This is one of the main attractions in Kunming.

The Western Hills tower 2500 metres above Kunming City, 16 kilometres to the west of it. The Dragon Gate is actually the general name of a series of caves, grottoes and stepped walkway carved on the sheer cliff of the Western Hills. At the end of it is a stoned archway with the Chinese characters "Long Men" (Dragon Gate) inscribed in red and gold on the gate. There is a local saying that "Visiting Kunming without ascending the Dragon Gate is as regretful as visiting Hangzhou without seeing the West Lake".

It is a custom of the local people to visit the Western Hills on the 3rd day of the lunar month. This custom originates from the Shangsijie Festival of the Warring States Period. During the Three Kingdoms period, the kingdom of Wei adopted the Shangsijie Festival as the day for spring outing and offering sacrifices to gods and ancestors. On this day in late spring, Kunming with its pleasant weather, is filled with flowers in bloom, and thousands of people visit the Western Hills.