The Green Lake Park

Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), officials in Kunming spent
efforts to erect pavilions in the Green Lake of Kunming. As the
most popular park in the downtown of Kunming, the Green Lake
attracts multitudes of visitors from home and abroad each year
to witness its emerald-like water, weeping willows and red-beaked
 seagulls traveling long from Russia to spend winter since 1985.
 The lake is highlighted by two dams. Ruan Dam and Tang Dam. Ruan
 Dam, stretching from south to north, was first built in 1834 and
sponsored by Ruan Yuan, the General Governor of Yunnan and Guzhou
 Provinces in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911); while Tang Dam, from
east to west, was built in 1919 and sponsored by Tang Jiyao, the
Military Governor of Yunnan Province in the early Republic of China
(1912-1949). The Two dams divide the Green Lake into five sections,
 namely Huxindao (Isle in the middle of the lake) and Guanyulou
(Fish-Viewing Pavilion) at the center; Shuiyuexuan (Water and Moon
 Pavilion) and Jinyudao (Golden Carp Isle) in the southeast; Zulidao
 (Bamboo Groves Isle) and Jiulongchi (Nine Dragons Pool) in the
northeast; Huludao (Calabash Isle) and Jiuquqiao (Zigzag Bridge)
 in the south; and Haixinting (Lake Center Pavilion) in the west. 

The Green Lake has so far become a stage for Kunming folk cultural
shows. One will witness or experience different kinds of things in
 a day. In the early morning, one can join the exercising, Taiji
 and Kong Fu; while at day time one could further enjoy assorted
performances staged by local people. Yunnan Opera (Huadeng) is most
compelling among all.