Green Lake Park, aka Cuihu Park, is a beautiful urban park in Kunming city center. Whether you want to savor the natural beauty of Kunming, enjoy ultimate relaxation, experience local daily life, or look into rich cultural and historical relics of Kunming, Green Lake Park is a can’t-miss for your Kunming travel.
With its serene green lake surrounded by lush willows and lotus flowers, the park offers picturesque scenery all year round and is widely praised as “Jade in the City”. Being harmoniously blending with the natural beauty are many historical stone arch bridges and elegant buildings which enhance the park’s rich historical ambiance.
If travel to Kunming in winter, the park will become a paradise for bird-watching, and you can witness flocks of red-billed gulls migrate to the park.
As a popular retreat for locals, Green Lake Park is teemed with life and energy. It is where you can encounter many elders doing morning exercise and practicing Tai Chi, or families and couples enjoying leisure walks and sightseeing.
Fast Facts of Green Lake Park
- Chinese name: 翠湖Cuì Hú
- Location: 67 Cuihu South Road, Wuhua District, Kunming City. It is at the foot of Luofeng Mountain in downtown Kunming, on the western slope of Wuhua Mountain, directly opposite the main gate of Yunnan University.
- Area: About 21 hectares, about 15 hectares of water area
- Ticket: Free
- Opening hours: 06:00-23:30
- Best time to visit: All year round
- Recommended activities:Leisure stroll, people watching and experience local’s recreational activities, bird-watching in winter, watch ancient architecture.
- Visiting time needed: 1-2 hours
Main Scenic Areas in Green Lake Park
The entire Green Lake Park is divided into several scenic areas by the Ruan Embankment (running north to south) and Tang Embankment (running east to west). Each area offers distinctive natural and cultural attractions and is connected by the Ruan and Tang Embankments.
Mid-Lake Islet – Huxin Pavilion, Fish-viewing Pavilion
In the center of the park, the Mid-lake Islet area features several Qing Dynasty buildings, including the Huxin Pavilion and Fish-viewing Pavilion. It is also the main place where local recreational activities and many exhibitions take place.
Southeast Area – Shuiyue Pavilion, Goldfish Islet
It is where Shuiyue Pavilion and Goldfish Islet are located. Shuiyue Pavilion is one of the most scenic areas in the park, featuring three connected peninsulas and lush vegetation. Goldfish Islet is an artificial island showing a goldfish shape.
Northeast Area – Bamboo Forest Island, Nine Dragons Pond, Zhichun Pavilion
Home to Bamboo Forest Island, Nine Dragons Pond, and Zhichun Pavilion. The dense bamboo groves in the Bamboo Forest Island contain about 40 categories of bamboo. Zhichun Pavilion is a spot where many folk artisans gather to play instruments, sing and dance.
Southern Area – Palm Islet, Nine-curved Bridge
This section includes Palm Islet and the Nine-curved Bridge. Palm Island features many tall palm trees and a tropical atmosphere. Nine-curved Bridge is characterized by its winding structure and offers stunning views of the surrounding lake and hills.
Best Yunnan Tours including Greek Lake Park:
- 5 Days Kunming Xishuangbanna Tour
- 5 Days Kunming and Lijiang Tour by High-Speed Train
- 6 days Yunnan In-depth Minority Tour in Kunming – Jianshui – Yuanyang – Kunming
What to Do at Green Lake Park?
Appreciate Natural Beauty
A top highlight of the park is its serene and breathtaking natural beauty. The harmonious coexistence of clear waters, lush greenery, and a variety of flowers creates its beautiful scenery all year round. Some outstanding features include lovely tulips in spring, and diverse lotus flowers gracing the waters in summer.
Experience Slow-paced Leisure Life in Kunming
Green Lake Park functions as an important recreational spot for residents in Kunming. Each day, no matter in the morning or evening, many locals come here to engage in exercises like Tai Chi, yoga, jogging, and square dancing. Some elders like to enjoy a leisurely walk with their pet birds or practice calligraphy on the ground. You may also encounter some people gathering to play cards, chess, and instruments. Musical performances or dance shows are also not rare to see in the park.
Watch Red-beaked Seagulls in Winter
Thanks to the pleasant and spring-like climate in Kunming, tens of thousands of Siberian gulls migrate to Cuihu Park every winter and spend their time here from November to March or April. Crowds of locals and visitors are attracted to feed them and take photos of them. They can be seen playing in the water and competing for food, adding much charm to the park.
Recommended Kunming Tours:
How to Get to Green Lake Park?
Green Lake Park is easy to reach thanks to its city-center location. If you are staying in Kunming’s downtown area, you can reach the park either on foot or by bike in about ten minutes.
From further parts of the city, various bus routes can also ensure your convenient access to the park. Major bus stops around Green Lake Park include Cuihu East Gate Station, Cuihu North Road Station, and Cuihu South Road Station. Visitors can take bus routes 1, 2, 5, 10, 26, 52, 54, 56, 61, 66, 69, 82, 84, 98, 100, 101, 116, 125, 133, 139, 235, 237, Z2, etc. to get to the park.
Though there is no direct subway line to Greet Lake Park currently, subway lines 2, 3, and 5 have stops near the park. Visitors can take these subway lines and then walk about 1-1.5 km to reach the park.
For more convenience and time-efficiency, taxis are preferred by most visitors and are readily available in Kunming.
Best Time to Visit Green Lake Park
Cuihu Park is great to visit all year round thanks to the mild and spring-like climate in Kunming. While, if you want to avoid crowds, weekday morning or afternoon is highly recommended to fully enjoy its peaceful beauty.
In spring, from late February to early April, the annual tulip festival will be held in the park, offering vibrant colors of tulips. Summer is the best time to appreciate blooming lotuses and lush green leaves. Autumn is when the park is decorated in brilliant hues by colorful autumn leaves. Winter is the best time to observe the red-billed gulls from Siberia.
Attractions Nearby Green Lake Park
- Yuantong Temple: About 2 kilometers from the park, Yuantong Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Kunming, boasting a history of over 1,200 years.
- Yunnan Provincial Museum: About 17 kilometers from the park; this comprehensive museum serves as an important window for worldwide visitors to look into the history and culture of Yunnan.
- Jingxing Bird and Flower Market: About 3 kilometers from the park; it is one of the most famous marketplaces in Kunming, being teemed with various stalls selling pet birds, fish, various plants, antiques, calligraphy, paintings, and other artistic items.
- Western Hills: About 15 kilometers from the park; it is famous for the exquisite Dragon Gate Grottoes and panoramic views of Kunming and Dianchi Lake.
