In March 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Lijiang, an ancient city in Yunnan Province, walking along the stone-paved streets while observing the surroundings. Local residents and tourists along the way greeted the General Secretary with great enthusiasm: "Can we invite you for a cup of coffee?" Xi Jinping occasionally stopped to have a warm chat with everyone: "Yunnan coffee still represents China."

Today, Yunnan has developed into the largest coffee-growing province in China, and the "presence" of Yunnan coffee in the international market is also growing stronger. It is reported that, in 2024, Yunnan exported 32,500 tons of coffee, up 358% year-on-year, mainly exported to 29 countries and regions including the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States and Vietnam.

Photo from Kunming Fabu WeChat Official Account 

Prime coffee regions like Jamaica's Blue Mountains and Ethiopia's Yirgacheffe cluster near the Tropic of Cancer. Pu'er, hailed as China's coffee capital, thrives as a significant bean-growing hub along this latitude. Its exceptional natural conditions and meticulous cultivation practices ensure premium quality beans.

From RedNote.

Photo from Kunming Fabu WeChat Official Account

As coffee culture sweeps through China with remarkable speed, cities in Yunnan Province—extending far beyond the renowned Pu'er—are wholeheartedly embracing the "coffee renaissance" in Kunming, in particular, coffee has transcended its status as a mere beverage to become an integral part of a lifestyle that seamlessly fuses local traditions. As one meanders through the city's streets, enveloped by its perpetual spring-like scenery, the most striking vistas are the uniquely themed cafes and teahouses coexisting in perfect harmony.

Photo from Kunming Fabu WeChat Official Account 

Yunnan coffee, akin to a graceful envoy, imbues Kunming with an inexhaustible allure of romance, weaving the most captivating urban narrative in China's coffee landscape. At an altitude of 1,891 meters, the lofty plateau becomes a stage for an eternal and profound aesthetic dialogue between the refined art of tea culture and the burgeoning allure of coffee civilization.

From RedNote. 

Currently, Kunming boasts over 2,000 cafes (including chain stores), forming four vibrant clusters: Green Lake, Caiyunli (Iron Alley), Park 1903, and Dianchi Lakeside.

From RedNote.

Moreover, in Kunming, coffee is never merely an isolated taste experience. At Dounan Flower Market, the Rose Latte infuses blossoms freshly harvested within the last three hours, while the Tuodong Soy Sauce Latte stirs up the city’s collective nostalgia. During the Torch Festival, ethnic villages awaken with vibrant cultural rituals: the Yi people delicately brew coffee in time-honored copper pots, the Wa tribe skillfully grinds beans with hand-carved wooden pestles, and the Lahu community creatively explores tie-dyeing techniques using spent coffee grounds. In intangible cultural heritage markets, the rich aroma of coffee weaves together with delicate wisps of pine smoke, composing a harmonious symphony of scents and timeless traditions…

From RedNote. 

Owing to the richly diverse lifestyles of Kunming's residents, the city's coffee culture evolves seamlessly through the day-night rhythm, presenting distinct and enchanting rituals for each hour of the day.

From RedNote. 

From RedNote. 

In the tranquil morning of a quaint little street,at the coffee corner of "Oriental Bookstore" on Renmin Middle Road, veteran tea connoisseurs and youthful readers come together. They sit around a shared eight-person round table, where the aroma of traditional covered bowl tea mingles with the rich scent of hand-brewed coffee. Together, they share not only the space but also the golden morning light, each moment imbued with harmony and grace. 

From RedNote. 

Wenlin Street transforms into a long scroll of coffee. A modern lady pushes open the wooden door of "JE Coffee" and orders a special drink made with Yunnan olive. The cherry blossoms on East Cuihu Road start to fall. As the pink petals land in the coffee cup, cameras instinctively focus, capturing this long-awaited spring moment.

From RedNote. 

As evening descends upon the shores of Dianchi's Caohai, residents gather in quiet anticipation of the breathtaking sunset. With a cup of coffee in hand and phones raised, they capture this fleeting moment bathed in golden light. As the rich aroma of coffee lingers on their lips, both the palate and the soul find a shared sense of fulfillment. The "sea of oranges" in Haiyan Village unfolds as promised, drawing tourists who pause in serene contemplation. As the sun dips below the horizon, its golden silhouette paints a breathtaking "sky mirror," offering a perfect moment to be captured in memory. At this very instant, the rich aroma of coffee deepens, rich and lingering in the crisp evening air,  as an uncontainable joy rises from within.  

From RedNote. 

Certainly, you owe it to yourself to savor a cup of coffee in Kunming. No more hesitation— Bring along a curious heart, cradling coffee in one hand and tea in the other, as you embark on an spontaneous and romantic "coffee journey" through Kunming.