Bao Bao's Travel Diary #1: Kunming — First-Time Parents' First Long-Distance Adventure with a Toddler

Before We Set Off: Why Kunming?

If you ask me where to take an 18-month-old on their first trip outside the home province, my answer is simple: Kunming.

Not because Erhai Lake is romantic, and not because its flower cakes are famous — though those are all great — but because this city is the perfect "starter zone."

Kunming has Bao Bao's uncle and older cousin, which means we have a "logistics support team." The climate is pleasant — early August feels like a natural air conditioner, dry and comfortable, way better than Nanning's "humid convection oven." More importantly, although Kunming is a tourist city, many people just treat it as a transit stop. Not many actually do a deep dive here, so the scenic spots aren't overcrowded to the point of insanity.

For a couple taking their baby on their first long trip, this was the ideal test run.

Preparations: The Suitcase Wasn't Packed with Clothes, but with Anxiety

From Nanning to Kunming, it's a four-hour bullet train ride. That doesn't sound long, but for a one-and-a-half-year-old human cub, this journey might as well be crossing the Pacific.

Before we left, my wife and I went through every possible scenario like we were planning a military operation: Would he cry on the train? Would he have trouble adjusting to the water? Would he sleep well in the hotel bed? Would he eat the local food?

The answer: No idea.

So we packed everything we could. Formula, diapers, wet wipes, changes of clothes, comfort toys, a small blanket… The suitcase was stuffed to the brim. When I lifted it, I felt like I wasn't going on a trip — I was moving house.

There's nothing wrong with traveling with a kid. It just wears out the parents.

DAY 1: First Glimpse of the Spring City, the Gentle Old Streets

Observations of a Human Cub on the Bullet Train

The first time Bao Bao saw a bullet train, he was so excited he pointed out the window and shouted, "Wooooo! Big train coming!"

Once on board, the little guy pressed his face against the window, watching the scenery whiz by, his little head turning this way and that, full of curiosity. Honestly, I was nervous the whole time — back when I traveled alone, I dreaded encountering crying kids. Now it was my turn, and I was terrified Bao Bao would become one of those "little monsters" everyone complains about.

Luckily, the kid played nice. For the entire four-hour ride, he stayed calm like a little adult, even napping in my arms for an hour. My lower back, though… Fellow dads, you know the drill.

After getting off the train, following Chinese tradition, we had to take a photo with the train station. Family portrait, check. The trip officially began.

Kunming Old Street: The Wine Glass Building Through Time

After checking into the hotel, changing Bao Bao's diaper, and feeding him, it was almost 5 PM. Before it got dark, we headed straight for Kunming Old Street.

We stayed at the Atour Light Hotel near Nanping Pedestrian Street. It's a five-minute walk to both the old street and the metro station — perfect location. The only minor downside is that Dongfeng West Road out front often gets congested, but that's a small flaw. The hotel breakfast was a lifesaver for Bao Bao's meals.

Passing through the flower-and-bird market behind the hotel, we entered the old street area. Along the way, we passed Nie Er's former residence. I wanted to take Bao Bao inside to soak up some of the composer of the national anthem's legacy, but it was already closed. Open hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 9 AM to around 5 PM. If you want to go, get there early.

Even though we couldn't go inside, we could still take a photo at the entrance. Letting Bao Bao get a dose of patriotism and music education from a young age — a dad's thoughtful intentions.

But the little guy was clearly more interested in birds than music. When he saw the parrots in the flower-and-bird market, his face lit up. He chased after them shouting "Duck duck!" scaring the birds into flying around their cage.

Victory Wine Glass Building: Kunming's Iconic Landmark

Finally, we reached the star of the day — the Victory Wine Glass Building.

Built to celebrate the victory of the War of Resistance, this structure is over sixty years old. Two buildings, east and west, curve symmetrically to form an elegant wine glass shape, making it one of the world's rare curved architectural designs. The most amazing part is that the building becomes extremely thin at the very front, earning it the nickname "Paper Thin Building."

