By Air 
Airport code: KMG
Location: Kunming Wujiaba International Airport lies in the southeastern outskirts of Kunming City, only about four kilometers (about 2.5 miles) away from the downtown area.
Brief intro: One of the most important and busiest airports in China, Kunming Wujiaba International Airport was built in 1923. After a series of renovations it has become a beautiful modern airport, with a 58,000-square meter (about 14 acre) Waiting Building, 34 gates, 17 Waiting Halls, one airstrip and a 250,000-square meter (about 62 acre) parking lot. Within the airport there are restaurants, shops, a small flower market and other services. From the Kunming International Airport you can fly to 74 domestic and international destinations.
Facilities
Restaurants
There are cafeterias and restaurants providing you both traditional Chinese food and western food service.
Lounge
Tel: 0871-7116333 or 0871-7116444 or 0871-7116339 (for domestic service)
0871-7115896 (for international service)
Service
Ticketing
It is located on 2 F in the Waiting Building.
Airport ticket selling phone: 0871-7112191
General desk for ticket booking: 0871-7114277 or 0871-7114278
Information counter
You can find it on 2 F of the Waiting Building.
Tel: 0871-7114300
Baggage storage and a bank are also available on the 2 F of the Waiting Building. There are also ATMs on 1 F for your convenience.
Transportation: Civil aviation buses commute between the airport and downtown; ticket price for the 20-minute trip is 15 to 20 Yuan. In addition, public buses Nos. 52, 67 and 103 serve the area for 1 Yuan per person (2 Yuan if air-conditioned); the operating time is from 06:00 to 22:00. Taxis also make the airport-city run for 15 to 20 Yuan.
By Train
Kunming has four railway stations. The main one is the Nanyao Station, about four kilometers (about 2.5 miles) from the center of the city, which would take about 10 yuan within 15 minutes by Taxi to. Trains to Dali, Yuxi etc., run every day. The Ticket Booking Office is at No. 19, Kunshi Lu, hours of operation is from 8:00 to 17:30.
On June 1st, 2007, two groups of inter-city trains started operation between Kunming and Qujing (the second largest city in Yunnan Province and located to the west of Kunming) directly. The trains are fitted with the high-grade EMU (Electric Multiple Unit), which makes the passengers' journey feel smoother, safer and more comfortable. Each of the trains has four carriages which can hold 372 people. Of those, 244 are hard seats and 128 are soft seats. The fare for the hard seat is CNY 20 and for the soft seat is CNY30. The entire trip takes only 106 minutes.
Second is the North Railway Station, about three kilometers (about 1.9 miles) north of the city center. This station is important for tourists who plan to travel to Vietnam for here you can make a trip further to Hanoi (two departures every week on Friday and Sunday).
Important notice: It is impossible to get your Vietnam Visa in Kunming. Be sure to obtain your Vietnam visa in Guangzhou, Beijing, or other major city in advance if you are planning a trip to Vietnam.
Yunnan Province is vast; train travel requires much more time than air travel. However, if you are not in a hurry, train travel offers beautiful scenery along the way.
Train tickets can be booked in most hotels in Kunming city; or you can book tickets 7 days prior to your departure at a railway station ticket office, 8:00 to 17:30.
By Long-distance Bus
Highway transportation has developed rapidly in Kunming. Highways radiate to places inside and outside Yunnan Province, as well as to neighboring countries. You can also choose long-distance buses to Kunming from Beijing (National Highway 108), Lanzhou (213), Shanghai (320), Fuzhou (324) or other cities.
While there are many bus stations in Kunming, for safety we recommend that tourists take buses at well-operated stations.
Kunming Passenger Transport Bus Station is the first choice of tourists. Here are both common and luxurious buses to most sites inside Yunnan Province.
Location: in the south end of Beijing Lu, neighboring Nanyao Railway Station
Dongju Passenger Transport Bus Station
Address: 65, Dongjiao Lu
Gaokuai Passenger Transport Bus Station (Yunnan Tourist Passenger Transport Bus Station) operates bus lines to Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Yuxi, etc.
