Kunming Outskirts, Dongchuan Red Earth & Mile

Based in Kunming, a week linking the Stone Forest, a night in Dongchuan's red earth and the red-brick town of Mile.

The city section covers the old town, Green Lake and Xishan and Dianchi Lake. The surroundings include three distinctive day or two-day trips: the Stone Forest, the Dongchuan red earth and Mile. Dongchuan is about 3 hours one way and you will want to shoot both sunrise and sunset, so spend a night at Huashitou Village. Mile is about 1 hour by high-speed train, so you can do it as a day trip. Suited to visitors with a week to spare who love photography and architecture.

Dongchuan's red earth is most colourful in May–June and September–December. Winters are windy, and early mornings and evenings are cold.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrive & stroll Nanping Street old town

Kunming City（Jinma & Biji Archways / Nanping Street、East and West Pagodas、Kunming Old Street (Wenming Street)、Nanqiang Street）

Take the metro from the airport to Dongfeng Square, about 1 hour. Walk around the Nanping Street area in the afternoon.

Stay: Nanping Street, Jinma Biji Archway

Day 2 · Jiangwu Hall & Southwest Associated University

Kunming City（Green Lake Park (Cuihu)、Yunnan Military Academy、Former Site of National Southwestern Associated University、Wenlin Street & Wenhua Lane）

Walk or take a bus about 15 minutes from Nanping Street to Green Lake, then walk around the area.

Stay: Nanping Street, Jinma Biji Archway

Day 3 · Stone Forest & Naigu Stone Forest

Kunming City（Stone Forest (Shilin)、Naigu Stone Forest）

Take the bullet train from Kunming South Station, about 20 minutes to Shilin West Station, then a scenic-area bus. Return the same way in the evening.

Stay: Nanping Street, Jinma Biji Archway

Day 4 · North to Dongchuan for the red earth sunset

Dongchuan Red Land（Damakan、Qicai Slope、Luoxia Valley）

Charter a car or self-drive about 3 hours to the red earth. Shoot at the various viewpoints in the afternoon, and reach Luoxia Gully by evening.

There are few guesthouses on the red earth, so book ahead in peak season. Temperatures drop sharply in the mountains at night.

Stay: Huashitou Village

Day 5 · Red earth sunrise, then back to Kunming

Dongchuan Red Land（Yuepu'ao、Jinxiu Garden、Huashitou Village）

Shoot the sunrise nearby in the early morning, visit two or three more spots in the morning, then drive about 3 hours back to Kunming in the afternoon.

Winds are strong at sunrise, so bring a windproof jacket.

Stay: Nanping Street, Jinma Biji Archway

Day 6 · Day trip to the Mile red-brick town

Mile（Dongfengyun Art Town、Huquan Eco Park）

Take the high-speed train from Kunming South Station, about 1 hour to Mile. Visit Dongfeng Yun and Huquan by taxi or charter, then return by high-speed train in the evening.

Dongfeng Yun is about 20 km from Mile Station, so you will need a taxi or chartered car.

Stay: Nanping Street, Jinma Biji Archway

Day 7 · Xishan Longmen & Haigeng, then departure

Kunming City（Western Hills & Dragon Gate、Dianchi Lake / Haigeng Dam）

Take a taxi about 40 minutes to Xishan in the morning. Ride the cable car down to Haigeng Dam, then head to the airport, about 1 hour.

Schedule today's flight for after 4 p.m.

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