I was wondering if it's too late to see the canola flowers now in Luoping. Also, if it is worth going, is this a day trip or should I plan for several days there?

This is not the right time to see the yellow flowers in bloom. Best time is March and April. However, you can make a trip to go see 9 Dragon Waterfall (Jiu Long Pubu) in Luoping, Qujing. It has some very nice Karst formations in the surrounding area.

traditions.cultural-china.com/42two.html

They do have some Buyi minority people in this area. Not too many of them here in Yunnan as they are mostly in Guizhou.

traditions.cultural-china.com/en/127Traditions9338.html

If you do go to Luoping, make sure to stop in LuLiang, Qujing on your way back and visit the Sand Forest (Sha Lin) and the Stone Forest (Shi Lin), as they are both on the same road back to Kunming - www.gokunming.com/en/forums/thread/11625/4_forest_of_yunnan