Kunming Transportation Guide – How to Get to & Travel around Kunming

Kunming City is the transportation hub of Yunnan Province. When tourists start their Yunnan travel, they usually go to the provincial capital Kunming first and then to other parts of Yunnan‌.

As the central city of western China and the gateway connecting Southeast Asia and South Asia, Kunming has formed a comprehensive three-dimensional transportation system with interconnected highways, railways, and aviation. In this guide, we will not only include the ways to get to Kunming, but also the transportation to the popular attractions in Kunming and nearby cities, helping you enjoy a smooth trip.

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• Get to Kunming by Air
• Get to Kunming by Train
• How to Travel Around
• How to Pay for Public Transportation
• Transportation to Popular Attractions and Nearby Cities
• Travel with China Xian Tour
• FAQs

Get to Kunming by Air

The most convenient transportation to Kunming is by plane. Kunming Changshui International Airport is the only airport serving the city. It is one of the eight major regional hub airports in China and an international aviation hub. It operates routes to 189 domestic and international destinations, including 61 international and regional destinations. The number of destinations in South Asia and Southeast Asia ranks among the top in China.

• Location: Dabanqiao Street, Guandu District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, about 24.5 kilometers northeast of Kunming
• Domestic Destinations: Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Xi’an, Wuhan, Changsha, etc
• International Destinations: Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne

Kunming Airport Transportation

Visitors can travel from Kunming Airport to the city center easily by subway, airport express, and city buses.

Rail Transit

Kunming Subway Line 6 (Airport Special Line): The one-way travel time is about 25 minutes and the ticket price is CNY 6 – 7/USD 1. There are a total of 8 stations, with a 6 – 10 minute train interval. The daily operating hours are from 06:20 to 23:00.

Airport Express

The Airport Express is an airport shuttle bus that connects Kunming Airport with the city center. Now, there are mainly two routes of shuttle buses.

Surrounding City Bus

At present, there are shuttle buses to the surrounding areas of Kunming, including Stone Forest, Qujing, Chuxiong, Yuxi, Luoping, Xuanwei, Mile, Wenshan, Dongchuan, Chengjiang, etc. The specific departure time and route information shall be subject to the announcement by the on-site staff.

3 DAYS

3 Days Kunming Tour with Jiuxiang Cave & Stone Forest

📅 3 Days + 2 Nights 🚡 Cable Car 📍 Kunming

Discover Kunming Jiuxiang Cave underground palace, UNESCO Stone Forest bizarre rock formations, Western Hills views over Dianchi Lake, and Yunnan ethnic diversity at the Nationalities Museum.

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Get to Kunming by Train

Now, Kunming has two main railway stations: Kunming Railway Station and Kunmingnan Railway Station. Kunming Railway Station is located in the downtown area and mainly operates normal trains, while Kunmingnan Railway Station is about 35 km from the city center and is predominantly served by high-speed trains.

Kunming is connected to almost all major tourist cities in China by high-speed train, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, etc. For tourists from nearby cities, the train is more convenient.

Kunmingnan Railway Station

• Address: 328 Lian Street, Chenggong District, Kunming
• How to get there: Kunming Subway Line 1 & 4.

Kunming Railway Station

• Address: 1 Beijing Road, Guandu District, Kunming
• How to get there: Kunming Subway Line 1 & 4.

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4 Days Kunming Dongchuan Red Land Tour

📅 4 Days + 3 Nights 📍 Kunming

Capture brilliant red earth terraces of Dongchuan at sunrise and sunset, explore the UNESCO-listed Stone Forest, and hike Kunming's scenic Western Hills.

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How to Travel Around in Kunming – Public Transportation

During Kunming travel, if you want to go to popular attractions, you can take the subway, taxi and bus. Shared bicycles are a popular way to travel around, especially when you plan to explore Dianchi Lake.

Kunming Subway Lines

Now, a total of 6 subway lines are in operation in Kunming, covering most major attractions, the two train stations and the airport. The cost ranges from CNY 2 – 9/USD 1 based on the travel distance. It has become the major way to get around Kunming.

Taxis & Ride-hailing Cars

For first-timers and tourists who are not familiar with Chinese navigation apps, taxis and ride-hailing cars are more convenient. To book a ride, the most recommended app is Didi. It works much like Uber/Lyft in China. The app provides the English interface and supports international credit cards, so it is very easy to use for foreigners.

Below is the cost and travel time to popular destinations by taxi based on the common area for hotel options, Green Lake Park and Nanping Street.

How to Register the Didi App?

Step 1: Download the app

Step 2: Register with your overseas phone number and upload your passport information to complete the identity verification.

Step 3: Add your international credit card or debit card to the payment methods.

Tips: If you have installed WeChat or Alipay, you can also use the mini-program. The process is the same as above and you can pay by WeChat and Alipay directly.

Kunming Bus Routes

There are many urban Kunming transport routes, which mainly serve as the connection between the subway stations and scenic spots.

In addition, Yunnan Kunming Transportation Group has also launched multiple sightseeing bus routes, such as the circum-Dianchi Lake tour route and seasonal tour route, providing tourists with a more convenient and comfortable travel experience during their Kunming tours.

Shared Bicycles

Kunming is very suitable for cycling around, and the shared bicycle has been an important choice for free exploration. In the main districts, there are about 125,000 shared bicycles. It is very easy to find one. The rental fee is also cheap, about CNY 1 – 1.5 for one hour. You can enjoy a slow ride and stop to explore the stores you are interested in at any time.

