Does anyone know how to get to Luoping from Kunming? and is it possible not to overnight there? If there is someone who has ever experienced going there, could you please give some tips? Thank you.

Regards,
Whiteredsomber

go to the east bus staion (30 kuai taxi to get there)you could take a bus to luoping. tiket around 85. takes 3.5 hours to get there. as you arrive there you need to hire transportation (I did not see any taxi there) to go around for 30km if only to see rape flower. its possible to finish the trip in one day if you only going there to see the rape follower but its a very tight schedule.

there are a couble of scenric spots worthwhile to visit around Luoping. in a milage of 135 km. thoes are villages, water fall. mountains and beautiful rivers. probably a 2 day trip will be better. its better go there in the week days because hotel price will doulbed or even tripled in the weekend.

I provide car/driver (8 seats minivan) renting to Luoping. Charges 280 per day exclude petro and toll. you could contact me by phone 13354949490. its reannalbly cheap if you have 4 people to share. even for 1 or 2 people I will see if a car pool available. you could contact me for advise if you decide to take a bus either.

John

The easiest and quickest way to go to Luoping is actually by train: quite a few leave throughout the day and pass through Luoping on their way to Nanning, Guangzhou and other destinations. The fast trains take about three hours. The cheapest option is the slow train which I once took for only Y 16, but it took 6+ hours as it stops everywhere and waits for lots of other trains to pass. You can buy the tickets at many outlets in KM.
For the journey back remember to note the times posted in Luoping train station when you arrive. Outside peak hours you should always get a ticket, but probably at short notice no assigned seat. Alternatively take a bus, about one every forty minutes. A time-table is here: www.yunnanexplorer.com/transport/station/luoping/

At the train station is a local bus that goes to the main bus station in Luoping, or alternatively take a taxi.

There are hotels in town (as in all Chinese cities), but the town ranks low in the list of attractive towns in Yunnan, so it might be better to stay somewhere closer to the sites.

There are a few main scenic areas, the best known Jinji 金鸡 Golden Chicken. Just north of the road is a village, which had when I stayed there at least one guest house, I think I paid Y20. While nothing fancy, it had the advantage that you can just walk out of the door and you are at the viewpoint in ten minutes for sunrise. Times in Jinji are best at sunrise and sunset.

To get to the Jiulong waterfall 九龙瀑布 catch a minibus going east and change in the next township Banqiao 板桥 for the remaining five km or so. There is an entrance fee for the waterfalls, but I thought they are quite nice.
Best time is during the later morning as you then get the sun on the waterfall, so a good option just to go there after sunrise at Jinji.

South of Luoping is the Duoyihe 多依河 scenic area, a nice river-side walk which has been tarted up with waterwheel constructions from all over the world. There is accommodation down there, I think I paid Y80 during a peak holiday time, there are cheaper guesthouse just on the road opposite to the entrance. To get to Duoyihe take a minibus from next to Luoping's busterminal (right if you are facing the bus station) to Lubuge 鲁布格. That journey takes maybe an hour. If you hire the minibus you can make them stop at viewpoint of the karst mountains somewhere along the way.

April 5 2011 is a main festival day in the area, 三月三, coinciding with Qingming this year, but if you leave it that long there will probably be little left of the rapeseed flower.

Quote: "Does anyone know how to get to Luoping from Kunming? and is it possible not to overnight there?"

As others have said above, best to stay overnight. It's a pretty area, and there's lots to see. It's about a 3.5 hour trip each way.

I went by bus from the 东部汽车客运站. Busses go about every 45 minutes. I tried coming back to Kunming by train, but the fast train was sold out.

Go during the week if possible, as on weekends it's busy and prices for lodging go up.

Hi all!

I am planning to spend one or two days in Luoping. I don't feel like staying in the city, but I cannot find any hostel or guesthouse in small villages nearby the Yellow Fields. Does anyone no some place and can gave the contact phone or email? For example, the one Ludwig mentioned in Jinji would be awsome!

oihane zu ez da abertze
you are not an animal !

jajaj, apa Gompo! baina ez dezu erantzun!