I sketched a diagram for myself — a bit abstract, but the gist is: this building looks like a wine glass.

Facing the memorial hall, the building on the left is now the Ruo'an Duiyue Hotel. On the right side, two windows on the back bear the large characters "昆明" (Kunming), making it a landmark within a landmark. If you come here and don't take a photo, you might as well not have come.

Bao Bao's mom went into crazy photo mode, while I served as photographer and baby-holding tool. The little guy cooperated, smiling like a little sun for the camera.

For dinner, we went to "Eggplant Qia Qia," a creative Yunnan cuisine restaurant. It's tucked away in a small alley off the old street — and that alley itself was a surprise. A waterfall of purple-red bougainvillea cascaded from the wall, creating a stunning visual impact. Bougainvillea is common in Nanning too, but such a dramatic flower waterfall was rare.

As for the food, we waited a long time for their signature small duck, but the flavor was just okay. The dish we ordered for Bao Bao, however — steamed meat patty with morel mushrooms (羊肚菌蒸肉饼) — was tender, juicy, and the meat juice mixed with rice was absolutely incredible. Sure enough, when you travel with a kid, the child's palate comes first.

DAY 2: Breezing by Dianchi Lake, Pretending We're in France

Haigang Park: Dianchi Lake Without Seagulls Is Still Beautiful

The next morning was another round of chaos. Feeding Bao Bao, changing his diaper, packing up for the day — by the time we actually left, it was past 10 AM.

Our first stop was Haigang Park. It's about 12 kilometers from the hotel, and the closer we got to Dianchi Lake, the worse the traffic got — there's an ethnic culture park nearby, so plenty of tourists.

It wasn't seagull season, and with Bao Bao, taking the cable car up Western Mountain wasn't practical. So we just strolled around the park, letting the Dianchi breeze wash over us.

Bao Bao had never seen such a vast expanse of "sea." He kept squealing with excitement. Dianchi's wide water surface really does feel like the ocean. I knew it wasn't real, but I couldn't help thinking: Let's just pretend we're at the seaside.

Park 1903: A Paradise for Parents with Kids

From Haigang Park, we drove four kilometers to the main event of the day — Park 1903.

This is a trendy shopping park, combining shopping, dining, and a children's playground, with plenty of photo-worthy spots. For pure tourists, it might not feel "Yunnan enough," but for families like ours, it was heaven.

By the time we arrived, it was 1 PM, so lunch first. At the restaurant "Mushroom Wild Mushroom Hotpot" (菌彩野生菌火锅), right across from the park's main gate, we ordered a set meal with four types of wild mushrooms. The price was reasonable.

But this meal taught me just how cautious Yunnan locals are about eating wild mushrooms. The waiter brought the pot out, then told us with great seriousness: You must boil it for at least forty minutes before eating. They also kept a sample of the broth and registered our names.

This procedure — clearly, there's a story behind it.

Unfortunately, the ingredients weren't very fresh. The accompanying goose meat had an off-putting smell. Our family is particularly sensitive to food freshness, so we mostly just ate the mushrooms and left the meat untouched. This was our least satisfying meal in Kunming.

After Bao Bao woke up from his nap and we dawdled a bit, it was already 4 PM. Finally, we could enter the park.

As soon as we stepped through the main gate, we saw the iconic "Arc de Triomphe" — a 1:1 replica of the original in France, blending traditional European style with modern design. Behind it was a stylish street, perfect for photos.

When Bao Bao saw the fountain, he went wild. He insisted on running into the water. I quickly scooped him up, but he struggled to get down, shouting, "Water! Water! Water!"

At the end of the fountain street stood a white castle wedding chapel — probably every girl's dream. Bao Bao's mom stared at it, her eyes sparkling. I silently made a mental note.

Behind the white castle was a non-motorized sports park, suitable for older kids. Bao Bao was too small, so we had to pass it by regretfully. Further back was the "Dream Federal Paradise," a massive children's shopping center with every brand you could imagine.

