The air is filled with the aroma of coffee, while music drifts through the summer breeze. In Kunming, the 2026 Dianchi International Coffee Culture Carnival is bustling with crowds, as specialty coffee, food, music and ethnic culture come together, attracting residents and tourists eager to experience the vibrant festivities.

"Hello everyone, I'm Lucas from France. I work in Kunming, and I love coffee." During the event, Lucas — Cultural and Education Director at Alliance Française de Kunming joined the livestream as a guest.  He took viewers on a tour of the carnival, experiencing the charm of Kunming's coffee culture firsthand and sharing his "Yunnan coffee" experience with audiences in China and around the world.

Lucas at the Dianchi Coffee Carnival. Photo by Wang Tiandou/Reporter

Speaking about his relationship with coffee, Lucas says he was first introduced to coffee culture by a Swedish friend. "Before that, I didn't really understand the culture behind coffee." As he learned more, he realized coffee is more than just a beverage — it is a thread connecting lifestyles, regional cultures, and people.

"Coffee has some similarities to French wine culture," Lucas says. A wine from a specific region reflects the character of its terroir; likewise, coffee from different regions carries its own flavors and stories. "The connection between people, the land, and production is very important."

Lucas and the host discussing coffee cultures from around the world. Photo by Wang Tiandou/ Reporter

Walking into the carnival, Lucas was captivated by the dazzling array of coffee booths. Beans from different regions, specialty drinks, and innovative brewing methods gave him a firsthand look at Yunnan's coffee industry.

Lucas trying an apple latte. Photo by Wang Tiandou/Reporter

At the specialty coffee tasting area, Lucas sampled an osmanthus Americano. The richness of coffee blended with the delicate fragrance of osmanthus, creating a unique taste experience. "This floral note is very special," he said. Infusing local ingredients into coffee is a creative way to give the drink a stronger sense of place, he added.

Next, Lucas tried an apple latte. The crisp sweetness of apple intertwined with the coffee's aroma, producing a warm and smooth flavor. "This flavor reminds me of autumn," he shared. In different countries, people create coffee drinks according to the seasons and local culture — and it is through this kind of innovation that coffee culture keeps evolving.

Beyond coffee, the Yunnan specialties at the carnival also caught Lucas's eye. Stopping at a Dai-style grilled sausage stall, he tried the local snack as the host introduced it. The distinctive spices and savory meat blended in his mouth, and Lucas gave it an enthusiastic thumbs-up: "Delicious!" Through food, he said, one can feel the diversity of Yunnan culture and gain a deeper understanding of the way people live here.

Lucas sampling Yunnan specialty food. Photo by Wang Tiandou/Reporter 

In the afternoon, the float parade brought the carnival atmosphere to a climax. Accompanied by upbeat music, colorful floats rolled slowly past as a motorcycle convoy made its way along the streets. Coffee-themed elements, ethnic dances and the cityscape came together in a vibrant display. Lucas stopped to watch, taking in the lively performances.

The float parade at the carnival. Photo provided by the organizer

The live band also caught Lucas's attention. Melodious tunes, a lively and engaging atmosphere, and the aroma of coffee came together to create a unique carnival experience.

Live performance by Coffee Quartet. Photo provided by the organizer

"There's so much energy here," Lucas said. In Kunming, coffee is more than just a drink — it has become part of urban life, blending with music, art, food and local culture. "I think it's a truly special experience."

After the livestream, Lucas shared his thoughts on the carnival. In his view, the Dianchi International Coffee Culture Carnival not only showcases coffees from different regions and with diverse flavor profiles, but also highlights the cultural exchange that takes place around coffee.

"This experience was wonderful," Lucas said. He sampled creative coffee drinks infused with Yunnan flavors and experienced the unique appeal that emerges when coffee meets local culture. "As a Frenchman, I rarely see a coffee festival in Europe that brings together so many different cultural elements."

Speaking about Kunming, Lucas said the city had left him with a strong impression of openness and diversity. Here, traditional culture and modern life come together, while people from different countries and cultural backgrounds can connect through coffee — a shared language. "Kunming is a very friendly city. I really love it here."

