Kunming, Yunnan

 Our first trip to China, Yunnan Kunming.

Awaiting my first holiday for 2026 at the SATs lounge in Terminal 3 which is quite packed today. Wide range of food, including laksa and congee. Just took some salad and the coffee hazelnut cake is so nice! However the green bean soup and orange juice pales. Love Krisflyer lounge which has cocktail but this is not too bad.

Nice shower suites. You can ask reception for a towel. The hairdryer is also available.

The gate is so far away from the lounge. Think 10 to 15 mins walk.

On the plane. Ordered the Chinese dim sum but given the Western set instead.

 

Drink menu on the plane. Didn't get any at the end. 

Given 2 packs of mixed nuts.

The sky is already bright at 6am as we approached Yunnan.

Arrived in Yunnan. We needed to fill up the arrival card online to obtain the QR code. The queue through the immigration was almost an hour! Jing Jing 昌昌waited for us at exit 5 and gave us a rose each.

Picked up from the airport and checked into Howard Johnson Life Guandu. I signed the contract with the tour agent Shi Jie 施杰 and paid him the balance. 

Our very first Didi accessed from Wechat. I am really impressed with Wechat. Not only for chat but also payment and private car hire. A must app to install in China.

The rose biscuits and the ham biscuits were so good from the 2 shops. Bought from Jiahua the original rose and ham. Still pipping hot. From the second shop assorted ham biscuits. Pine seeds with ham, rose with ham, mushroom with ham and the original. Equally nice but not as hot. Very crispy and love the ham! The ham biscuits were sold out when I tried to go back to Jiahua to get more.

Love the ham biscuits. 

The rose and Jasmine coffee from this 4 vats cafe is good too!

Hubby had this korean rice. A bit shocked he wanted yo eat Korean food in Yunnan on our first day.

Yunnan Ethnic Village showcases the culture and customs of 26 ethnic minorities in Yunnan, including the Dai, Bai, Yi, Naxi, Wa, Bulang, Jino, Lahu, Tibetan, Jingpo, Hani, De'ang, Zhuang, Miao, Shui, Nu, Mongolian, Buyi, Dulong, Lisu, Pumi, Manchu, Hui, Yao, and Achang. Visitors can experience unique exotic customs and learn about different ethnic cultures.

We were lucky to engage Anna, from the Dai tribe, as our in-house guide. She actually studied in the university training teachers but would like to venture into tourism as a guide.

The children house built around the mother's house. 

Look at how the woods are joined without the use of nails.

The beautiful architecture of the Bai tribe

Really marvel at the marble used and craftsmanship of the Bai. There are even paintings on the ceilings.

Went through a tea appreciation session. The tea is not acidic at all. It can be brew many times and came from old trees and not shrub. The leaves are compacted into stone like and we love the taste. However, it is rather expensive at 800 yuan half a kilo.

Display of the Wa tribe real water buffalo skulls, showing off their wealth as well as seekimg protection. The drumming is really nice. The wooden drum (known as Sigang) is not just an instrument, but the legendary birthplace and savior of the Wa people.

I am so impressed by this artist from Bai tribe.

Her carving is so awesome. Bought the home carving for 480 yuan. So amazing to see her carvings!，It took her 3 days to finish this carving. There are the words peace with the family in harmony (家和万事兴) within the word family (家).

A replica of a well being protected.

Me and our in-house guide, Anna, in her tribal village Dai Tribe. 

Lovely performance.

Lunch at 桥香园林 tryimg out the famous Cross the bridge noodle. Nice chicken soup base boiled for 4 hours with big bones

Went back to the hotel to get some sleep as we could not do so on the plane. Next stop Guan Du Anxient town. 

Bought the flower head garland from the street vendor.

Another meat biscuit. Still feel that the ham biscuit is still nicer.

Took a didi to Shuangqiao Night Market.