Kunming
Kunming, Yunnan’s Spring City on Dianchi Lake, works as a soft gateway before highland transfers to Shangri-La, Deqin, and the wider Songtsam circuit. Changshui Airport and high-speed rail make short stays practical; Xishan and the lake suit quieter hotel nights than the densest downtown blocks. Book lake-adjacent hotels early around national holidays, and leave buffer time for mountain drivers when the itinerary continues north.
Places