{"id":15669,"date":"2017-11-24T02:00:15","date_gmt":"2017-11-24T01:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/?p=15669"},"modified":"2022-05-23T15:08:22","modified_gmt":"2022-05-23T14:08:22","slug":"traveling-kunming-city-eternal-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/traveling-kunming-city-eternal-spring\/","title":{"rendered":"Traveling to Kunming – The city of eternal Spring"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Stone Forest near the entrance – photo by Matteo Bosi<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Capital of the green province of Yunnan, Kunming<\/strong> has earned the title of Spring City<\/em>, the city of eternal Spring, because it enjoys a mild climate all year long. But it’s not just due to the climate that Kunming attracts visitors: among all the large cities, it is the most livable place in China<\/a>, fully immersed in the country and its culture. <\/p>\n

In other words, although almost 4 million people live there and it’s in full modern development, it isn’t as international a city as Shanghai<\/a>: it has something more \u201cprovincial\u201d that makes it pleasant on a human scale and the various ethnic groups weave together in a social mesh; it is most definitely not the inferno of smog that Beijing often turns into.<\/a><\/p>\n

At the same time, moreover, a few dozen kilometers from the city center it will seem that you’ve gone beyond the borders of time to find villages where they still struggle with running water and electricity.<\/p>\n

This and more is part of Yunnan<\/a>: among the most varied regions in China in ethnic terms, where you can fully appreciate the proximity of Southeast Asia; but it’s also a southern area battling to keep up with the developed East and boasts a breathtaking territory that has still been preserved. Perhaps for exactly this reason development has been delayed.<\/p>\n

For a brief tour or long voyage in Yunnan, Kunming is the starting point. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Flowers in the Stone Forest – photo by Rita Andreetti<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

When to go to Kunming<\/h2>\n

Kunming’s climate is pleasantly welcome all year round. Even during winter the thermometer will almost never reach less than 8-10\u00b0, and this makes the city a perfect place to live without risking arthritis from the cold and incurable colds. The rainy season, which goes from May to October, is moderate in the sense that there are no monsoons. <\/p>\n

This perfect weather is due to the city’s position: at 1800 meters above sea level, in a well protected plain coddled by the mountains. Considering its position, I recommend that you keep in mind that the sun is strong at this altitude in all seasons. And how pronounced a difference there is in temperature between day and night, which favors sweet dreams even when the heat is in force.<\/p>\n

Therefore, besides the usual recommendations about the Chinese holiday calendar which teaches us to avoid long stretches of February and October, all times are good to visit Kunming. Nevertheless, the shoulder seasons are the best: from April to May and from October to November.<\/p>\n

\"\"Singular turtles at Yuantong Temple – Photo by Matteo Bosi<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How to get to Kunming<\/h2>\n

Arriving by air<\/h3>\n

Kunming is reached by a fabulous airport which as an architectural feat (signed by SOM) is already an appealing draw in and of itself; it is called Changshui International Airport (\u6606\u660e\u957f\u6c34\u56fd\u9645\u673a\u573a)<\/a>. Being located at a strategic location for connections with Southeast Asia<\/a>, Kunming is a main hub for the rest of Asia.<\/p>\n

Internal flights to and from all China are available at all times<\/a>. Among connections with other tourist sites in Yunnan they are quite efficient: given the distance and condition of some streets and the (current) lack of high speed rail lines, air is the main way for visiting Yunnan, so long as you aren’t looking for an \u201cadventure trip\u201d.<\/p>\n

The airport is well served both by the metro<\/strong> (line 6) and shuttle bus<\/strong>. The shuttle bus lines cost 25 Yuan per trip and connect various points in the city.<\/p>\n

The taxi<\/strong> takes a little more than a half hour without traffic and for less than 100 Yuan you’ll get to your destination.<\/p>\n

Arriving by train<\/h3>\n

Kunming is connected for a few years now to China’s largest cities by a fast train that arrives at the high speed station Kunming South Railway Station<\/a> (\u6606\u660e\u5357\u7ad9). While internal connections with the gaotie<\/em> are being built, vice versa, leaving from Beijing or Shanghai you can get there in a little more than 10 hours! Specifically:<\/p>\n