Dianchi Lake

Attractions Along Dianchi Lake

Haigeng Dam

The Haigeng Dam is one of the most iconic landmarks along Dianchi Lake, stretching 2.3 kilometers across the lakefront in the Dianchi Lake Resort Area. It is both an impressive hydraulic engineering project and a free scenic spot, offering panoramic views of the vast Dianchi waters and the famous “Sleeping Beauty” profile of Western Hills in the distance. From November to March, tens of thousands of Siberian red-billed gulls migrate here for the winter, creating a spectacular scene as they circle and feed along the lakeshore.

• Ticket: Free
• Opening Hours: 00:00–24:00
• Highlights: Caohai Gull-Watching Corridor, Yunnan Haigeng Hall, Viewing Dam Pier
• Suggested Route: Enter from the north gate (Viewing Pier) → Gull-Watching Point → Yunnan Haigeng Hall → Western Hills Viewpoint → exit at the south gate.

Haigeng Park & Dianchi Cableway
Built in the early 1960s, Haigeng Park is about 10 km from downtown Kunming and covers 750 mu (about 50 hectares). The park is a popular leisure spot featuring elegant pavilions, stone boats, long waterfront corridors, lush lawns, vibrant cherry blossom groves, and a lively seagull-filled lakeshore in winter. It also offers sports facilities like a golf course and tennis courts.
The Dianchi Tourism Cableway connects Haigeng Park (near Yunnan Nationalities Village) with Taihua Mountain in Western Hills Scenic Area, offering a breathtaking aerial journey over Dianchi Lake. From the cableway, you can admire the expansive lake shimmering beneath drifting clouds.

• Haigeng Park Ticket: Free (some activities charged separately)
• Haigeng Park Opening Hours: 00:00–24:00
• Cableway Ticket: Adult one-way ¥60 / round-trip ¥100; child one-way ¥30 / round-trip ¥50 (prices vary seasonally; check official updates)
• Cableway Hours: 08:40–17:30
• Highlights: Haigeng Pier, Seaside Promenade, “Legend of Dianchi” attraction, ancient eucalyptus trees.

Suggested Route 1: West Gate → Amusement Area → West Pier → West Seaside Promenade → Bird Garden Pier → “Legend of Dianchi” → East Seaside Promenade → Wishing Tree → Wishing Bridge → “First Eucalyptus of China” → East Gate.

Suggested Route 2: East Gate → “First Eucalyptus of China” → Wishing Bridge → Wishing Tree → East Seaside Promenade → “Legend of Dianchi” → Bird Garden Pier → West Seaside Promenade → West Pier → Amusement Area → East Gate → Dianchi Cableway.

Yunnan Nationalities Village & Yunnan Nationalities Museum
The Yunnan Nationalities Village occupies 89 hectares along the lakeshore and vividly showcases the architecture, culture, festivals, dances, and traditional lifestyles of all 26 ethnic groups in Yunnan Province. Since its opening in 1992, it has been one of Kunming’s top cultural attractions, offering immersive experiences of minority traditions.

Next door, the Yunnan Nationalities Museum is the largest ethnic museum in Southeast Asia, housing over 10,000 artifacts. Its 16 exhibition halls are organized into eight thematic sections, covering topics such as social change, ecological industries, textile crafts, folk art, festivals and music, handicrafts, ancient manuscripts, and rare stones. The museum is an invaluable resource for cultural research and a fascinating visit for travelers.

• Nationalities Village Ticket: Daytime ¥80, Nighttime ¥90 (performance fees separate; discounts available on-site)
• Opening Hours: 09:00–22:20 (last entry 21:25)
• Museum Ticket: Free entry
• Museum Hours: 09:00–16:30 (closed Mondays)

Haihong Wetland & Xinghai Peninsula Wetland Park
Haihong Wetland, near the mouth of the Panlong River, covers 383 mu (about 25 hectares) and serves as an important ecological barrier for Dianchi Lake. Designed with minimal artificial interference, it has been restored into a vibrant wetland ecosystem that purifies water and provides a habitat for birds and aquatic life.
Connected to it by a pedestrian bridge, Xinghai Peninsula Wetland Park covers 1,086 mu (about 72 hectares) and features 2.8 kilometers of lakefront trails and three viewing platforms. It is a core project in Dianchi’s ecological restoration, with water forests, ecological corridors, and panoramic lake views.

• Ticket: Free (some activities charged separately)
• Haihong Wetland Hours: 07:00–22:00
• Xinghai Peninsula Hours: 09:00–17:00
• Highlights: Panlong River inlet, water forests, ecological corridors, Western Hills sunset views.

Suggested Route: Start at Haihong Wetland’s northeast or main gate → walk along the lakeshore to the Panlong River bridge → cross into Xinghai Peninsula Wetland → explore the water forest and ecological corridor → return via the same route or loop back.

Travel Guide