Red Brick Utopia: Feel as if You're in the Distant Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Mile City, located in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, is a hidden gem known for its hot springs, wine, natural scenery, and unique ethnic culture, making it perfect for a relaxing getaway. Here's a detailed Mile travel guide to help you plan your trip with ease:
1️⃣Must-Visit Attractions
1. Dongfengyun Scenic Area
Features: Red brick buildings, art sculptures, lavender fields (summer).
Highlights: Kaleidoscope Art Museum, Seal House, great for photoshoots; solid-color clothing recommended.
Tickets: CNY 60; sightseeing vehicles are charged separately.
2. Huquan Ecological Garden
Features: Artificial lake, beach, hot springs; free admission, suitable for walking and cycling.
Things to do: Watch the sunset in the evening, soak in the hot springs at night (Huquan Banshan Hot Spring recommended, approx. CNY 168/person).
3. Taiping Lake Forest Park
Features: Flower fields, cactus park, mountain lakes; electric vehicles available for rent.
Best time to visit: Cherry blossoms in spring, flower fields in autumn.
4. Jinping Mountain Maitreya Buddha
Features: Climb 1,999 steps to the top to admire the 19.99m-tall Maitreya Buddha, symbolizing good fortune.
Tickets: CNY 30; recommended to go early to avoid the sun.
5. Keyi Town
Features: Ancient Yi ethnic Axi village, experience ethnic song and dance, bonfire parties.
Must-see: "Axi Jumping Moon" performance (check times in advance).
6. Yunnan Red Winery
Experience: Visit vineyards and cellars, taste wine (ticket includes tour and wine tasting, approx. CNY 20).
2️⃣Classic Itinerary
2-Day, 1-Night Leisure Tour
Day 1: Dongfengyun Scenic Area (morning) → Yunnan Red Winery (lunch with wine) → Huquan Ecological Garden (evening + hot springs)
Day 2: Jinping Mountain (morning) → Taiping Lake Forest Park (afternoon)
3-Day, 2-Night In-Depth Tour
Add a Keyi Town ethnic experience, or set aside half a day to explore Mile City (such as the Honghe Water Town night view).
3️⃣Food Recommendations
1. Stewed Chicken Rice Noodles
Recommended restaurants: Ma's Stewed Chicken Rice Noodles, Shen Weiguo Stewed Chicken Restaurant.
2. Mutton Soup Pot
Local Yi ethnic flavor, especially good in winter.
3. Red Wine Barbecue
Unique when paired with Mile-produced red wine.
4. Other snacks: Papaya water, fried rice cakes, Yi ethnic Eight Bowls.
4️⃣Accommodation Recommendations
Hot Spring Hotels: Huquan Hotel, Banshan Hot Spring Resort (choose these if your budget allows).
Value-for-Money Options: Chain hotels in the city center (such as Ji Hotel, Hanting Hotel), convenient transportation.
Featured B&Bs: Yi-style B&Bs in Dongfengyun Scenic Area or Keyi Town.
5️⃣Transportation Guide
External Transportation:
High-speed rail: Kunming South → Mile Station (approx. 40 mins, ticket price approx. CNY 50).
Driving: Approx. 2 hours from Kunming.
Intracity Transportation:
- Bus/taxi (attractions are scattered, it is recommended to charter a car or rent an electric vehicle).
6️⃣Important Notes
Sun protection: The plateau has strong UV rays, so bring sunscreen and a hat.
Hot springs: Bring your own swimsuit; some hotels provide bathrobes.
Ethnic etiquette: Respect Yi customs; do not photograph villagers without permission.
Mile has a slow pace and low prices, making it ideal for relaxing. If you want to avoid crowds, it is recommended to go during non-holidays to enjoy a quieter vacation experience!
The environment is nice, and the entrance fee is reasonable. The steps are a classic sight, quite majestic. The Maitreya Buddha statue is also nice. The scenic area isn't crowded, so you can enjoy it quietly.
It was beautiful. Although it was drizzling, the scenery was still stunning. The staff at the ticket office were incredibly thoughtful; since I was traveling with someone over 80, they reminded me to cancel my online ticket reservation so the accompanying person could enter for free. They only needed to buy a separate ticket for the sightseeing bus. It was the first time I'd received such a perk; it was very heartwarming.
The scenery is beautiful, perfect for taking photos. However, the round-trip shuttle bus tickets I bought didn't cover the return trip. Since I was touring from top to bottom, I didn't want to have to go back to catch the bus. I hope the scenic area will consider this issue.
Of course, it is worth visiting here: First, the fun is endless, Maitreya City, Maitreya Temple, Maitreya Buddha three names of the same name; Second, Maitreya Buddha is the largest in China, and there is also the largest in the world. The Buddha is tall and majestic, and the smile is kind. Third, the walking steps of worship Buddha Road are just 1999 level, a bit of a nine-nine-one meaning; fourth is the Jinping Mountain Scenic Area with beautiful scenery and shaded trees; fifth is that there is the first Buddha hand in the world, meaning the Buddha and the law are endless, so that you can laugh at life; sixth is that there is also Maitreya City, etc. You can worship it carefully. The whole scenic spot has a beautiful environment and natural naturalness, making tourists linger.
Jinping Mountain Scenic Area is the most famous Buddhist holy place in southeast of qian. Jinpingshan Scenic Area Maitreya Temple has the grandeur of the Big Buddha, Dayun, Daxiong, Dazhi Fourth Courtyard, and the Maitreya Qiangba Phase, Maitreya Thinking Phase, Maitreya Xianguang Phase, Maitreya Bag Phase, Maitreya Tianguan Phase, and it is the great temple of the "Maitreya Domain". Beautiful environment, quiet and far away...
This scenic spot is a must for Maitreya. Maitreya Temple and Maitreya Buddha are the main attractions. Slowly climb up the steps and watch every building and scenery carefully. It's worth the effort. Built in 1999, the 1999-metre-high Maitreya Buddha, glittering with gold, is made entirely of imported titanium and gold. It is magnificent against the blue sky and white clouds. Jinping Houhai under the mountain is a wetland park with beautiful scenery. The lake can be sightseeing by electric boat. There are also water fountains with changeable shapes, which are of great ornamental value.
This scenic spot is very good. When you enter the scenic spot, you can see Maitreya Buddha smiling at you from afar. When you arrive at the scenic spot, your mood will naturally be good. You can worship Buddha and make a wish in the scenic spot. It is a check-in place...
The scenery is nice, but it is not friendly to middle-aged and elderly people. It hurts your knees. The sightseeing bus does not stop at the scenic spots halfway. You can only go to the top of the mountain or go directly down from the top of the mountain. If you buy a round-trip ticket, you can't see any scenic spots. A one-way trip is enough. There are big steps up the mountain. It is very tiring at the high altitude. It hurts your knees to go down the mountain. I feel that the arrangement of the scenic spot is unreasonable.