I've just started travelling across Yunnan (tonight I'll stop in Kunming for two days) and my laptop completely broke down. There's no chance it'll get started again. Since I don't wanna travel with a broken and bulky thing in my backpack, I was wondering if there's any place in Kunming that buys broken electronics. Thanks in advance for your tips!

You may even be able to get it fixed. I was amazed at much stuff they can fix while you wait. There are a couple of places that specialize. I am not sure exactly where, but I am sure someone else will pipe up.

It might help someone point you to the best place if you tell us what brand of laptop you have.

You could try selling it on GoKunming. Some people advertise coffee mugs, used with small cracks, for 2 kuai when they pack up to leave. Amazing how many cheapskates there are in the world.

Thanks for the tip. I've actually already been to the apple store in hong kong (I have a macbook air) and they asked me to pay a crazy price to get it fixed. Apparently it's a serious issue, but if you know the names of some electronic shops in kunming that might have a look at it I'd highly appreciate it

I got my broken iPhone, which could not see cellphone signals, fixed for 300 RMB while I waited. The Apple store said it was beyond economic repair and wanted to sell me a new one. I just watched the backstreet repair guy remove and replace a circuit board. Fixed. They even gave me a 30 day warantee.
I am sure someone on here knows a Mac repair shop.

Addendum. It might be a good idea to start another thread titled, Looking for backstreet Apple Mac repairs.

Probably not useful to you but there are quite some guys going around in old battered minivans that sit outside residential area’s for a day with a sign that they buy broken down electronics, This ranges from electric stoves to microwaves and TV’s. They don’t pay much and buy the stuff for the value of the things they can recycle like the copper of the wiring and coils.
If you are looking for a way of properly disposing of broken down electronics especially computer items then there used to be a collection box at Salvador’s Coffee house

(See listings at www.gokunming.com/en/listings/item/1/salvadors-coffee-house).

Salvadors know who buys electronic parts. Personally, I get a kick out of smashing them up myself

Don't smash things or parts that work, there's enough junk in the world already to deal with.

I "smash up" working electronics every few years and buy new again so I don't have surprises down the road.
Right now I have an expensive Denon media/AV amp that is 5+ years old. I just bought a new Denon 4400 AVR and my old one will get "smashed".
PC's and laptops-same deal. Max life I give these is 3 years. Working or not, they all get trashed and I replace them.