Travel in China
The largest preserved old-town block in Kunming.
Kunming Old Street - the Wenming Street Historic Block - is the only historic quarter left in central Kunming: a compact grid of late-Qing and Republican-era lanes where grey-tiled roofs, carved wooden shopfronts and courtyard homes survive just steps from the glass towers of the Nanping Street shopping district.
Walk through the landmark Wenming Street archway, browse the antique and calligraphy shops of Guanghua Street and Yongdao Street, and step into century-old residences such as the Ma Family Courtyard. On Yongdao Street, the modest former home of Nie Er, who composed the music of China's national anthem, is open to visitors (09:00-16:30).
The quarter is free and open 24 hours, though some exhibition halls close around 18:00. Metro Line 5's Wuyi Road Station (Exit C) is about a five-minute walk away, and the lantern-lit lanes pair naturally with an evening on neighbouring Nanping Street - along with a bowl of crossing-the-bridge rice noodles from an old-brand kitchen such as Jianxin Yuan.
Highlights
Wenming Street Archway
The stone gateway that names the block - the classic meeting point and first photo of the old street.
Ma Family Courtyard
A century-old courtyard mansion of carved timber and quiet halls; it occasionally hosts traditional performances.
Nie Er's Former Home
The childhood home of the composer of China's national anthem, on Yongdao Street (09:00-16:30).
Guanghua & Yongdao Streets
Antique dealers, herbal-medicine shops and calligraphy stalls in lanes that have kept their old layout.
Old-Brand Eateries
Jianxin Yuan and other time-honoured kitchens serving crossing-the-bridge rice noodles and Yunnan snacks.
Lantern-Lit Evenings
After dark the lanes glow with red lanterns and flow straight into the Nanping Street pedestrian mall.
Photo Gallery
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