Yunnan
Surrounded by lush pine forest, this Buddhist temple on the edge of Laifeng Shan National Forest Park feels like a secluded sanctuary yet remains a hub of…
Must-see attractions in Yunnan
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Yunnan
Baishuitai is a series of limestone travertines around 108km southeast of Shangri-la, with some breathtaking scenery and Tibetan villages en route. For…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Kunming
Adjacent to the North Railway Station, this admittedly niche museum uses artefacts and historical images to conduct visitors through a broad history of…
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…
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,…
Yunnan
Exhibits here are heavy on artefacts and historic photos of the Tea Horse Road era, but light on English signage. The main reason to visit is the building…
Yunnan
This is Ruili’s oldest stupa, dating back to the middle of the Tang dynasty. It's about 8km southwest of town in the village of Jiexiang (姐相, Jiěxiāng).
Yunnan
Newly refurbished, Chaoyang Gate is an imposing Ming edifice that guards the entrance to the old town. Modelled on the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan and the…
Yunnan
The town of Feilaisi has grown up around the small but interesting Tibetan temple of the same name (Naka Zhashi Gompa in Tibetan), devoted to the spirit…
Kunming
Originally built in 1276 and completely rebuilt to current form in 1690, after decades of neglect Kunming's Confucian Temple has undergone extensive…
Kunming
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…
Lijiang
The home of a Naxi chieftain, the Mu Family Mansion was heavily renovated (more like built from scratch) after the devastating earthquake that struck…
Laifeng Shan National Forest Park
Yunnan
On the southwestern edge of town, walk through the lush pine forests of this park to Laifeng Temple or make the sweaty hike on any number of dirt and…
Kunming
Towards the bottom of the Longmen area, this was a country villa of a Yuan dynasty prince that was later turned into a temple dedicated to the three main…
Yunnan
Constructed in the late Qing dynasty, this courtyard home is a superb example of three-in-one Bai folk architecture, in which one wall protected three…
Lijiang
The Museum of Dongba Culture houses displays on Naxi dress and culture, Dongba pictographic script, Lijiang's old town and the dubious claim that the…
Yunnan
Among the rice terraces at Yuanyang this was once one of the most mesmerising places to watch the sunset, but a recent landslide has sadly destroyed some…
Kunming
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…
Yunnan
This pavilion is notable for its prominent theatrical stage (古戏台, gǔxìtái), a real rarity in rural Yunnan: check out the dragon and phoenix ceiling mural…
Yunnan
This museum in Luoshui is set within the traditional home of a wealthy Mosuo family, and the obligatory guide will explain (in Chinese only) how the…
Yunnan
Built originally in the Ming dynasty in the year 1390, as the Han Chinese extended their reach into Yunnan. It's not possible to enter or climb this bell…
Yunnan
This pagoda is on the southwestern outskirts of Ruili on the main road. An attractive stupa set in a temple courtyard, it was established to mark the…
Yunnan
Hansha Zhuang Temple is an impressive wooden structure with a few resident monks and a brilliant golden roof. It’s about 5km southwest of Ruili, set a…
Yunnan
Mountain spring that gushes into three basins, with an impressive waterfall during the rainy season. The combination of the clear water and the stones in…
Kunming
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…
Yunnan
Constructed in the 1920s and funded entirely by donations from overseas Heshun residents looking to give back to their community, the local library holds…
Yunnan
This sizeable and well-kept temple is dominated by its statue of Confucius. The temple was where local candidates sat the notoriously difficult imperial…
Dali
Dali's attractive Confucian Temple is a 2014 reconstruction on the site of the original Qing dynasty structure, but the grounds are peaceful and there are…
