Yunnan Military Academy & Green Lake & Nanping Street

Our train from Xishuangbanna arrived at Kunming Station at 11:10. We dropped off our luggage at the homestay and took a taxi to Green Lake. We met a local driver, Mr. Chen, who enthusiastically introduced us to the Daguan Zhuanxin Farmers' Market. He suggested we have breakfast there before heading to Dianchi Lake. It is a popular place with a wide variety of food and local specialties. He also mentioned that the Yunnan Military Academy is located at the west gate of Green Lake. We were lucky to catch the last tour of the Yunnan Military Academy, where we learned about the Chinese Expeditionary Force, the famous generals of the academy, and the story of the Hump Route. The heroes of that special era sacrificed their lives for the country and the people, earning our admiration. After visiting the Yunnan Military Academy, we entered Green Lake through the west gate. There was a camellia exhibition at Green Lake, with pink, white, and red camellias as delicate and lovely as a child's face. The magnolias were in full bloom, as white as snow, as purple as jade, and resembling little doves perched on the branches. The bees, undeterred by the cold, buzzed around the flowers. It truly is the Spring City! The most interesting were the little squirrels! As soon as we entered the camellia garden, we saw a couple looking up. Curious about what they were looking at, we quickly went over and looked up, but saw nothing. Suddenly, my sister exclaimed, "Look, a squirrel!" We saw a small gray-brown figure darting along the wall, stopping and starting, too fast for the camera to capture. In a flash, it had leaped onto a branch on the other side of the wall. Upon closer inspection, we saw it was holding a white magnolia in its mouth, a little flower thief! It darted back and forth, looking very pleased with itself! Soon, it returned to join another squirrel, and they scurried up and down the branches. As we walked further, we discovered these adorable little creatures were everywhere in the camellia garden. They especially enjoyed playing among the branches, attracting the attention of many visitors. Under the Listening Warbler Bridge, a squirrel was perched on a branch, eating something. It held the food to its mouth with its hands, its mouth moving constantly, but we couldn't tell what it was eating. The sunlight bathed its body, making its brown fur look smooth and shiny. We worried it might be scared by our attention, but it seemed oblivious, sitting on the branch and enjoying its meal. The allure of food is irresistible! Such a cute little creature! We strolled along the lakeside, the shimmering waves reflecting the cold, the setting sun casting golden specks on the lake. The tall plane trees and other unknown trees on the opposite bank were reflected in the rippling water, creating a colorful scene. The garden was filled with quiet visitors, with only the occasional chatter of young people and children, their voices quickly blending into the garden. It was past six, and the sky was getting dark. We checked in at Nie Er Square and Yang Liping's brand, Que Yun Shang. The side door was filled with the faint fragrance of wintersweet. Looking up, we saw the branches of the plum tree extending outwards, with golden flower buds exuding fragrance. We exited through the south gate, where the entrance was adorned with flowers. Two beautiful blue peacocks, with long, colorful tails, stood among the flowers by the lake. The golden characters for "Green Lake" shone brightly, prompting us to take photos. Although the Spring City was a bit chilly, the spring scenery was captivating! Green Lake, with its small and elegant bridges and flower trees, left us with beautiful memories. We walked for half an hour from Green Lake to Nanping Street, experiencing the bustling city center and tasting the local specialty, "Crossing the Bridge" rice noodles. Our half-day trip to Kunming ended perfectly.