Over 90% of International Students Give Kunming High Marks

Source: InKunming | 2026-02-05 | Editor:Rachel

In Kunming, the spring is never merely seen as a season; it is the natural backdrop of this city. A student from Myanmar put it this way: “I tend to get sick every time I go home. Once I return to Kunming, I feel fine again.” According to A Comparative Study of Kunming’s City Image Construction and International Students’ Perceptions, recently released by China Tourism News, more than 90 percent of international students in Kunming have given a positive rating of “comfortable” to the city’s climate and environment.

As the Beginning of Spring arrives today on the traditional Chinese calendar, Kunming, known as the “World’s Spring City and Flower Capital,” is connecting with the world in its own daily and authentic way.

Spring is never “absent” here

Spring in Kunming needs no announcement. It reveals itself in the tender buds of willows, in the swelling blossoms of peach and plum trees, and in the first blades of grass breaking through the soil in the hills. This is spring in its simplest and most enduring form.

In Yunnan, the Beginning of Spring often comes with a relay of flowers. Tulips are still in full bloom while winter cherry blossoms have donned their green foliage. At dawn each day, the Dounan Flower Market springs into action, delivering millions of fresh blooms from here, carrying the spring of Kunming to windowsills far and wide.

The study indicates that since 2016, Kunming has worked to shape a composite image as a “World Spring City and Flower Capital” and a “healthy, livable city,” highlighting the integration of nature and culture. This resonates particularly with students from Southeast Asia: compared with the humid heat of the rainy season and the heat of the dry season back home, Kunming’s mild climate feels reassuringly gentle.

A city where everyday life works

For many international students, what moves them most about Kunming is the livability.

The vibrant buzz of night markets is the most direct source of a sense of security. Some international students note that they often feel uneasy going out after 8 pm in their countries, but in Kunming, they can wander night markets and enjoy barbecues freely. When they share these warm nights on overseas social media, their friends back home are often filled with envy.

The study points out that Kunming’s diverse food culture and street‑level daily life deepen students’ sense of everyday belonging. Rice noodles, flower cakes, wild mushrooms, and barbecue are the most frequently mentioned local foods. Scenes filled with local character—haggling at wet markets, buying ingredients by traditional measurements, or chatting casually with stall owners—have become their daily ways of feeling the city’s warmth.

Cultural encounters unfold in daily life

Kunming is not only a city with a pleasant climate, but also a fertile ground where culture grows naturally.

Participating in festivals at the Yunnan Nationalities Village or joining in the ethnic group circle dances on community streets has become one of the most direct ways for many international students to engage with local culture. These activities transcend language and create a shared, almost magical experience.

The research notes that in shaping its public image, Kunming often draws on symbols such as black-headed gulls, Dianchi Lake, and the Dounan Flower Market to present itself as a calm, nature‑embracing “haven for the soul.” This image closely aligns with how many international students actually feel about the city.

Several international students share their everyday lives in Kunming with family and friends through WeChat and rednote. These small, authentic moments often shape overseas perceptions of the city more powerfully than any formal promotion.

In the evening, Dianchi Lake shimmers with golden ripples as flocks of black-headed gulls skim across the water. By Green Lake, elderly locals practice tai chi. At a short distance, international students lift their phones to capture this peaceful dusk.

Kunming does not try to put on a show, yet it gives many people reasons to stay—it embraces visitors from all over the world with its spring-like climate all year round, connects the world’s taste buds with the flavors of its streets and alleys, writes its own open story with simple and ordinary days.

Over 90% of International Students Give Kunming High Marks

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