Must-see attractions in Yunnan

  • Bada Rice Terrace

    Yunnan

    Bada is one of the finest rice terraces at Yuanyang to catch the sunset at. If you only have time for one terrace, this is it.

  • Golden Temple

    Kunming

    The Golden Temple Scenic Area is equal parts religious space, forest park, botanical garden and open-air sculpture museum; it covers 118 hectares on the…

  • Mingyong Glacier

    Yunnan

    Tumbling off the side of Kawa Karpo peak is the 12km-long Mingyong Glacier. At over 13 sq km, it is not only the lowest glacier in China (around 2200m)…

  • The iconic triple towers of Chongsheng Temple

    Three Pagodas

    Dali

    Absolutely the symbol of the town and region, these pagodas, a 2km walk north of the north gate, are among the oldest standing structures in southwestern…

  • Bamboo Temple

    Kunming

    Tucked away atop a winding mountain road up the forested hills northwest of the city centre, this serene temple is definitely one to be visited by…

  • Gantong Temple

    Yunnan

    Originally constructed in the Tang dynasty, this was once the most important temple in the Dali area. Only one of the original 36 halls remains, but…

  • Duoyishu Rice Terrace

    Yunnan

    Located about 25km from Xinjie, this rice terrace has the most awesome sunrises. As it's walking distance from Pugaolao it's an easy choice for the…

  • China, Yunnan province, Lijiang, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, Black Dragon Pool and Jade Drag

    Black Dragon Pool Park

    Lijiang

    On the northern edge of town is Black Dragon Pool Park; the view from here of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is an obligatory photo stop in southwestern China…

  • STALACTITE IN JIANSHUI, YUNNAN PROVINCE, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA

    Swallow's Cavern

    Yunnan

    Set inside a small nature reserve, this large cave complex is split into two – one high and dry, the other low and wet. The natural quiet of the popular…

  • Confucian Temple

    Yunnan

    Jianshui’s most famous temple was modelled after the temple in Confucius’ hometown of Qufu (Shandong province) and finished in 1285; it covers 7.5…

  • Lijiang Old Town

    Lijiang

    The old town is centred on busy and touristy Old Market Square, with the Waterwheel defining the northern edge and the lively Zhongyi Market marking the…

  • Yúnfēng Shān

    Yunnan

    Dotted with 17th-century temples and monastic retreats, Taoist holy mountain Yunfeng Shan is 47km north of Tengchong. It’s possible to take a cable car…

  • Stone Forest

    Yunnan

    Inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2007 as part of the South China Karst, Kunming's Stone Forest Scenic Area is undeniably beautiful – but…

  • Shíbǎoshān

    Yunnan

    Wandering anywhere along the forested trails and stone pathways throughout Shibao Mountain makes for a pleasant day trip out of Shaxi, but the real…

  • Yunnan Provincial Museum

    Kunming

    Originally built in 1951, this museum's relocation in 2015 gave it a thoroughly modern 60,000 square metres of exhibition space. Displays span the…

  • Wēibǎo Shān

    Yunnan

    Weibao Mountain, about 10km south of Weishan, has a relatively easy hike to its peak at around 2500m. During the Ming and Qing dynasties it was the zenith…

  • Twin Dragon Bridge

    Yunnan

    This beautiful 30m bridge across the confluence of the Lu and Tachong Rivers features 17 arches, so many that it took two periods of the Qing dynasty to…

  • Tropical Botanical Garden

    Xishuangbanna Region

    Lovely tropical gardens – the largest botanic gardens in all China – with many rare plant species and decent English and Latin signage. Don't miss the…

  • Ruili Market

    Yunnan

    This is one of the most colourful and fun markets in all Yunnan, with a real swirl of ethnicities, including Dai, Jingpo, Han and Burmese, as well as the…

  • Taihua Temple

    Kunming

    The courtyard of the Ming dynasty Taihua Temple houses a fine collection of flowering trees, including magnolias and camellias, and is a popular to place…

  • Ganden Sumtseling Gompa

    Shangri-la

    This 300-year-old Tibetan monastery complex about 4km north of the old town is home to around 600 monks. Extensive rebuilding has robbed the monastery of…

  • Zhu Family Garden

    Yunnan

    This spacious 20,000-sq-metre complex, which includes 42 separate courtyards, is a fascinating example of Qing-era architecture. Comprising ancestral…

  • Green Lake Park

    Kunming

    Come here to people-watch, practise taichi or just hang with the locals and stroll through winding lines that meander through the 22 hectares of ponds and…

  • Yan Family Compound

    Yunnan

    This traditional Bai-style wooden courtyard home was constructed by businessman Yan Zizheng in the early 1900s, using the fortune he made from trading…

  • Deqin Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Museum

    Shangri-la

    Attractive modern permanent exhibitions on local history, folk traditions and religious culture make this a worthwhile stop before or after the Guishan…

  • Huating Temple

    Kunming

    Towards the bottom of the mountain is Huating Temple, a country temple of the Nanzhao kingdom believed to have been constructed in the 11th century. It’s…

  • National Memorial Cemetery

    Yunnan

    This touching cemetery and museum is dedicated to the soldiers who fought and died to defend Yunnan during World War II, including those fighting on…

  • Dabaoji Palace

    Yunnan

    The main historical draw of Baisha is the impressive collection of frescoes located inside the small complex, the earliest of which date to 1385. In…

  • Dragon Gate

    Kunming

    On the upper reaches of Xi Shan, the 'Dragon Gate Scenic Area' is a collection of pavilions, temples and grottoes scattered along the mountaintop. The…

  • Dounan Flower Market

    Kunming

    China's largest flower market is a riot of colours and smells, and a charming place to wander for an hour and see the diversity of species on offer. Try…

  • Dali Catholic Church

    Dali

    It's worth checking out Dali’s Catholic Church. Dating back to 1927, it's a beautiful blend of Bai-style architecture and classic Christian theology and…

  • Tropical Flower & Plants Garden

    Xishuangbanna Region

    This terrific botanic garden, found west of the town centre, is one of Jinghong’s better attractions. Admission gets you into a series of gardens where…

  • Nanzhao Museum

    Yunnan

    Architecture and artefacts describe the rise and importance of the Nanzhao kingdom, as well as offer brief introductions to the many ethnic groups that…

  • Yuantong Temple

    Kunming

    This Zen Buddhist temple is the largest Buddhist complex in Kunming and a popular draw for both pilgrims and locals. It’s more than 1200 years old, but…

  • Menghua Old Home

    Yunnan

    This great courtyard home, now owned by the government, is Weishan's best-preserved slice of architecture and also acts as a modest museum displaying…

  • Lion Hill

    Lijiang

    Towering over the west side of Lijiang's Old Town, Lion Hill's 23 hectares of park land are a pleasant diversion. The obvious high point is the panoramic…

  • Quanfuzhuang Rice Terrace

    Yunnan

    Quanfuzhuang is a less-crowded – and free – alternative to Duoyishu, and has easy access via trails that reach the terraces from near a roadside viewing…

  • Guishan Buddhist Temple

    Shangri-la

    Atop 'Great Turtle Hill' in the heart of the old town, this modern temple stands on the site of an original 1667 construction consecrated to a replica of…

  • Shangri-la Thangka Academy

    Shangri-la

    Thangka master Lobsang Khudup trains young students in painting and Buddhist philosophy here. Even if you're not in the market to buy, it's worth stopping…

  • Gongchen Tower

    Yunnan

    Looming over the centre of town, this drum tower dates back to the 14th century and remains the very symbol of Weishan. Ascend the stone ramparts from the…

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