Majie

Getting around

Majie is a sub-district of Kunming, and you'll get around by plugging into the wider city network of buses, metro lines and long-distance coaches rather than relying on local transport alone. The metro is the fastest way to cross the city without traffic, and it links directly to several coach stations, so you can often transfer between metro and coach in the same station complex. Metro Line 1 serves Kunming South Bus Station at New Luosiwan Trade Town, useful for coaches toward Pu'er, Xishuangbanna, Yuxi, Honghe or Jinning County, and for international services to Laos and Vietnam. Metro Line 6 serves Kunming East Bus Station in the eastern suburbs, where coaches head to Wenshan, Gejiu, Kaiyuan, Mengzi, Mi'le, Luxi, Hekou, Pingbian, Jinping, Luliang, Luoping, Shilin (Stone Forest) and Yiliang. Buy tickets at station machines or counters; stations are signed in both Chinese and English.

Kunming's city buses fill the gaps the metro doesn't cover, including Majie itself. Kunming West Bus Station sits in Majie sub-district and is served by buses No. 80, 82, 153, 908 and 143, with coaches to Dali, Chuxiong, Dehong, Nujiang, Lijiang, Deqin (Shangri-La) and Lincang. Other terminals are served by buses 12, 170, 210 and 212 (South), No. 22, 29, 193, 194 and 902 (East), 9, 23, 25, 57, 79, 92, 96 and 168 (North, on Longtou St.), and 151, 1 and 189 (Northwest, on Puji Rd.). Long-distance stations generally have ticket counters, waiting areas, restrooms, food services and shops. The Kunming International Bus Station handles cross-border services to Laos and Thailand, including customs and immigration, and the Kunming Railway Station Bus Terminal links long-distance trains with regional buses. Majie is spread out rather than compact, so combine walking with buses, metro or taxis: walk for short hops between a station and nearby shops or your accommodation, and use public transport for longer trips. Metered taxis and app-based ride-hailing are a sensible fallback when no route lines up; have your destination written in Chinese characters and confirm the meter is running. From the airport, Metro Line 6 is the simplest link to the city and its transport hubs, connecting to Kunming East Bus Station and, via Line 1, to Kunming South Bus Station. Verify current routes, times and pickup points on arrival, as station arrangements can change.

Three days in Majie

Day one: Start in Majie itself, getting your bearings in this district of Kunming before using the Metro Line to reach the rest of the city. From Majie you can head to Kunming South Bus Station, the departure point for services toward Yuxi, Honghe and Jinning County, or toward the border country of Laos and Vietnam. If your interests run to trade and shopping, New Luosiwan Trade Town is the district's commercial landmark and makes an easy first stop.

Day two: Use the bus stations to explore the wider region. Kunming East Bus Station serves routes toward Wenshan, and the corridor through Gejiu, Kaiyuan and Mengzi opens up the towns of Honghe. Further south, Mi, Luxi, Hekou, Pingbian and Jinping lie along the borderlands, while Pu and Xishuangbanna draw travellers interested in the subtropical south. Closer to the city, Luliang, Luoping, Shilin and the Stone Forest, and Yiliang are all reachable for a day out.

Day three: Turn west from Kunming West Bus Station, where services run toward Dali, Chuxiong, Dehong, Nujiang, Lijiang, Deqin and Shangri. Alternatively, spend the day in Majie and its markets, where you will hear both Chinese and English spoken among traders and travellers. Buy a few local goods and plan your onward route, whether by Metro Line back into Kunming or by bus to the next stop on your journey.