Springboard to eminence

With improved infrastructure and transport links, Kunming is flexing its muscle as China’s gateway to South Asia. By Caroline Boey

In 2012, Kunming became the permanent home of the China-South Asia Expo, an important platform for the partnership between China and South-east and South Asia.

This year’s event was attended by 80,000 delegates from more than 20 countries. It occupied all 13 of the column-free exhibition halls of the new Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center (DCEC), which just opened in June. When DCEC is completed by mid-2016, there will be a total of 23 exhibition halls.

According to a DCEC spokesman, three large-scale events have taken place so far. From November 13-15, Kunming will host the China International Travel Mart – for the ninth time – and it will also take place at DCEC.

Apart from DCEC, the RMB37 billion (US$5.81 billion) “city-within-a city” project will be ready in three to five years and comprise offices, residences, a 1,300-room Holiday Inn opening in 2017 and a theme park.

Mu Jiansheng, director, Exhibition Department, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Yunnan Sub-Council, said DCEC was built to serve the whole of China, and for Kunming to become the gateway to South-east and South Asia.

“There are already some 50 exhibitions each year in Kunming where the key industries are timber and motor. With the opening of DCEC, which is four times bigger than the Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Center, we can now raise the profile of smaller events and host mega events for the tobacco, sugar and alcohol industries.”

Domestic MICE groups now dominate in Kunming and they make up 80 per cent of demand.

Meanwhile, a number of MICE partnerships have been formed to boost MICE in Kunming and Yunnan. Mu said eight MoUs were inked during the 11th China Expo Forum for International Cooperation, which was held in Kunming earlier this year.

The MoUs signed were between CVBs such as the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, organisations such as the Asia Federation of Exhibition and Convention Association, SACEOS (Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers) and Thai Exhibition Association, other convention and exhibition centres in China, and Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai.

Mu added that the establishment of the Kunming Exposition Affairs Bureau in November 2013 would help forge links with international MICE events and organisations in the industry.

Yunnan Provincial Tourism Development Committee’s (YPTDC) marketing division director, Oliver Huang, reiterated that Kunming and Yunnan’s goal is to attract more MICE business. He said: “We want more direct international flights.”

As such, there are now 12 airports in Yunnan with another four under construction and being planned. This makes Yunnan the province with the most number of airports in China.

In November 2014, SriLankan Airlines started flights from Colombo to Kunming Changshui International Airport. In December 2014, China Eastern Airlines launched the first intercontinental direct flight between Kunming and Paris. More recently in June 2015, China Eastern started flights between Vancouver and Kunming, via Shanghai.

YPTDC recently asked SilkAir to consider adding direct flights between Singapore and Lijiang International Airport, in addition to the carrier’s four weekly flights to Kunming.

Jim Burton, area general manager, Yunnan Cluster, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Greater China, said infrastructure in the capital is improving. Burton has been based in Kunming for the last four of his 11 years in China.

“The airport is already starting to expand. There are now two runways and another two are being planned. By the end of the year, the Metro Line No. 3 will open from the airport to the Holiday Inn Kunming City Center and the journey will take 20 minutes.

“High-speed trains from Shanghai to Kunming will (also) be introduced next year, cutting travel time from 1.5 days to eight hours, and there will also be links to Chengdu, Hangzhou and Nanchang.”

The increase in the number of international hotels in and around the city, with the addition of more IHG hotels and chains such as Accor, Angsana, Hilton and Wyndham, is expected to raise Kunming’s profile.

In April 2014, the local five-star Bank Hotel was renovated and rebranded as the Crowne Plaza Kunming City Center. The Holiday Inn Kunming City Center was also renovated and reopened in December 2014. InterContinental Kunming, located in the National Tourism Area of Dianchi, opened in 2013.

Burton said: “Four years ago, IHG only had one hotel in Yunnan. There are now seven and 10 more are in the pipeline in Kunming and elsewhere. New brands such as Hualuxe and Holiday Inn Express will (also) be introduced,” he added.

Commenting on the developments, Jennifer Salsbury, founder of International Marketing Consultancy covering Beijing, Hong Kong and Australia, said Kunming has a great opportunity for extensive multicultural links and trade exchanges being located so close to many South-east Asian countries.

“There is a great potential to link direct flights from Kunming to some of China’s leading trading partners, which would really improve access for events to be run in the city,” she added.

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Major attention on minorities

MICE groups interested in the culture of Yunnan’s minority groups can spend half a day exploring the colourful and vibrant Yunnan Nationalities Village in Kunming, located near the scenic Dian Lake.

The sprawling 514ha attraction, comprising a commercial centre, performance theatre, villages, squares and large outdoor spaces, is suitable for various teambuilding activities. Situated just across from the village is the Yunnan Nationalities Museum.

At the village, representatives from the 25 ethnic minority groups will be dressed in different colourful costumes, headwear and accessories. Their culture and customs are also depicted in static displays and live performances.

Visitors can watch Achang women make glutinous rice cakes, enjoy Mosuo singing and dancing, and play traditional games that test one’s shooting skills and throwing accuracy.

Photo opportunities abound and MICE delegates can also don minority groups’ costumes.

Rental rates to organise teambuilding activities for about 100 people are around RMB30,000 (US$4,700) for four hours.

Kunming CITS has organised many teambuilding programmes at the large Harmony Square for China-based companies.

Activities suggested by Kunming CITS include a Bamboo Pole Dance competition, a treasure hunt with a Chinese lesson thrown in, and the Big Eater Challenge – groups are given money and they have to use it to buy the most number of snacks within a given budget.

For ease of access, there is a helicopter landing field in the village, and MICE groups can use the service for transportation or sightseeing.

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Lu Hao Shuo, deputy general manager of Kunming CITS, suggests three activities visitors can do in Kunming

A day on the green

There are more than 10 golf courses around Kunming within a 30-minute drive radius. Spring City is an award-winning golf course and Stoneforest International Country Club has a golf course designed by Brian Curley.

Tea appreciation

Yunnan is famous for its Pu’er tea. In Kunming, groups can observe a tea ceremony and learn the proper way to make tea. If visiting the southern part of the province, such as Pu’er and Xishuangbanna, they can visit plantations, workshops, factories and tea shops. There, they will learn how to pick tea leaves, process them and make tea on-site.

Join the locals

Start the day early and head to Kunming’s Cuihu Park to join local residents at the park to practise tai chi, jog or perform sword dances. Stroll along the Nine-Bend Bridge, which zigzags over the lake, and take in the lively scene.

The scenic Cuihu Park is a welcome respite in the bustling Chinese city
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