Encounter Red-billed Gulls by Dianchi Lake: 3 Days 2 Nights in Kunming · Experience the Poetic Spring City for 2000 RMB

Who says traveling in Yunnan has to be expensive? In autumn in Kunming, I completed a "slow-paced + high cost-performance" city micro-vacation with a 3-day 2-night, 2000 RMB budget. No rushing, no pitfalls, just the seagulls of Dianchi Lake, the lively old streets, the fragrance of flowers all over the city, and a gentle city that feels like spring all year round.

📍 Suitable for: students, budget travelers, city travelers wanting a short escape
💰 Total budget: 2000 RMB (per person | including transportation + accommodation + meals + tickets)

✈️ Transportation | about 800 RMB (example from Chengdu)
✅ Round-trip airfare: book 10 days in advance, special tickets 500-600 RMB round trip (Spring Airlines/Xiangpeng often have discounts)
✅ City transportation: mainly subway + bus + shared bikes, taxis only for short emergency trips, total controlled within 100 RMB
✅ Airport → city center: take subway Line 6 directly to Tangzi Alley, fare 5 RMB, 40 minutes

🏡 Accommodation | about 500 RMB (2 nights)
✅ Recommended: budget homestays or chain hotels around Nanping Pedestrian Street/Cuihu Lake (such as All Seasons, Home Inn Selected)
✔️ Excellent location, walking distance to shopping areas and attractions
✔️ Clean and comfortable, includes breakfast, average 230-260 RMB/night, 2 nights ≈ 500 RMB

🎯 Itinerary | Relaxed pace, no check-in tourism

📅 Day 1: First encounter with the city · Dianchi Lake + Haigeng Dam
✅ Arrive in the afternoon, check in and head straight to [Haigeng Dam] (free)
👉 Red-billed gulls have arrived since November! Feed the gulls, take silhouettes, watch Sleeping Beauty of Western Hills, full of leisure
✅ Dinner recommendation: [Qiaoxiangyuan Cross-bridge Rice Noodles] (58 RMB/person), authentic old brand
✅ After dinner, stroll through [Nanping Street Night Market], snack crawl:
✔️ Tofu pudding rice noodles 8 RMB
✔️ Grilled milk fan 10 RMB
✔️ Steamed chicken in pot (small portion) 35 RMB

📅 Day 2: A day in old Kunming · Cuihu Lake + Culture Alley + Yunnan Army Military Academy
✅ Morning: stroll in [Cuihu Park] (free), autumn lotus pond shadows, elderly singing Dian opera during morning exercise, very lively
✅ Visit [Yunnan Army Military Academy] (free, reservation required) — the pioneer of modern Chinese military schools, great for photos
✅ Lunch: [Wenlin Street small eatery] for a bowl of braised meat rice noodles + cold mixed tree flowers (30 RMB)
✅ Afternoon: hang out at cafes in [Culture Alley], recommended [Eleven Bookstore café], order a cup of Yunnan SOE coffee, read and listen to the rain
✅ Evening: climb [Western Hills Dragon Gate] (ticket 30 RMB, includes eco-friendly shuttle), overlook Dianchi Lake panorama, stunning sunset!

📅 Day 3: Dounan Flower Market + Return
✅ Morning: take subway Line 4 directly to [Dounan Flower Market] (Asia’s largest fresh flower market, free entry)
👉 Go before 9 AM for the freshest flowers! Buy a bouquet of roses + sunflowers + eustoma for 30 RMB, half the price of delivery platforms
👉 Can also visit [Laoyuhe Wetland Park] (free) nearby, enjoy autumn cycling
✅ Lunch: eat a bowl of pea soup rice at a snack stall near the flower market (15 RMB)
✅ Return according to flight, travel light, flowers can be taken on the plane (well packaged)

🍜 Meals total | about 350 RMB
✔️ Main meals ×4 ≈ 200 RMB
✔️ Snacks & coffee ≈ 100 RMB
✔️ Snacks & water ≈ 50 RMB

🛍️ Souvenirs | about 150 RMB
✅ Rose cakes (freshly baked loose) 40 RMB/jin
✅ Yunnan small bean drip coffee bags 30 RMB/box
✅ Pu’er tea sample gift box 80 RMB (can bargain at Zhuanxin Market)

📌 Tips:
✔️ Flowers at Dounan Flower Market are discounted in the afternoon but freshest in the morning
✔️ All attractions can be booked via WeChat to skip lines
✔️ Kunming has a big temperature difference between day and night, bring a light jacket

These three days, I waited for a seagull to land on my shoulder by Dianchi Lake,
heard the breath of the old city at Cuihu Lake,
and went home holding a bouquet of spring from the flower market.
Spending less than 2000 RMB, I gained a light and refreshing journey for body and mind—
Turns out, happiness is simple:
It’s the wind of Kunming, the warmth of rice noodles,
and this city softly saying to you:
“Welcome to come often.”