Must-see attractions in Yunnan

  • 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…

  • 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.

  • Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang, Yunnan - stock photo
The Peak of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Mountain) in Lijiang, Yunnan, China

    Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

    Lijiang

    Jade Dragon Snow Mountain soars to some 5596m, and the massif's thirteen peaks dominate the skyline of the surrounding regions. Undeniably beautiful, 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • White Bamboo Shoot Pagoda

    Xishuangbanna Region

    Surrounded by bamboo stands and rubber plantations, this pagoda dates back to 1204 and is Damenglong’s premier attraction. According to legend, the pagoda…

  • Octagonal Pavilion

    Xishuangbanna Region

    On the outskirts of the village of Jingzhen (景真, Jǐngzhēn), about 14km west of Menghai, is the Octagonal Pavilion, first built in 1701. The original…

  • 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…

  • Sea of Heat

    Yunnan

    A steamy collection of hot springs, geysers and streams (but no actual sea), located about 12km southwest of Tengchong. The cost of admission allows you…

  • Diān Chí

    Kunming

    The shoreline of Dian Chi, located to the south of Kunming, is dotted with settlements, farms and fishing enterprises, and tourist resorts. The lake is…

  • Dai Minority Park

    Xishuangbanna Region

    This was once the part of Menghan that everyone in this region came to experience, primarily for its classic temples and Dai families hosting visitors in…

  • Pudacuo National Park

    Shangri-la

    China's first national park, this collection of small mountain lakes is about 25km east of Shangri-la. From the visitor centre, a 20-minute bus ride drops…

  • Yunnan Nationalities Museum

    Kunming

    On the northeast corner of Diān Chí, the Yunnan Nationalities Museum is reputedly the largest minorities museum in China. The ground-floor exhibition of…

  • Báishuǐtái

    Yunnan

    Baishuitai is a series of limestone travertines around 108km southeast of Shangri-la, with some breathtaking scenery and Tibetan villages en route. For…

  • Volcano Park

    Yunnan

    Hike to the top of Tengchong's dormant volcanoes and peer down into the former inferno; it's all very verdant now, but the view's still nice. Though on a…

  • 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…

  • Jade Peak Monastery

    Yunnan

    This small peaceful monastery at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain was established in 1756. Once home to Kublai Khan during his military travels…

  • 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…

  • Zhamei Temple

    Yunnan

    This quiet Tibetan monastery in Yongning village is worth a visit if time hangs heavy, although only a few lamas are in residence at any time. If you're…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Xìngjiào Sì

    Yunnan

    The only surviving Ming dynasty Bai Buddhist temple, this small but well-preserved shrine features five golden Buddhas that people come from far and wide…

  • Gyalthang Ringha Monastery

    Shangri-la

    One of the oldest Buddhist temples in Yunnan, local monks claim this small hilltop temple in a walled forest reserve is at least 500 years old and perhaps…

  • Nàpà Hǎi

    Shangri-la

    Some 7km northwest of Shangri-la you’ll find the seasonal Napa Sea, surrounded by a large grassy meadow that pushes right up to the mountains. Between…

  • Yunnan Railways Museum

    Kunming

    Adjacent to the North Railway Station, this admittedly niche museum uses artefacts and historical images to conduct visitors through a broad history of…

  • 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…

  • Bǎijī Sì

    Shangri-la

    For the best views over Shangri-la, head to this delightfully named and little-visited temple. The temple has a couple of monks inside and a handful of…

  • Dieshuihe Waterfall

    Yunnan

    On the western edge of town, this large park is a pleasant place for a stroll or a picnic. Just inside the entrance is the small Xianle Temple (仙乐观,…

  • 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…

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