My one year old enjoys the usual public parks and kids' playgrounds, and he's also a big fan of the Bird and Flower market, local light railway and an indoor soft play centre in DaGuan! But I'm fast running out of novel ideas. Anybody out there with a young child who can advise me on other cheap and cheerful places to go with a toddler in Kunming?

Romp and Roll - Near Est Bus Station.

Give him your iPad. Then take a long deserved rest. Plus he is a toddler, only you will get bored if you go to the same places; he won't. The other bird flower market in the ne is interesting for you and him, but it's multilevel so careful upstairs. Tea market too, but he is too young for that strong puer.

I have heard there is a new kids climbing place at the back of the RenMing Lu Qingnian Lu Parkson.

The zoo is always a favorite for kids, more cheerful for the kids than the adults though.

Thanks for all the ideas. Do keep 'em coming!

HFCampo@ Bit of a trek for us but thanks for the info anyway.

I think you're right @AlexKMG that it's probably me who'll get bored before my son. The iPad wouldn't last two minutes though!

@Yuantongsi We did the zoo once - bit depressing, as you say. The climbing place sounds worth a looksee.

Following this post for my 2.5 year old!

I agree with AlexKMG. You think your toddler will get bored, but it's actually you. Children always find something new or interesting or friends. The world is a playground.
I don't know if he's old enough, but the railway museum (don't know how good it is), may be interesting. He may want a train for his birthday though hahaha.

There's a place called "Baby Colour" on the 4th floor at Nan Ya Shopping Center (Dianchi Road at the big Thai gates, building entrance is opposite the McDonalds).
The owner (James) is from New Zealand/China and speaks also perfect English. They work on the artistic side with the children in very small classes. They have dedicated professional teachers who are very skilled. It's not that cheap, but the program spans a LOT of classes so it's actually quite good value if artistic skill is something you value. And they can take your boy off your hands for a while and maybe after a while you can go shopping or go for coffee and pick him up again.
(There are other baby art places on that floor, but I don't know how good their standards are. I know that education is priority in his book for sure. His place is close to the arcade).

I recommend the Golden Temple Park and bell-tower (next to the Expo Park). Tickets are not expensive if I remember correctly and it's really big, very pretty and with also many greenhouses containing a large variety of different plants and flowers. To see everything you need more than a day.

There is a "fish temple and park" (Heilongtan Fish Park) in Duanlongyuan which is quite cool and beautiful (about 1 hour north of Kunming). I'll have to add to the listings it as it's one of the prettiest and best parks I've been to with more than a 1000 fish you can feed. There are even some gigantic fish that look like sharks.

This whole area has great, super-clear fresh water, so the whole valley focusses on fruit trees (if I am correct) and a lot of fish-farms.
If you like fishing, there are various ponds you can pay a small fee to rent a rod and fish at. The fish you catch you can keep (pay per kg I think) and is as fresh as can be.

Please be very careful with your toddler if you're anywhere near water. The fish park is excellent though. Many families go there

for a nice day out.

The boulevard along Dianchi Lake (near the cable-lift) is also a nice walk and good for a bit of fresh air.

I saw a mini-golf near Dianchi Lake in the listings too.

If you need phone-numbers or addresses, just send me a private message and I'll send them to you.

Good luck and I'll post more ideas if I think of them.

I sometimes take my toddler to either Yunnan U's or Yunnan Normal U's campuses. Lots of space to roam around without so many cars/e-bikes. Plus he can explore climbing up various building stairs, watch basketball / volleyball players, check out fountains or statues or big trees, etc. And both campuses have those stone tables and chairs sprinkled throughout for when you want to stop for a snack/lunch break...

Many thanks again for some great suggestions. We've now tried out the University campuses, which were great (lots of friendly strangers as well as places to toddle).
Heilongtan is another good suggestion - I've been there a few times in the past, but not with child. Again,many thanks all.

Went to Hei Long tan today, and although we left due to unrelenting rain, I think it would be a great place for toddlers. My little one loved it. As far as other "North attractions", we also did a little hike through Kunming Forest Park which was nice if you want a bit of solitude. YueYatan Park is really big and free (so extra points for that) it has pretty bridges to run across, fish feeding and lots of small and quiet paths through the vegetation. On one side it even has a tacky fairground with rides and arcade games. Worth look for sure!