Free things to do in Kunming

18 places in Kunming with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

See
Burma Road History Museum
滇缅公路历史博物馆
A museum about the Burma Road. The museum was founded by Chen Daya, the author of a book about the Overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics who came to China to work on the Burma Road. The museum does not have a lot of artefacts, but has many photographs, illustrations and models. The most valuable and authentic item on display is an old case used for carrying items along the Burma Road. If you understand Mandarin, a friendly guide dressed in period costume can give you a free tour of the museum. A signed copy of Chen's book (published in Chinese only) can be purchased from the museum gift shop.
Free
See
Guandu Ancient Town
官渡古镇
An historic town that was founded during the Tang Dynasty and was once part of the kingdoms of Nanzhao and Dali. A number of old buildings are preserved here, including several temples.
Open all dayFree
See
Kunming City Museum
昆明市博物馆; Kūnmíngshì Bówùguǎn
A simple museum whose main attraction is a central pillar taken from an old temple (now destroyed) and other relics from the Dian Kingdom (a tribute state of the Western Song dynasty). A large part of the museum is taken up by a series of shops selling fossils/minerals (many of the fossils are fakes) plus overpriced Chinese paintings, textiles, porcelains and some furniture.
09:30-17:00, no entry after 16:30Free, including a tour
See
Kunming Flying Tigers Memorial
昆明飞虎队纪念馆
The Flying Tigers were fighter pilots — officially called the American Volunteer Group — who fought the Japanese in China through much of World War II, both before and after the US entered the war. Despite a whole range of problems, they shot down several hundred enemy planes. Kunming was one of their main bases.
Tu-Su 10:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30Free
See
Kunming Planning Exhibition Hall
昆明规划馆
A public exhibition hall presenting Kunming's urban development, construction achievements and future planning through models, multimedia displays and interactive exhibits. Free guided tours are offered at 10:00 and 14:30.
Tu-Su 09:00-17:00; last entry 16:30Free
See
Kunming Pump House
昆明自来水厂泵房旧址
As a result of droughts parching Yunnan, the reservoirs surrounding Kunming are of vital importance. The specter of Kunming's taps suddenly running dry is of great concern for residents. The two-room "History Museum of Kunming Water Supply" (昆明市自来水历史博物馆) is inside the Green Lake Park, and is housed in the building that once pumped 1,000 m³ of water daily from Green Lake's spring-fed Nine Dragon Pond (九龙池) and along a 9.5-km network of municipal water pipes. The pump station was completed in 1917 and started operating in 1918. It continued to be used until 1957. The current museum still contains what appear to be the two original French-made electric water pumps, along with a small collection of old photos and other curios, such as tokens that could be used to buy water from any of the more than 50 public water taps that were part of the system.
Wed-Sun 09:30-16:30Free
See
National Southwestern Associated University Site
国立西南联合大学旧址
The National Southwestern Associated University was a wartime amalgamation of Peking University, Tsinghua University and Nankai University. It was established in Changsha in 1937 following the occupation of university campuses in Beijing and Tianjin by Japanese forces and was originally known as the Changsha Temporary University. In 1938, the university relocated to this site in Kunming following heavy air raids on Changsha and continued to operate here until the end of the war. The site, which is now part of Yunnan Normal University, is a national level heritage site and is open to the public.
Open all dayFree
See
Tanhua Temple
昙华寺; Tánhuàsì; also known as Tanhua Nunnery 昙华庵
Built in 1634. According to historical records, before the temple was erected, there had been a thatched shack where Shi Shiqiao, a scholar of the Ming Dynasty, buried himself in books. Shi Tai, grandson of Shi Shiqiao, donated the estate for the shack whereon the temple was built. In the backyard there was an epiphyllum tree, which is called tanhua in Chinese, hence the name. The temple went through many renovations during the Qing Dynasty. It is well-known for its flowers and plants. It has been a scenic spot for more than three hundred years, and an epitome of Kunming, the Flower City of the Southern Frontier. The epiphyllum tree was planted in the side court of the depository of Buddhist Scriptures. There is a stone tablet on which four characters are carved The Epiphyllum Brings Luck. After the erection of the temple, the original epiphyllum withered and died. The epiphyllum now standing taller than the eaves of the temple sprang from the root of the original one at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, and is about 300 years old. It bursts into flowers in mid-summer. The big loquat tree in the backyard is said to have been planted in the early Ming Dynasty. In the South Garden there are flowers and rockeries with winding paths among the flowers and the zigzagging corridor surround the Lotus Pond, where you can watch fish. The East Garden is shaded by tall cedars and cypresses and include seven smaller gardens and a Children's Playground. The old temple has resumed its original grandeur. It has become one of the most famous scenic spots in Kunming.
