Kunming at a Glance

IPA / ˈkʊnˈmɪŋ / 'Kunming' can be pronounced into two parts: [KUUN] + [MING]. Most scholars believe that "Kunming" was originally the name of an ancient nation in Southwest China. Kunming is a national historical city with a rich seam of culture. As early as 30,000 years ago, humans lived around Dian Lake which is located near the city. Kunming is a multi-ethnic city with 26 nation groups. The nation groups of Han, Yi, Hui, Bai, Miao, Hani, Zhuang, Dai, Lisu, etc., have lived in concentrated villages or mixed villages. In the long-term of life, the various nation groups not only influence and integrate, but also maintain their national traditions, continuing many unique lifestyles, folk customs, and cultural arts.

Where Is Kunming

Kunming is the capital of Yunnan Province, South-East of China at 102°10'～103°40' east longitude and 24°23'～26°22' north latitude. The city center is at 25°02'11" north latitude and 102°42'31" east longitude. Kunming is situated in the central part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and is China's gateway city to Southeast Asia and South Asia. Kunming is surrounded by mountains on three sides and Dian Lake is on the left side. Dian lake has a positive effect on the climate in Kunming.

Population of Kunming

According to'Kunming statistical bulletin of 2019 on national economy and social development', at the end of 2019, the city's population was 6.95 million. The urban population was 5,115,200, accounting for 73.6% of the population. At the end of 2019, the total registered population of the city was 5,784,600. Among them, the urban population is 3.6149 million, accounting for 62.5% of the registered population.

Weather in Kunming

The weather is mild and warm. Winter is short and cool while summer is balmy and humid. Kunming is also known as “The City of Eternal Spring" and "The Flower City" because it has a warm spring-like weather. The flowers are open all year round and the plants are evergreen. It has one of the best atmospheric environments in China.

How to Get to Kunming

Kunming has an airport called Changshui Airport which is located about 25km away from downtown. A taxi from the airport to downtown takes around 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Airport Express Buses are available from Changshui Airport to the railway station. With so many choices, it is easy to travel around in Kunming. Furthermore, the distance from Guangzhou to Kunming is only 1090km. Traveling from Kunming to Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, takes about 5 hours by plane.

Teach English in Kunming, Yunnan

The English teaching market in Kunming has grown significantly in the past few years and the growth probably will still continue. With the development of Kunming, English is more and more important as well. At the end of the year, there were 52 general higher education institutions in the city, with 622,600 students and 30,600 full-time teachers; 81 secondary vocational education schools with 182,100 students and 4,148 full-time teachers; and 327 ordinary middle schools with 346,500 students. There are 27,300 full-time teachers; 758 ordinary primary schools with 513,000 students and 30,300 full-time teachers; 1,407 kindergartens, 246,000 children in kindergartens, and 16,300 full-time teachers; 6 special education schools with students in school 824 people and 194 full-time teachers.

International School Jobs in Kunming

According to 'Nanning City&Salary 2020 Research Report', there are around 3 international schools in Kunming. They are

• Kunming International Academy,
• Yunnan Foreign Language School
• Beanstalk International Bilingual school Kunming Campus

Among them, Kunming International Academy has the longest history. It was founded in 1994 and aimed at providing high-level education to its students. It uses Advance Placement (AP) and IB Middle Years Program (MYP) curriculums. Foreign teachers are mostly required as ESL teachers and subject teachers for music and arts. Both ESL teachers and subject teacher (Music&Arts) job opportunities account for 31% of all foreign teachers' job opportunities in international schools.

Kindergarten School Jobs in Kunming

Kindergartens in Kunming mainly recruit kindergarteners and homeroom teachers. The average salary for foreign teachers in Kunming kindergarten is around ¥12,705 ($1,815). The highest salary is up to ¥15,000 ($2,143) as a homeroom teacher in kindergarten. Kindergartens prefer to choose teachers who love children and are patient in accompanying children. The monthly basic salary for homeroom teachers is between ¥10,000 - ¥15,000 ($1,429 - $2,143). The monthly basic salary for kindergarteners is between ¥11,540 - ¥14,280 ($1,649 - $2,040). According to 'Nanning City&Salary 2020 Research Report', there are three kindergartens included in TTJ's system and they are

