Kunming Changshui International Airport to Kunming City

Kunming Changshui International Airport (昆明长水国际机场) is the primary and most important airport serving Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. It’s a gateway to southeast and South Asia and the hub for both domestic and international airlines.

Most travelers who want to tour around Yunnan would choose Kunming as the starting place. Get to Kunming by air is the most convenient and time-saving way. How to get to the Kunming city center to start a colorful Yunnan tour? What’s the best way to get from the city center to the airport? Let’s find out together!

Where is Kunming Changshui International Airport?

Location: Changshui Village, Guandu District, Kunming City (昆明市官渡区长水村)

Map of Kunming Airport to City Center

Kunming Changshui International Airport (昆明长水国际机场, ICAO：ZPPP，IATA：KMG) is located 28km northeast of Kunming city center (places around Jinma and Biji Archway) in a graded mountainous area about 2100m above sea level, takes about 40 minutes by car or taxi. Kunming Airport has a complete transport system, travelers can get kunming city by car, taxi, airport shuttle buses, metro etc. from the airport.

Kunming Airport to City by Car - Most Convenient and Recommended Way

The most convenient, time-saving and worry-free way to get from the airport to Kunming city is by taking private car or taxi. From Kunming Airport to attractions around city center such as the Green Lake, Yuantong Temple and the Flower and Bird Market only takes about 40 minutes by car. Kunming Airport is 43km from the Western Hills and 48km from Dian Lake, takes about 50mins driving, The distance from the airport to train stations in Kunming is from 28km to 42km, takes about 40mins to 60mins.

Check the chart below to know more about the distance and estimated time of the airport to each important site in Kunming:

To	Distance	Estimated Time
Green Lake (翠湖)	27km	40mins
Yuantong Temple (圆通寺)	27km	40mins
Flower and Bird Market (花鸟市场)	27km	40mins
Western Hills (西山)	43km	50mins
Dian Lake (滇池)	48km	50mins
Kunming Railway Station (昆明站)	30km	40mins
Kunming South Railway Station (昆明南站)	42km	1hr
Kunming North Railway Stations (昆明北站)	28km	40mins
Kunming Western Bus Station (昆明西部客运站)	28km	50mins
Kunming Southern Bus Station (昆明南部客运站)	33km	40mins

(Note: Estimated time might change according to the real situation.)

We China Discovery, with rich experiences in ranging Yunnan tours for our customers, can provide you the best travel experiences. No matter when you arrive, our private car driver and English-speaking guide will warmly welcome you at the arrive hall and take you to your hotels or wherever you are planning to go. Our experienced licensed driver would choose the best driving route and avoid wasting time on the road caused by the traffic jam. Our English-speaking guide will introduce to you highlights in Kunming, such as attractions in and around, local culture, food, snacks and famous local restaurants.

Booking a private car service with us, you don’t need to waste your time and energy on planning the trip, waiting tour buses or worrying about your luggage. You can fully relax yourself on the car and save energy to travel around Kunming. No matter you want to have a short relax journey in and around for a few days, visit the Green Lake and the Stone Forest etc. or would like to have a deep tour in Yunnan, continue to head to Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Yuanyang or Xishuangbanna. Our superior travel consultants can arrange your trip according to your own preferences. If you need any help, please feel free to contact us and tailor your trip with us.

>> 3 Days Kunming Tour to Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave

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Kunming Private Car Service

Kunming Airport to City by Airport Shuttle Bus - Good Choice for Independent Travelers

Airport Shuttle Bus	Destinations	Time	Duration	Frequency
Line 1	West Inn (西驿酒店)	7:30 - 2:00+1	50mins	20mins
Line 2	Jinjiang Inn (锦江酒店)	8:00 - 4:00+1 (day) 4:00 - 7:00 (night)	45mins	30mins (day) 1hr (night)
Line 3	Line 3 Linyu Road, Beishiqu (北市区霖雨路)	7:30 - 24:00	90mins	50mins
Line 4	Southern Bus Station (南部客运站)	9:00 - 22:00	65mins	30mins
Line 5	Dianchi Hotel (滇池大酒店)	9:00 - 17:30	65mins	4 buses a day
Line 6	Kunming Railway Station (昆明火车站)	7:00 - 18:40	45mins	30mins
Western Bus Station Special Line	Western Bus Station (西部客运站)	9:00 - 19:00	55mins	60mins

(Note: 1. Running time, duration, frequency of each line might change according to the real situation. 2. Ticket price of each line is around CNY 25. )

There are 6 shuttle bus lines running between different sites in Kunming downtown and the airport.

