Ok, I googled this and did not get any results, and I asked friends and they did not know. So please do not attack me, tell me to google it, call me a troll, etc. It is an honest question. Are there any hutongs in Kunming with restaurants and bars in the alleys?
Hutongs 胡同are a Beijing thing. In in Kunming alleys or small lanes are known as xiang 巷. So, there are no "hutongs" in Kunming.
Try google again. First response was Wikipedia. Sorry but this is another clueless question. How did you get a Master degree?
It is not a "clueless" question. I am new to China and to Chinese. Obviously, my MA is not in Chinese. I am an expert in my field, but not in finding my way around Kunming. Thanks, though, for your warm, welcoming reply.
I'm assuming you're looking for laid-back domestic nite life. Many alleys (xiang) have bbq (shao kao?) with plastic tables and midget stools to chat with friends and inebriate. These tend to be around universities (attracts the university crowd) and bar districts (attracts the ornamentals). Both tend to be rather fine for midnite lurkers - aside from the occasional drunk whose nasty tempers occasionally surface - you'll see the signs quickly - they'll start getting loud - building in crescendo - that's a good sign to move on to the next food & beer joint, several paces away (out of hurling beer bottle range).
In the summers - most bars have outside tables to people watch - but the heavy smoke from the prolific shao kao (bbq) quickly chases patrons back inside. The advantage of shaokao - keeps the mosquitoes at bay.
As you're new to KM - KM mosquitoes are incredibly sneaky. They rarely pause for long drinks (and squashing opportunities) - opting instead to snack and go. Hope you bought one of those electric bug zappers (looks like an electronic tennis racket) and be prepared - most off-the-shelf things you buy here have at most a 1 year lifespan...if you're lucky.
Enjoy your loitering - stay safe.
Try 桃源街 (Táoyuán jiē) along the riverside north of 人民中路 (Rénmín zhōnglù). On the Rénmín zhōnglù side they have barbecue at night and along the road heading away from the river are little alleys with bars. They are quite cool some of them, though filled with smoke and stares at lao wai!
Yuanxilu - super-crowded with university students, full of little restaurants and shops and such.
As far as bars of the type you're used to in BJ (e.g. in the gulou hutong) I think you're stuck with Wenlin Jie.
Hutong? Trying to find something like BJ when you are not in BJ? Crazy idea.
