Things to do in Kunming

8 activities, venues and outings in Kunming, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

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

Do
Kunming Walk
Kunming Walking Tours
Small-group guided walking tour (up to 6 people) through Green Lake (Cuihu) and the old university quarter, focusing on Kunming's history of foreign influence. Covers the French-built Yunnan–Vietnam railway, a poet and professor turned activist Wen Yiduo, and the wartime National Southwestern Associated University (Lianda) where two future Nobel laureates studied. In English. Book via the website.
Wed & Sat 10:00, 3 hours; other days by appointment$30 per person
Do
Stone Forest
石林; Shílín
This is a UNESCO listed site of remarkable karst geography. Good weekend or day trip and lots to see. Visit early to avoid crowds.
Do
Yunnan Grand Theatre
云南省大剧院
A major performing arts venue in Kunming with a large theatre, concert hall and multifunctional theatre. It hosts dance, opera, drama, concerts and other stage performances.
Do Not mapped
Jiuxiang Scenic Area
昆明九乡风景区; Kūnmíng Jiǔxiāng Fēngjǐngqū
This scenic area is 20 km² and includes five tourist attractions, Diehong Bridge (5 km southeast from Jiuxiang Street, famous for the karst caves, the twin waterfalls and the huge natural stone dam cluster), Dasha Dam (consisting of picturesque karst caves and thick forest), Sanjiao Cave (5 km north of Jiuxiang Street, famous for the karst caves), Alu Long [a scenic area 6 km west of Jiuxiang Street, famous for the excavated Yi Nationality cliff paintings of Qin (221BC-206BC) and Han (206BC-220AD) dynasties] and Mingyue (meaning the bright moon) Lake. Jiuxiang is known as the museum of karst caves, which boasts its caves as the largest in scale and number (there are about a hundred karst caves) and has the most wonderful in-cave scenes in China. The caves in Jiuxiang fall into four cave clusters: Sanjiao Cave, Dashang Cave, Diehong Cave and Dasha Dam Cave. 66 out of the numerous caves in the area are profitably exploitable and the karst cave cluster is the largest of its kind on Yunnan-Guizhou plateau. The caves in the area are praised for their grandeur, wonder grotesquerie and natural beauty. Jiuxiang, the birthplace of the aboriginal Yi ethnic people, has a strong minority custom color, a long cultural history, and widely spread old myths and tales. These include Hunting Festival, the Worship the White Dragon Festival, Love Song Contest, Bullfighting, Wrestling, Sanxian Dance (Sanxian is a three-stringed plucked instrument), Rattle Stick Dance and so on. Tourists should take enough clothes since they may get wet in boats when they visit the karst caves and the gorges. The folk songs and dances and the local food are also special. What is more, Yangzonghai Lake Scenic Spot and Little White Dragon Forest Park are not far from Jiuxiang Scenic Spot. Tourists can take buses at the gate of the Jiuxiang to go there.
Do
Kunming Theater
昆明剧院; Kūnmíng Jùyuàn
410 Qingnian Road, Wuhua District (五华区青年路410号; Wǔhuáqū Qīngniánlù)
Do
Sunshine Golf Club
昆明阳光高尔夫俱乐部
6km Kunming-Qujing Highway, Panlong District (盘龙区昆曲高速公路6公里处)
Do
Yunnan Art Theater
云南艺术剧院
132-134 Dongfeng West Road, Wuhua District (五华区东风西路132-134号; Wǔhuáqū Dōngfēngxīlù)
Closed · opens 7 pm
Do Not mapped
China Kunming International Art Festival
中国昆明国际艺术节
Annual festival with music, dance and art.
Three weeks in April/May

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