I was told you could only purchase bus tickets a maximum of 5 days in advance. Anyone buy bus tickets farther out than that?

Also, are there any ticketing agencies that sell bus tickets in the city? The southern bus station is ridiculously far out.

yeah, there is one on the intersection of 121 Massy Street :] and Jianshe Lu. They sell bus tickets some days in advance, got my ticket to Jinghong there.

where you will go,maybe I can do you a favor if still in time for your trip.timmy tao

You can buy the bus ticket seven days ahead in the bus station or in the railway station. I bought one in Janurary this year.

There is a kind of official agency selling bus tickets of all bus stations next to the railway station. No additional fees.Very convinient.

more and more, the train ticket offices downtown are selling bus tickets as well, even more convenient. I know the one below is selling bus tickets (or was, those things change all the time):
www.gokunming.com/[...]

@Stathis
Thanks for the info. The bus station said the 7 days advance was for the preparation of Chinese New Year, so now it's back down to 5 days.