Hi,
I only have one day9/25 (5am-4pm) in Kunming.
Can I get to the Stone Forest? What is the best way to do that with this timeframe? Can I get an affordable guide/transport from the train station that early in the morning? Any way to get transported right to the airport at the end of the day? Is there anywhere to check my backpack for the day while I'm at the Stone Forest?
If I can't get to the Stone Forest, what should I do for this day? I'm not interested in seeing the Yunnan Village. Thank for your ideas.
I'm planning on taking the night train from Dali to Kunming - arriving Kunming 5:02am on 9/25. Then I'll be flying from Kunming onto Guilin - leaving Kunming 17:10. I'm guessing I should be at airport at 16:00? Is that early enough?
1 day in Kunming- Can I see Stone Forest?
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Stone Forest is about 85KM from Kunming and 1.5 hours drive. Besides the 3 hours on road you still have several hours in Stone Forest. So time is not pressed.However I would rather advise you to arrive at the airport a little earlier.
By the way it is not wise to find a driver and guide at the railway station. First maybe it is difficult for you to find one. Second, the price is higher. So you`d better book everything in advance, and make everyting under your control.
I took the bus (see Lonely Planet for details), but you should have no trouble getting a taxi from the station, but bargain!!! You probably need the taxi to wait. There are some hotels at Stone Forest, maybe one of them would hold you bag, or you could try the station- I don't remember whether Chinese train stations had left luggage facilities.
If you hire a taxi to take you there and back then leave your luggage in his car.
You have plenty of time. Bargain a fixed rate with the driver (assuming you can speak some mandarin. I paid 300RMB but that was 4 years ago.
You don't need mandarin. Have Stone Forest written out in characters - your guidebook should have the characters, if not get another guidebook - and either a phrase book for "there and back" or use gestures. You negotiate the price by writing down numbers, or using a calculator.
Arrange a local tour company to take you there. When we went the whole trip was over in a few hours. There are also large golf carts that you can buy a ticket for, if you don't want to walk through. The service is not very frequent, though.