From “Sightseeing” to “Living Life”

In Shadi Village in Jinning District, the gate of “Dianxi Huajian Homestay” opens on time every morning. Xu Huashuo, originally from Yantai, Shandong, has lived here for several years, going from a tourist to a “new villager.” He says what made him to stay was not only the blue sky, rice paddies and lake breezes, but also the slower, quieter and more authentic pace of life here. Similar stories are unfolding across Kunming.

Shadi Village. Photo provided by Cailong Club user@维梅

Shadi Village. Photo provided by Cailong Club user@忆影拾光

In Wukeshu Village, Shilin County, long-stay visitor Zhang Haiming has not only settled here long-term but has also invested in three homestays, hoping more people can experience the lifestyle of “living amid the scenery.” An increasing number of people are coming to Kunming not just for a quick visit, but choosing to stay longer and immerse themselves in local life, turning travel into a part of everyday living. Data shows that in 2025 Kunming ranked first in Yunnan Province in tourist arrivals, tourism expenditure, inbound visitors and long-stay travelers. The Spring City is emerging as one of China’s most popular destinations for extended stays.

Wukeshu Village. Photo provided by WeChat Official Account Shilin Media Convergence Center

Rural Renewal: New Business Models Boost the Appeal of Rural Tourism

As demand for long-stay travel grows, different parts of Kunming are exploring new models for rural development. Songming County aims to become the “First Stop in Kunming for a Yunnan Sojourn,” attracting backpackers, leisure travelers and long-stay visitors, turning villages into scenic destinations, farmhouses into guest rooms, and local specialties into “golden goose.” 

Songming Pudu Small Mountain Sea. Photo provided by WeChat Official Account Read Songming

In Yanta Village in Anning, the community has repurposed and renovated vacant old houses, restoring century-old courtyard residences and transforming traditional central Yunnan dwellings into courtyard-style retreats that combine homestays, rural libraries and expert workstations. Visitors can even rent an entire courtyard building and experience everyday life in a traditional compound.

Photos provided by rednote@碧荷叶

Haiyan Village, with a history of more than 600 years, has revitalized its ancient fishing heritage through homestays, local cuisine, cafés and art spaces, giving new life to idle old houses and turning the village into a popular destination along the shores of Dianchi Lake. From homestay courtyards to café spaces, and from intangible cultural heritage experiences to artistic creation, an increasing number of new cultural and tourism businesses are emerging in Kunming’s countryside, allowing rural areas to preserve their nostalgic charm while embracing new ways of living.

Photos provided by rednote@安东尼奥的生活记录

Kunming’s confidence in developing rural tourism stems from its unique ecological environment. In recent years, the city has intensified efforts in rural development and ecological conservation. By focusing on the renovation and upgrading of key villages along the shores of Dianchi Lake, Kunming has promoted the integrated development of agriculture, culture and tourism, bringing new vitality to distinctive villages set amid scenic landscapes.

Tourists relax and unwind in Leju Village. 

Currently, 46 key villages along Dianchi Lake are cultivating boutique homestays and intangible cultural heritage experiences programs. New forms of tourism are emerging, including branded homestays in Niulian Village, high-end homestay clusters in Haiyan Village, and tie-dye experiences in Fuan Village.

Wolong Ancient Fishing Village, Chenggong District. 

Meanwhile, Kunming continues to advance the “Four Good Rural Roads” initiative. By 2025, the city’s network of green scenic rural roads will exceed 2,900 kilometers, with 100 percent of townships and administrative villages connected by paved roads, supporting the development of residential tourism.

Cycling along the Dianchi Lake Greenway, visitors can pass through wetlands, villages and flower fields, stop at rest stations for a cup of coffee or an intangible cultural heritage experience, and see “ecotourism” gradually evolve into a deeper, more immersive travel experience.

Photos provided by rednote@昆明文旅

With the growth of the travel-residence economy, an increasing number of people are choosing to live in Yunnan and seek new opportunities for their careers. As Wang Ning, Secretary of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, wrote in a reply letter, people are moving from “traveling” to “residing,” and then from “residing” to “creating.” Some open homestays or coffee shops, others run pottery studios, while still others bring new vitality to rural areas through livestreaming and cultural creativity.

From short-term visitors to “new villagers” integrating into local life, and eventually to “travel entrepreneurs” putting down roots, Kunming continues to attract people from across the country to settle here and pursue their dreams.