From a single cup of coffee to an encounter with a city, Lucas's journey in Kunming was more than a tasting experience — it was a cultural exchange. Through the eyes of an international guest, the Dianchi International Coffee Culture Carnival offers overseas audiences a glimpse of the unique appeal of Yunnan coffee, while showcasing Kunming's open, inclusive and diverse character.

咖香氤氲，音乐悠扬。盛夏昆明，2026滇池国际咖啡文化嘉年华现场人潮涌动，特色咖啡、美食、音乐和民族文化交织融合，吸引众多市民游客前来体验。

“大家好，我是来自法国的卢卡，我在昆明工作，也很喜欢咖啡。”活动期间，昆明法语联盟文化及教育负责人卢卡担任直播嘉宾，跟随镜头走进嘉年华现场，沉浸式感受昆明咖啡文化魅力，与海内外网友分享他的“云咖”体验。

谈起自己与咖啡的缘分，卢卡表示，自己最初是在一位瑞典朋友的影响下认识咖啡文化。“在那之前，我并不了解咖啡背后的文化。”后来，随着对咖啡的深入了解，他发现咖啡不仅是一种饮品，更是连接着生活方式、地域文化和人与人之间的纽带。

“咖啡和法国的葡萄酒文化有一些相似之处。”卢卡说，一杯来自特定产区的葡萄酒，能够体现当地的风土特色；同样，不同产区的咖啡也有属于自己的风味和故事。“人与土地、生产之间的联系非常重要。”

走进嘉年华现场，琳琅满目的咖啡展位让卢卡充满兴趣。不同产区的咖啡豆、特色咖啡饮品以及创新制作方式，让他感受到云南咖啡产业发展的多样性。

在特色咖啡体验区，卢卡品尝了桂花美式。咖啡的醇厚与桂花的清香相互融合，带来独特的味觉体验。“这种花香很特别。”卢卡表示，将当地特色融入咖啡，是一种很有创意的表达方式，也让咖啡拥有了更多地域特色。

随后，卢卡又体验了苹果拿铁。苹果的清甜与咖啡香气交织，带来温暖柔和的口感。“这种味道让我想到秋天。”卢卡分享道，在不同国家，人们会根据季节和当地文化创造不同的咖啡饮品，而咖啡文化也正是在这样的创新中不断丰富。

除了咖啡，现场的云南特色美食也吸引了卢卡的目光。来到傣味烤肠摊位前，在主播介绍下，他品尝了融合地方风味的特色小吃。独特的香料味和肉香在口中交织，卢卡连连点赞：“很好吃！”他说，通过美食可以感受到云南文化的多样性，也让他进一步了解这片土地上的生活方式。

下午，嘉年华现场的花车巡游将活动氛围推向高潮。伴随着欢快的音乐，各式特色花车缓缓驶过，摩托车车队沿街巡游，咖啡主题元素、民族特色舞蹈与城市街景相互交融。卢卡驻足观看，欣赏巡游队伍带来的精彩表演。

现场乐队演奏的音乐也吸引了卢卡的注意。悠扬的旋律、热烈的互动氛围，与咖啡香气共同构成了嘉年华独特的体验。

“这里非常有活力。”卢卡表示，在昆明，咖啡并不只是一种饮品，而是与音乐、艺术、美食以及当地文化相结合，成为城市生活的一部分。“我觉得这是一种非常特别的体验。”

直播结束后，卢卡分享了此次嘉年华之旅的感受。在他看来，滇池国际咖啡文化嘉年华不仅展示了不同产区、不同风味的咖啡，也让人们看到咖啡背后的文化交流。

“这次体验非常棒。”卢卡说，在这里，他品尝到了融合云南特色的创意咖啡，也感受到了咖啡与地方文化结合产生的新魅力。“作为一名法国人，我很少在欧洲看到这样一个融合多种文化元素的咖啡节。”

谈及昆明，卢卡表示，这座城市给他留下了开放、多元的印象。在这里，传统文化与现代生活相互交融，不同国家、不同文化背景的人们能够通过咖啡这一共同语言交流互动。“昆明是一座非常友好的城市，我很喜欢这里。”

从一杯咖啡到一次城市相遇，卢卡的昆明之旅不仅是一次味觉体验，更是一场文化交流。通过外国嘉宾的视角，滇池国际咖啡文化嘉年华让更多海外网友感受到云南咖啡的独特魅力，也看见昆明开放包容、兼收并蓄的城市气质。