My 21 days Overland Border Crossing Train Rides from Malaysia > Thailand > Laos > China (Feb 10 > March 2 2025) - Pu'er / Kunming, China Feb 28 2025 (Day 19)

Pu'er Train Station, Yunnan, China 

Cuihu (Green Lake Park), Kunming

Jinma Biji Archway, Kunming, Yunnan

Kunming Laojie, Yunnan, China

Thursday Feb 27 2025 (Day 19 - Pu'er / Kunming) - took a DiDi car ride (CNY18) from our hotel to Pu'er Train Station for our train ride to Kunming; after hotel check-in & a light noodle lunch, we took a DiDi to Cui Lake & in the evening, visited the Jinma Biji Archway & the nearby old Kunming Laojie (Tongren Street) before retiring for bed ! A great start & a productive day for my group's 1st day in Kunming, my 4th visit to Kunming (past visits in 1998, Feb 2019 & Nov 2019).    

Ground Transport: 

1. Train (Pu'er > Kunming): CNY188 (Rm114 = US$25)
2. Didi cab (6 rides): CNY18 + CNY10 + CNY13 + CNY10 + CNY9 + CNY10 = CNY70 @ CNY17.50 (Rm10.60, cost sharing of 4)  
3. Food: CNY10 + CNY14 = Rm14.50

1) Pu'er Train Station, Yunnan

2) Boarding C332 train (CNY188) from Pu'er Train Station (ETD 09.30) > Kunming (ETA 12.30) Train Station for our final 3 nights stay in Kunming. 

3) Suburban Scenery from Pu'er > Kunming as viewed from a moving train.  

4) Arriving in Kunming Train Station (12.30) located right in the heart of the city nearer to the hotel we booked in Kunming. 

5) e-hailing a DiDi car (CNY10) besides Kunming Train Station > Dreamscape Rainbow Hotel, Chung Cheng Road, Kunming  for our hotel check-in. 

6) Hotel Accommodation (3 nights): Dreamscape Rainbow Hotel or Wonder Land (Kunming Station South Ring Road Subway Station, 202 Chungcheng Road, Kunming - room tariff Rm122 (US$27, twin sharing, 2 single beds) + Breakfast

7) Noodle lunch in a food stall nearby our hotel, savoured a bowl of rice vermicelli soup (CNY10 = Rm6) & my travel buddy KF Wong, a plate of fried rice with egg & smoked bacon (CNY15) 

8) South Ring Road Subway Station, Kunming - familiarisation visit in case we need to take Metro rides within the city. 

9) Downtown Kunming - familiarisation visit, leisure walk nearby our hotel & cityscape of downtown Kunming as viewed from a DiDi car ride. 

10) Cuihu Lake (Green Lake Park), Kunming - took a Didi car ride (CNY13) from nearby our hotel > Cui Lake, our first touristy place visit in Kunming after the hotel check-in. After the Cuihu visit, we  took a DiDi car (CNY11) back to our hotel for a rest. 

Cuihu Lake - originally a water reservoir for the city,  comprising of a group of 4 small lakes in an urban park in Kunming, the lakes are connected by traditional Chinese style bridges. In winter migratory birds from Siberia, Russia sought temporary abode in the lake for wintering ! Cuihu literally means Green Lake as the lake is surrounded by green trees & bamboos, nearby is the Yunnan Military Academy History Museum, my last visit to Cuihu was in Nov 2019 together with my wife. 

11) Flowers in full bloom, Cui Lake, Kunming

12) Migratory birds (black headed gulls) from Siberia, Russia in Cuihu Lake, Kunming - locals enjoy feeding these birds with breads either throw in the air or into the water to feed the gulls. 

13) Early dinner in our favourite food stall nearby our hotel, shared with my travel buddy, KF Wong a plate of stir fried green chili with pork & fried egg with onion (CNY14 x 2) + white rice. 

14) After our early dinner, we e-hailed a DiDi car (CNY9) to visit Jinma Biji Archway & Kunming Laojie (Tongren Street), beautiful colorful lighting & decor in these two touristy places; nice ambience, vibrant & lively, lots of visitors & a starry starry night ! 

15) Kunming Laojie (Tongren Street) - enjoy our evening stroll & window shopping ! 

16) Parkson Departmental Store & Supermarket (Malaysian owned), Bolian Plaza, Kunming - located nearby the Kunming Laojie, our last visit of the day before e-hailing a DiDi car (CNY10) back to our hotel !