Kunming

Kunming is the capital of Yunnan province and is famously nicknamed the Spring City for its exceptionally mild, temperate climate. With a metropolitan population of around eight million, it sits on a high plateau beside Dianchi Lake and serves as China's gateway to Southeast Asia. Thanks to its elevation, it enjoys spring-like weather all year, with warm days, cool nights, and neither harsh summers nor cold winters. Attractions include the vast Dianchi Lake, the tranquil Green Lake Park, the surrounding Western Hills, and the extraordinary karst Stone Forest a short trip away. Yunnan cuisine is distinctive and diverse, best known for crossing-the-bridge rice noodles, steam-pot chicken, and a huge variety of wild mushrooms. A modern metro network, Changshui International Airport, and high-speed rail connect it to Guiyang, Chengdu, and beyond. For an international student, Kunming offers a uniquely pleasant climate, ethnic and cultural diversity, affordable living, and a relaxed pace of life.