A Date with the Seagulls at Laoyuhe Wetland Park, Kunming City

Laoyuhe Wetland Park sits close to Dianchi, and it is also a great place to look out toward the Western Hills in the distance. The park is known for its dense greenery, with vegetation coverage exceeding 80 percent. From autumn through spring, seagulls arrive here year after year, often described as messengers from Siberia. You can watch them play, forage, call out, or simply float and rest.

Across the water, the Wanshou Jien Pagoda in Haiyan Village is visible from far away. Inside the park, wide wetlands and open lake surfaces are spread throughout. The water is home to many kinds of fish, along with a rich variety of aquatic plants.

Beyond the natural scenery, there are also cultural sights and historical remains, such as the Laoyuhe Ancient Wharf and the Laoyuhe Ancient Bridge. The name Laoyuhe comes from the river upstream called Laoyuhe, one of the inflow rivers of Dianchi. During the Qing dynasty, it was also known as the Sanbanqiao River. Later, people noticed that during the rainy season floods, there were more fish and shrimp here, making it a good place to catch them, which led to the current easy and direct name. After water quality restoration, the area now serves both ecological and landscape functions.

If you want good photos, the park offers photogenic spots like dawn redwood groves, hydrangea gardens, and tulip fields, and it is far less crowded than the Haigeng Dam area by Dianchi Lake Kunming. A simple way to explore is to take a taxi to the drop off point and head straight toward the lakeshore. Walk left and you will reach a paid photo spot where many travel photographers gather. You do not have to book a photographer if you prefer taking your own pictures. The area is easy to recognize because there are a few small tables, some beach chairs, and a tree nearby that is still easy to identify in winter. Past that point the path ends, and ahead is all wetland. The area around that lone tree is especially photo friendly, and you can sometimes ask the photographers there for a bit of sweet bread to feed the seagulls.

Outfit tip: a white dress with a sunhat. For extra mood, bring a newspaper, sunglasses, or a veil.
Nearby activities: transparent boats on the water and camping.
Cost: free. The lakeshore area is fairly open with few stalls, so bringing your own snacks is recommended. Places to eat are usually a short walk away from the water.