Xishan Forest Park

#yunnanspots ，Xishan Forest Park, also called Western Hills, is basically Kunming’s mix of nature, temples, and staircases that exist solely to test your life insurance. The place is gorgeous, misty cliffs over Dianchi Lake, temples carved into rock, and pavilions where poets once wrote verses, probably while gasping for air from the hike.

The famous Dragon Gate grottoes were hand carved by monks with infinite patience and apparently zero hobbies. Today you can admire the intricate details while wedged between selfie sticks and snack vendors who turn enlightenment into a concession stand experience.

Locals call it ‘having the beauty of Sleeping Beauty’s profile,’ which is poetic until you realize the only thing sleeping is your left leg from climbing so many stairs. Cable cars and chairlifts exist for the lazy or the sane, but even then you’ll still end up walking enough to question all your life choices.

It’s crowded, it’s touristy, and it’s exhausting, but the views over Dianchi Lake are spectacular if you catch a clear day. Just don’t expect serenity, expect cardio disguised as culture, with side effects of vertigo and existential dread. Highly recommended.

Post by KrisAdventure_19 | Oct 10, 2025