Xishan Forest Park｜A great hiking destination with a panoramic view of Dianchi Lake

🌿Xishan Forest Park has dense vegetation and a very high forest coverage rate. Walking along the hiking route, tall trees block out the sun. From the high place you can overlook the magnificent scenery of the city and the beautiful Dianchi Lake. The mountains and water are interdependent, which is intoxicating. 🌟 Four major hiking route highlights 1⃣ Classic Scenic Route (Newbie Friendly) Route: Tea-Horse Flower Street→Nie Er's Tomb→Longmen Grottoes→Lingxu Pavilion Highlights: Bluestone road + panoramic view of Dianchi Lake + cliff carvings, check in "Once you climb the Dragon Gate, your wealth will increase a hundredfold" Time required: 3 hours (3 km one way) Photo spot: Longmen "Datian Pavilion" overlooking Dianchi Lake, wearing Hanfu to take photos of knights 2⃣ Wild Adventure Line (Advanced) Route: Gaoyao Ancient Ferry→Taihua Ancient Road→Xiaoshilin→Maomaoqing Highlights: Original dirt road + ancient trees and mosses + overlooking Kunming city, encountering a group of squirrels Time required: 4 hours (loop 8 km) Hidden gameplay: Eat pepper chicken at Maomaoqing Farmhouse (40 yuan per person) 3⃣ Night climbing stargazing line (niche romance) Route: Subway Station → Huating Temple → Qianbu Cliff → Lingxu Pavilion Highlights: City night view + Milky Way observation (best after the 25th day of the lunar calendar every month) Essentials: headlamp/flashlight, windproof jacket, it is safer to travel in a group 4⃣ Cultural tracing line (parent-child study) Route: Xu Xiake Memorial Hall→Yulan Garden→Nanyang Machinery Workers Memorial Highlights: Footprints of Ming Dynasty travelers + World War II history education, scan the QR code to listen to the audio explanation Interaction: Spring tree adoption at Magnolia Garden (100 yuan per tree, with a special name tag) 📍 Address and Transportation Address: Xishan Scenic Area, Xishan Highway, Xishan District, Kunming City Metro: Take Line 3 to Xishan Park Station, Exit A, and walk 5 minutes to the entrance of the scenic area Bus: Take bus No. 6, 51 or 94 to Gaoyao Station and transfer to the scenic area bus (12.5 yuan one way) Self-driving: Navigate to "Xishan Forest Park Parking Lot", parking fee is 10 yuan/day (parking spaces are tight on weekends) Cycling: Cycle along Caohai Greenway to the entrance of the scenic area and visit Dianchi Wetland along the way ⏰ Best time to hike: All seasons Spring (March-May): Flowers bloom in the mountains, Dianchi Lake has no blue algae, and the water is clear. Autumn (September-November): The best season to see the colorful forests and enjoy the panoramic view of Kunming from a height Recommended time of day: 7:00-9:00 in the morning: Avoid the crowds and enjoy the beautiful morning light shining through the Longmen Grottoes 15:00-17:00: The setting sun gilds the Dianchi Lake, and you can take a photo of the silhouette of the Sleeping Beauty Mountain ⚠ Notes Ticket price: The scenic spot is free! But the ticket price for Longmen Grottoes is 30 yuan (half price for students) Cable car: Dianchi Lake - Longmen one-way 60 yuan, electric car one-way 10 yuan Safety Tips: Some sections of the wild route are steep, so wear non-slip hiking shoes and bring trekking poles It is forbidden to climb over the guardrail! There have been falls in the cliff area Dressing suggestions: Quick-drying clothes + sun hat, the ultraviolet intensity in Xishan is 30% higher than in the urban area Bring at least 1 liter of drinking water with you in your backpack. There is only a small shop on the mountain (mineral water is 5 yuan per bottle). Environmental Convention: No smoking on the entire mountain! Littering carries a maximum fine of $500 Do not feed wild macaques (concentrated around Taihua Temple) Cultural taboos: In the Longmen Grottoes, Taoist sites, do not point at the statues, but donate to the merit box. Please remain solemn in front of Nie Er's tomb and avoid making noise or taking photos.