’s new or used, should head for this spot in Kunming. Dong Feng Xi Lu (东风西路), between Renmin Xi Lu (人民喜路) and Kunshi Lu (昆师路), is lined with dozens of stores that sell mobile phones and accessories. While some stores will not bargain (es...
For those seeking a cell phone, whether it’s new or used, should head for this spot in Kunming. Dong Feng Xi Lu (东风西路), between Renmin Xi Lu (人民喜路) and Kunshi Lu (昆师路), is lined with dozens of stores that sell mobile phones and accessories. While some stores will not bargain (especially the ones on street level), many others will。 Try your very best to get a discount - you will often be able to save a few hundred RMB.
How to Get There: Dong Feng Xi Lu is the road not too far from Yunnan University that eventually becomes the tunnel under the city center that everybody drives very slow through. Jianshi Lu becomes Dong Feng Xi Lu at Wenlin Jie. If you are on Wenlin Jie, walk west until you hit the cinema, turn left, and go down the road to the end of the block. That is where the mobile phone area begins - you can’t miss it.
Kunming Articles
Fast Facts about China
| Location: Capital: Area: Population: People:... |
| Location: Capital: Area: Population: People: Language: Religion: Cuisine: Currency: Dialing Code: Electricity: Timezone: Weather: |
East Asia. Neighbors include Russia, Mongolia, India and other countries. Beijing Over 9.5 million km2 1.3 billion Over 90% Han Chinese. Many smaller ethnicities. Mandarin (普通话) is official language. 100s of local dialects. Taoist, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim. Variety of distinctive Chinese cuisines. Chinese Yuan (CNY), also called Rénmínbì (RMB) "+86" (see "calls to and from China".) 220V/50Hz with several plug types. Only one timezone: UTC +8 Very diverse. Spring and autumn considered best time to travel to most places within China. |
Street Names
In order to best prepare oneself to navigate within Chinese cities it’s helpful to learn a bit about how Chinese roads are named.
...In order to best prepare oneself to navigate within Chinese cities it’s helpful to learn a bit about how Chinese roads are named.
Sometimes street names in China can be confusing. Chinese roads in large cities are commonly named after other places in China.
You may see a street that changes names 3 or 4 times as you travel along it through the city. For example you may see a Nanjing Xi Lu, Nanjing Zhong Lu and Nanjing Dong Lu Which respectively means West Nanjing Road, Centre Nanjing Road and East Nanjing Road.
Here are a few helpful words that you will find on street signs:
Lu (路) = street, road
Jie (街) = street, road
Nan (南) = south
Bei (北) = north
Dong (东) = east
Xi (西) = west
Zhong (中) = centre
Da (大) = big. This will be combined with “lu” and “jie” to make “dalu” (大路) and “dajie” (大街) which are the main roads.
A typical street sign in Nanjing.
A typical street sign in Nanjing.
This sign points towards various tourist attractions in Nanjing.
Obtaining a Drivers License
Foreigners can get a driver’s license in China!
Who should apply for a driver’s license in China?
Foreigners from any country who want to drive in China must apply for a driver’s license....
Foreigners can get a driver’s license in China!
Who should apply for a driver’s license in China?
Foreigners from any country who want to drive in China must apply for a driver’s license. International driver’s licenses are not recognized.
Licenses are valid in the Chinese mainland only. Residents from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan also need to apply for a driver’s license to drive in the Chinese mainland.
What are the requirements and how do I apply?
Licenses must be applied for in the city in which your residence permit or temporary residence permit is registered. Once obtained the license is valid across the Chinese mainland. The information for this article was collected from municipal authorities in several cities. There are some discrepancies with their information so if you are going to try to get a license you should communicate with the authorities in the city where you will be living.
A written test must be taken. It consists of 100 questions taken from a question base of hundreds of questions. A score of 90 out of 100 is required to pass the test. The test is standardized across China and is available in English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Korean.
A road test is required for people without a foreign or international license or for people with less than three years driving experience.
Required Documents:
- Valid foreign driver’s license or international driver’s license. This will need to be translated into Chinese.
- Temporary residence permit.
- Passport including a valid visa with at least 3 months left before expiration.
- Three passport sized photos.
- Medical examination papers. Sometimes foreign papers may be accepted, sometimes a medical exam can be done on location and sometimes a medial exam is done at another location in the city.
Despite the official required documents there are reports of foreigners passing the exams with few of the above requirements and by randomly selecting answers on the test. There are also shady businesses with “special connections” that charge more but give a license without requiring any tests.
