Kunming, the City of Eternal Spring, is a place where flowers bring romance, coffee fills the air with rich aromas, and the China-Laos Railway forges ever-closer connections with countries across South and Southeast Asia. Flowers, coffee, and railways—distinctive elements woven into the city's development and everyday life—together define Kunming's unique charm and serve as vibrant bridges connecting the city with the wider world.

The "Flowers Bridge the World, Coffee Links the Silk Road" South & Southeast Asia International Communication Program is currently in full swing. Drawing on Kunming's distinctive industries, cultural resources, and strategic location, the program encompasses four major projects: "Spring City Floral, Global Aroma" – Kunming International Flower Communication Project; "Kunming Coffee, Global Vibe"–International Coffee Carnival in the Spring City; "Golden Corridor, Lancang-Mekong Solidarity" – China-Laos Railway 5th Anniversary International Communication Project; and "Open Frontier, Voice to the world" – International Communication Platform Development Project. Through cross-border interactions, cultural exchanges, audiovisual productions, and other initiatives, the program brings to life stories of growing understanding and cultural connections between Kunming and countries across South and Southeast Asia.

Kunming Coffee, Global Vibe: A Cup of Yunnan Coffee Sparks Conversations Across Borders

As a major distribution hub, consumption center, and brand incubator for Yunnan coffee, Kunming has embraced coffee as an integral part of everyday life. More than just a beverage, coffee has become a flavorful gateway for people to discover Yunnan's distinctive terroir and experience the culture of the Spring City.

Yunnan's major coffee-producing regions on display

As the first initiative to get underway under the broader program, "Kunming Coffee, Global Vibe"–International Coffee Carnival in the Spring City builds on events such as the Dianchi International Coffee Culture Carnival. Bringing together coffee professionals and enthusiasts from China and abroad, the project showcases the distinctive quality and cultural appeal of Yunnan coffee from multiple perspectives through coffee-themed cultural exchanges, city exploration tours, competitions, audiovisual productions, and other activities.

The 2026 Dianchi International Coffee Culture Carnival

Looking ahead, the rich aroma of Yunnan coffee will travel beyond China's borders to countries across South and Southeast Asia. Through cross-border initiatives such as "Coffee Dialogues," the project will foster exchanges between coffee professionals in Kunming and their overseas counterparts, encouraging them to share flavor profiles, exchange brewing techniques, and engage in creative collaborations. By bringing different coffee cultures together, these interactions will highlight the distinctive character of Yunnan coffee.

Meanwhile, visits by overseas media representatives and multilingual audiovisual productions will tell the complete story of Yunnan coffee, from cultivation in the highlands to consumption in the city. These efforts will invite more international audiences to discover Yunnan and explore Kunming through their shared appreciation of coffee.

Golden Corridor, Lancang-Mekong Solidarity: A Railway Strengthening Bonds Across Mountains and Borders

If the aroma of coffee brings people closer together, the China-Laos Railway, stretching across vast distances, does even more. It not only reduces travel times and bridges geographical distances but also strengthens the bonds between communities along its route.

A Fuxing high-speed train passes through Shanggang Village in Mohan Town on the China-Laos Railway

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the China-Laos Railway's opening. To commemorate this milestone, the "Golden Corridor, Lancang-Mekong Solidarity" – China-Laos Railway 5th Anniversary International Communication Project will focus on the changes and development along the railway, as well as the personal stories of those whose lives it has touched.

Through reciprocal visits, cross-border cultural exchanges, themed experiences, and documentary productions, the project will highlight the new opportunities and transformations brought about by the railway. Participants from China and Laos will travel along the route, visiting each other's cities and villages and experiencing the local cultures, customs, and traditions along the way. Folk artists and cultural creators from both countries will also come together through music, dance, intangible cultural heritage, and traditional activities, celebrating the enduring friendship and close neighborly ties between China and Laos.

