Free Tour in KM’s Historic Heart: From Yunnan U to Yuantong Temple

We will meet at the gate of Yunnan University and begin our walk through Kunming’s most historic campus. Here, we will visit Huize Hall, a nationally protected cultural heritage site. We will also see traces of the old imperial examination system 300 years ago.

Then Wenhua Alley, once home to some of China’s most distinguished scholars during WW II, now a lively street that reflects both the local and international sides of Kunming. You will see small local shops selling honey-roasted chestnuts and chrysanthemum rice noodles, as well as Salvador’s Coffee House, a well-known café connected to the international student and traveler culture.

Our next stop is the Yunnan Military Academy, another nationally protected cultural heritage site. We can visit the museum inside if you like, or simply enjoy its beautiful French classical-style architecture from outside.

Then we will arrive at Green Lake, where locals play mahjong, sing, play instruments, dance, and write calligraphy with water on the ground. The final stop will be Yuantong Temple, one of Kunming’s oldest and most beloved Buddhist temples, known for its unique layout and long history as a spiritual landmark of the city.