Stone Forest Since 1989, Stone Forest has created unparalleled hand-carved granite sculptures that combine the elegant simplicity of Japanese and contemporary design. We create all of our own sculpture and water fountains, ranging from traditional Japanese to monolithic contemporary. A Stone Forest sculpture is carved from a single block of natural stone. Each stone sculpture will reflect the individual character of the block from which it was carved. Since much of the carving is done by hand, the inspiration of each artist can be seen in each piece of Stone Forest sculpture, each will be unique.

Green Lake Park Green Lake Park (Cuihu gongyuan) is downtown Kunming’s nicest (and only) park. Compared to lakes in other cities, like Xi Hu in Hangzhou, Green Lake Park is not all that special. However, it is a nice place to take a sunny afternoon stroll and is conveniently located between Yunnan University and the Bird and Flower Market.
The entrance fee to the islands in the park is 2 RMB. It is probably worth the entrance fee, but there is nothing inside that is so wonderful - mostly old people playing majiang and hanging out. If desired, one could rent a paddle boat to take out on the lake.
Green Lake is pleasant all year round, but the best time to visit is during the winter when red-beaked gulls from Siberia migrate south and make their home in Cuihu and Dian Chi for the coldest months of the year (Dec - Feb). During that time it tends to get a bit chilly in Kunming, but the temperature rarely drops much below freezing (0 degrees C / 32 F). The road bordering the park is lined with restaurants, cafes, tea houses, hotels, and bars.

Bamboo Temple The Bamboo Temple (Qiongzhu Si) is one of Kunming’s most famous temples. Originally built during the Tang Dynasty, the Bamboo Temple was rebuilt in the 15th century, and restored in the late 19th century by Li Guangxiu, a master sculptor from Sichuan. Li Guangxiu and his apprentices were commissioned to build 500 luohan, life-size clay statues of famous monks and "saints" of Chinese Buddhism. The statues are known for their stunning realism and surrealism. The hall housing most of these statues is closed to visitors, but if the temple is not crowded you might get lucky enough to sneak a peak.