A Two-Day Tour of Fuxian Lake

Previously, when visiting Yunnan, I would head to Dali, Lijiang, or Shangri-La. Even when staying near Kunming, I'd go to places like Dongchuan Red Land or the Stone Forest. Occasionally, I heard about Fuxian Lake in Yuxi but never really felt intrigued. This time, I happened to have two friends in Kunming, so we decided to meet up. I flew from Guangzhou to Kunming on Friday night, and after a small gathering, we spent the weekend touring Fuxian Lake. The drive from Kunming to Fuxian Lake takes about 1.5 hours. Initially, I planned to take the high-speed train to Chengjiang and then a taxi to the lake, but it seemed too cumbersome. After calculating the costs, I found that taking a rideshare for two people was about the same price. The first stop is MU. Coffee, where you can have a cup of coffee and a simple meal. If you spend a certain amount, you can enter the photo-taking area for free. The dining environment here is comfortable, with a broad view. It's nice to sit around, enjoy the breeze, and relax. The photo zone faces the lake and is decorated with several different themes. The Moroccan blue alleyways are quite accurately replicated. If you like to take photos, this is a great spot. The second stop is the Star Fish Cave. It is said that there are over 200 fish caves of varying sizes, extending from the base of the cliff into the lake. There is a hand-pulled dragon bone water wheel and cylindrical bamboo cages in the ditch, which were methods and tools used for fishing during the flood season in the past. The area is lush with trees and comfortable to walk around. I think this attraction is worth a visit for its educational value and scenic beauty. The third stop is the Lucong Scenic Area. This is an old scenic spot by Fuxian Lake with beautiful scenery. There is a Penholder Mountain, and climbing to the top, you'll find a Guanyin temple. The pavilion on the mountain offers a panoramic view of Fuxian Lake. The climb is not strenuous, and it's easily manageable for both the elderly and children. There's also a Golden Sand Beach, which is great for family activities. The fourth stop is the Red Sand Beach. The sand is somewhat red, but definitely not the romantic pink that's been filtered online. This spot is okay for a quick visit, but not worth a special trip. The fifth stop is the Wetland Park. Facing Fuxian Lake, the park is filled with various flower fields and has been designed with Instagram-worthy photo spots in mind. It has various props for posing and is worth a visit. You can finish the above five stops in half a day. I had planned to rush back to the hotel to watch the sunset, but I missed it perfectly. The sixth stop (the next morning) is the exclusive beach of the Hilton Hotel. The lake water is very clean and clear, the surrounding scenery is rich, and there are few people, making it especially suitable for photography. The seventh stop: Moon Bay Wetland Park. It has a bit of a beach feel, and the ticket comes with vouchers that can be used to rent beach chairs or for food and drinks at designated stores. The water in this area is not very clear, and it feels average, so we just took a quick look around. We are the type of travelers who play it by ear without strong intentions, going wherever we end up. This way, we can cover the main attractions over a weekend. The entire trip took three days: flying from Guangzhou to Kunming on Friday night and returning to Guangzhou from Kunming on Sunday afternoon. Transportation: We took taxis for the whole trip. Kunming to Fuxian Lake cost 230 yuan, half a day's car rental was 350 yuan, and Fuxian Lake to the airport was 250 yuan. Other short trips can be done with DiDi. Accommodation: I recommend the Hilton, which has the best view of the Fuxian Lake sunset (the hotel lobby shows the sunset time at 7:20), an exclusive beach, and fireworks and bonfire parties on weekend nights. Dining: Yuanhu Fish Restaurant's stone pot fish is a good value for money, tasty, and the location at the entrance has an unbeatable lake view, very close to the Hilton. The blueberries here are delicious, and you can buy them for 40 yuan per kilogram at the plantation, which is a great deal. I realized I didn't buy enough when I got back. Conclusion: Fuxian Lake is a decent place for a leisurely vacation. It's worth a visit if you're traveling in Yunnan. Of course, if you're a sailing enthusiast, that's another story.