Recently, the Cuihu Urban Greenway, located south of Cuihu South Road and west of Huanggong East Street in Kunming’s Wuhua District, has become a popular destination. Visitors stroll along the path as the aroma of coffee mingles with the sound of clicking camera shutters. Stretching about 620 meters, the greenway links two of the city’s core areas—Cuihu Lake and Kunming Old Street—while bringing together the city’s century-old cultural heritage.

Now fully open, the greenway has turned the “Grand Cuihu Historical and Cultural Tourism Circle” from blueprint into reality. Residents and visitors can reach Old Street from Cuihu in just ten minutes on foot, without detours, enjoying a smooth transition between lakeside scenery and historic neighborhoods. The greenway offers an immersive journey through a century of Kunming’s history—all within a single stroll.

This greenway is more than a simple route for getting around; it serves as a cultural link connecting Kunming’s urban heritage. Along its path, it connects key historical and cultural landmarks, including Wuhua Square, Kunming Old Street, the Yunnan Military Academy Museum, the Yunnan Uprising Memorial Museum, and Cuihu Park. Historic buildings, revolutionary sites, and contemporary city life meet here. As visitors walk through lively neighborhoods and historic surroundings, they can enjoy lakeside views and watch seagulls, while tracing the arc of Kunming’s modern development.

“The guiding principle of the greenway project is to weave spaces together, not divide them,” said a representative of Huashan Subdistrict in Kunming’s Wuhua District. By combining elevated walkways with municipal park spaces, the project removes a long-standing physical barrier between Cuihu Lake and Kunming Old Street, while preserving existing buildings and the surrounding environment. This approach allows the area’s historical and cultural resources to function as an integrated whole.

Throughout the design and construction process, the greenway has paid close attention to detail while integrating cultural elements. Water-patterned, slip-resistant paving enhances comfort underfoot, while tempered glass railings open up wider views of the surrounding scenery. The color palette draws inspiration from local architectural features, such as “Kunming Yellow” and traditional blue-gray brickwork. At Huanggong East Street Municipal Park, underused spaces have been revitalized with the introduction of several small but beautiful cafés—cozy, well-designed spots known for quality—have turned the area into a new hub for leisure and everyday spending.

The completion of the greenway has injected new vitality into the area’s cultural tourism and commercial sectors. Foot traffic in Kunming Old Street and the Cuihu Lake area has increased noticeably, with visitors spending more time in the district. Nearby restaurants, cafés, and other businesses have benefited from the rise in visitors, and many shop owners report a marked rise in weekend revenue since the greenway opened.

Meanwhile, public services in the area have been upgraded in step with the greenway’s development. Community healthcare support, public order management, and improved lighting have all been strengthened, creating tidier, better-organized streets and significantly enhancing the overall visitor experience.

From the lively street scenes of Kunming Old Street, through the cultural landscapes along the greenway, to the natural beauty of Cuihu Lake, a single walk feels like leafing through a condensed chronicle of modern Kunming. Here, past and present come together, and the city’s warmth and depth reveal themselves with every step.

With every step through its lively streets, you glimpse the layers of Kunming’s history. The Cuihu Urban Greenway, a pathway that tells stories, is painting a new portrait of the city — one where past and present, livability and charm, come beautifully together.

Click here to view the Chinese report

(Editors: Doe, Rachel)