Shuttle Bus Line 1 can reach to the center of Wuhua District, near the Green Lake and Yuantong Temple. Line 6 is a special line to Kunming Station (昆明火车站). Line 4 is connected with Kunming Southern Bus Station (昆明南站).

There is also a special Line connected Changshui Airport and Kunming Western Bus Station. For those who are planning to get to Dian Lake, can take Line 5.

Click to Enlarge Kunming Airport Shuttle Bus Line Map

Kunming Airport to City by Metro - Economical Way to Travel

Kunming Metro	Important Stations
Metro Line 1	Kunming South Railway Station (昆明南火车站), University Town (大学城), South Coach Station (南部汽车站), Kunming Railway Station (昆明火车站), South Ring Rd. (环城南站)
Metro Line 2	South Ring Rd. (环城南站), Dongfeng Square (东风广场), North Railway Station (火车北站), North Coach Station (北部汽车站)
Metro Line 3	Western Hill Park (西山公园), West Coach Station (西部汽车站), Wuyi Road (五一路), Dongfeng Square (东风广场), East Caoch Station (东部汽车站)
Metro Line 6	Kunming Airport (机场中心), Dabanqiao (大板桥), East Coach Station (东部汽车站)

>> Learn more about Kunming Transportation

There are 4 metro lines in Kunming, Line 1, Line 2, Line 3,and Line 6.

Kunming Airport (机场中心) is one terminus of Metro Line 6, on the other end is East Coach Station (东部汽车站). It runs between 6:20 - 22:20 at an interval of 15mins every day. It takes about 25mins from the Kunming Airport to the East Coach Station.

For those who want to get to the city center, can transfer to Metro Line 3 at East Coach Station and get off at Wuyi Road (五一路).

Click to Enlarge Kunming Metro Map

How to Plan Your Kunming Tour

Most travelers make Kunming as their first stop in Yunnan, take 1-2 days to explore the city and around, visit the Green Lake, Yuantong Temple in the city center, Shilin Stone Forest and Jiuxiang Cave nearby. Photography lovers can extend their Kunming tour to “God’s palette” - Dongchuan Red Land.

>> 3 Days Kunming Tour to Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave

>> 4 Days Kunming & Dongchuan Red Land Scenic Tour

A classic way to travel around Yunann is started the trip at Kunming, and then continue to Dali to perceive romantic of the wind in Xiaguan blows those flowers in Shangguan, the moonshine in the Erhai shines over the snow in Cangshan. Next stop is Lijiang - an old town dazzles with color and liveliness, snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain loom in a distance. If you still have more days, head to Shangri-la - the hidden land of paradise and Diqing to experience its multi-nationality cultures and unique natural beauty.

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Besides, the flooded paddies in Yuanyang are also a dream site of many photographers. The Splendid tropical rain forest and unique ethic customs in Xishuangbannan also attract visitors from both domestic and foreign counties.

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Stone Forest in Kunming

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Travel Kunming Yunnan with China Discovery

To help you enjoy a worry-free holiday in Kunming and Yunnan, we highly recommended you travel with us China Discovery who is a professional about the local condition of Kunming and the whole Yunnan. Our local experienced drivers will escort you to attractions in and around Kunming or other places with comfortable car directly with speed and safety. And our English-speaking tour guide will accompany you all the way, showing you the best travelling route and introduce all highlights each place so you can better enjoy your leisure tour in Yunnan. The tour can be tailor-made according to your group size, time, physical conditions, plan, interest, budget and every special need. If you have any other ideas about the trip or you have other places or cities wanted to visit such as Sichuan, Tibet, Guilin or Guiyang, our experienced travel consultants are very glad to offer their help. Please feel free to contact us if you need any help.

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