Park of China
Overview
| Designation | National Park of China (second batch) |
| Province | Yunnan |
| Location | Kunming, Yunnan |
| Rivers and lakes | Dian Lake |
| Latitude, longitude | 24.9, 102.7 Google Maps |
| Nearby cities | Kunming |
| Nearby sites | Chengjiang Fossil Site 38km, Jiuxiang 43km, Stone Forest of Lunan 64km, Puzhehei 164km, Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces 200km Search nearby |
| Themes | Lake, Mountain, Ancient Building, Big City, Culture |
About
Dianchi lies south-west of Kunming, Yunnan, 300 km², China’s sixth largest freshwater lake, ringed by Jinma, Biji, Heshan and Sheshan hills on the east, west, south and north.
The Daguan Tower on the north shore bears the famous 180-character couplet by the Qing poet Sun Ran.
The Western Hills west of the city are shaped like a sleeping beauty.
Dian Lake is a fault-depression lake, anciently called Diannan Ze and also Kunming Lake; its surface lies at 1,886 m.
The Western Hills, anciently the Biji Mountains, run about 35 km along the west shore; the highest point, Luohan Peak, is 2,511 m. Huating and Taihua temples on the hills date from the Yuan dynasty.
Daguan Tower was built under the Yunnan governor Wang Jiwen in the Kangxi era. Sun Ran wrote the long couplet in the Qianlong era; the version hanging today was rewritten in regular script by Zhao Fan in 1888.
It is in the second batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 1988.
Travel tips
Getting there: Kunming Changshui airport, Kunming station and Kunming South station all link to the city. The lake lies south of the city centre; buses reach Daguan Tower and Haigeng, and the Western Hills rise on the west shore.
Daguan Tower: on the north shore in Daguan Park, with Sun Ranweng's long couplet; it is close to the city and takes half a day.
Western Hills: on the west shore, reached by road to the Dragon Gate and Sanqing Pavilion area, with views over the whole lake; the Dragon Gate stretch is steep, with many steps.
Haigeng and the gulls: Haigeng dam is the place to watch black-headed gulls, which winter here in large numbers from November to March.
Around the lake: there are greenways and wetland parks along the shore for walking or cycling; the shoreline is long, so choose one or two stretches.
Time: half a day for Daguan Tower and Haigeng; a day to add the Western Hills.
Season: Kunming is spring-like all year; winter is the time for the gulls; summer is rainy.
Where to stay: stay in Kunming; every sight is within easy reach.
In literature
Sun Ran’s couplet at the Daguan Tower has two halves: the first surveys the lake and the scenery all around it, the second recalls the deeds of the Han, Tang, Song and Yuan in Yunnan and how all such glory has faded.
Photo credits: Dian Lake: Yumeto (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Nearby
| World Heritage | Chengjiang Fossil Site 38km, Stone Forest of Lunan 64km, Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces 200km |
| National parks | Jiuxiang 43km, Alu Caves 113km, Jianshui Scenic Area 142km, Puzhehei 164km |
| AAAAA attractions | Kunming World Horticultural Expo Garden 21km |
| AAAA attractions | Yunnan Ethnic Village 9km, Kunming Xishan Forest Park 9km, Dounan Flower Market 10km, Kunming Guandu Ancient Town 10km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Stone Forest UNESCO Global Geopark 76km |
| Historic cities | Kunming 17km, Tonghai County 87km |
| Cities | Kunming 12km |
| Historical sites | Tomb of Nie Er 10km, Vajra Pagoda of Miaozhan Temple 10km, Haikou Chuan-Shaped Sluice 15km, Daguan Tower 15km |
| National geoparks | Chengjiang Fauna Paleontological National Geopark 38km, Lufeng Dinosaur National Geopark 63km, Jiuxiang Canyon and Cave National Geopark 69km, Luxi Alu National Geopark 115km |
| Nature reserves | Jiaozishan National Nature Reserve 25km |