Dazzer - thanks but Qingdao is a bit to hot for me still.

For the others, Green Lake seems nice but will I benefit much with the Uni's being closed? I've studied in a Chinese university a while ago, but not sure what it's like in between semesters.

I wouldn't say I need a Starbucks, but it would be nice to be able to take my laptop somewhere and meet people while getting work done.

It's probably best for me to take a trip over and see things for myself but all of these suggestions are very helpful.

I agree that it will be a little quieter with the universities closed, but WenlinJie is the hub for most expats in Kunming. You will find wired and wireless hotspots everywhere in Kunmin. Wenlin Jie is walking distance from Green Lake, and HongshanDongLu, where there also several new western restaurants, cafe/bars.
There is a mini-hub around Beichen, the main advantage there is that it is near a/the Metro store, if you are used to shopping there.

If you are only staying on a temporary basis it may be difficult to find rented accomodation. However the YHA is nice, and Lost Garden Guest House. Both reasonably priced, and very near Green Lake.

The advantage of Green Lake over Wenlin Jie is that it is closer to the city centre. And there are watering holes on the way downtown.

I agree that it will be a little quieter with the universities closed, but WenlinJie is the hub for most expats in Kunming. You will find wired and wireless hotspots everywhere in Kunmin. Wenlin Jie is walking distance from Green Lake, and HongshanDongLu, where there also several new western restaurants, cafe/bars.
There is a mini-hub around Beichen, the main advantage there is that it is near a/the Metro store, if you are used to shopping there.

If you are only staying on a temporary basis it may be difficult to find rented accomodation. However the YHA is nice, and Lost Garden Guest House. Both reasonably priced, and very near Green Lake.

The advantage of Green Lake over Wenlin Jie is that it is closer to the city centre. And there are watering holes on the way downtown.

I agree that it will be a little quieter with the universities closed, but WenlinJie is the hub for most expats in Kunming. You will find wired and wireless hotspots everywhere in Kunmin. Wenlin Jie is walking distance from Green Lake, and HongshanDongLu, where there also several new western restaurants, cafe/bars.
There is a mini-hub around Beichen, the main advantage there is that it is near a/the Metro store, if you are used to shopping there.

If you are only staying on a temporary basis it may be difficult to find rented accomodation. However the YHA is nice, and Lost Garden Guest House. Both reasonably priced, and very near Green Lake.

The advantage of Green Lake over Wenlin Jie is that it is closer to the city centre. And there are watering holes on the way downtown.

No opinion on tiger's post, but note that Wenlinjie and Green Lake are very close to each other.

In general, the larger downtown area in or near Green Lake offers most of the business, cultural, entertainment venues and needs. Coffee/tea shops all over. Super markets in many locations. The buses and subways with taxis make it fairly easy to get around and most things are in reasonable walking distance. Use the smaller area rental agents to find a place. Short term furnished rentals are harder to find. There is a local Nie Er symphony orchestra that plays most every month. Plenty of bars and a bar neighborhood Kundu. A variety of churches and temples like the Yuan Tong temple. Most of the expats here, i think, are teachers, students, married to Chinese or a combination of the three. There are fewer in business persons. A smaller group are in various small business or working for larger foreign multinationals. A lot of food and agricutrual related business. Then we have the non profits and agencies. Hope this gives you an additional idea.