Lake Dianchi

» Kunming, Yun Nan

Lake Dianchi Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

The Lake Dianchi scenic area is located in the southwest part of Kunming City. Lake Dianchi lies in the center of the resort. The lake was so named for an ancient Dian tribe living in this area.

What to visit

Lake Dianchi has a long history. In the Warrior Period, a Dian State was built in this region. Lake Dianchi with crystal clean water, ripple lake surface, boats sailing on the lake looks like a glittering pearl set on a mountain basin and reflects the surrounding mountains the blue sky. The area around the Lake Dianchi is clustered with sights of either beautiful scenery or rich cultural heritage. These include the Yunnan Ethnic Villages, Daguan Park, Baiyukou Park, Haigeng Bank, Kwan-yin Hill, Xishan Forest Park, temples and pagodas. Towns, big or small near the lake provide visitors with an opportunity to experience customs of the local people.

Lake Dianchi

Lake Dianchi is about 300 square kilometers (74,132 acres). It is the largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province and the sixth largest one in China. With picturesque scenery and its location on the Yungui Plateau, the lake has a reputation as 'A Pearl on the Plateau'. Unfortunately, the lake has been badly polluted. Although efforts have been made to save the lake, they have been largely unsuccessful.

The lake is crescent-shaped, about 39 kilometers (24 miles) in length and 13 kilometers (8 miles) in width at widest. Its natural banks are formed by mountains on all four sides. More than twenty rivers nurture the lake which has a shoreline of 163.2 kilometers (101 miles). Four surrounding hills contribute to the picturesque landscape, making visitors intoxicated and linger around. You may appreciate the beauty of the lake and hills from a boat, and explore this cradle of Yunnan culture.

Yunnan Ethnic Villages

The village acts as a good shortcut to understand the social customs of the ethnic groups in Yunnan. It has a natural sun-bathing area where you can escape from the heat of summer. Twenty-five ethnic nationalities have their respective villages and conduct many activities to present their unique folkways and beautiful clothes. Also you can enjoy the water screen movie and an elephant performance, have a taste of the local dishes and buy pretty handicrafts.

Daguan Park

Daguan Park is vibrant with rock gardens, pavilions, bridges and murmuring water. It is famous for the longest couplets in China on the Daguan Pavilion. The Daguan Pavilion was built in the year 1828. It commands a lovely view. The couplet written in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), contains 180 characters brimming with literary grace. During festival evenings, gatherings take place here.

Baiyukou Park

Baiyukou Park is on the west bank of Lake Dianchi. Here a small hill looks like a white fish opening its mouth to Lake Dianchi. Near the Irregular shore line, beautiful gardens are hidden among green trees. In spring, the cherry trees are in blossom, adding luster to this serene place. Overlooking Lake Dianchi, you can see white sails of boats on the glistening lake and gulls skimming over the waves.

Haigeng Bank

Haigeng Bank is about four kilometers (2.5 miles) long while ranging in width from forty meters (131 feet) to three hundred meters (984 feet). The bank, like a floating jade belt, is in fact a watershed of the Lake Dianchi. Slender willow twigs sweep the lake in the gentle breeze. In the south is a wonderful natural swimming pool which is always crammed with people in midsummer.

Kwan-yin Hill

Kwan-yin Hill is bordered by the vast lake and has an altitude of 2,040 meters (6,693 feet). Lofty peaks on this hill seem to thrust themselves straight towards the sky. A Kwan-yin Temple built here in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was once a popular resort of Buddhism. Remaining are a seven-tier brick pagoda, houses, and a gate to the Kwan-yin Temple.

When to visit

• Best Time to Visit: The place is most beautiful in spring when sakura flowers bloom and it looks brilliantly red everywhere.

• Recommended Time for a Visit: Half a day is enough if tourists do not take a boat to view the lake. The lake is surrounded by high roads. Tourists can also rent a bicycle and ride around the lake, which takes longer time.

Attractions around » Kunming, Yun Nan

Natural Scene

• Stone Forest
• Lake Dianchi
• Black Dragon Pool

Historical Site

• Golden Temple
• Yuantong Temple
• Qiongzhu Temple

Cultural Site

• West Hill
• Village of Ethnic Culture
• Grand View Tower
• Green Lake Park

Nightlife

• Kundu Bar Street

Day Entertainment & Sports

• Lake View Golf Club
• Spring City Lake Resort

Shopping & Leisure

• Kundu Bar Street

Lake Dianchi Highlights

Lake & Spring in Great China

• West Lake
• Lake Kanas
• Lake Namtso
• Lake Qinghaihu
• Lake Yamdrok
• Huaqing Pool
• Crescent Spring
• Lake Qiandaohu
• Lake Xuanwuhu
• Lake Taihu
• Slender West Lake
• Lake Hongfenghu
• Lake Dianchi
• Lake Luguhu
• Heavenly Lake
• Butterfly Spring
• Lake Erhai
• Longsheng Hot Spring National Park
• Lake Bitahai
• Lake Shuduhu
• Lake Napahai
• Red Carp Pond
• Hupao Spring
• Black Dragon Pool
• Lake Karakuli
• Tianhe Pool
• Lake Dongtinghu
• Baotu Spring
• Lake Daminghu
• Yuquan Park
• Lake Bosten
• East Lake Scenic Area

Lake Dianchi FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. Is Kunming's weather like Spring all year round?

