Travel in China
A cliff-hung Taoist passage above Dianchi Lake.
High on the forested cliffs above the western shore of Dianchi Lake stands one of Kunming's most dramatic sights: the Dragon Gate (Longmen), a sequence of Taoist grottoes, tunnels and carved archways cut straight into the rock face.
The passage was chiseled out by Qing-dynasty Taoist monks over 72 years. From Sanqing Pavilion the walkway hugs the cliff as it climbs to Datian Pavilion at the top, rewarding you with the classic Kunming panorama - the broad blue sheet of Dianchi below and the city skyline beyond.
The Dragon Gate ticket check operates 08:30-17:00 and costs 30 RMB, with the cable car and eco-bus charged separately. Metro Line 3 runs to Xishan Park station, about a 550-meter walk from the visitor center, and Huating Temple and Nie Er's tomb lie within the same scenic area - allow half a day.
Highlights
Dragon Gate Grottoes
Tunnels, shrines and archways carved into the cliff face by Taoist monks over 72 years of Qing-dynasty work.
Datian Pavilion
The crowning stone chamber of the complex, reached at the top of the climb.
Cliffside Walkway
A path cut into sheer rock between Sanqing Pavilion and the gate, with the lake glittering below.
Dianchi Lake Panorama
The definitive Kunming view, from the mountainside down across the lake to the city.
Huating Temple
A centuries-old Buddhist temple tucked into the pines on the lower slopes.
Nie Er's Tomb
The hillside resting place of the composer of China's national anthem.
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