“I was having breakfast in Hanoi this morning, and by dinnertime I had already arrived in Kunming to enjoy the snowy scenery,” said Nguyen Bich Ngoc, a Vietnamese tourist. Around the 2026 New Year holiday, high-speed trains filled with Southeast Asian visitors departed from Hekou for Kunming and other destinations, as travelers headed north to enjoy the snow.

Travelers from Southeast Asia enter China via Hekou Port and take high-speed trains to Kunming and other destinations to enjoy snowy scenery. (Photo provided by China Railway Kunming Group, via China National Radio)

Meanwhile, at Kunming Stadium, a British blogger was fully immersed in the match, cheering enthusiastically for the Yunnan Super League.

Internet personality Steve Halls watches a Yunnan Super League match in Kunming. (Photo provided by Kaiping News)

On one hand, visitors from tropical neighbors are heading north in search of snow; on the other, a surge in sports enthusiasm is winning fans worldwide — a vivid snapshot of Kunming’s booming inbound tourism.

Policy Tailwinds Boost Inbound Tourism

Starting Dec. 17, 2024, travelers from 55 countries entering China via Kunming Changshui International Airport and the Mohan railway port are eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit. Backed by these favorable policies, Kunming’s inbound tourism market has continued to gain momentum.

Police officers process visa-free entry for travelers eligible for the visa-free policy. File photo

According to statistics, as of Dec. 20, 2025, Kunming Changshui International Airport had recorded over 572,000 inbound foreign travelers for the year, including more than 411,000 who entered visa-free, accounting for over 70 percent of the total. During the 2026 New Year holiday, Kunming also ranked among the top 10 inbound travel destinations on Ctrip, reflecting the growing appeal of its well-developed tourism offerings. The city has made extensive efforts to ensure that international visitors have plenty to see and do.

The “Water Bridge” on the Dianchi Lake Outer Greenway. Photo by Gao Wushuang

In recent years, Kunming has prioritized the development of six flagship tourism routes, including the Dianchi Lake Golden Tourist Corridor and the Greater Cuihu Historical and Cultural Tourism Circle, while promoting signature experiences such as black-headed gulls watching and flower-viewing seasons. As its inbound tourism offerings continue to expand, international visitors now find their itineraries filled with a wide range of activities.

Arieke and her friends from Europe visit Kunming Old Street. File photo

Ziegler, a member of a European travel industry delegation, has visited Kunming many times. This year, he watched a Huadeng performance at the Gudou Liyuan Yunnan Opera and Huadeng Heritage Center, experienced the craftsmanship of the traditional craft of black copper and silver inlay, and toured the Yunzi Museum. “Kunming’s vibrant street life and rich cultural heritage are truly captivating,” he said.

Better Services, Smoother Experiences

It is not enough to simply offer activities for international visitors — Kunming is committed to ensuring they enjoy a high-quality experience. By adopting a systematic approach that integrates policy incentives, product development, service improvement, and brand promotion, the city is comprehensively enhancing the inbound tourism experience.

International Visitor Service Center at Kunming Changshui International Airport. Photo by Liu Qin

From currency exchange at hotel front desks to mobile payments at neighborhood shops, travel in Kunming has become increasingly convenient for international visitors. Xiao He, a tour guide who has long worked with Thai tourists, observed, “Foreign visitors are now quite adept at using mobile payments, and Kunming feels more international than ever.”

Surging Crowds Fuel Economic Vitality

The surge in visitors has translated into tangible revenue: hotel occupancy rates are rising, popular commercial districts are bustling, and signature events such as the Water-Splashing Festival and wild mushroom season are extending visitors’ stays and boosting visitor spending across a wider range of businesses.

Dounan Flower Market in Kunming. Photo by Zhang Cheng

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Li Qian, deputy general manager of Yunnan Dilang International Travel Agency, was busy coordinating inbound tour groups at Laoyu River Wetland Park. “Thanks to favorable policies and improved service capacity, inbound tourism has been exceptionally strong during this Spring Festival, with charter flights arriving daily from Bangkok and Hanoi,” she said.

An Open City Reaching Out to a Wider World

Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center. File photo

Kunming’s growing openness is evident not only in the tourism sector, but across a broader landscape: the China-Laos Railway is seeing strong passenger and freight flows while enhancing connectivity; the China-South Asia Expo is bringing together businesses to discuss cooperation; and the Belt and Road Media Cooperation Forum is fostering dialogue and building consensus. Kunming is reaching out to the world with even greater openness.

Tourists travel across the border on an international passenger train on the China-Laos Railway. Photo provided by China Railway Kunming Bureau

During his inspection tour of Yunnan in March 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that, given its unique geographic advantages, Yunnan should advance high-level opening-up and position itself as a gateway to South and Southeast Asia. From connections forged over a bowl of rice noodles to the shared excitement of a football match, the “Spring City” is winning hearts around the world and linking to the future in its own distinctive way.