Kunming Dragon Gate

The basics

As you’d expect in China, Kunming Dragon Gate is well set up for tourists. You can make life easier by riding a chairlift up the mountain from Western Hill park headquarters and walking down, or explore entirely on foot. The scenic area around the Dragon Gate grottoes houses scores of different pavilions and temples, so visiting with a guide can save time: Quite a few Kunming city tours visit Dragon Gate.

There’s no charge to enter the Western Hills or the Haigeng Park areas, but you’ll need to buy a ticket for Dragon Gate. There are additional charges for both the chairlift and the gondola that runs over Dian Lake.

Things to know before you go

• Kunming Dragon Gate is a must for photographers, history buffs, and nature lovers.

• Wear comfortable shoes: Even if you take the chairlift up and walk down, and only focus on the Dragon Gate rather than the site as a whole, you’ll still be dealing with hundreds of steps.

• While there are no restrooms in the Dragon Gate complex itself, the surrounding scenic area has bathrooms, as well as food and drink options.

• Kunming Dragon Gate is not suitable for travelers with mobility issues.

• Parents traveling with small children should opt for slings or back carriers, not strollers.

How to get there

Kunming Dragon Gate sits in the Western Hills, south and west of Kunming. If you’re visiting the Yunnan Nationalities Village, you can ride a gondola across the lake to the park entrance; otherwise, catch the metro to Western Hills (line 3), and pick up a shuttle bus to the scenic area.

When to get there

Kunming Dragon Gate is usually open from morning until late afternoon, with slightly extended opening hours in summer. It’s one of the most popular attractions in a provincial capital, so plan your visit for midweek, not weekends, and avoid the Golden Week holidays at the start of May and October. Arriving soon after opening can help beat the crowds.

Around Kunming Dragon Gate

The hills above and below Kunming Dragon Gate are home to a wealth of temples and pavilions. The Lingxu Pavilion, which is higher than Dragon Gate, offers sweeping views across the lake with fewer crowds than the grottoes; the Sanqing Pavilion is a Taoist temple with imperial heritage; Huating Temple in the Western Hills, but outside the scenic area, is a brightly colored temple with some gorgeous gilded Buddhas.