Code: KUNMING10

3 Days Trip to China-Vietnam Border

Route: Kunming → Mengzi → Pingbian → Hekou
Day 1 Kunming to Mengzi
In the morning, you should first take a high speed train from Kunming to Mengzi. Everyday there are 14 trains running from Kunming Railway Station or Kunming South Railway Station to Mengzi Railway Station. The train No. C8331 is recommended.

Departure: 8:23 at Kunming South Railway Station
Arrival: 11:23 at Mengzi Railway Station
Travel Time: 3 hours
Ticket Fare: CNY 65 for second class seat; CNY 105 for first class seat

Local Hani People
Upon arrival at Mengzi, leave your heavy bags at the left luggage department in the railway station, and then start your way to visit today’s first destination – the Yuanshi Cave.

How to get there: First, take bus line 18 or 32 from Mengzi Railway Station to Mengzi Coach Station, taking 35 minutes and costing CNY 2 per person. A taxi for this way takes 20 minutes and costs CNY 20. From Mengzi Coach Station, you can take the bus to Mingjiu Town, which departs at 8:10, 9:10, 9:40, 13:30, and 17:40, taking 1 hour and costing CNY 7. Arriving at Mingjiu Bus Station, you can walk 15 minutes to the Yuanshi Cave.
Features: With tall, straight ancient pine trees, fruit trees, flowers and plants and dancing butterflies, the scenery of Yuanshi Cave is natural and attractive. There are about 123 steps to climb to the entrance of the cave, but once you are there you will appreciate the splendid karst scenery.
Top Attractions: Mountain Gate, Lingguan Palace, Hengjing Terrace, Guizhen Temple, Sanyi Palace, Fire God Palace, Baiyu Tower…
Opening Hours: 9:00 – 18:00
Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 to 2 hours
Ticket Price: Free

When you finish exploring the cave, go back to Mengzi and visit the South Lake.

How to get there: Take a taxi from Mengzi Coach Station to South Lake Park in 20 minutes at a cost of CNY 10.
Features: South Lake, located in the southern part of Wenlan Town in Mengzi County, was formed by the accumulation of natural rain water. It was called Weir Pool during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), and there were three isles named Penglai, Fangzhang and Yingzhou.
Top Attractions: Yingzhou Pavilion, Monument to Revolutionary Martyrs, Osmanthus Causeway, Chrysanthemum Garden, Lansheng Tower…
Opening Hours: 8:00 – 23:00
Recommended Time for a Visit: 2 hours
Ticket Price: Free


South Lake – the Birthplace of Cross-bridge Rice Noodles

The famous Cross-bridge Rice Noodles are said to originate from this lake. Long long ago, a man prepared for the imperial examination on Yingzhou Isle. His wife brought him meals every day. However, their home was far from the isle, and the dishes had turned cold by the time she got to him. One day, she took some chicken soup, rice noodles, and vegetables for her husband. Surprisingly the soup had not turned cold because it was covered by a layer of oil. The man added the rice noodles and vegetables into the hot chicken soup, and enjoyed the delicious warm meal. The name Cross-bridge Rice Noodles was given because the woman had to cross a bridge to get to her husband's study room on the Yingzhou Isle. When you are visiting Mengzi, remember to have a taste of the authentic rice noodles.

In the evening, pick up your luggage at the railway station and take a taxi to Mengzi Coach Station to catch a bus to Pingbian County and stay overnight there. Please note that the last bus leaves at 19:30.

Bus Hours: 6:00-19:30
Frequency: every 30 minutes
Distance: 75 km (47mi)
Duration: 1.5 hours
Fare: CNY 20

Day 2 Dawei Mountain in Pingbian
Get up early and visit the Dawei Mountain Natural Reserve, which is 18 km (11 mi) from Pingbian County. Dawei Mountain boasts immense primitive forests, as well as rare plants and animals.

How to get there: A taxi from Pingbian County to the mountain takes 10 minutes and costs CNY 8 to 10. Before 16:00, there are vans running from the gate of Pingbian County Government to the mountain, costing CNY 5 per person.
Recommended Touring Route: There are three routes to explore the mountain, the outer, middle and inner routes. The inner and middle routes are in good condition, allowing visitors to walk under canopy of trees. The outer route is comparatively poor, but is closer to the primitive forests. Remember to follow the signposts, as it is easy to get lost in the dense forest.
Opening Hours: 8:00 – 18:00
Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 day
Ticket Price: CNY 40

We suggest that you stay until late afternoon to enjoy the charming sunset in the forest, and then take a taxi back to Pingbian County. If time permits, you can stay overnight at a local guesthouse on the mountain and catch a glimpse of the sunrise the next morning.

Day 3 Hekou at China-Vietnam Border
In the early morning, catch a bus to Hekou at the south border of Yunnan.

Bus Schedule: 9:00, 10:00, 10:30
Distance: 97 km (60 mi)
Duration: 2 hours
Fare: CNY 27

Hekou Yao Autonomous County is located on the border between China and Vietnam. The most famous attraction here is the Vietnam Street, where various Vietnamese products are sold. You can also sample the food from Vietnam. Check-in at a local hotel for the night or go back to Pingbian in the evening.

 Itineraries Involved:
Yunan Highlights: 8 days of Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-La
Kunming Extension Tour: 6 days of Kunming - Jianshui - Yuanyang - Kunming