Has anyone found a proper fabric market? I'm sure there won't be any as extensive as the ones in bigger cities, but a decent selection of fabrics would be nice.

I swear I passed through one one time. I was lost, but I remember it was huge. Somewhere in the south east of Kunming, not too far from the airport, but really I was lost. Also interested to find it again. If you do find it, please post here.

Tried asking taxi drivers? How about the little sewing shops littered all over Kunming? There's a tailor's shop on Jianshe road, but I don't live there anymore. It's ~50m from the rail tracks, on the west side of the road. Try asking there?

The fabric market was in old Luosiwan area in 2009. Then it was moved to Dashanghui(大商汇)area, you can take bus 127 to the terminal station, you will find it. The fabric selection is not very wide. I am a fashion designer here, it is actually very difficult to find decent fabrics. Especially chiffon. But you can find some nice cotton, and 50% cotton/50% silk fabric.

@willow33 Is that down by the new lousiwan? I had been to the old fabric market but when I went to the new lousiwan several months ago couldn't really find the fabric section.

also, do you know where I could find sewing machines? I'm thinking about buying one, but didn't see any in Walmart, Carre Four or Metro

I want to buy curtain fabrics like 500m to 1000m per design. So I'm really interested in fabric shops from kunming.

definitely check out the new lousiwan, south of the city. you can take the 170 or the 212 bus.

@trice could you please tell me more about the place because I am not from local and thank you very much.

Link to location:
www.gokunming.com/[...]

It's far away from the city center, and the complex is gigantic. So be prepared to ask in Chinese what your looking for. It's too big to just wander around and find what you want, unless you have many days.

there are maps near the entrances though, that will tell you the different sections. I want to say the fabrics might be on the 3rd or 4th floor - same floor as the yarns. Lots of sellers for each kind of good.

How is the fabric range in New Luosiwan compared to the one in Dashanhui ? I've only been to the one in Dashanhui.