We InKunming summarize ten highest mountains in Kunming's counties and districts. These mountains not only boast their beautiful sceneries, but also are suitable for hiking and mountaineering.

Laogui Mountain(老圭山) of Shilin County (2,601 meters)

Laogui Mountain [Cailong Forum]

Laogui Mountain is crowned as the highest mountain in Shilin County. It is located on the border of Shilin County, Mile County and Luxi County.

The mountain was named for its huge tortoise shape on the ground.

Laogui Mountain boasts its dense forests. Three summits of the mountain are connected by a path, which takes 30 minutes to go through.

Travel route: Kunming-Shilin(90 kilometers, about 1 hour's drive)-Guishan Town(30 kilometers, about 1 hour's drive)-Aimeidu Village(3 kilometers, about 30 minutes' drive)-the mountain top(3 kilometers, 2 hours by foot)

Heifeng Mountain(黑风山) of Anning City (2,617 meters)

About 60 kilometers away from Kunming sits Heifeng Mountain, the highest mountain of Anning City.

The mountain covers an area of over 100 square kilometers, and has an average altitude of 2,500 meters.

The mountain is renowned for its beautiful scenery, with tens of streams spreading over and diverse species living.

Travel route: Kunming-Anning City-Xianjie Town(县街乡)-Dahongxiang(大红祥)-Yuezizhuang Reservoir(月子庄水库)-Xiayuanliang Village(下元良村)-Zhongyuanliang Village(中元良村)-Xiaoqingkou(小青口)-Litou Mountain(梨头山)-Walise Observatory(瓦里色瞭望台)--the mountain top

Gudui Mountain(谷堆山) of Jinning County (2,648 meters)

Gudui Mountain, also called Daliangzi(大梁子), is about 60 kilometers away from Kunming in the boundary of Jiangchuan County, Chengjiang County and Jinning County.

Tourists are available to admire the scenery of three lakes, namely the Fuxian Lake, the Xinyun Lake, and the Dian Lake, on the top of the mountain. Autumns and winters are considered as the best time period for sightseeing there.

Travel route: Kunming-Jincheng Town(晋城乡, 37 kilometers, drive for about 45 minutes via the Kunming-Yuxi Expressway)-Huale Town(化乐乡)-Guanling Village(关岭村)-Qingshuigou Village(清水沟村,33 kilometers, drive via the Jinning-Jiangchuan County Road for about 45 minutes)-Liangwang Mountain(梁王山)-Gudui Mountain(3 kilometers, 3 hours by foot)

Laoye Mountain(老爷山) of Yiliang County (2730 meters)

Laoye Mountain, which is 19 kilometers away from the downtown of Yiliang County, is seated between Yiliang County, Guandu District and Chenggong District.

The mountain has 19 branch ranges and covers an area of 67 square kilometers. Its main range lasts for 22 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide.

On the top of the mountain stands a stone made temple. Nearby villagers were used to mount up to the temple in July to pray for good fortunes.

Tourists can overlook the Yangzonghai Lake(阳宗海) to the west and the sub hub of Kunming Changshui International Airport to the north on the summit.

Travel route: Kunming-Tangchi-Muxi Village(40 kilometers, 1 hour's drive)-Xihua Temple(2 kilometers, 20 minutes on foot)-the mountain top(3 kilometers, 2 hours by foot)

Jintongpen Mountain(金铜盆山) of Fumin County (2,817 meters)

The mountain is about 30 kilometers away from the downtown of Fumin County. It is said that a villager once dig out a gold copper pot in the mountain, hence its name.

Standing on the top of the mountain, which is brushy, comes into a panoramic view of Fumin County and Lufeng County.

Travel route: Kunming-Fumin County-Zhebei Village(者北乡)-Nanyin Village(南营村, 40 kilometers, 1 hour's drive)-Xihua Temple(2 kilometers, 15 minutes' drive)-Malutang Village(2 kilometers, one and a half hours' walk)-the mountain top(3 kilometers, 2 hours by foot)

Liangwang Mountain is located between Chenggong District and Chengjiang County, over 40 kilometers away from Kunming.

It is featured with characteristic karst landform. Ranging over hundreds of kilometers from south to north, the mountain boasts its magnificence and craggedness.

Grand views of four lakes and three rivers can be seen on the top of Liangwang Mountain. The four lakes are Dian Lake, Fuxian Lake, Xinyun Lake, Yangzonghai Lake, and the three rivers are Nanpan River, Panlong River, Tanglang River respectively.

Travel route: Kunming-Majinpu(马金铺, 30 kilometers, 45 minutes' drive)-Fengkou Village(风口村, 3 kilometers, 45 minutes' drive)-the mountain top(3 kilometers, 90 minutes by foot)

Dajian Mountain(大尖山) of Songming County (2,840 meters)

Dajian Mountain, also called Sanjian Mountain(三尖山), is located in the northwest of Songming County. It is around 33 kilometers long and 16 kilometers wide.

Dense forests, which mostly are coniferous forests, cover the mountain, with a stream flowing down from it.

Views are open and broad on its barren summit.

Travel route: Kunming-Songming County(50 kilometers, 45 minutes' drive)-Taohua'an Village(桃花庵村, 8 kilometers, 30 minutes' drive)-the mountain top(3 kilometers, 3 hours by foot)

Huashitou Mountain(花石头山) of Xundian County (3,294 meters)

Vast marshy grassland connects those branch ranges on the top of the mountain. Bloomy followers, huge stone in various forms, and green grasses lie around, composing beautiful scenery.

Travel route: northern Kunming-Songming County-Jinsuo(金所) of Xundian County-Qingshuihai(清水海)-Diansha(甸沙)-Jinyuan Town(金源乡)-Macaokeng(马槽坑)-Gaofeng Village(高峰村)-Tuanbaobao(团包包)-Huajiaoshu(花椒树)-Baishiyan(白石岩)-Luanshizhen(乱石阵)-the mountain top

Jiaozi Snow Mountain(轿子雪山) of Luquan County (4,344 meters)

Jiaozi Snow Mountain is sited in Wumeng Town(乌蒙乡), northeast of Luquan County. The mountain is named after its resemblance to a sedan chair.

With snow covering the mountain in winter, it is crowned as the nearest snow mountain to Kunming with greatest potential to be developed.

Main scenic spots of the mountain include the azalea flower sea, Gaoshantianchi Lake(高山天池), colorful waterfall, and the Jiaozi Buddha. Its distinguished natural landscape has attracted increasing hiking amateurs.

Travel route: Kunming-aziying(阿子营)-Kedu Town(柯渡镇)-Zhuanlong Town(转龙镇, 156 kilometers, 4 hours' drive)-entrance of the Jiaozi Snow Mountain scenic area(25 kilometers)-Sifang Water Well(四方井, 10 kilometers, 1 hour's drive)-Daheijing(大黑箐, 3.2 kilometers)-main scenic spots of the mountain(hiking for about 4 hours via the tour route)

Dongchuan Snow Mountain(东川雪岭) of Dongchuan County (4,344 meters)

Dongchuan Snow Mountain, about 260 kilometers away form Kunming, is situated in Tanfang Village of Dongchuan County.

The mountain boasts its steepness. Snow covers the mountain for over half a year constantly. It is recognized as the ridge of Kunming.

Travel route: Tangdian(倘甸)-Huashitou Village(花石头村)-Yaoshan Village(窑山村)-Xintanfang Village(新炭房村)-the hiking base of the mountain-Yakou(垭口)-Huo Range of the snow mountain(雪岭火峰)

(Editors: Tracy, Lynn)