Kunming district, Yunnan, China

Places to visit near Kunming

Kunming is a city in Kunming district, Yunnan, China, home to about 3,855,346 people. Within 50 km by road there are 214 places to visit — 78 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 53 forts & heritage, 19 hill stations & viewpoints and 15 museums. The must-see places are Kunming City Museum (1 km), Zhu de Former Residence (2 km) and Yuantong Temple (2 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Kunming on the map

Kunming, Yunnan
Kunming, Kunming district, Yunnan, China. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Kunming at a glance

Location
Kunming district, Yunnan, China
Population
about 3,855,346
Coordinates
25.0389° N, 102.7183° E
Places within 50 km
214 (27 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for museums

Top places to visit near Kunming

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Kunming: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Kunming

Things to see near Kunming, by type

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Kunming

80 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Kunming. The closest is Green Lake (3 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Yunnan →

Forts & heritage near Kunming

54 forts & heritage within 100 km of Kunming. The closest is 尚义街小白楼 (1 km); the best-known is Zhu de Former Residence (2 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Yunnan →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Kunming

19 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Kunming. The closest is 第二观赏平台 (13 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Yunnan →

Museums near Kunming

18 museums within 100 km of Kunming. The closest is Kunming City Museum (1 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Yunnan →

Buddhist sites near Kunming

12 buddhist sites within 100 km of Kunming. The closest is Yuantong Temple (2 km). Best time: october to march.

All buddhist sites in Yunnan →

Caves near Kunming

8 caves within 100 km of Kunming. The closest is 防空洞 (11 km). Best time: year-round.

All caves in Yunnan →

A one-day trip from Kunming

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 9 km on the road.

  1. Start in Kunming
  2. 1 km Kunming City Museum · museum, Kunming
  3. 3 km Yuantong Temple · Buddhist site, Kunming
  4. 1 km Kunming Waterfall Park · waterfall, Kunming
  5. 1 km Zhu de Former Residence · heritage site, Kunming
  6. 1 km 三一国际礼拜堂 · church, Kunming
  7. 2 km Back to Kunming

Plan a longer trip from Kunming — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Kunming

No traveller has reported from around Kunming yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Kunming

    All places near Kunming by distance

    Within 15 km of Kunming

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Kunming by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs7880Green Lake (3 km)
    Forts & heritage5354尚义街小白楼 (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints1919第二观赏平台 (13 km)
    Museums1518Kunming City Museum (1 km)
    Buddhist sites1212Yuantong Temple (2 km)
    Other attractions88Huize Hall (3 km)
    Caves88防空洞 (11 km)
    Temples66Confucius Temple (2 km)
    Waterfalls45Kunming Waterfall Park (3 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens24Yunnan Safari Park (11 km)
    Mosques & dargahs44Jinniu Street Mosque (1 km)
    Churches33Zion Church (1 km)
    Parks22Daguan Park (6 km)

    Kunming: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Kunming?

    Kunming City Museum (museum, about 1 km), Zhu de Former Residence (heritage site, about 2 km), Yuantong Temple (Buddhist site, about 2 km), 三一国际礼拜堂 (church, about 2 km), Kunming Waterfall Park (waterfall, about 3 km), Yunnan Military Academy History Museum (museum, about 3 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Kunming?

    214 places on Spotwander: 78 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 53 forts & heritage, 19 hill stations & viewpoints, 15 museums, 12 buddhist sites.

    Which is the nearest lake to Kunming?

    Green Lake, about 3 km by road; 大黑箐水库 (7 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Kunming?

    尚义街小白楼, about 1 km by road; Desheng Bridge (0 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Kunming?

    第二观赏平台, about 13 km by road; Dove Rock (15 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Kunming?

    Start in Kunming, visit Kunming City Museum, then Yuantong Temple, then Kunming Waterfall Park, then Zhu de Former Residence, then 三一国际礼拜堂, and drive back — about 9 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Kunming?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for museums.

    Towns near Kunming

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Kunming’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Kunming on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.