As the Northern Hemisphere is gradually swept up in waves of summer heat, Kunming, located at 25° north latitude, remains in a springlike embrace of 21°C. Now, Season 2 of “A Letter from Kunming” international communication series event, has officially begun. With its 21°C midsummer as the message, Kunming, China, is sending friends around the world an invitation scented with flowers, flavored with fresh wild mushrooms, and filled with openness and warmth. Kunming, the Spring City warmly invites visitors from across the globe to come and experience a summer without air conditioning.

21°C Is Not the Setting on an Air Conditioner—It Is Everyday Life in the Spring City

Kunming, a plateau city at an altitude of around 1,900 meters, maintains an average summer temperature of 21°C. Here, the sunshine is warm and the breeze is cool. There is none of the restlessness that comes with being drenched in sweat, nor are there sweltering nights that make sleep elusive. On the streets, people can drape a light jacket over their shoulders and stroll beneath the purple canopy of jacaranda trees, or enjoy the everyday bustle of life in an open-air evening market, carried along by a gentle breeze.

In Kunming, 21°C is not the breath of air conditioner. It is the breath of the wind, of the flowers, and of daily life itself. This is a summer lifestyle you do not need to escape from, but simply immerse yourself in and enjoy. Everyone is warmly invited to come and experience it.

Flowers and Fungi: The Spring City’s Love Letter to Summer

Season 2 of “A Letter from Kunming” international communication series event will unfold along three main themes: admiring flowers, savoring wild mushrooms, and exploring the China–South Asia Expo. Each month will feature a distinct theme, and each installment will offer new highlights.

From the jacaranda-lined avenue on Jiaochang Middle Road to the bustling industrial heartbeat of the Dounan Flower Market Auction Center, known as part of the “Flower Capital of Asia,” Kunming presents to the world a romance that blooms in every season. Guided by intangible cultural heritage inheritors, international visitors can experience traditional crafts such as jacaranda botanical printing and hydrangea tie-dyeing, capturing the vivid hues of the Spring City into fabric and carrying them home.

In June, wild mushrooms quietly emerge from the mountain forests. From the halls of scientific research at the China Wild Mushroom Museum, to the lively marketplace atmosphere of the Mushuihua Wild Mushroom Trading Center, and finally to a bubbling pot of wild mushroom hotpot, Kunming will offer a culinary journey “from the forest to the palate,” expressing with sincerity the message: “Wilderness gifts—A Letter from Kunming.”

From Invitation to Gathering: The Spring City Meets the World Face to Face

The 10th China–South Asia Expo will be held in June at the Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center. Taking this opportunity, Season 2 of “A Letter from Kunming” international communication series event will move from a cultural invitation issued by the city to an international appointment for economic and trade exchange.

At that time, exhibitors from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and around the world will gather in the Spring City. International guests and their Chinese partners will form “cross-border expo duos,” exploring the exhibition halls together, going on treasure-hunting journeys, trying their hand at being stallholders for a day, and engaging in in-depth conversations with exhibitors from different countries. This year also marks the fifth anniversary of the opening and operation of the China–Laos Railway and the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Laos. These cross-border exchanges will be vividly brought to life during the Expo.

With its open stance as a regional hub oriented toward South and Southeast Asia, Kunming is allowing the world to hear the echoes of cooperation.

Global Echoes: One Invitation, Countless Journeys

Since the launch of “A Letter from Kunming” international communication series event, the Kunming International Communication Center has collaborated with 31 provincial and municipal international communication centers across China, as well as mainstream media outlets in countries including Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Thailand. Together, they have published more than 200 posts, promoting coordinated international outreach among Chinese cities, enabling more targeted overseas communication, and bringing the diverse appeal of Chinese cities to the world.

“A Letter from Kunming” event is more than an invitation. It is a growing international communication IP. During Season 2, Kunming will continue to work with overseas mainstream media, friends from various countries, and international communities in China. Through a multilingual, multi-platform communication network, it will bring the full panorama of a 21°C midsummer to audiences around the world.

From purple-hued promises beneath jacaranda trees, to culinary explorations in wild mushroom markets, to unexpected encounters between cross-border duos at the China–South Asia Expo, the stories of the Spring City are being seen, shared, and anticipated by the world.

Summer comes in many forms, but there is one kind of summer called Kunming. “A Letter from Kunming” awaits friends from around the world. This midsummer, see you in Kunming!

Your Role Is Far More Than That of a Tourist

We invite you to:  

Become an experiencer, immersing yourself in the streets and alleyways of Kunming and capturing the temperature of the city with all senses;  

Become a storyteller, recording the joy of experiencing Kunming’s 21°C midsummer with your camera, paintbrush, or words, and your unique insights will weave a new chapter into Spring City’s story.  

Become a connector, making friends from around the world here and broadening your international perspective through cultural dialogue.

Friends from around the world are welcome to share your wonderful moments with Kunming on social media platforms such as Weibo, Douyin, Facebook, X, TikTok, and YouTube. Use the hashtag #ALetterfromKunming and join us in beginning this unforgettable date with the Spring City!

Click here to view the Chinese report

(Editor: Rachal, Evan)