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Just 55 miles South of Kunming is the city of Yuxi whose history dates back to 220BC and the Qin Dynasty. Modern Yuxi is best known for the Yuxi Cigarette Company, Lake Fuxian the second deepest lake in China and it’s speed traps. If you are driving  there beware. It’s population is just over 2 million with 32% coming from Han, Yi, Hani, Dai, Hui, Mongolia, Bai, Miao and Lahu people. In addition to Lake Fuxian, Yuxi is surrounded by mountains, valleys, lakes and plateaus. Though people claim the weather is “spring like” all year round, expect to find some seasonal variation with a rainy season, and some patches of both hot and cold weather. It is hottest in June and coldest around Chinese New Year.
Other than Lake Fuxian which is 31 miles from Yuxi, attractions include: Mt. Mopan Scenic Area, Mt. Yuanlao Scenic Area, Mt. Xiushan, Mt. Maotian (known for it’s fossil finds), Xingyun Lake (3 miles from Yuxi), Yudai River, Nie Er Park, Huilong Ecological Park, Xiangbi Hot Spring, Nine-Dragon Park (5 miles from Yuxi) and Qiangchuan Lijia mountain (17 miles from Yuxi). All sites are accessible by bus.
Unusual for China but you can actually swim in Fuxian Lake. The water is a clear bluish green. At times you can see as far as 20 feet down. The best time to visit the lake especially if swimming is on the agenda is between May and October when the  weather is at it’s warmest. Mount Gushan Island is the only island in Fuxian Lake. On the sixth day of the sixth month of the lunar calendar, people visit Mount Gushan for the temple fair.
It takes about 1-½ hours to get to Yuxi. Buses depart from Kunming’s Nanyao bus station on a regular basis. Yuxi’s main bus station is on Shanhu Rd. where buses departing to Kunming can be found. For buses to Yuanjiang, Chengjiang and Jiangchuan use the Chengxi Bus Station located on Qixing Street.
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