Yunnan's popularity as place for those seeking winter warmth heats up

Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, is attracting a growing number of long-stay visitors, many of whom travel to the warmer climes of Southwest China to escape the frigid winter in the north, according to the city's culture and tourism bureau.

Summer sojourners span all age groups nowadays, but before, winter visitors were previously dominated by older travelers, said Tao Ning, assistant general manager of Kunming Jingxiu Travel Agency Co.

The city's mild climate, rich cultural and tourism resources and relaxed pace of life are proving increasingly appealing to younger people as well, he added.

Kunming welcomed 1.21 million visitors between January and October in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 36.3 percent, according to the Kunming Bureau of Culture and Tourism.

Local senior-living communities are also reporting rising demand. Zhou Wen, a manager at a senior living community in Kunming, said that she has received over 900 guests since the beginning of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 12 percent.

Among those settling temporarily in the region is 68-year-old Jiang Yongsheng from Huaian in Jiangsu province, who has been living in the city's Shilin county since September 2023. He said Kunming's climate, scenery, affordable living costs and down-to-earth residents had convinced him that the city suits him.

"I feel healthier since coming here," he said.

Kunming has been expanding its elderly-care infrastructure as demand grows. Over the past five years, the city has invested 600 million yuan ($84.4 million) to build 140 elderly-care institutions with 33,900 beds, according to the culture and tourism bureau. The expansion has widened coverage of community-based care facilities and strengthened the city's capacity to accommodate long-stay elderly visitors.

Xinglin Grand View Garden, where 81-year-old Meng Xianmei resides, is one of Kunming's pilot locations for elderly sojourners.

Since July 2023, Meng, from Zhengzhou in Henan province, has been residing in Xinglin Grand View Garden, describing it as a "great happiness" to enjoy her later years there.

"After having breakfast, I go out for a walk for over an hour. I return around 9 am and then practice baduanjin (a traditional Chinese exercise) and Chen-style tai chi. After lunch, I usually read books and practice calligraphy, and my calligraphy has improved a lot," she said.

The diverse ethnic groups, deep cultural foundation and the simplicity of the local people have left a deep impression on Meng.

Kunming is developing sojourn projects focused on culture and arts, as well as on sports, with Tao's travel agency expecting to launch related products around May this year.

Besides Kunming, there are many other places in Yunnan that attract sojourners, with Jiang being fond of Yingjiang county in Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture, and Ning'er Hani and Yi autonomous county in Pu'er city.

"I am very optimistic about the prospects of the sojourning industry in Yunnan," said Jiang.

Contact the writers at yanyj@chinadaily.com.cn