UNIQLO
and Our Town
- vol.06
-
- China
- [Kunming]
UNIQLO is part of the community.
This time, we’re visiting historic Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, where UNIQLO has drawn loving customers for over ten years.
Located in Yunnan in southwest China, Kunming was built along the Southwest Silk Road and is now home to many ethnic minorities. This historic city became a modern metropolis when the railroad came in 1910, but it has never lost its old-time charm, visible today in its boutique hotels and classic buildings.
The unique blend of cultures is evident in cafes pouring Yunnan Coffee and tea shops serving modern Chinese tea. Thanks to the springlike climate, flowers bloom here all year long, one of the many reasons Kunming has become a favourite among artists and chefs.
UNIQLO Kunming Baidaxintiandi
Nanping Street is the oldest part of Kunming. Today, it’s been reborn as a bustling commercial district, the landmark shopping center of which is home to UNIQLO. Since opening in 2012 as the first of our largescale stores in the city, it has won the hearts of locals for its perfect location and robust selection, which includes everything from UV protection items and knits to blouses and of course UT, a big favorite in China.
F3, Baidaxintiandi, No.2 Dongfeng West Road, Kunming,
Yunnan Province
City of Eternal Spring
Flower World, Xianhua Avenue, Chenggong District
Blessed by climate and geography, Kunming has been called the “City of Eternal Spring” because flowers bloom year-round. Symbolic of this is the Dounan Flower Market, the largest in Asia open to the public. As if browsing the endless varieties wasn’t fun enough, you can also pick up a bouquet on the cheap. Flowers are a part of life in Kunming, and the smells are good enough to eat. Don’t miss the flower cake, a local confection that mixes rose and jasmine petals into the dough. Other treats include grilled zucchini blossoms (bottom right) and banana flowers (bottom left), served warm.
See the New from the Old
Yingque Kunming Hotel
Prior to becoming a hotel, this building in central Kunming’s historic area was a private residence, built over 100 years ago. In 2018, it was renovated into a twelve-room boutique hotel. Blending classic Yunnan architecture with modern aesthetics, this hotel pays attention to the details in its use of local stone, delicate copper, and bamboo mats. The colour palette references the beauty of Yunnan in all four seasons, while a courtyard affords guests a secluded way to enjoy the eternal spring air. Located in the middle of it all, this is a quiet place to recharge and recover.
No.38, Wenming Street
Shi Ping Hui Guan
Shi Ping Hui Guan is housed in a renovated residential building from over 200 years ago, towards the end of the Qing dynasty. The classical layout consists of three courtyards and two floors, a cardinal example of architecture in the Kunming style. The ornamental woodwork will take your breath away, and the embroidered furnishings will win your heart. This is a great place to taste traditional Yunnan cuisine like tofu, rushan cheese, and erkuai rice cakes. Don’t be surprised if you try it all and still have room for more. That’s a sign of the best food!
No.24, Zhonghe Lane
No.24, Zhonghe Lane
Coffee or Tea?
Guang Zong Coffee
The first indie coffee shop in Kunming, Guang Zong Coffee has been open for eleven years. Smart antiques are displayed thoughtfully throughout the renovated house. Behind the long counter is a selection of over twenty different coffee beans, brewed by hand on the spot. Come for the coffee and stay for light fare like the spicy potato or the aged tofu.
No.3, Guangzong Lane, Wenlin Street
Shangshan Tea House
Shangshan Tea offers stunning aesthetics in a historic space. Wood furnishings and custom lighting give the simple, quiet tea room a warm glow. Yunnan-grown teas range from classic pu’er and rare white teas to black and green varieties. A cup or glass can be enjoyed from a teapot or with a modern twist, like the hand-drip or cold brew menu options. The perfect spot to enjoy the city’s mix of East and West.
No.17, Tongren Street
Like a Local
Zhuanxin Farmer’s Market
A short walk from the shores of the Daguan River that runs through Kunming, you’ll find this lively food market. The rows of stalls in this labyrinth of food are full of colourful produce, seafood, meats, and dry provisions. A younger crowd is noticeable among the local shoppers at the market, which offers snacks like grilled eggplant and preserved tofu (pictured below) so you can walk around and sample different flavors.
No.270, Xinwen Road
Dongfang Book Shop
Dongfang was founded in 1926 and rebuilt on the site of the first store in 2018. With the founding of National Southwestern Associated University, the bookstore became a gathering place for scholars and intellectuals. The shelves of the two-story shop are lined with antiquarian books, while the photographs of luminary figures on the walls point to the store’s rich history. Since the store is actively buying old books, there are always fascinating antiques to discover.
No.52, Wenming Street
Fuli Palace
Located in the highlands forty minutes by car from Kunming, this lush estate has over 2,300 varieties of plants, raised in the comfort of a massive greenhouse spanning over an acre. The tropical rainforest environs offer fantastic sights like the “One-Tree Forest” consisting of a single clonal organism that looks like a group of trees, as well as rare carnivorous plants, exotic cacti, and hanging gardens. Yunnan has been called “the Kingdom of Greenery,” and the Fuli Palace grounds are awe-inspiring.
North gate, Kunming Botanical Garden, Panlong District
Fuli Palace
Located in the highlands forty minutes by car from Kunming, this lush estate has over 2,300 varieties of plants, raised in the comfort of a massive greenhouse spanning over an acre. The tropical rainforest environs offer fantastic sights like the “One-Tree Forest” consisting of a single clonal organism that looks like a group of trees, as well as rare carnivorous plants, exotic cacti, and hanging gardens. Yunnan has been called “the Kingdom of Greenery,” and the Fuli Palace grounds are awe-inspiring.
North gate, Kunming Botanical Garden, Panlong District
Dongfang Book Shop
Dongfang was founded in 1926 and rebuilt on the site of the first store in 2018. With the founding of National Southwestern Associated University, the bookstore became a gathering place for scholars and intellectuals. The shelves of the two-story shop are lined with antiquarian books, while the photographs of luminary figures on the walls point to the store’s rich history. Since the store is actively buying old books, there are always fascinating antiques to discover.
No.52, Wenming Street
Taking Kunming Home!
1. Chinese Tea
Yunnan is celebrated for its tea production. Almost every kind imaginable is grown here. We especially recommend the fragrant flower tea. Shangshan Tea sampler set (129 CNY)
2. Yunnan Mooncake and Flower Cake
In Yunnan mooncakes, sliced Xuanwei ham (a dry-cured ham produced in Yunnan) is combined with lard and sugar and wrapped in a dough made from purplish flour. The unique taste makes them a perfect souvenir. Fragrant flower cakes are another popular gift.
3. Tile Cats
Made from clay, these decorative cats love showing their teeth! Long used as a talisman because of their legendary ability to gobble up evil spirits and ghosts. (150 CNY)
- Photography by Jia Rui
- Coordination by Li Chen
- Text by Liu Ye
- Illustration by Adrian Hogan