Also see:
Top Kunming Tours
$300 Per Day
13days-kunming-dali-street-meili-snow-mountain-then-back-lijiang
Day 1 - pick up from airport in Kunming - overnight Kunming
Day 2 - Dongchuan Red Lands - overnight Dongchuan
Day 3 - Dongchuan back to Kunming - overnight Kunming
Day 4 - Kunming to Dali - overnight Dali
Day 5 - Dali - overnight Dali
Day 6 - Dali to Lijang - overnight Lijang
Day 7- Lijang to Tiger Leaping Gorge - overnight Tea Horse GH, sister overnight middle gorge
Day 8 - middle gorge - overnight middle gorge
Day 9- Middle gorge to Shangrila -overnight Shangrila...Read more
Day 1 - pick up from airport in Kunming - overnight Kunming
Day 2 - Dongchuan Red Lands - overnight Dongchuan
Day 3 - Dongchuan back to Kunming - overnight Kunming
Day 4 - Kunming to Dali - overnight Dali
Day 5 - Dali - overnight Dali
Day 6 - Dali to Lijang - overnight Lijang
Day 7- Lijang to Tiger Leaping Gorge - overnight Tea Horse GH, sister overnight middle gorge
Day 8 - middle gorge - overnight middle gorge
Day 9- Middle gorge to Shangrila -overnight Shangrila
Day 10 - Shangrila to Feilaishi - overnight Feilaishi
Day 11 - Drive to Mingyong - overnight Feilaishi
Day 12 - Feilaishi to Shangrila - overnight Shangrila
Day 13 - Flight back to Kunming.
$800 Per Day
5 Days Kunming Jianshui Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Photograph Tour
Tour Cateogry: Yunnan Classic Tour
Tour Dates: Daily
Starts/Ends: Kunming/Yuanyang
Trip Type: Photograph Tour
Activity Level: Easy
Tour Route:
Kunming-Shilin-Yuanyang-Jianshui-Kunming
...Read more
Tour Cateogry: Yunnan Classic Tour
Tour Dates: Daily
Starts/Ends: Kunming/Yuanyang
Trip Type: Photograph Tour
Activity Level: Easy
Tour Route:
Kunming-Shilin-Yuanyang-Jianshui-Kunming
Trip Highlights:
Yuanyang is renowned for its rice terraces, sculpted by bare hands by the Hani people one thousand years ago, transforming a barren valley into a humid Eden; perfect for rice crops. The 1000m of mountain slopes of terraces is still in use today, claiming to be the world's most spectacular and extensive terraces. It is a self sustaining ecosystem and a perfect example of a symbiosis with nature.
Day 1 Kunming Arrive in Kunming City,transfer to the hotel.
Day 2 Kunming-Shilin-Jianshui Drive to Shilin County and visit the Stone Forest, drive to Jianshui, Visit the Ancient Wells and Chaoyang Tower and Jianshui Old Town.
Day 3 Jianshui-Yuanyang
Visit Zhu Family Garden, Jianshui Confucius Temple, Tuanshan Village and Zhang Family Garden, transfer to Yuanyang
Day 4 Yuanyang Visit Hani and Yi ethnic villages and the Yuangyang Rice Terraces including Duoyishu, Laohuzui, Bada and Longshuba
Day 5 Yuanyang-Kunming Transfer back to Kunming, visit Xingmeng Mongolian Village on the way
Day 6 Departure from Kunming Transfer to Kunming Airport for returning. Service ends
$300 Per Day
13days-kunming-dali-street-meili-snow-mountain-then-back-lijiang
Day 1 - pick up from airport in Kunming - overnight Kunming
Day 2 - Dongchuan Red Lands - overnight Dongchuan
Day 3 - Dongchuan back to Kunming - overnight Kunming
Day 4 - Kunming to Dali - overnight Dali
Day 5 - Dali - overnight Dali
Day 6 - Dali to Lijang - overnight Lijang
Day 7- Lijang to Tiger Leaping Gorge - overnight Tea Horse GH, sister overnight middle gorge
Day 8 - middle gorge - overnight middle gorge
Day 9- Middle gorge to Shangrila -overnight Shangrila...Read more
Day 1 - pick up from airport in Kunming - overnight Kunming
Day 2 - Dongchuan Red Lands - overnight Dongchuan
Day 3 - Dongchuan back to Kunming - overnight Kunming
Day 4 - Kunming to Dali - overnight Dali
Day 5 - Dali - overnight Dali
Day 6 - Dali to Lijang - overnight Lijang
Day 7- Lijang to Tiger Leaping Gorge - overnight Tea Horse GH, sister overnight middle gorge
Day 8 - middle gorge - overnight middle gorge
Day 9- Middle gorge to Shangrila -overnight Shangrila
Day 10 - Shangrila to Feilaishi - overnight Feilaishi
Day 11 - Drive to Mingyong - overnight Feilaishi
Day 12 - Feilaishi to Shangrila - overnight Shangrila
Day 13 - Flight back to Kunming.