On the upper reaches of Xi Shan, the 'Dragon Gate Scenic Area' is a collection of pavilions, temples and grottoes scattered along the mountaintop. The highlight is the eponymous Longmen Grottoes, a series of passages carved deep into the cliffside between 1781 and 1835, punctuated with small shrines and incredible views across to Dian Chi lake.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
12.55 MILES
The Golden Temple Scenic Area is equal parts religious space, forest park, botanical garden and open-air sculpture museum; it covers 118 hectares on the…
8.09 MILES
Tucked away atop a winding mountain road up the forested hills northwest of the city centre, this serene temple is definitely one to be visited by…
7.13 MILES
Originally built in 1951, this museum's relocation in 2015 gave it a thoroughly modern 60,000 square metres of exhibition space. Displays span the…
1.11 MILES
The courtyard of the Ming dynasty Taihua Temple houses a fine collection of flowering trees, including magnolias and camellias, and is a popular to place…
7.95 MILES
Come here to people-watch, practise taichi or just hang with the locals and stroll through winding lines that meander through the 22 hectares of ponds and…
1.64 MILES
Towards the bottom of the mountain is Huating Temple, a country temple of the Nanzhao kingdom believed to have been constructed in the 11th century. It’s…
9.81 MILES
China's largest flower market is a riot of colours and smells, and a charming place to wander for an hour and see the diversity of species on offer. Try…
8.27 MILES
This Zen Buddhist temple is the largest Buddhist complex in Kunming and a popular draw for both pilgrims and locals. It’s more than 1200 years old, but…
Nearby Kunming attractions
0.06 MILES
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…
0.1 MILES
One of the topmost publicly accessible points of Xi Shan, this large pavilion inside the Dragon Gate scenic area offers breathtaking views of Dian Chi…
1.11 MILES
The courtyard of the Ming dynasty Taihua Temple houses a fine collection of flowering trees, including magnolias and camellias, and is a popular to place…
1.64 MILES
Towards the bottom of the mountain is Huating Temple, a country temple of the Nanzhao kingdom believed to have been constructed in the 11th century. It’s…
5. Yunnan Nationalities Museum
2.14 MILES
On the northeast corner of Diān Chí, the Yunnan Nationalities Museum is reputedly the largest minorities museum in China. The ground-floor exhibition of…
6.95 MILES
This Tang pagoda can't be climbed, but it is a good spot for people-watching, with all manner of tea-drinking and mahjong games going on in the adjacent…
7.1 MILES
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…
7.13 MILES
Originally built in 1951, this museum's relocation in 2015 gave it a thoroughly modern 60,000 square metres of exhibition space. Displays span the…