The cycling infrastructure in Kunming is also very complete. The most famous is the 108-kilometer-long greenway built around Dianchi Lake. It connects 63 wetland parks, forming a spectacular cycling route. And the shared bicycle can allow you to start this picturesque scenery at any time. Besides, if you go to the attractions which are a little bit far from the subway stations or attractions that are close to each other, riding a bike can save time and avoid fatigue from waiting for a bus, traffic jams and walking.

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8 Days Yunnan Pu’er Tour with Kunming & Xishuangbanna

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Sleep in a tree house surrounded by animals in Pu'er, explore the Tea-horse Ancient Road heritage, and learn coffee production at Xiaowazi Coffee Manor with your family.

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How to Pay for Public Transportation in Kunming

Subway/Bus: QR Code

The digital QR code is the most common and convenient payment method, you can obtain the code in the mini-programs of WeChat and Alipay. After registering with your passport and binding your international credit card, you can scan the code to take the subway and bus. The fee is automatically deducted from the card. There is no need to recharge or return the deposit.

Taxis/Ride-Hailing: QR Code and Cash

When taking the taxi, cash and QR code payment are the two main methods. And WeChat Pay or Alipay is supported by almost all the taxis. If you book a car through ride-hailing apps like Didi, the payment methods are more diverse. Wechat, Alipay and bank cards are all available. A taxi ride from Kunming Changshui Airport (KMG) to Green Lake Park costs about CNY 70 and takes about 40 minutes. And the journey from Kunming Train Station and South Train Station to downtown Kunming takes about 33 minutes/10 minutes and costs CNY 60/CNY 10, respectively.

Transportation to Popular Attractions and Nearby Cities

Transportation to Popular Attractions in Kunming

To Haigeng Dam of Dianchi Lake: First, take Subway Line 5 to Yinghai Rd. Station, exit A. The station is only about 3 km from the Dam. You can take bus line 171 or take a taxi to the Dam directly. On weekdays and holidays, a free gull watching bus line is also in operation to transport tourists between the subway station and the Dam.

To Green Lake Park: Subway Line 5 is the most direct way without transfers. You can get off at Huashan West Rd. Station, leave from exit B and walk about 500 meters to the south entrance of the park.

To Western Hills Scenic Area: Subway Line 3 has a stop at the scenic area, called Western Hills Park Station. The entrance of the park is right next to the exit A of the metro station.

To Yunnan Ethnic Village: Yuhu Cun Station of Subway Line 5 is the closest subway station to Yunnan Ethnic Village. After getting off, take bus line 24 or 44 at the bus stop near exit A to the scenic area directly, which is only 2 bus stops away.

To Guandu Ancient Town: Tourists need to get to Erji Road Station by Subway Line 1 first. After exiting from exit A, hop on bus line 169. Just 4 bus stops, you are there.

To Stone Forest: Stone Forest is relatively far from the city. To get there, tourists need to take the high-speed train or direct bus.

1. High-speed train + bus/taxi: You need to take the train to Shilin West Train Station first, which takes about 20 – 30 minutes and costs CNY 18 – 28.5/USD 3 – 4. After arrival, transfer to bus line 99 or take a taxi to the scenic area. The cost of the bus is CNY 10/USD 1 and a one-way trip takes about 50 – 70 minutes. A taxi is faster with a travel time of about 30 minutes and a fare of CNY 20/USD 3.
2. Direct bus: It departs from Kunming East Passenger Station and transports you to the scenic area directly. The ticket price is about CNY 30/USD 4 and the duration is about 1.5 hours.

Transportation from Kunming to Other Major Cities in Yunnan

During your Yunnan tours, you may plan to extend your trip to other tourist cities, like Dali, Lijiang, Xishuangbanna and Shangri-La. The transportation from Kunming to these cities is as follows:

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6 Days Yunnan Tour to Lijiang, Shangri-La, Kunming

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Explore Lijiang UNESCO Ancient Town and Mufu Palace, Shangri-La Tiger Leaping Gorge and Songzanlin Temple, and Kunming Stone Forest and Western Hills in six enriching days.

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Plan Your Kunming Tour with China Xian Tour

Do you want to enjoy a carefree travel in Kunming? Contact China Xian Tour. We can tailor a trip specially for you and book the hotels and tickets in advance. If you do not know which scenic spots are worth visiting, our travel consultant can also introduce the famous attractions and give you some recommendations. Then we can include the ones you prefer in the itinerary. So do not hesitate to contact us.

FAQs about Kunming Transportation

What is the difference between Kunming Railway Station and Kunmingnan (South) Railway Station, and how do I transfer between them?

Kunming Railway Station is located in the city center and mainly operates normal-speed trains and bullet trains to the cities inside Yunnan Province. South Railway Station is a high-speed train station, which offers bullet trains to the major cities outside the province. To transfer between the two stations, you can take subway line 1.

Which train station should I use to travel to other major Yunnan cities like Dali, Lijiang, or Xishuangbanna?

Kunming Railway Station has more trains to Dali and Lijiang, while South Railway Station offers more trains to Xishuangbanna.

Is the Kunming Metro system easy for a foreign visitor to use, and is there English signage?

Yes, it is. Because the self-service ticket purchasing machine and all the signboards are bilingual, and the cabin also provides Chinese and English broadcasts.