6-Day Kunming Luoping Self-Drive Tour

After arriving at Kunming Changshui International Airport, your guide will pick you up and transfer you to a 4-star hotel in the city.

Recommended Activity: After a short rest, you can explore the old town of Kunming on foot. Starting from the hotel, you can see Jinma and Biji Archways along the way—these two Ming Dynasty archways are symbols of old Kunming. When the lights come on at night, it’s a great place for night photography.

Continue to Kunming Old Street, where traditional buildings like the Ma Family Courtyard and Fulin Hall stand along the stone-paved road. Try a hot bowl of Douhua Rice Noodles at Liuhuan Snack Shop for an authentic taste of Kunming.

• Dianchi Lake - Yunnan Ethnic Village
• 4+ star hotels
• Breakfast/Lunch

Depart in the early morning for the Stone Forest Scenic Area. Start with the Major Stone Forest section. Key sites include “Sword Peak Pond,” where the stone peaks reflect in the water like swords, and the “Stone Forest Scenic Wall” with calligraphy by Long Yun (a popular photo spot).

Then continue to the Minor Stone Forest to find the “Ashima” stone peak, which is linked to the origin of the Sani ethnic legend. The guide will also explain how this place was used as a filming location for the story of “Monkey King trapped under the Five Elements Mountain.”

In the afternoon, drive about 3 hours via the Shantou-Kunming Expressway to Luoping County. During rapeseed flower season (late February to early April), golden flower fields can be seen along the way, spreading out like a giant carpet to the horizon.

In the afternoon, head to Jinji Peaks, the most iconic rapeseed field area in Luoping. Thousands of cone-shaped hills are scattered among the flower fields. You can rent a bicycle to ride through the fields or climb to the viewing platform at Lingyan Temple to take sunset photos, where the peaks and flower fields look beautiful in the evening light.

After breakfast, go to Jiulong (Nine Dragons) Waterfall Scenic Area. There are 10 waterfalls in layers. The main “Shenlong Waterfall” is 56 meters high and 112 meters wide. On misty days, you may see rainbows.

Take the cable car to the top and walk down the wooden path, visiting places like “Lovers' Waterfall” and “Double Dragons Playing with Pearl.”

In the afternoon, drive to Duoyi River Scenic Area. Take a bamboo raft along a 12-km river section. On both sides are Bouyei villages built by the water, with old trees and over 40 waterfalls hanging like silver chains.

If visiting during the third day of the third lunar month, you can join the Bouyei Water Splashing Festival.

Return to Luoping in the evening. Recommended local dish: “Sour Bamboo Fish,” made by stewing river fish with bamboo shoots. The taste is sour, spicy, and fresh.