Address: 663, Minhang Lu
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Travelers' Voices on Getting to Kunming
1.
Oct. 30,2009 15:31 Reply
Mrs.Aree(Thailand) said:
I and a group of 17 senior want to travell in Kunming-Dali- Lijiang Shangri-la including the gracier which I cann't remember in a private group. How can I rent a vehicle with a driver including the local guide who can accompany our group that will start from Kunming thoughtout the route for 10 days?
Nov. 9,2009 20:16
Mr.franklin(China) replied:
we can provide such sevice: 7 to 18 seaters vans rent
( with experinced drivers and local guides speak good English , or with a driver who can speak good English .)
Could you tell us when you're coming ?
Contact us : franklinyang0606@sina.com.
0086 13888769979
0086 0871 6477398
2.
Oct. 11,2009 15:08 Reply
Ms.Tan said:
How much would it cost to rent a car with driver for 7 days to drive to dali and Lijiang and Shangri, la and back to Kunming?
Oct. 13,2009 01:26
Mr.Jamie replied:
See my reply below. Hope it helps.
3.
Oct. 11,2009 15:06 Reply
Ms.Tan(Singapore ) said:
We are planning to visit Yunnan mid Dec. We are a group of 5 adults and 2 children. Is it convenient to go from Kunming to Dali and then to Lijiang by train? How long does it take? Or is it more advisable to rent a car with a driver/guide? Will travelling to dali and Lijiang by car be tootedious for children
Oct. 13,2009 01:25
Mr.Jamie replied:
Yes, but the time is a bit longer. It takes 8.5-9 hours from Kunming to Dali, but only 4.5 hours by bus. Dali to Lijiang railway is just open and it takes over 4 hours to Lijiang from Dali. It costs about 800RMB to rent a car from Kunming to Dali and Lijiang. I suggest you go by bus. If you plan to visit some places like Lugu Lake, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shangri-La, Cangshan and Erkai Lake, you can consider to rent a car from each place.
4.
Sep. 13,2009 03:08 Reply
Mr.Danny D(Israel) said:
how easy it is to get a taxi at 11pm from Kuning Airport to the city?
Sep. 13,2009 23:01
Mr.S M Istiak(Bangladesh) replied:
I want to visit Kunming from Hanoi on 13 November 09 at evening by Train or Bus. Is it possible to me? How much cost/fare and time will be involved? I want to back in Hanoi on 15 November. Please let me know the situation.
S M Istiak
istiak@shrimpfoundation.org
Oct. 6,2009 13:25
Mr.Gerd(Germany) replied:
Hi Danny, it's quite easy to find a taxi close to the airport. The problem is, that the drivers are usually not able to talk, read or understand english language. So it is adviseable to print the name of your hotel/destination in advance in chinese letters to show it to the taxi driver.
5.
Sep. 11,2009 11:53 Reply
Ms.Houghton(USA) said:
Hello!
I have a layover for 4 hours in the Kunming Airport
What restaurants are avilabile?
thanks
Sep. 14,2009 22:49
Mr.Jerry replied:
Kunming is only about 5 km from the city center. You can just shuttle by a taxi. On the side of Cuihu Lake (Green lake), there are some popular western food restaurants.
Sep. 28,2009 08:22
Mr.willey(australia) replied:
I've been in Kunming for 2 days, and i found out that there's just a few person who can speak in english. Do you have any travel agency could recommand to me?
--Thanks--
6.
Sep. 13,2009 23:43 Reply
Mr.S M Istiak(Bangladesh) said:
I want to visit Kunming from Hanoi, Vietnam on 13 November 09 at evening by Train or Bus. Is it possible to me? How much cost/fare and time will be involved? I want to back in Hanoi on 15 November. Please let me know way to reach Kunming.
Best Wishes
S M Istiak
istiak@shrimpfoundation.org
Sep. 17,2009 01:15
Mr.Andy replied:
Yes, there is a train (No.5934)from Hanoi to Kunming at Friday and Sunday. November 13 id Friday, you can get the train at 7:25am and get to Kunming 21:30 the next day. You need to confirm the info in advance at Hanoi Railway Station. If you miss the train, you can take other trains from Hanoi to Hekou which is running every day. THen take bus or train to Kunming.