Closed · opens 7 amFree
See
Victory over Japan Memorial Hall
抗战胜利纪念堂, 抗战胜利堂, Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall
Completed in 1947, this was one of the first war memorials to be commissioned in China following the end of the Second World War. It is now a national heritage site.
Open all dayFree
See
Yunnan Art Museum
云南美术馆
Occupies the building where the Yunnan Provincial Museum (listed below) used to be.
Closed · opens 9 amFree
See
Yunnan Military Academy
云南陆军讲武堂旧址
The Yunnan Military Academy is a historic military academy that was founded in 1909 during the final years of the Qing Dynasty. It continued to operate after the Xinhai Revolution (1911) and was one of the most important military academies in China up until its closure in 1935. A number of prominent Communist military leaders received their training here. A museum at the site explains the history. The museum is in three sections with bilingual information boards and artefact labels.
Tue-Sun 08:00-17:00 (academy), 09:00-17:00 (museum), no entry after 16:00Free
See
Yunnan Provincial Museum
云南省博物馆; Yúnnánshěng Bówùguǎn
A large museum containing artifacts from the past 2,500 years. The items presented are reasonably well lit and the interior is amazing. A slow stroll through the museum may take two hours. Descriptions are mainly given in Chinese. The permanent exhibitions are on the two upper floors, while the ground floor hosts temporary exhibitions.
Tu-Su 09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30Free
See
Yunnan University Wu Mayao Museum of Anthropology
云南大学伍马瑶人类学博物馆
Fascinating museum with an impressive collection of minority and Han artifacts from around Yunnan. Highlights include painted wooden torso armor of the Yi people, fearsome warriors of a traditionally caste society who historically controlled the mountainous region between Sichuan and Yunnan and whose queen was instrumental in negotiating the entry in to Yunnan of the Mongol Horde at the dawn of the Yuan Dynasty, ushering in the first real period of Han control thus beginning the widespread Sinification in Yunnan province. Unfortunately the showy modern glass presentation makes photography of some artifacts rather difficult.
Reportedly closed during the university's summer and winter vacation periodsFree
See
Zhu De's Former Residence
朱德旧居
Zhu De (1886-1976) was one of the Communist Party's most revered political and military leaders in the 20th century. Most notably, he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Red Army during both the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. He also held the position of Commander-in-Chief of the People's Liberation Army during the Korean War. This residence was Zhu De's home from 1921 to 1922. It is now a museum with exhibits on Zhu De's life.
Closed · opens 9 amFree
See
斗南花卉市场夜间拍卖
Dounan Flower Market Night Auction
Witness the fast-paced, high-energy night auction at one of Asia's largest flower markets. It's a fascinating spectacle of commerce where millions of flowers change hands in a matter of hours. An unforgettable sensory experience.
Evenings (after 20:30)Free to observe
See Not mapped
Green Lake Park
翠湖公园, Cuì Hú Gōngyuán
A pleasant, smallish expanse of park and lake that serves as a mellow hang-out. Musicians sometimes practice along the paths. Plenty of goldfish and lotus plants can be seen. In the mornings it is a popular place for people to perform their morning exercises. During December and January many seagulls arrive in the region and in the mornings many people feed the birds or photograph them as they swoop past to catch the thrown food. There are a number of restaurants and tea shops near the lake and the northern edge is close to Wenlin Street where there are many restaurants.
Closed · opens 7 amFree
See
Yunnan Nationalities Museum
云南民族博物馆; Yunnan Minzu Bowuguan
1503 Dianchi Road, Xishan District (西山区滇池路1503号)
Closed · opens 9 amFree
See
Zhenqing Temple
真庆观
Kunming's largest and most important Taoist temple.
Closed · opens 8 amFree

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Kunming (CC BY-SA 4.0).