You may not be able to take Yunnan's breathtaking mountains and rivers with you, but you can certainly bring home its many specialties. Here is your Yunnan shopping guide.
Featured local products
Tea
Grown across much of Yunnan province — especially in Pu'er, Xishuangbanna, Lincang, and Baoshan regions along the Lancang River — Pu'er tea is one of Yunnan's most famous specialties. It comes in two main types: raw (sheng) and ripe (shu). Among these, tea from the Jingmai Mountain is highly recommended, known for its distinct aroma and mellow flavor.
Also known as Yunnan black tea, Dianhong originates from Fengqing county in Lincang, where large-leaf tea trees flourish, renowned for its bright color, rich fragrance, and smooth taste. Yunnan Gold is the most common and beloved variety, among others like Broken Yunnan, Yunnan Pure Gold, Golden Needle, and Pine Needle.
Coffee
Yunnan produces over 98 percent of China's coffee and every bean is grown at ideal altitudes and latitudes along the Tropic of Cancer. The province's four major coffee-producing regions are Pu'er, Lincang, Baoshan, and Dehong. Among them, the small grain coffee bean from Baoshan stands out for its quality and has been granted national geographical indication protection certification.
Distinct local foods
This beloved Yunnan snack features a crispy, paper-thin pastry that flakes at the first bite, releasing a rich oily aroma. The rose-petal filling retains its delicate floral fragrance — smooth, sweet, and perfectly balanced (Yunnan's rose production and market share remain among the highest in Asia.).
As one of China's three most famous hams, Xuanwei ham is shaped like a pipa (a traditional Chinese plucked instrument). It is characterized by its large size, small bones, thin rind, thick meat, and an ideal fat-to-lean ratio. When sliced, it reveals a vibrant color and an irresistible aroma — a true representation of Yunnan's culinary excellence, also known as "yun tui" (Yunnan ham).
A signature dairy product from Eryuan county, Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, Rushan is a fan-shaped cheese with a creamy white or pale yellow color. It can be enjoyed fresh, or prepared as fried or grilled Yunnan cheese.
Sourced from Fuxian Lake in Chengjiang county, Yuxi, Yunnan province, the lotus root starch is known for its purity, high starch content, and smooth texture when brewed. It's not only delicious but also rich in nutrients.
Yunnan's dried fruits are loved for their variety and rich flavor. Popular choices include dried mango, pineapple, banana, coconut, strawberry, apple, and tamarind candy — perfect as healthy snacks or travel souvenirs.
Medicinal treasures
Praised as the "Miraculous Herb of the South", sanqi is native to Wenshan Zhuang and Miao autonomous prefecture, the heartland of this precious medicinal plant with specific soil and climate conditions. Its roots, stems, leaves, and flowers can all be used for healing and cooking.
A rare and valuable traditional Chinese medicinal herb, shihu is often called the "Life-saving Orchid". Like sanqi, it has dual value as both medicine and food.
Zhaotong is the core production area of China's finest wild tianma. Among its counties, Yiliang is the only nationally certified organic tianma-producing region. Known as the "Magic Herb of the Wumeng Mountains", Zhaotong gastrodia is large, plump, translucent, solid, and rich in active ingredients such as gastrodin, polysaccharides, and polyphenols.
Native to Yunnan, dianchonglou is famed for its effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. Its main production areas include Pu'er, Honghe, Qujing, and Wenshan.
Primarily grown in Honghe, Dali, and Qujing, this herb helps dispel cold and moisture, improve circulation, and ease pain. It also supports digestion.
Extraordinary handicrafts
Made from the iron-rich clay of Wucai Mountain in Jianshui county, Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture, Jianshui purple pottery is renowned for its hard texture, metallic sheen, and sound of metal and stone when struck. Made without glaze and polished to a mirror-like finish, it is praised as being "hard as iron, bright as water, smooth as jade, and resonant as chime". Blending both artistic beauty and practical use, it represents one of Yunnan's finest crafts.
A traditional dyeing technique of the Bai ethnic group in Dali, this craft is known for its fresh, elegant aesthetic and unique charm. Characterized by blue and white hues, often with white patterns on indigo backgrounds, Bai tie-dyeing has permeated into modern fashion items such as clothing, bags, and accessories.
The Yi embroidery of Yongren county is celebrated for its special craftsmanship, exquisite designs, vivid colors, and symbolic meanings. Motifs often depict landscapes, figures, flowers, animals, and geometric shapes, blending utility with deep cultural meaning.
As one of China's eight major woodcarving styles, Jianchuan woodcarving boasts a history of over 5,300 years. Artisans skillfully carve figures, birds, flowers, landscapes, and auspicious motifs such as dragons and phoenixes. Especially famous is the marble-inlaid woodcarving furniture, admired for its refined craftsmanship and classical beauty.
Made from local gemstones such as southern red agate, yellow dragon jade, jadeite, and amber, Yongzi go chess pieces from Baoshan are hand-crafted through a secret, time-honored process. Hard, lustrous, and cool to the touch, they are cherished as premium go chess stones in China, prized for their jade-like texture and enduring elegance.
The Dounan Flower Market in Kunming is the largest fresh-cut flower market in Asia, offering over 100 flower categories and 1,600 varieties daily. Exported to more than 50 countries and regions, its vibrant blooms have earned it the nickname "Golden Dounan".
Recommended shopping destinations
In Kunming
Recommended time: 9 am-12 am (when fruits are fresh)
Address: Exit E Juhua railway station, Guandu district, Kunming, Yunnan province
Opening hours: 9 am-6 pm
Address: No 5151 Caiyun Beilu, Guandu district, Kunming, Yunnan province
Opening hours: 9 am-10 pm
Address: No 76 Jingui Jie, Chenggong district, Kunming, Yunnan province
In Dali
Opening hours: 9 am-11 pm
Address: No 118 Fuxing Lu, Dali city, Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province
Address: No 172 Huguo Lu, Dali city, Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province
In Lijiang
Opening all day
Address: Wuyi Lu (lower section), Lijiang Ancient Town, Gucheng district, Lijiang, Yunnan province
Opening hours: 10 am-10 pm
Address: Shuhe town, Gucheng district, Lijiang, Yunnan province
In Xishuangbanna
Address: Jinghong city, Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province
Opening hours: 8 am-10:30 pm
Address: No 2 Xuanwei Dadao, Jinghong city, Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province