Kunming 昆明

Kunming lies on the shores of Dianchi Lake, surrounded by green hills. Thanks to its mild climate – rarely too hot, rarely too cold – it is known as the "Spring City", and flowers bloom here all year round. As the capital of Yunnan and the gateway to Southeast Asia, it is where most of our trips begin and end.

Take your time here: watch the locals dance in Green Lake Park in the morning, stroll under the purple jacarandas in spring, and see thousands of seagulls from Siberia gather on the lake in winter. Within a few hours you reach the Stone Forest, the caves of Jiuxiang and the red earth of Dongchuan.