Travelers weary from treks in Yunnan and Western China can easily find a few days' relaxation and fun in Kunming. Pleasant open-air spots abound in the City of Eternal Spring and the region's Dai and Yi peoples stage a number of colorful festivals and performances year round.

Bars & Clubs 

The provincial capital's residential east side is home to several teahouses, mainly near the Guanfang Hotel. Try some Yunnan tea and settle into a card game or a good book. Livelier options can be found in the Kundu bar area near Dongfeng Xi Lu. Evening welcomes crowds to the area's bars, karaoke venues, discos and video arcades. Bars like Fengqing Island and the Cool Bar host live music and you can grab cheap beers at Hump on Jinbi Lu or dig the DJ at Café de Camel. The city has a large foreign student population, and the bars and cafes around Green Lake (Cui Hu) and near the university are good bets - try the Black Knight Club or Camel Bar.

Museums & Galleries 

The Yunnan Provincial Museum displays the area's famous bronzes, Buddhist art and ethnic minority arts and crafts. The Kunming Museum focuses on the city's history, specifically the fates of the various ancient cultures that lived around Lake Dian. The excellent Yunnan Nationalities Museum is found on the northeastern side of Lake Dian and houses costumes, jewelry and artifacts. Smaller, contemporary art galleries, like the Upriver Club, cluster around Jinbi Lu.

Performing Arts 

The Kunming Theatre puts on nightly 8:00 p.m. performances by the Song and Dance Ensemble of Yunnan. In the Yunnan Nationalities Village, across from the Yunnan Nationalities Museum, costumed performances of local songs and dances take place several times each day.

Festival & Events 

Festivals play an important role in the lives of Kunming's people. The Yi Torch Festival takes place in mid-summer, on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month. The Dai celebrate their Water Splashing Festival in April, sprinkling water on one another for good fortune, "bathing the Buddha", dancing, singing and racing dragon boats. The Dai also gather at the Triple Pagoda Temple every March or April for the Third Month Fair (also known as Avalokitesvara's Festival). Horse racing, opera performances, folk singing and dancing enliven the fair's central market. Finally, it only makes sense that the City of Eternal Spring hosts a flower festival - check out the World Horticultural Expo Garden's late-September Kunming International Flower Festival.