7.
Aug. 26,2009 08:33 Reply
Ms.Kathy(USA) said:
Hi,
Thank you for your response regarding buses from Kunming to Yuanyang. For the return trip, is there only one direct bus from Yuanyang to Kunming at 9:00am, or are there other buses? Also, do you arrange drivers for hire? If so, what would the cost be? We'd like to stay in Yuanyang overnight, possibly two nights. If it is easier to correspond via email, please let me know what email address I should write to.
Thanks!
Kathy
Aug. 28,2009 21:29
Mr.Shan replied:
As I know, there are three buses from Yuanyang to Kunming direct. But, for the uncomfortable sleeper bus, it is suggested that you take the route Yuanyang->Gejiu->Kunming. There are frequent buses leaving from Nansha, Yuanyang to Gejiu and then Gejiu to Kunming everyday. Not very sure about the cost for renting a car Yuanyang.
8.
Aug. 25,2009 14:10 Reply
Ms.Kathy(USA) said:
Hi, there,
I would like to go to Yuanyang from Kunming. Is there a direct bus between the 10:40 bus and the evening? If I have to connect, what is the fastest route?
Thanks,
Kathy
Aug. 25,2009 22:02
Mr.Sandy replied:
There are only three direct buses to Yuanyang every day. Except for the 10:40 bus, the other two are all night bus arriving in early morning next day. The night bus take much time on the way. If you do not want to take anyone of them, you can take buses to Gejiu. There is one bus to Gejiu from Kunming Nanyao Bus Station every 30 minutes and reach there about 4 hours later. Or get to Jianshui (about 3 hours) from Kunming first then change to buses to Xinjie, the old town of Yuanyang.
Aug. 28,2009 21:19
Mr.Shan replied:
Hell Kathy, there are three methods for your traveling from Kunming to Yuanyuan.
1. take the direct bus at Kunming Nanyao Bus Station you metioned, but only the one 10:40 leaving at daytime.
2. Taking bus from Kunming to Jianshui: 23 buses from 07:30~20:30 at an interval of about 20~30 minutes. The journey is around 3.5 hours and 70RMB>
Jianshui to Nansha, Yuanyang: minibus from 07:15~18:40 every 15~20 minutes. The journey is 3 hours and 31RMB. Nansha is the new part of Yuanyang, so if you would like to visit the terrace, please take a bus from the bus station to the Xinjie Town which is the old part of Yuanyang. The journey is about one hours and 10RMB.
3. Kunming to Gejiu: buses leave from 07:25~21:00 everyday. It takes about 4 hours on the way.
Gejiu to Nansha or Xinjie Town, Yuanyang: frequent minubus. The journey is jsut one hour.
9.
Aug. 24,2009 08:27 Reply
Mr.FATMANGO(Australia) said:
We arrive in Kunming on Sept.6 and would like to catch the night bus or train to Dali or Lijiang ASAP. Is it necessary to book in advance or is it easy to book on arrival?
Aug. 26,2009 03:09
Ms.Dora replied:
Do not need to book if traving by bus. Better book if traveling by train. However, it is not easy for foreign visitors to book the ticket, unless through a agency. You can get to Kunming railway station to ask if there is still tickets left, if not, you can get to the bus station by taxi to catch the buses. It is faster to take bus from Kunming to Dali, only about 4 hours. Recommend you go by bus, at Kunming Nanyao Bus Station. :-)
10.
Aug. 24,2009 05:03 Reply
Mr.osman(bangladesh) said:
hai,i want by train go guanzhou to kunming,because i need go kunming airport,i need which rail way station arrive,near for go kunming airport?
and by taxi how much,and where get texi,go to airport?
can you give idea.
thanks.
Aug. 25,2009 22:17
Mr.Jamie replied:
Guangzhou-Kunming trains can only arrive in Kunming Railway Station, which is the only major passenger railway station here. Kunming airport is within 5 km from the railway station. It costs about 15RMB to the airport. Very convenient and fast.