On the shore of Dianchi Lake with the Western Hills across the water. The practical base for a Yunnan arrival night: close to the airport rail link, far enough from traffic to sleep.
March to June, September to November · Moderate · Moderate
The full Yunnan traverse, done in the right direction: fly into Kunming, climb slowly through the Erhai lakeside and the Naxi old town, and finish on the Tibetan plateau at Shangri-La. Nine days, three cultures, one altitude curve that actually works.