The most frustrating part, though, was that all the rides required a stored-value card to play, with a minimum top-up of 500 yuan. No single-ticket purchases. For out-of-town tourists like us, this was pretty unfriendly.

Bao Bao could only gaze longingly at the carousel before we lured him away to look at goldfish.

For dinner, we wanted to try the famous cross-bridge rice noodles (过桥米线) at "Shangzuo" inside the park, but the queue was way too long. We settled for "Dian Man Lou" across the street.

To our surprise, it was excellent. We ordered one PRO set and one PLUS set. The broth was rich, the rice noodles smooth, and the four of us adults were perfectly satisfied. Bao Bao loved it too, his little mouth smacking away. Looks like we have a little foodie on our hands.

DAY 3: Plans Change When Bao Bao Changes

The original plan for today was to visit Yunnan University and Luoyuhe Wetland Park, and meet up with Bao Bao's older cousin.

But man proposes, Bao Bao disposes.

Under Bao Bao's "intervention" — refusing to get up, a lengthy morning routine, refusing his milk, refusing breakfast — we didn't finish packing and check out until nearly 11 AM.

Bao Bao's mom's expression was, how should I put it, the kind where you're frustrated but still trying to keep a smile.

At 11:30, we finally got a Didi ride. From the city center to the university town was over 30 kilometers. Stop-and-go traffic meant it took nearly an hour to get there. After checking into the hotel and dropping off our bags, it was already past 1 PM — lunchtime again.

Half the day was already gone.

But the university town was quiet and peaceful, since it was summer break. Bao Bao's uncle's family lives nearby — he walks to work. It's the classic "good pay, less work, close to home" dream — my ideal life!

Uncle took us to "Yangjun Da Wild Mushroom Hotpot" (羊菌哒野生菌火锅). This time, it was the real deal.

Once we sat down, we got one piece of good news and one piece of bad news.

Good news: This pot had fourteen types of wild mushrooms, high ratings on Dianping, and was the authentic Yunnan taste.

Bad news: We had to wait an hour.

To avoid "red mushrooms, white stems, after eating, we all lie down" (a reference to a popular song about mushroom poisoning), we had to wait on empty stomachs. We chatted about Yunnan's climate, ethnic cuisine, Yunnan University's history, Uncle's research topics, and eventually international affairs… By the time we ran out of topics, the mushroom pot was finally ready.

One bowl of broth, and it was so fresh it made your eyebrows drop. Paired with free-range chicken, it was simply divine. This meal became the undisputed number one of our entire Kunming trip.

After finishing the hotpot and waiting for Bao Bao to wake up from his nap, it was 4 PM again. We decided to drop by Uncle's place. But then another hiccup — Grandpa said his back hurt when he got out of the car. Uncle said there was a great acupuncture clinic downstairs, so Grandpa and Grandma went for treatment.

Our Yunnan University trip turned into hanging out at Uncle's place.

Bao Bao and his older cousin played non-stop at home, chasing each other, their laughter threatening to lift the roof off.

At 6 PM, Grandpa and the others finally returned. Uncle said we should take a drive around Yunnan University before dark to catch the sunset. But just as we drove out, the sky turned gray — and then came a torrential downpour.

Well, a rainy campus tour could be romantic too. Uncle drove us around, pointing out the size of the campus and the various buildings. Yunnan University students are truly lucky to study in such a garden-like setting. Too bad the rain was so heavy; on a clear day, we could have gotten some amazing photos.

Dinner was at "Fang Zhu Mei Xuanwei Cuisine" (放猪妹宣威菜) downstairs from Uncle's place. This restaurant had a strong local character. The Xuanwei ham (宣威火腿) was salty and flavorful, and a bowl of pork trotter soup looked greasy but was surprisingly addictive. This meal ranked second on our food list, just behind the wild mushroom hotpot from lunch.

