@Ishmael, rickshaw also still works. You may find two of them on standby for hire in the Old Street alleyway.

@Spartans

Philou is correct.

Or simply use your WeChat and scan the QR Code image below:

imgur.com/09jFMNe

You will be linked to the official mini-program called 乘车码 (chengchema).

It can pay fares for both MRT and buses for most cities in China (select cities top left corner). Not just for Kunming's transportation systems.

After authorizing payment synchronization to your WeChat Pay. Commuting subway or bus via smartphone becomes easy. No more fumbling for cash or coins while people push and grunt behind you.

For MRT/subway:

Choose left tab "地铁" (ditie). QR Code will display, and refreshed periodically. Scan at turnstile.

For buses:

At the top select the right tab labeled "公交" (gongjiao). QR Code will appear to be scanned (sensor located at bottom of machine) when embarking. At which point an automated voice will say "success" in Chinese "成功" (chengong).

"Pin to desktop" (top right corner option) for quick access.

I suggest GoKunming embed this QR Code image somewhere on this website for the convenience of commuting readers.

Tiger, you do realize "invaluable" means precious when I commended your residency as such? Elaborate how my comment can be detrimental.

dolphin, i just signed on. I'm not a vampire that hunts in the wee hours. Didn't up/down vote anyone. I'm not petty like Mr. Grammarly.

Granted I'll give a thumbs up to Peter when done writing. There are gems in that overture composition of his. "Diamond in the rough" as previous forumite pointed out. I appreciate Pedro99's originality more than one-liner, snarky remarks. Albeit, both meant to antagonize. The former massages our brain's left hemisphere. Plus, he usually doesn't attack specific users, just the general expat community and our choices. He leaps on specific individuals when attacked. Blame those who take his opinions personally.

herenow, you speak of "repelling advertisers." Yet if that were the case, GoKunming STAFF would have unleashed bolts of lightening at perpetrators. But in all the years of ruckus, they never made a peep. Again, mods would come thundering down to stop spams on a daily basis, and to circumvent occasional sensitive subjects, which out of respect, I'll refrain from typing.

It is also worth mentioning website advertisers (i.e. Kunming restaurant Sal or Humdinger) don't care if potential customers are cyberbullies. They only care that potential cyberbully customers are ravenous for pizza or salad and would walk through their doors.

GoKunming advertisers are not Olympic sponsoring MNC endorsers whom have social responsibilities and image/morality standards to uphold in the public eye. Kunming is a small local market, much less the English-speaking sub-community. GoKunming knows that too, and have acted accordingly.

Insightful comment by Liumingke1234 from seven years ago.

Explains the heavy traffic in shopping areas tonight. For marketing departments, any opportunity to get consumers an excuse to spend is godsend. Pull tacky folklore out of a hat if you must.

Not to diminish this Qixi Chinese folk tale, which predates Shakespearean Romeo & Juliet by 1,000 years.

Here it goes:

"The tale of the cowherd and the weaver girl is a love story between Zhinü (織女; the weaver girl, symbolizing the star Vega) and Niulang (牛郎; the cowherd, symbolizing the star Altair).

Their love was not allowed, thus they were banished to opposite sides of the heavenly river (symbolizing the Milky Way).

Once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month (today August 7, 2019), a flock of magpies would form a bridge to reunite the lovers for one day..."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cowherd_and_the_Weaver_Girl

The point is tiger, GoKunming staffs ddin't even bother responding to your well-intentioned suggestions, despite your invaluable residency on this website.

Yet they'd be quick to remove spams or politically sensitive discussions that would endanger their niche market presence.

Sorry to break it to you, it's more about monetary-based existentialism of 'up there' than cyber-civility 'down here.'