User profile: Silvio DaVinci

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Entertaining a toddler

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.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Johnnie Walker

I have never seen a "Duty Free" shop at any airport which was cheaper than a regular store in the city itself- ever! Maybe no duty but the prices are super-inflated because of the rent they pay.
Only exception of something cheaper I have seen: PlayStations and X-Boxes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are cheaper than in stores in Western countries. Just stay in town for a day or 2 before flying on and when you're out of the airport you can buy a Smokey Johnny probably cheaper.

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Is there a list available of animals the government sees as endangered or forbidden? Not that I'd ever eat anything like those, but I want to know how far their list reaches in regards to foreign animals and if Yao Ming's efforts paid off. Thanks!

Hmm, sounds like every day driving in KM. Risking your life in an attempt to get to where you have to be.
It feels and looks just like a Demolition Derby here.
(Today a guy threatened to ram our car twice! because he was jealous that we were driving 5 Kph faster than him and using our "indicator light" to offend him...)

It becomes really sad when drivers here don't care about making life hard for people who are ill, pregnant or disabled. Or cause injury or death to others because it is of no concern to them or is simply beneficial to them. I've seen it happen. No deaths yet, but close enough...

Golden rule:
"What you don't know won't hurt you."

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Expensive, but probably one of the best places in this whole province to find genuine top brands (Prada, Gucci, etc.) for outlet prices.
Their jewelry sections in the basement is also very large but I would never touch any jewelry in China.

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Unbeatable priced. Seriously!
Prices start from 25 yuan p/p when you have a member card (deposit money on it).
The theaters are very good and they also show movies in 3D.

They always have the latest movies. Actually, they show most foreign movies in their native language which is awesome as I don't understand much Chinese yet.
Chinese movies are frequently shown with English subtitles.

Just make always sure and ask before attending a show what the language and subtitles are, but I guess that's a given in China :)

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Personally this is one of my favorite halal restaurants in Kunming. ^_^

Known well among the upper class of Kunming, it is very classy and is very good for quality business lunches and dinners. Having been here many times, this restaurant truly never lets you down. It's a little more pricey (-or a lot more pricey than your average noodle and rice restaurant), but the staff is very well trained and the food is exquisite and above all safe (they don't serve pork). (this is an absolute pre- when having business dinners as you don't want your guests to become sick).

My favorite dishes:
Steamed whole fish (predator type) in light soy-sauce.
Ground beef and ground peanuts over baked eggplant.
The seafood ice platter (salmon, scallop and snail) is very delicate and good for making a quality impression.

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This is one of South Kunming's largest farmers markets. Originally named "seafood market" for its focus on fish, shellfish and other seafood, it now contains a large vegetable, fruit, meat, bakery and dried food selection.

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New Asia Athletics Park (Guandu District) is one of the most well thought-out developments of the city. As part of the de-urbanization plan, it accommodates the new government and trade districts of the city.
It is also one of the most child-friendly districts of Kunming.

Located next to the Guandu Ancient Town, New Asia Athletics Park boasts a hospital, dozens of playgrounds in car-free zones and parks, a quality hotel, a stadium with various sport facilities including badminton, ping-pong, basketball and football (there are more facilities).

In addition it has one of Kunming's top Halal restaurants with truly exquisite food and many other options for fine dining, a very good value cinema (who offers a card system allowing you to get tickets for about half price). They always have the latest movies (also available in English or with English subtitles).

It is next to the new Metro line (which already runs here), with easy access to the flower market and Chenggong University town. Carrefour Supermarket, Luosiwan International Trade City and the lake.

There is also a direct freeway to Kunming airport making it a very convenient location.

Planned for opening in 2014 / 2015 there is also the New Kunming Theater and a new Kunming / Yunnan museum.