Photo provided by rednote@昆明文旅

Those living in Kunming can watch black-headed gulls skim across Dianchi Lake in the morning, sip tea and read in rural courtyards in the afternoon, and wait for the sunset in ancient fishing villages at dusk. As more people choose to settle in the countryside, Kunming is turning its beautiful landscapes to extend beyond travel destinations and become part of everyday life—offering a slower, warmer way of living.

Photo provided by rednote@昆明文旅 

今年春天，云南省委书记王宁再次向广大网友回信，邀请大家到云南“旅居创业、生活追梦”。从2023年提出“有一种叫云南的生活”，到2025年强调“始于山水、归于烟火”，再到今年提出“旅创”，云南文旅发展的路径愈发清晰——从“游”到“居”，再由“居”而“创”。在这股旅居热潮中，昆明的乡村正成为越来越多人的理想栖居地。

从“看风景”到“过生活”

在晋宁区沙堤村，“滇汐花涧民宿”的院门每天清晨都会准时打开。来自山东烟台的徐华铄已经在这里生活了几年，从最初的游客变成了村里的“新村民”。他说，吸引他留下来的不仅是蓝天、稻田和湖风，更是这里慢下来、安静而真实的生活节奏。类似的故事正在昆明不断上演。

在石林县五棵树村，旅居客张海明不仅长期居住，还投资了3家民宿，希望让更多人体验这种“住在风景里”的生活方式。越来越多的人来到昆明，不再只是匆匆打卡，而是选择住下来、融进去，让旅行变成生活的一部分。数据显示，2025年昆明接待游客人数、旅游花费、入境游客和旅居人数均居云南全省第一，春城正成为全国热门旅居目的地之一。

乡村焕新：新业态让旅居更有吸引力

随着旅居需求的增长，昆明各地也在不断探索乡村发展的新模式。嵩明县提出打造“旅居云南入昆第一站”，吸引背包客、休闲客和长期旅居客，让农村变景区、农房变客房、土特产变“金饭碗”。

在安宁市雁塔村，村里收储改造闲置老宅，修复百年四合院，把滇中传统民居打造为集民宿、乡村书屋和专家工作站于一体的旅居小院，游客甚至可以整栋“包楼”居住，在传统院落中体验烟火生活。

拥有600年历史的海晏村，则通过民宿、美食、咖啡馆和艺术创作空间激活古渔村活力，让闲置老屋焕发新价值，成为滇池沿岸备受欢迎的旅居目的地。从民宿小院到咖啡空间，从非遗体验到艺术创作，越来越多新业态在昆明乡村生长，让乡村既保留乡愁，也拥有新的生活方式。

宜居环境托起诗意生活

昆明发展乡村旅居的底气，来自得天独厚的生态环境。近年来，昆明持续加大乡村建设和生态保护力度，以滇池沿岸重点村改造提升为抓手，推动农文旅融合发展，让一个个特色村庄在山水之间焕发新的活力。

目前，滇池沿岸46个重点村正在培育精品民宿和非遗体验项目，牛恋村的品牌民宿、海晏村的高端民宿集群、福安村的扎染体验等新业态不断涌现。

与此同时，昆明持续推进“四好农村路”建设，截至2025年，全市乡村绿美公路已超过2900公里，乡镇和建制村通硬化路率达到100%，为旅居经济的发展打通“主动脉”。

沿着滇池绿道骑行，可以穿过湿地、村庄和花海，在驿站喝杯咖啡、体验非遗，让“生态游”逐渐升级为“深度旅居”。

旅居昆明，逐梦而创

随着旅居经济发展，越来越多人选择在云南生活，并在这里寻找新的事业机会。正如云南省委书记王宁在回信中所说，人们正从“游”到“居”，再由“居”而“创”。有人开民宿、做咖啡，有人经营陶艺工作室，也有人通过直播和文创让乡村焕发活力。

从短暂停留的游客，到融入当地生活的“新村民”，再到扎根发展的“旅创者”，昆明正不断吸引来自各地的人在这里安居逐梦。

清晨在滇池畔看红嘴鸥掠水，午后在乡村小院喝茶读书，傍晚在古渔村等一场日落——当越来越多人选择栖居乡村，昆明也正以更从容温暖的方式，让风景从旅途延伸为日常生活。