Does anyone know where I can find some nice Kunming-themed items as gifts? Do the museums around here have shops? I've looked all around, and not had much luck...

You could try the Bird and Flower Market. They sell all kinds of touristy crap there. You will have to bargain though. The prices are usually inflated about 3-4 times when a foreigner tries to buy something.

My wife has a jade shop in the bird and flower market. If you'd like a nice piece at a chinese rather than foreigner price, then email me at edm.mark@gmail.com and we'll sort something out. Alternately there is a nearby area that sells antiques and chinese paintings/calligraphy, I'd be happy to walk you over there.

I will be leaving Kmg in 2 months, I have to buy souvenirs for the family.

The bird and flowers market is indeed a tourist spot, any other recommendations for places to buy jade jewelry or Yunnan stuff ?
I know there is another bird and flowers market on the North-east, anything else ?

By the way what did you guys bring back home as a souvenir? Not heavy, not big, not overpriced?

The Yunnan Ethnic Minority embroidered fabric bags, shoes, jackets etc make a great gift for women. There are a few stalls selling these things outside the gate of Yunnan Uni on Wenhua Xiang.

Beware of buying jade in case it is fake.

NateKoppel and Karina, you should email atomic and talk to him. I bet he can hook you up.

There is a charity gift shop near wicker basket west that sells cool handmade stuff. Bit pricy, but high quality and authentic. Plus supports small village women artisans making the stuff. Plenty of small lightweight gifts too.

www.gokunming.com/en/listings/item/33384/hearts_hands

The BWM, Mercedes and Porsche stores are typical Chinese.
If your budget is a little higher maybe you can request a Maserati or Bentley.

3 conditions to make it Chinese.
1 it has to be expensive
2 it has to be too big for the road (especially old towns)
3 it has to be gold colored

Just kidding.
Good luck in your search. If you want something typically Chinese, why not a piece of jade wrapped in a Chinese flag. Can't be more Chinese than that :) just beware of fake prices and fake stuff.

PS: postcards and small stuff are a pain in the *** to find. Most places including tourist spots don't have them. You have more luck in some areas like "the Hump" at the gates, old towns and jade or tea-markets.
Now I remember what I was going to suggest: a Chinese tea set with real quality tea. When it's finished you just come back for more tea :)

Many small supermarkets sell boxed candy representing the "18 Strange things about Yunnan". The sweets themselves are just jellied fruit things, but the boxes themselves make for a unique Yunnan "claim to fame", and they aren't that expensive ti buy or heavy to transport.