Two trains stand ready for departure at a station along the China-Laos Railway

The railway's impact extends far beyond more convenient transportation and increasingly active trade. Its influence can also be seen in the everyday lives of people living along the route.

The project will turn its cameras toward ordinary people, documenting the changes brought about by the railway in areas such as education, employment, agriculture, culture and tourism, and community well-being. Through authentic personal experiences and scenes from daily life, it will capture the region's development since the railway began operations.

From chance encounters aboard trains to joyful gatherings in villages, from growing exchanges between cities to changes in family life, these compelling stories will paint a vivid picture of how the China-Laos Railway connects communities, creates opportunities for development, and fosters mutual understanding between people.

Spring City Floral, Global Aroma: Flowers Carry Kunming's Year-Round Romance to the World

While the China-Laos Railway serves as a vital golden transport corridor, bringing neighboring communities closer across mountains and borders, flowers from Kunming carry the romance and fragrance of the Spring City to destinations around the world. They offer people everywhere a glimpse into Kunming's distinctive lifestyle and charm, becoming beautiful symbols of friendship that transcend national boundaries.

Bustling trade and tourism at Dounan Flower Market

As a key component of the broader program, "Spring City Floral, Global Aroma" – Kunming International Flower Communication Project uses flowers as a bridge for international cultural exchange. Centered on the flower industry, floral artistry, and urban life, the project will feature visits by international experience ambassadors, floral art exhibitions, cross-border exchanges, themed livestreams, and other activities.

International guests and content creators will be invited to explore Kunming, from its flower fields and bustling flower markets to its charming city streets. Along the way, they will experience the Spring City's floral beauty throughout the four seasons and discover the industry stories and aesthetics of everyday life behind its blooms.

The project will also broaden and deepen international exchanges centered on floral culture through creative collaborations with sister cities, multilingual documentaries, and other initiatives.

Creators from different countries will draw inspiration from flowers, intangible cultural heritage, and distinctive local traditions, sharing their cultural identities and stories of friendship and exchange. Documentary cameras will also follow the journey of flowers from cultivation and trading to overseas markets, highlighting the close connections between Kunming's flower industry and the global marketplace.

Open Frontier, Voice to the world: Bringing More Stories of the Spring City to Global Audiences

Sharing Kunming's stories with the world depends on meaningful exchanges and collaboration across national borders.

The "Open Frontier, Voice to the world" – International Communication Platform Development Project will further strengthen media cooperation and cultural exchanges between Kunming and countries across South and Southeast Asia. Overseas journalists and international content creators will be invited to visit Kunming and document the city's everyday life and ongoing development from diverse perspectives.

Leveraging the multilingual communication platforms of the Kunming International Communication Center, the project will bring more engaging and authentic stories about Kunming to international audiences, covering topics such as the China-Laos Railway, distinctive local industries, and people-to-people exchanges.

Mohan Station on the China-Laos Railway

Building on media cooperation, cross-border creative projects and online interactions will provide more opportunities for people in China and abroad to connect.

Participants from different countries will be encouraged to share their experiences and impressions of Kunming through articles, photographs, videos, and other forms of creative expression. These exchanges will deepen mutual understanding, bring fresh perspectives to Kunming's stories, and make cultural connections between the Spring City and countries across South and Southeast Asia even more vibrant.

International friends gather in Yunnan

From conversations sparked by a cup of coffee to heartwarming encounters along a railway journey, and from the beauty of a single flower to an invitation to discover a city, the "Flowers Bridge the World, Coffee Links the Silk Road" South & Southeast Asia International Communication Program draws on Kunming's distinctive industries and urban lifestyle to connect people across borders. Through compelling stories rooted in everyday experiences, it showcases the Spring City's openness, vitality, and rich cultural character.

Mountains and seas may separate us, but exchanges bring us closer. Languages may differ, but stories connect us. Carried by the aromas of coffee and flowers, the stories of the Spring City will travel across mountains and seas, reaching audiences around the world.

Click here to view the Chinese report

(Editors: Rachel, Doe)