DAY 4: The Wonder of the Cambrian, the Calm of Fuxian Lake

Today was the last stop of our trip — the Chengjiang Fossil Site World Natural Heritage Museum.

We originally planned to visit the Yunnan Provincial Museum, but Uncle said it's mostly about ethnic history and culture — too boring for a kid. The geological museum has dinosaurs, and all kids love dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs? Then we had to go!

Chengjiang is in Yuxi City, just 30 kilometers from Kunming's university town. It took about an hour by car.

The museum is built into a hillside. In front of it stands a sculpture shaped like an exploding firework, symbolizing the Cambrian Explosion of life. The fossil site at Fuxian Lake in Chengjiang is the most direct evidence of this explosion.

The museum's use of multimedia, sound, light, and electricity was outstanding — among the best in the country for museums. Various immersive experiences allowed both adults and children to feel the emergence, development, extinction, and renewal of life.

The most impressive part was the Cambrian's mascot — the anomalocaris (奇虾). Also, a tank full of floating jellyfish, beautiful beyond words under blue-purple lighting. By the Jurassic area, it was a children's paradise, with lifelike dinosaur models everywhere.

But some of the prehistoric creatures had the most ridiculous names — "Long-tailed Miss Zhou Bug" (长尾周小姐虫) and "Beautiful Cinderella Bug" (美丽灰姑娘虫). What on earth?

After walking through the museum, the overwhelming feeling was: In the river of time stretching tens of millions of years, a human life of just a few decades is but a fleeting moment. Yet in that brief time, humans have had an unprecedented and profound impact on the entire planet. That's the power of life and intelligence — both tiny and immense.

Before sunset, we arrived at Cherry Valley on the shores of Fuxian Lake. It had been eight years since my last visit, and things felt different. Last time, I was a carefree young man; this time, I was a middle-aged office worker with a family in tow. But Fuxian Lake remained as calm as ever, as if time didn't exist.

Bao Bao could once again "pretend he was at the seaside" — this time, version 2.0 Pro Max.

For dinner, we had Fuxian Lake's most famous dish — stone pot fish (石锅鱼) — at "Guanjiapo Fish Village" (管家婆鱼庄). The fish was freshly caught and weighed, but Grandma thought the texture was just okay and the price a bit high. The other dishes were too oily. Overall, it was mediocre. Not recommended.

DAY 5: Going Home, Looking Forward to the Next Stop

After four leisurely days of wandering and eating in Kunming, it was time to go back to the grind.

Looking back on this trip, we hit about 80% of our planned itinerary. Bao Bao was kind to us. There were plenty of hiccups along the way, but overall, things went smoothly. Bao Bao's first bullet train ride, first time seeing a "sea," first dinosaur fossils, first night sleeping in a strange bed… Every "first" is a mark of growth.

This trip taught me one thing: When traveling with a kid, don't plan too rigidly. You never know when a small disruption will upend all your arrangements, but you also never know what surprises those disruptions might bring.

Looking forward to the next stop in Bao Bao's Travel Diary. I hope one day he'll unlock the entire map, travel to the ends of the earth, and see all the beauty the world has to offer.

And his mom and I will be right there beside him, every step of the way.

Travel Tips:

1. Kunming Weather: Early August is comfortable, dry and not stuffy, perfect for escaping the heat. But UV rays are strong — remember sunscreen.
2. Traveling with Kids: Don't pack the schedule too full. One or two places a day is enough. Leave time for naps.
3. Accommodation Recommendation: Atour Light Hotel near the old street — convenient location, good breakfast.
4. Food Recommendation: Wild mushroom hotpot is a must-try, but choose a reputable place. Cross-bridge rice noodles are also worth it.
5. Chengjiang Geological Museum: Highly recommended — both adults and kids will get a lot out of it. Plan for half a day.
6. Park 1903: Great for families with kids, but the stored-value card requirement for rides is inconvenient for out-of-town visitors.