Skip to content
Locrawl

Markets and independent shops in Kunming

7 markets, bookshops, record shops and makers in Kunming.

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

Markets and independent shops in Kunming

  1. Buy Not mapped

    Bicycles and accessories

    A couple of dozen bicycle stores are concentrated within a couple blocks on the South Ring Road, just east from Zhenchi Lu. (Which means, a few blocks west of the Carrefour store). As of 2016, the stores are all next to each other, on the north side of the street, and carry bicycles priced from ¥300-3000, as well as spare parts and accessories. Bicycles and some accessories are also sold in Wal-Mart and Carrefour stores around town.

  2. Buy Not mapped

    Computer street

    If you need some IT stuff. Pay attention to counterfeit, and whether international warranty is available.

  3. Buy Not mapped

    Equipment for Chinese games

    In particular, Yunnan stones (云子) Yúnzǐ for the game of Go (Chinese: weiqi 围棋) are the best Chinese stones. They are quite different from Japanese stones, and much cheaper; see the Yunzi article on the go players' wiki, Sensei's Library. It is also possible to visit the factory (Chinese-only web site) near Kunming. Boards and bowls are also available.

  4. Buy Not mapped

    Mandarin Bookstore

    Has some English, French and German books. Has the Lonely Planet China guidebook, which is generally hard to find in China.

  5. Buy Not mapped

    Outdoor Equipment

    As elsewhere in bigger cities close to mountainous regions, you can buy fairly good quality fake and overrun outdoor and camping gear in Kunming. See our China article for background. Shops can be found in a courtyard at 20 Dongfeng East Road and on Baoshan Street close to the central square, as well as in the enormous garment district on the South Ring Road between the moat and Carrefour shopping centre (check basement and top stories, no self-respecting counterfeit vendor would sell on the main floor of a building). Bargain hard.

  6. Buy Not mapped

    Xinhua Bookstore

    A typical large (2-storey) bookstore of the national Xinhua chain. A decent map section, with some local area maps available right near the entrance. There is a large space with chairs and tables to sit down and read, or to use your laptop.

  7. Buy Not mapped

    Local minority souvenirs, jade

    Flower and bird market

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