This summer, just one destination is enough—Puzhehei
A trip to southeastern Yunnan during summer vacation, with a budget of just 3,000-4,000 RMB per person, lets you take in all the hidden beauty! Puzhehei is absolutely a treasure tucked away in southeastern Yunnan—it’s the real-life inspiration for Qingqiu from *Eternal Love* and the idyllic secret spot from *Where Are We Going, Dad?*. Lotus leaves stretch like a green carpet to the horizon, karst peaks cast soft shadows like ink wash paintings, and every breath is filled with the sweet, fresh oxygen of nature🌿
🍃This southeastern Yunnan route is full of surprises: Fuxian Lake’s water is so clear you can count the stones beneath, Mile’s Dongfengyun red-brick buildings look like magical castles from a fairy tale, Jianshui Ancient Town’s bluestone paths hide centuries of life, and a retro little train chugs leisurely past rice fields...
🏨Stay in places that feel like paintings:
📍Fuxian Lake Open the window to a glass-like lake, lawns trimmed like green velvet, with distant mountains and shimmering waters blending together—like stumbling into an Italian manor.
📍MGallery by Sofitel At dawn, when mist drifts over the lake, the red-brick walls of Dongfengyun seem to float on clouds. Sit on the balcony’s rattan chair, breathing in the scent of grass and morning dew.
📍He Yuan Hotel A three-courtyard hideaway showcasing intricate Jianchuan wood carvings, pomegranate trees in the courtyard bearing fruit like red lanterns, and sunlight filtering through wooden lattices to paint patterns on the bluestone floors.
📍Muke Qianxun Homestay Lounge in a 270° lakeview room, where lotus leaves stretch from below the window to the horizon. At dusk, the sunset turns the lake honey-gold—so beautiful you won’t want to move.
🚙A leisurely 5-day itinerary to explore it all:
D1⃣Arrive in Kunming - Fuxian Lake
Drive to Fuxian Lake, where the water is so clear it looks filtered. In the evening, sit by the shore and watch the sunset dye the water orange, as fishing boats melt into the twilight.
D2⃣Fuxian Lake - Jianshui
Splash in Fuxian Lake and collect shells in the morning, then wander into Jianshui Ancient Town in the afternoon. The bluestone paths gleam from centuries of footsteps, old shops waft the aroma of grilled tofu, and morning glories climb earthen walls outside wooden-framed windows.
D3⃣Jianshui - Puzhehei
Ride a century-old open-air train in the morning, feeling the rice field breeze as golden heads of grain sway and sunflowers chase the sun. Arrive in Puzhehei by afternoon, where pink-and-white lotus flowers peek out along the boulevard. Climb Qinglong Mountain to watch the sunset cast the shadows of a thousand karst peaks onto the lake.
D4⃣Puzhehei - Mile
Visit the filming location of Qingqiu at dawn, where stone paths hide among lotus leaves and dewdrops roll off leaves into the water, startling dragonflies. Explore Dongfengyun in the afternoon—red-brick buildings glow warmly in the sunset, like giant stacked wine bottles.
D5⃣Mile - Return to Kunming
After soaking in the lake views at your hotel, head back to Kunming and dive into Dounan Flower Market, where roses and lilies pile into a fragrant sea. Pick a bunch of daisies to take home, carrying a piece of southeastern Yunnan’s romance with you~