Kunming has a growing metro system, six lines as of late 2023, that connects the airport, the long-distance rail stations, the old town around Cuihu, and the main hotel and museum districts. The metro is by far the most efficient way to get around, and Line 2 in particular runs north-south through the centre.
Taxis are plentiful and metered. DiDi (the Chinese Uber) works in Kunming with a Chinese-tied account. Local buses are cheap but largely Chinese-language only. The city is largely flat, with separate bike lanes on most major streets, and shared bike apps (Hello, Meituan) cover the centre — the Cuihu / Wenlin / Yuantong axis is best explored on a hire bike.
The old town and Cuihu area are walkable. From the city to the Western Hills, take metro Line 3 to its terminus and then the cable car or bus 6. The Stone Forest and Jiuxiang are best reached by organised tour or by train from Kunming South to the new Shilin station.