These past few days, the spotlight in Kunming has been on its most ordinary people.

On March 1st, a city-wide celebration titled "I Am the Dian Spirit" took the Spring City by storm. With no celebrities in sight, the stage belonged to street cleaners, couriers, scientific researchers, and lake guardians—everyday heroes selected from over 11,000 applicants. They stood in the center of it all, receiving the city's heartfelt tribute.

The event was a window into the soul of Kunming, revealing it as more than a "Spring City"—a place where anyone can shine, a city full of warmth and possibilities.

The "Dian Feng"(Wind of Dian) is more than just a breeze from Dianchi Lake. It is the very spirit of Kunming. On the celebration stage, this spirit took on human faces:

It is the spirit of innovation: Embodied by Dr. Cai Yanfei's team, who gave roses a "China-core" and by Kunming Luozhou Network Technology team, the studio behind a homegrown gaming phenomenon. Through their ingenuity, Kunming has become an "Innovative City" where dreams take root and thrive.

It is the spirit of diversity: Embodied by the award-winning creators of the film Green Lake: As the Water Flows, and by storytellers like @Kunming Laowai Steve昆明老外史帝夫 who share Kunming with the world through their lenses. They frame the city's landscapes and heritage as the captivating vision of a "Blossoming Landscape."

It is the spirit of dedication: Embodied by the team behind Dianchi Lake floating bridge, and by Zhang Liyun, affectionately known as "Uncle Seagull," who has fed the gulls for over four decades. Their devotion brings to life the vision of a "Lakefront Spring City" where hills and waters share the city with eternal spring.

It is the spirit of warmth: Embodied by Yang Jianhua, the courier who delivers packages rain or shine with his ailing wife by his side, and by Gao Aiping, the street cleaner who takes on hardship without complaint. Through the quiet rhythm of their days, they weave the gentle currents that warm every heart in this "City of Warmth."

Kunming's charm, you see, is not just in its year-round blooms, the vast shimmer of Dianchi Lake, or the wheeling gulls overhead. It lives in the people who call this city home—the ones who embody the "Dian Spirit." They are the truest portrait of Kunming.

This celebration, seen by over 400 million people, sent a clear message to the world: Kunming welcomes you—and more than that, it invites you to be part of its story. Here, every effort is remembered. Every kindness is valued. Locals and newcomers, people from different countries and backgrounds, those from all walks of life—they all come together in this city. Here, "in Kunming, we are family" is not just a phrase, but a feeling you'll know firsthand.

For those traveling from afar, the beauty of this city runs deeper than the sunlit waves of Dianchi Lake or the gulls gliding over Green Lake. It lives in the warmth of everyday life and the humanity found along its streets. You might meet the quiet guardians of Dianchi shores, feel the pulse of living heritage in old alleyways, taste the easy rhythm and genuine warmth of Yunnan over food from street-side stalls. And in each encounter with a local, you'll discover a city that honors the ordinary and embraces the diverse—a place where everyone belongs.

In 2026, "A Letter from Kunming" International Communication Series Event launches. Guided by the rhythm of the seasons, it offers an immersive journey through the city's soul: Spring Appointment·Celebrating with the World, Summer Flavors·Tastes That Link the World, Autumn Green Rhythms·Ecological Safeguarding Together, and Winter Symphony·The World Gathers in Spring City. We invite friends from across the globe to become co-creators of Kunming's story.

Come and experience the Kunming shimmering lakes, misty mountains, and vibrant ethnic cultures. Capture its beauty through your lens or your words. Share your journey as part of our seasonal storytelling series, and post your stories on domestic and international social media with the hashtags #ALetterfromKunming春城有请 and #ALetterfromKunming. For more details on how to participate, scan the QR code below.

Kunming lives and breathes the "Dian Spirit." Its landscapes and people have been waiting to welcome you. So come, make the journey. Let this Spring City show you its wonders, and become part of its story—a story we share with the world. "The Dian Spirit lives in everyone; Ordinary people, extraordinary stories." In Kunming, you're never just passing by. You belong to the landscape.