Kunming Transport Guide

Kunming Metro Lines 1–5. Take Line 5 from Daba Station to Haigeng Dam on Dianchi Lake; take Line 2 from Chuanxin Gulou Station to Cuihu Park. To get to Shilin: Take a bus from the Eastern Bus Station for 34 yuan (about 1.5 hours), or take the high-speed rail to Shilin West Station followed by a scenic area shuttle bus for 12 yuan. Simply scan the Alipay ride code to pay.

Base fare: 8 yuan (3 km). Short trips within the city cost 15–25 yuan. From downtown to Changshui Airport: 80–120 yuan (Line 6 of the subway is more convenient and cheaper). Using Didi is more reliable than hailing a taxi on the street.

Changshui International Airport (KMG): Metro Line 6 runs directly to the city center (about 40 minutes, 5 yuan). A taxi ride costs 80–120 yuan (about 40–60 minutes). The airport shuttle bus costs 25 yuan. The airport is about 25 kilometers from the city center.

Kunming has two high-speed rail stations. Kunming South Station: Serves the Shanghai–Kunming and Yunnan–Guangxi high-speed rail lines; takes 40 minutes to reach the city center via Line 1 (to get to Shilin, take the high-speed rail from here—18 minutes to Shilin West Station for 18 yuan). Kunming Station: Located in the city center; takes 5 minutes to reach the city center via Lines 1 or 2. Kunming Station is the preferred choice as it’s right in the city center.