Top choice in 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 northwestern outskirts of the city. The obvious highlight is the namesake Qing dynasty shrine, the largest bronze temple in China, which shines magnificently under the bright Yunnan sun.
Numerous buses from the centre stop out front, or take the metro to the North Bus Station and transfer to Bus 57.
9.24 MILES
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…
9.59 MILES
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…
12.36 MILES
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…
4.95 MILES
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…
12.05 MILES
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…
12.55 MILES
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…
12.75 MILES
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…
4.51 MILES
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…
3.75 MILES
Adjacent to the North Railway Station, this admittedly niche museum uses artefacts and historical images to conduct visitors through a broad history of…
4.51 MILES
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…
4.58 MILES
While the centrepiece of the museum is the Dharani Pillar, a 6.7m carved stone pillar from the Kingdom of Dali, exhibitions range through a strong focus…
4.65 MILES
Dwarfed by the surrounding tower blocks, this quaint Taoist temple is an island of calm in the midst of the city. The compound has expanded significantly…
4.95 MILES
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…
5 MILES
Originally built in 1276 and completely rebuilt to current form in 1690, after decades of neglect Kunming's Confucian Temple has undergone extensive…
5.15 MILES
Originally built more than 400 years ago, this mosque was ripped down in 1997 in order to build a larger version, which is now one of the five largest in…
5.46 MILES
The East Pagoda is a Tang structure that was, according to Chinese sources, destroyed by an earthquake (western ones say it was destroyed by the Muslim…