#Pre Thanks Giving

Kunming Wanshou Palace

Located at the southern foot of Yuanbao Mountain near the Kunming Botanical Garden, there is a Taoist temple that was built in the mid-Qing Dynasty—Wanshou Palace. The temple is built against the mountain, majestic and spectacular, with incense wafting through the air, exuding a true Taoist immortal charm! The temple is clean and tidy, very peaceful and solemn. Every building in the temple is a treasure left to posterity by ancient craftsmen. With a devout heart, visiting these preserved works of art, one can't help but marvel at the exquisite charm of Chinese architecture and the profound cultural heritage!

The Kunming Rhododendron Flower Festival has opened at the Black Dragon Pool Park

The Kunming Rhododendron Flower Festival has opened at the Black Dragon Pool Park. Every year at the end of March and the beginning of April, the 'Rhododendron Valley' built along the foothills of Longquan Mountain, covering more than a hundred acres, will be in full bloom with a riot of colors. The valley is dominated by Rhododendron simsii, with more than 30 varieties of rhododendrons, totaling over 350,000 plants, making it the largest courtyard-style rhododendron planting park in the Southwest region. Currently, the Black Dragon Pool Park is open to the public for free, and friends who are interested can take bus no. 9 or 79 to visit.

The park in Kunming is so beautiful! It's like a dream from Alice in Wonderland!

The people of Kunming also eat so well How can a random free park be as beautiful as Alice's fairyland?!!! Azaleas bloom in large patches and slopes Walking inside, I feel like a princess from a fairy tale!!! — ✅Address: Heilongtan Park 🕰️Open: 08:00-18:00 No entry after 17:30 🎫Admission: Free ✔️About the location of the azaleas: Just go straight up after entering the gate, if you're not sure, you can search for the location of the observation deck to find it, there are a total of six observation decks, if you're just taking pictures of the azaleas, the first and second observation decks are enough, the azaleas here are already blooming vigorously and densely, as an outsider, I was amazed at first sight!! 💛About photo shooting tips: 1️⃣Observation deck, the panoramic view of the azaleas are all taken from the observation deck, no need for drones, because this position is higher up, so when people stand on the opposite path, you can capture the feeling of a whole break of azaleas; 2️⃣Make good use of the foreground, if you want to take a close-up of people in the flowers, you can use the flowers as the foreground, which can create a feeling of being surrounded by a sea of flowers; 3️⃣Forest paths, people located in the middle of the flower paths, walking or turning to capture, can take more natural pictures, very suitable for shooting overall landscape photos. In addition to the azaleas, I also really like the trees and fish in Heilongtan Park, the ancient trees here are very tall and dense, with a very wild vitality, I really like it; and when taking pictures of the fish, one fish seemed to sense that I was photographing it, it kept spitting water in front of me and posing, it was so cute, I feel like I could play with it all afternoon!

Kunming's forests are a riot of colors with its maple leaves

Kunming  Yunnan 📍Detailed address: Heilongtan Park, Kunming Botanical Garden, Haikou Forest Farm in Kunming 📝Tips: Best time: Mid-October to mid-November ⏳Visiting time: One to two days 🚉Transportation strategy: Haikou Forest Farm: Take bus No. 33 from Xiaoximen or C 2 6 from the Western Bus Station, get off at Zhongtan Street, then take a taxi. Heilongtan Park, Botanical Garden (across the street): Subway Line 1 to Line 2 to bus No. 9. ❤Recommended reason: The maple leaves of different shapes 🍁 are super beautiful. Heilongtan is suitable for landscape photography, and Haikou Forest Farm is suitable for portrait photography. 💰Average cost: No entrance fee for Heilongtan Park and Haikou Forest Farm, and the botanical garden ticket is 10 yuan.

The azaleas in Heilongtan are in full bloom across the mountains! Are you sure you don't want to come?

