Scenery around Dianchi Lake

Dianchi Lake is the largest freshwater plateau lake in Southwest China. Like a crescent moon, it quietly lies on the edge of Kunming City. The beautiful lake and mountains make it a dazzling calling card of Kunming. Recommended attractions 1. Haigeng Dam: Winter is the best time to watch black-headed gulls. Every winter, tens of thousands of black-headed gulls gather here, and the scene of flying all over the sky is extremely spectacular. The dam has a wide view and faces the Xishan Scenic Area across the water. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains and the black-headed gulls dancing together. It is located on the north side of the intersection of Guanjing Road and Hongta West Road, Xishan District, Kunming City. It is open all day and no tickets are required. 2. Haihong Wetland Park: From November to February every year, the dawn redwoods gradually turn red, perfectly blending with the water scenery and black-headed gulls, as if you are in an oil painting world. You can also go boating in the dawn redwood forest. It is located on Hubin Road, Xishan District, Kunming City. It is open all day and no tickets are required. 3. Whale Island: Located next to Quhai Haigeng Village in Jinning District, near the south bank of Dianchi Lake, at dusk, the sunset and afterglow dye the sky with gorgeous colors, and the sea presents a charming blue tone. Open all day, no tickets required. 4. Laoyuhe Wetland Park: A national wetland park with dawn redwoods connected into a large area. They are green in spring and summer and fiery red in autumn and winter. You can walk, bike, or jog on the long slow-walking path, or you can row a boat through the dawn redwood forest. It is located on the west side of the intersection of Huanhu East Road and Qixing Road, Chenggong District, Kunming City. It is open from 8:30–17:00 and no tickets are required. 5. Wangguan Wetland Park: It has vast lakes, dense wetland vegetation, and abundant animal and plant resources. Flowers are blooming all over the ground, reeds and aquatic plants are lush, and the lake plank road extends to Dianchi Lake. It is great for watching gulls and sunsets. It is located on Huanhu East Road, Guandu District, Kunming City. It is open from 7:00–19:00 and no tickets are required. Recommended food 1. Guoqiao Rice Noodles: The soup is fresh and delicious, and the ingredients are rich. You can taste it in many restaurants around Dianchi Lake. The average cost per person is CNY 20–30. 2. Fresh Flower Cakes: The filling is made of fresh flowers, the outer skin is crispy, and the floral fragrance is sweet. Jiahua Bakery and other stores sell them. The average cost per person is CNY 10–15. 3. Wild Mushroom Hot Pot: A Yunnan specialty. The soup base made from various wild mushrooms is fresh and rich. Be careful to eat in regular restaurants to avoid accidentally eating poisonous mushrooms. The average cost per person is CNY 80–150. Recommended accommodation 1. InterContinental Kunming: You can enjoy the lake and mountain scenery of Dianchi Lake. It is a landmark luxury experience hotel with Southeast Asian style, indoor swimming pool, etc. The price is relatively high, above CNY 800. 2. Kunming Lake View Hotel: You can enjoy flowers and private hot spring baths by Dianchi Lake. It has a golf course, garden restaurant, etc. The price is medium to high, CNY 500–800. 3. Yunhaiwan Hotel: Cost-effective. You can get a landscape king-size bed room or a comfortable twin room for more than CNY 100. It is close to Dianchi Lake and Xishan, and is surrounded by Sunac Resort. Travel tips 1. Best time to travel: It is suitable for travel all year round. November to March of the following year is the best time to watch seagulls. 2. Transportation: You can take buses No. 24, 44, 73, 94, etc. to Dianchi Haigeng Park; there are also tourist special lines to go there, and the ticket price is about CNY 30; you can also take a taxi or drive by yourself. 3. Precautions: Pay attention to safety when feeding seagulls to avoid being pecked; the temperature difference between morning and evening by Dianchi Lake is large, remember to bring a coat; protect the environment and do not litter. 4. Itinerary: In the morning, go to Haigeng Dam to feed seagulls and enjoy the lake view, and taste the food nearby at noon; in the afternoon, go to Haihong Wetland Park to row a boat and take pictures; in the evening, go to Whale Island to enjoy the sunset. Or go to Laoyuhe Wetland Park in the morning to stroll and watch seagulls, and go to Wangguan Wetland Park in the afternoon to watch the sunset. In Dianchi Lake, you can interact closely with black-headed gulls, feel the vitality of nature, and enjoy the picturesque lake and mountains.