Kunming 4-Day Tour
Jiuxiang Caves + Golden Temple Taoism + Dounan Flower Market + Ancient Wetland Towns
Day-by-Day Itinerary
1
Jiuxiang Scenic Area (Yincui Gorge + Goddess Palace + Wolong Cave)
Yiliang Jiuxiang Scenic Area
Jiuxiang Scenic Area is located in Yiliang County, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, 90 kilometers away from the center of Kunming. It is famous for its unique caves, mountains, rivers, deep valleys, as well as ethnic customs and culture. The Jiuxiang Karst Cave Group is the core of the area. These caves are distributed along both banks of the Maitian River, forming a multi-layered structure, including major attractions such as Yin Cui Gorge, White Elephant Cave, Goddess Palace, Wolong Cave, and Bat Cave. Some caves were opened for tourism in 1989, listed as a national scenic spot in China in 1994, and approved as Yunnan Jiuxiang Gorge Cave National Geopark in 2009. The scenic area consists of five major scenic spots: Diehong Bridge, Sanjiao Cave, Dashaba, Alulong, and Mingyue Lake.
2
Golden Temple Scenic Area + Black Dragon Pool Park + Kunming Botanical Garden
Jindian Scenic Area
The Jindian Scenic Area, also known as Jindian Park, is a Taoist temple with bronze tiles located in Yunnan, China. It was built in the late Ming Dynasty and is one of China's largest and oldest bronze temples. It is situated on Mingfeng Mountain in Panlong District, Kunming City. The bronze for the temple was originally cast in Dongchuan during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1602) and later moved to Jizu Mountain in western Yunnan. During the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1662-1722), Wu Sangui rebuilt the temple, retaining its original Hubei design. Over 200 tons of bronze were used in the temple's construction. The walls are made of cast plates, covered with exquisite and diverse patterns. Today, these walls serve as well-preserved examples of smelting and casting technology from the Qing Dynasty in the Yunnan region. Behind the temple stands a three-story bell tower, housing a bell 2.1 meters high and 6.7 meters in circumference, cast during the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1424). It was once hung in Xuanhua Prefecture for timekeeping but was moved to Jindian during Kunming's expansion. In recent years, Jindian Park has also undergone several expansions, adding attractions such as the 'Parrot Garden,' 'Camellia Garden,' and 'Orchid Garden'.
Heilongtan Park
Heilongtan Park is a famous historical and cultural garden in Kunming City, located at the foot of Longquan Mountain. It is named Heilongtan (Black Dragon Pool) because it contains two pools of emerald water, one clear and one turbid. The park features ancient trees, gurgling springs, and beautiful scenery, making it a great place for citizens to relax and sightsee. The park also has attractions such as a Taoist temple and a plum garden, attracting a large number of visitors to admire the plum blossoms when they bloom every winter.
Kunming Botanical Garden
Kunming Botanical Garden is one of the most important botanical gardens in Southwest China, affiliated with the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and was founded in 1938. The garden collects numerous rare and endangered plants and features several specialized gardens, such as the Camellia Garden, Rhododendron Garden, Magnolia Garden, Gymnosperm Garden, and Aquatic Plant Garden. It is a comprehensive botanical garden integrating scientific research, species conservation, popular science education, and tourism. With a wide variety of plant species and a beautiful environment, it is an excellent place for citizens to relax and get close to nature.
3
Dounan Flower Market (Early Morning Auction) + Guandu Ancient Town + Kunming Stele Forest Museum + Yunnan Provincial Museum
Dounan Flower Market
Dounan Flower Market is Asia's largest fresh cut flower trading market, located in Dounan Street, Chenggong District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China. Every day, a large number of fresh flowers from all over the country and the world gather, trade, and are then distributed globally here. The market offers a wide variety of flowers, including roses, carnations, lilies, forget-me-nots, and more, making it a paradise for flower enthusiasts. The market is not only a trading hub but also a tourist attraction, where visitors can attend flower auctions, purchase fresh flowers, admire various floral arts, and experience its unique market culture.
Guandu Ancient Town
Guandu Ancient Town is one of Kunming's historical and cultural towns and a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. It preserves a large number of historical relics and traditional residences, serving as a window to experience the ancient civilization of the Dianchi Lake basin. The ancient town boasts numerous temples, including Miaozhan Temple and Tuzhu Temple, as well as various traditional handicrafts and local specialty snacks. Strolling through it, one can feel the rich historical atmosphere and unique ethnic customs.
Kunming Stele Forest Museum
The Kunming Stele Forest Museum is located within the ancient town of Guandu in Kunming City. It is a specialized museum primarily dedicated to the collection, display, and research of stele culture. The museum houses a large number of precious steles, covering various periods from ancient times to modern times, possessing significant historical, artistic, and academic value. Visitors can appreciate different styles of calligraphy art here and learn about the history, culture, and traditional customs of the Yunnan region.
Yunnan Provincial Museum
Yunnan Provincial Museum is a cultural heritage museum in Kunming, China. Established in 1951, it primarily showcases the culture of Yunnan's ethnic minorities and houses artifacts unearthed from tombs on the southern bank of Dianchi Lake in Jinning. The new building, located at No. 6393 Guangfu Road, Guandu District, officially opened to the public on May 18, 2015.
4
Laoyuhé Wetland Park + Wangguan Wetland Park + Yunnan Military Academy + Former Site of Southwest Associated University
Kunming Laoyu River Wetland Park
Kunming Laoyu River Wetland Park is located on Huanhu East Road in Kunming City, serving as an important ecological barrier and landscape node on the east bank of Dianchi Lake. The park attracts numerous visitors with its unique wetland scenery, rich plant species, and beautiful natural environment. It is a great place to get close to nature, relax, and is also an ideal spot for birdwatching and photography.
Wangguan Wetland Park
Wangguan Wetland Park is a natural wetland park located in Guandu District, Kunming City. It attracts visitors with its beautiful natural scenery and rich wetland ecosystem. The park boasts lush vegetation and is home to various water birds, making it an ideal place for citizens to relax, take walks, and get close to nature.
Former Site of Yunnan Military Academy
The Former Site of Yunnan Military Academy is located at No. 22 Cuihu West Road, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, and is one of the famous military academies in modern Chinese history. It is on par with the Tianjin Beiyang Military Academy and the Baoding Military Academy, serving as the cradle of modern Chinese military education. It nurtured a large number of outstanding military talents and revolutionaries, including Zhu De and Ye Jianying. The main building of the former site is a two-story wooden structure with a wrap-around corridor, featuring a unique style and significant historical and cultural value. It is now open to the public as the Yunnan Military Academy History Museum, showcasing the academy's historical evolution, teaching content, and the prominent figures it cultivated.
Former Site of National Southwestern Associated University
The Former Site of National Southwestern Associated University is located in Kunming City, Yunnan Province. It was a national comprehensive university formed during the Anti-Japanese War (1938-1946) by the merger of National Peking University, National Tsinghua University, and Nankai University. At a time of national crisis, the faculty and students of these three universities moved south to Kunming and Mengzi, where they persevered in running the university under extremely difficult conditions, cultivating a large number of outstanding talents, including Nobel laureates Yang Chen-Ning and Tsung-Dao Lee. They made outstanding contributions to the survival and development of the Chinese nation. The former site is an important historical and cultural heritage and a patriotic education base.
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