March and April are the best months to view the azaleas at Heilongtan! The annual 'Azalea Festival' has reached its 22nd year this year! Every spring, the Azalea Valley in Heilongtan Park is like a paradise on earth~ The sea of azalea flowers that covers the hills and fields intoxicates visitors, making it impossible to resist their unique charm. The 'Azalea Valley' in Heilongtan is built along the mountains, with ancient paths leading to secluded spots~ The majority of the vegetation is taller than a person, making it particularly pleasant to be amidst. There are several viewing platforms throughout the 'Azalea Valley', all of which are great spots for viewing and taking photos. The azaleas in Heilongtan are predominantly Rhododendron simsii, with more than 30 varieties and a total of over 350,000 plants, making it the largest courtyard-style azalea planting park in the southwest region. ‼️Tips: I went on March 8th, and half of the azaleas had already bloomed, but it wasn't the most flourishing time yet. If you want to wait for the peak bloom, the end of March would probably be more suitable. 📍Heilongtan Park 📌1 Lan'an Road, Panlong District, Kunming City ⏰8:00-18:00 🎟️Admission 🆓 🚗Self-driving: 🗺️Accessible by navigation 🅿️There is a parking lot opposite the park entrance 🚌Bus: Heilongtan - Routes 9, 79, 128 ‼️Tips: 🔆There are dining options inside the park (Chinese food, vegetarian, snacks, etc.) 🔆There is a convenience store outside the park 🔆There is a children's playground inside the park 🔆There is a dedicated fishing area inside the park

Heilongtan Park

and Playgrounds in the Park Heilongtan Park Cultural Notes and Cultural Sites Inside Kunming Heilongtan Park, there are two ponds, divided into two by a stone bridge in the middle, one clear and one murky. The waters of clarity and murkiness do not mix, and it is said that even the fish do not cross the boundary, which is quite miraculous. Within Heilongtan, there is a rare large plum garden known as Longquan Tanmei. The Tang plums in the garden are said to have been transplanted from the Nanzhao period, and together with the Yuan plums from the Anning Caoxi Temple, are considered the most precious ancient plums in Yunnan. The park also features Lin Zexu Square, Lin Zexu, a native of Houguan in Fujian, was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing dynasty and a national hero during the Opium Wars. In the year of Jiamao (1819), Lin Zexu went to Yunnan to preside over the provincial examinations and visited Heilongtan to view the Tang plums. After the Opium Wars, in the year of Dingwei (1847), Lin Zexu served as the Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou and revisited Heilongtan. During his tenure as Governor-General, Lin Zexu did many practical things for the people, thus he was deeply loved by the people of Yunnan. Today, there is a story about him praying for rain in Kunming's Heilongtan. It is said that when Lin Zexu first arrived as the Governor-General, Kunming was experiencing a severe drought. He went to Heilongtan to pray for rain, and in front of the Black Dragon Palace, he said to the Dragon God, 'I am the parental official of this region, and you are the deity of this place. You should consider the livelihood of the people. Now, the prolonged drought has caused the crops to wither and the people to starve. How can you bear not to help?' After Lin Zexu finished speaking and boarded his sedan, the sun was scorching hot in front of the sedan, but behind it, dark clouds rolled in and heavy rain poured down, alleviating the drought and leading to a bountiful harvest. ⏳Visiting Time: The park is open for free, and the visiting time is 2 to 3 hours.

It's the perfect time for 'Longquan Plum Blossom Exploration'!

