Kunming

City of Eternal Spring · 昆明

Kunming sits 1,900 metres up in Yunnan and lives up to its nickname — spring temperatures most of the year, plum and camphor trees on every corner. It is the gateway to the Stone Forest and the overland route into Dali and Lijiang, and its Green Lake teahouses are the softest possible landing in China's southwest.

Best time to visit: March–October; mild all year

Visas: Australian passport holders currently enter China visa-free for up to 30 days — an arrangement scheduled to end on 31 December 2026, so confirm the rules for your travel dates.