Western Hills (Xishan Forest Park) Tourism

National Forest Park4.5(205 reviews)

About Western Hills (Xishan Forest Park)

Western Hills, known locally as Xishan Forest Park, is located in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. Stretching along the western shore of the famous Dian Lake, this scenic area presents a natural paradise dotted with temples, grottoes, and beautiful forested paths. At a height of approximately 2,500 meters above sea level, it offers stunning panoramic views of the lake and Kunming City. Visitors can explore the Dragon Gate, a series of grottoes and sculptures carved into the cliff face between 1781 and 1835 by a Taoist monk and his co-workers, which is now a key highlight of the park. Cable cars and walking trails are available for ascending the hills, making the visit a pleasant mix of convenience and adventure. Travelers may also enjoy the tranquility of Taihua Temple, one of the oldest in Kunhang, and Huating Temple, an important site for local Buddhists. With its vibrant natural scenery, cultural heritage, and fresh air, Western Hills offers a serene escape for both nature lovers and those interested in China's rich history and religious culture.

Top 5 Reviews on Western Hills (Xishan Forest Park)

Mogeltoft
4.0
Wrote on 24 Jun 2024
Half-Day Excursion with Views and Exercise
What do you do in Kunming once you've already seen the Yunnan Stone Forest? Well, you could take Metro Line 3 to Western Hill and enjoy a few good hours of nature and culture, views and insights. If you also want some exercise (about 10,000 steps), do as we did: At the ticket office, buy 1 entrance ticket + 1 one-way "green car" bus ticket (you can also buy a ticket for the cable car, but that defeats the purpose of exercise). The green car bus takes you 4 km up to the cable car station, but instead of taking the cable car, continue on foot along the paved road. When you see the sign for Longmen Grottoes, follow the steep stairs—passing several temples—to reach the Dragon Gate viewpoint and then the Longmen Grottoes. It's a bit strenuous, but even older people manage it. Afterward, walk back the same way you came—without taking the bus. The last 4 km, which you rode on the bus, you can now walk downhill at a comfortable pace. In the start and finish area, there are plenty of stalls where you can buy food and drinks.
CYKL
5.0
Wrote on 17 Jan 2024
Would go again to try to reach the top.
Took a guided day trip from Kunming city center. Arrived by coach, followed by a tram (like thosein zoos), and then a 2-person chairlift, and then hiked down along the side of the mountain. Very narrow but felt safe. Very good views. Lots of photo spots and they have their staff taking photos of you and you can buy them for 20 chinese yuan.
jacobmN3048LF
4.0
Wrote on 27 Jul 2022
Half Day vs Whole Day offer a substantially different experience
When you arrive, you will get a booklet of tickets intended to cover the entire park. You can think of the park as being broken into three parts: 1) Temples 1: a winding road leading up to the cable car base. There are several temples (some quite large) on this road, offering a remarkably varied experience for anyone interested in Buddhist history. 2) Temples 2—The Ascent: These are the smaller, being set in the hillside and finally the very face of the cliff, the eponymous Dragon Gate that is the focal point of most visits. 3) The Summit—Battle with Kefka: pardon the Final Fantasy reference; this is where the cable car ends, but a new trail begins which can take you up to the very top of the hill to a gorgeous view of the lake and city. Within half a day you can easily do two of these. My first trip, I did 1 and 2, second I did 2 and 3. But if you expect to actually see all of the temples in part 1, expect to spend a good eight hours. The line to ride the cable car is nuts. Skip it and take the shuttle to the first temple and walk all of part 2 up to part 3. Then, you can choose to either head to the pinnacle, or cable car back down to the beginning of part 2 and walk back down part 1. In the end, it’s up to you what sort of experience you want to have. Temples and mountain temples, mountain temples and hike to pinnacle, or all three. But don’t expect to pull off all three within half a day.
lu3213
5.0
Wrote on 28 Jul 2021
Highly recommend, beautiful
Great place. Took a taxi, and then they have you purchase tickets for the the cable car or bus. We took a bus to the first section, then where everyone else went on the cable car we preferred to walk up and then back down. It will take half a day if you take transport, slightly more if you decide to walk instead. There are many shops and rest spots if you decide to eat there. When we went there were many tour groups, but it's normal for a tourist spot. As a note, to go to Dragon Gate you have to go down narrow passages within the rock and on the edge of the mountain- it is perfectly safe and there is a fantastic view of Dianchi Lake, but if you are scared of/uncomfortable in small spaces, you can skip Dragon Gate and explore other scenic spots instead. Highly recommend!
IvanPavlovinKUNMING
3.0
Wrote on 20 Mar 2020
got quite disappointed
Went there with a friend on many friends advices. Too expsenvise for what it is... some geological particularities. Lots of chinese coming here though.