  Transportation

1. Noitce this when you take a bus
2. Noitce this if you plan to rent a car

  Shopping

1. Avoid buying fake goods
2. If you have bought some ivory or ivory handicrafts...

  Travel

1. Is it safe to travel in Kunming?

  Other Hints

1. Tips for you to have a pleasant tour in Kunming
2. Is it easy for me to make a call?
3. Toilet Facilities
4. Keep healthy
5. Emergency
6. Useful Numbers

• Is Kunming's weather like Spring all year round?

  Kunming belongs to the subtropical plateau monsoon climatic zone; the annual average temperature is 14.7 and the yearly precipitation is 1,024 mm. It has the best climate of all Chinese cities, popularly known as the "Spring City". Kunming does not have severe winters or hot summers and the natural features of the four seasons are clearly defined. For the visitor, this means that Kunming is in bloom all year and a year round destination.

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• Noitce this when you take a bus

  Stand close to the door to get off at the next stop, otherwise, the bus driver does not stop.

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• Noitce this if you plan to rent a car

  Foreigners must have a Chinese driver's license. We suggest tourists rent a car with a local driver to avoid going crooked road.

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• Avoid buying fake goods

  Fake goods are prevalent on the streets of Kunming and while they might seem like tempting purchases, beware that you could be faced with their being impounded and charges brought against you when attempting to bring them back into your home country.So, please try to avoid buying goods from peddlers on streets. Instead, please choose large stores as your shooping places.

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• If you have bought some ivory or ivory handicrafts...

  As a rule, ivory and ivory articles are forbidden to be taken out of China. In China, bring out ivory articles or ivory carving needs strict checkup. The testimonial issued by relative governmental department is required.

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• Is it safe to travel in Kunming?

  The city of Kunming is a safe place to be with low levels of crime and few obvious threats to visitors. Like any big city however, it has its rogue element so the usual caveats with regards to pickpockets and bag snatchers apply. Keep money, wallets, purses and personal items of value well hidden and in hard to reach places. Avoid frequenting run-down or sparsely populated areas especially at night and be particularly conscientious with regards to personal safety if you are a lone female traveller.

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• Tips for you to have a pleasant tour in Kunming

  You should also wear sunglasses to shad their eyes from ultraviolet ray.

  When the lack of oxygen at high altitude occurs, it is necessary to take good rest or receive treatment by sucking oxygen.

  The southwest is an area where the minority nationalities live in compact communities and their culture, customs and habits vary from place to place. Attention should be paid to the following situation.

  • The Dai nationality resent outsiders entering their stockade village on horse back;
  • in the Jingpo village, the place where the Jingpo (Chingpaw) nationality hang the ox head cannot be touched;
  • when seeing logs placed at the door of the va (wa) nationality, one must avoid putting on short pants, must not step on the threshold, not to spit in the presence of other People and what is more, one must not hurt animals and birds at random.



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• Is it easy for me to make a call?

  While public phones are easily found in small shops along streets in Kunming, we suggest tourists make low-cost IDD or DDD calls in post offices or telecom buildings.

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• Toilet Facilities

  Most toilets in Kunming charge no more than 0.5 yuan. Tourists can find free sanitary toilets in some large department stores or fast food restaurants.

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• Keep healthy

  Be wary of where you choose to eat in Kunming, hygiene standards at street vendors and some restaurants may not meet western standards and you could end up with a whole lot more than just a portion of fried rice if you're not careful.

  Water from the tapsshould be avoided for drinking purposes and for brushing teeth and bottled water, which is cheap, can be found everywhere and should be used instead.

  Health care in Kunming's public hospitals is below what is considered international standard so visitors requiring medical care are advised to make use of the newly-opened Richland International Hospital.

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Emergency Numbers:

• Fire: 119
  
• Ambulance: 120
  
• Police: 110
  
• Traffic: 122
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Useful Numbers:

• Weather forecast of the scenic spots: 16800122
  
• Zip code inquiry: 3139491
  
• Consumption Complaint: 12315
  
• Kunming Tourism Complaint: 3164961
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