• Beanstalk Kindergarten Kunming Jingkai Campus
• Beanstalk Kindergarten Kunming Chenggong Campus
• Etonhouse Kindergarten Kunming

Training Center Jobs in Kunming

The job offers from training centers account for around 36% of all foreign teacher offers. According to 'Nanning City&Salary 2020 Research Report', there are two training centers registered in TTJ's system. They are

• Summit Foreign Language School
• C&F School for International Communication and Leadership

The demand for training centers for foreign teachers is mostly ESL teachers. Both of them are reliable training centers with great reputation. They have experience in English-teaching lessons. They mainly focus on middle/high school levels.

How Much Do You Get Paid to Teach in Kunming

Salaries are significantly influenced by several reasons such as work experience and categories of schools.

According to 'Nanning City&Salary 2020 Research Report', the salaries in Kunming international schools are the highest in three school types. International school offer between ¥18,931 ($2,704) to ¥25,585 ($3,655) as the salary for one month.

The salaries in training centers are the second highest. Training centers in Kunming pay on average ¥16,740 ($2,931) per month to foreign ESL teachers.

Comparatively, the salaries in kindergartens are lower than in international schools or training centers. The average salary range is from ¥10,770 ($1,539) to ¥14,640 ($2,091).

Kunming ESL Job Requirements

Compared with ESL jobs in other new tier one cities, the requirements in Kunming are not strict. ESL jobs in Kunming do not require applicants to be licensed teachers, but they prefer to choose who has certifications. These jobs are more focused on the candidate's entry degree. Almost all positions require candidates for a bachelor's degree.

Moreover, most international schools and kindergartens tend to select entry-level teachers with 1-2 years of teaching experience. More than half of training centers and kindergartens need English-native teachers, or teachers whose English oral level is at least at an English native level.

Living in Kunming, China

There are many opportunities in Yunnan and teachers can earn good salaries from working here. Besides, the weather is usually not too hot or too cold most of the time compared with most other parts of China. Furthermore, the air is relatively clean compared to most other Chinese cities. For the people who love outdoor activities, it’s quite easy to get to some very stunning countryside within a few hours in Kunming

Things to Do in Kunming

Kunming is a gathering place of natural and cultural landscapes. The long history and unique geological structure have left many cultural relics and scenic spots. Kunming is a developing international tourist city, so it is a multi-functional all-season tourist destination integrating natural scenery and ethnic customs.

Yuantong Temple, located on Yuantong Street in the urban area of Kunming, is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Kunming. It has a history of more than 1,200 years. At the same time, it is also the largest temple in Kunming. It is located in the south of Yuantong Mountain, facing Yuantong Street in front and Yuantong Mountain in the back. It is adjacent to Kunming Zoo. The layout is rigorous, symmetrical, and the main body is prominent. Yuantong Temple has a magnificent appearance, and now it has been overhauled to show its beauty as a beautiful garden in the south of the Yangtze River.

Cui Lake is located at the western foot of Wuhua Mountain in the urban area of Kunming and is the central sightseeing spot of the city. It is called "Cui Lake" because of its green water. You can see the lotus in Cui Lake in summer. In winter, flocks of red-headed gulls come here from Siberia. The scene is very spectacular and they will stay from November of the first year to March of the following year, once a year, without interruption. "Viewing gulls on the Cui Lake" has become one of the popular landscapes in Kunming.

Cost of Living in Kunming

Quality of life in Kunming is very high and the cost of living is relatively low. By Numbeo, if you eat in a local and inexpensive restaurant, the average price is around ¥17.50 which is quite low compared to other new tier one cities. The rent per month for an apartment with 1 bedroom in Kunming city center is averagely ¥2320 and the range is from ¥1800 to ¥3497 per month.

Where to Live in Kunming

There are many foreigners in Kunming as ESL teachers or subject teachers especially around Wuhua Town. Some other foreigners also come here to study Chinese because Huayang Academy in Wuhua can offer Chinese classes for them. It is also a great choice to live beside Yunnan university which is along the river with beautiful scenery. Some international students from Huayang Academy rent apartments by themselves around the academy. Security is something that you hardly need to worry about unless you are not careful about your valuables.

Kunming Subway Map

Kunming City&Salary Report