The 'Longquan Plum Blossom Exploration' spot within the Black Dragon Pool Park is acclaimed as one of Kunming's new sixteen scenic spots. 🌟Highlights: The annual 'Longquan Plum Blossom Exploration' Kunming Plum Blossom Festival is an essential flower event for Kunming residents to welcome spring and seek blessings: admiring the plum scenery, savoring the fragrance, and seeking the fun of plums. To truly appreciate the blooming of a flower and to listen to the magical secrets of nature, one suddenly realizes how wonderful the garden full of plum blossoms is. Following the main road of the park, potted plum blossoms quietly bloom on both sides of the road, bringing a whiff of plum fragrance. From the 'Longquan Ancient Plum' of the 'Eight Scenic Spots of Yuan Dynasty Kunming' to the 'Longquan Plum Blossom Exploration' of the 'New Sixteen Scenic Spots of Kunming,' exploring plums in the Black Dragon Pool Park has become an excellent experience for cleansing the soul and leisurely wild fun amidst the changing and unchanging shadows and fragrances of plum blossoms. The plum blossoms on the branches are dotted like watercolors blooming on a palette, but did you know that each petal of the plum blossom carries the story of the years? 👍Most recommended: The name 'Black Dragon Pool' originates from a mysterious legend. It is rumored that a black dragon king once hid here, yet the pool never dries up. The entire Dragon Pool is divided into two ponds, separated by a bridge in the middle, one pond is crystal clear to the bottom, and the other has murky water. It's as if there is a magical boundary between them, and even the fish seem not to cross the boundary. 🚉Transportation tips: The park's main entrance is accessible by bus ❤Recommended reason: It is a park with a cultural atmosphere Currently, it is open to the public for free Opening hours are from 8 am to 6 pm

Black Dragon Palace

Black Dragon Pool Park Cultural Notes and Cultural Attractions Attractions The Black Dragon Palace is located inside the Black Dragon Pool Park at the junction of Changchong Mountain and Longquan Mountain in Kunming. It is said to be the site of the dragon's veins, and historical records indicate that this Taoist temple has existed since the Han Dynasty. Its predecessor was the Black Water Shrine, which has been destroyed many times in history. During the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, it was rebuilt or repaired multiple times. What we see now is the structure established during the Ming Dynasty and renamed as Black Water Palace, which was later expanded during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In front of this Taoist temple, there are two pools of water, one clear and one muddy, which have never dried up. During a drought in the Ming Dynasty, many common people came to this Dragon Palace to pray for rain. The ancient Taoist temple has always enshrined the Dragon King. The Black Water Palace we see today was initially built in the Ming Dynasty, and after renovation and expansion, it has become the oldest shrine in Kunming. At the very inside of the Black Dragon Palace, a black dragon is sculpted, guarding the place. Above the lower temple, the Black Dragon Palace, there is an upper temple, Longquan Temple, which is the oldest and most sacred Taoist site in Yunnan and the center for Taoist activities. During the New Year and festivals, the Black Dragon Palace welcomes a peak period of pilgrims. The Black Dragon Palace has a long history and culture in Kunming. The ancients regarded it as the Dragon Palace, praying for abundant rainfall in Kunming. At the same time, it is also the oldest Taoist temple in Kunming, a place of Taoist culture, inheriting the ancient Taoist culture. At the foot of Longquan Mountain in the Black Dragon Pool Park, there are two pools of water, one clear and one muddy, interconnected but the muddy does not become clear, and the clear does not become muddy, a wonder. ⏳Visiting Time: Free admission, the visiting time for attractions is 10 minutes to 30 minutes.

Kunming (Black Dragon Pool Park)

When you feel that many things around you are tasteless, you might as well go out for a walk. People should stay in a place without a ceiling, not to mention that you can occasionally encounter squirrels in this park! Black Dragon Pool Park is really suitable for a person to relax. You can easily encounter squirrels on the small paths in the forest, the cool pavilions, the autumn temperature plus the breeze blowing is really fun!

The spectacle of light and shadow in Heilongtan Park and Longquan View

Sunlight shines on the streets and alleys of Kunming, and we embarked on a journey to explore Heilongtan Park. The park is shaded by green trees and full of flowers, as if in the embrace of nature. And our destination, Longquan View, is even more a dazzling pearl in this park. The light and shadow effect of Longquan View is breathtaking. Under the sunlight, the Taoist temple appears solemn and mysterious.

Black Dragon Pool in Kunming

This is where Lin Zexu prayed for rain for the people, and also a place where Xu Xiake checked in. The two pools of water are one clear and one turbid, and there are also ancient trees and famous woods such as Tang Mei, Song Bai, Yuan Shan, and Ming Mei.