As the echoes of the New Year’s countdown faded, Kunming, the “Spring City,” delivered an impressive opening triumph: a vibrant tourism market, a lively consumer economy, and the imminent national release of a film telling a Kunming story.

With the New Year’s Day holiday just concluded, Kunming ushered in a strong start to 2026, underpinned by solid data and citywide enthusiasm. Figures from major platforms show that Kunming ranked among the top ten destinations for inbound tourism during the holiday, while its consumer market demonstrated robust vitality through a wide array of festive activities.

At the same time, heartwarming news arrived from the cultural front: a film shot along Kunming’s Cuihu Lake and recognized at international film festivals has officially announced its release date, set to bring the city’s winter warmth to audiences nationwide.

Tropical plants at the Fuling Palace attract tourists for photos. Photo by Huang Xiaosong 

Tourism Soars: A Top Ten Inbound Destination Underscoring Growing Appeal

Kunming’s tourism market posted standout results during the New Year’s holiday. Data from the Ctrip platform show that the city ranked among the top ten most popular inbound tourism destinations, becoming a preferred choice for many international travelers celebrating the New Year.

Tourists explore the Golden Temple Park. Photo by Huang Xiaosong

Behind this performance lies Kunming’s sustained efforts to upgrade tourism products and services. Since 2024, the city has focused on developing six “golden” travel routes and cultivating year‑round themed tourism seasons such as birdwatching season, flower appreciation season, wild mushroom season, and market tours.

These initiatives allow overseas visitors not only to see iconic attractions but also to experience local life in depth, steadily enhancing Kunming’s appeal and reputation as a travel destination.

Consumption Surges: Commercial Districts Ignite Festive Spending

This New Year’s holiday, Kunming’s consumer market was buzzing with activities. Seizing the festive spending window, the city rolled out an unprecedented density of promotional events, with major commercial districts hosting hundreds of consumption‑boosting activities on New Year’s Eve alone.

Citizens watch a symphony performance by the Kunming Nie Er Symphony Orchestra. Photo by Huang Xiaosong

Tourists browse an intangible cultural heritage fair at Cuihu Park. Photo by Huang Xiaosong

From a massive New Year’s Eve concert at Dongfeng Square to symphonic performances and ethnic dances along Nanping Street, from retro‑themed parties at Tongde Plaza to music festivals, fireworks displays, and themed markets across shopping districts, the entire city came together to create diverse and immersive consumption scenarios.

Tourists visit Nanqiang Street Alley. Xinhua

A vibrant folk dance performance takes center stage at Nanping Pedestrian Street’s central square. Photo by Huang Xiaosong

Kunming has also worked to integrate characteristic industries more deeply with consumer markets. The city launched its first “Chinese‑Style Coffee · Kunming Creative Theme” initiative, releasing the city’s inaugural coffee consumption map and promoting a new identity as a “global coffee lifestyle city,” injecting fresh cultural substance into the consumer economy.

Film Set for Release: A Cuihu Lake Story Poised to Warm Audiences Nationwide

Echoing the holiday festivities, positive news also arrived from the film industry. Cuihu, a Yunnan-produced film with local roots, that won the Golden Goblet Award at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, has officially announced its nationwide release for January 24, 2026.

Directed by young filmmaker Bian Zhuo and created entirely by a Yunnan‑based team, the film tells a moving family story set along Kunming’s Cuihu Lake. Its release coincides with the annual arrival of black‑headed gulls, allowing the city’s winter warmth and its inherent healing spirit to reach audiences far beyond Kunming through the silver screen.

Ahead of its official release, Cuihu met local audiences during the New Year’s holiday through a distinctive “music roadshow.” Relay events held at Tongde Plaza, Cuihu Lake, and Nanping Street used live music to connect with the public and give a preview of the film’s emotional core.

From the steady recovery of tourism and the innovative vitality of consumption to the emergence of homegrown cultural works, Kunming is showcasing the multifaceted appeal of a regional international center city.

What Cuihu brings is not only a story of family and affection, but also a cinematic expression of Kunming’s human warmth. As the lights dim and the screen comes alive, the warmth and vitality of the Spring City will continue to flow through—and flourish in—every corner of the city.