With border linking countries in Southeast Asia, Yunnan was once the gateway of China’s southern Silk Road trade routes to Myanmar - the province also shares borders with Laos and Vietnam. The province’s capital city Kunming, also known as the City of Eternal Spring, is the center for tourism in Southwest China. From here, travelers can either travel overland or fly, depending on the distance between the towns, to its famed tourist cities such as Dali, Lijiang, Jinghong and the Shangri-la in Zhongdian County.
Kunming
The current capital of Yunnan, Kunming has a record of human settlement for more than 2,000 years. Nowadays, it is a modern city with rising economy. The city is one of a few cities in China that enjoy pleasant weather all year round. It offers cool respite when other cities experience the change of seasons. The average temperature is around 77 Fahrenheit (25' C) in summer and 47 Fahrenheit (8' C) in winter.
Besides being the hub of transportations that links other southwest tourist cities, Kunming itself possesses some great sites worth visiting and it is only a few-hour drive from the city’s downtown. The most peculiar yet alluring site of all is the Stone Forest or ‘Shilin’ in Chinese language. Located about 120 km southeast of Kunming city, Shilin has a large collection of limestone outcrops in various sizes, heights and shapes. The area is believed to be under the sea millions years ago. Travelers can meander through a labyrinth of solid gray peaks, a pond and a bamboo garden.
The Golden Temple is another recommended place to see nearby the city. Only 20-minute drive from the downtown, the temple sits on Mingfen Mountain that is part of a national forest reserve. The main draw of this Taoist temple is a chapel whose columns, Buddha images, altars, doorframes, walls and roof tiles all completely made of bronze. It was recorded that estimated 250 tons of copper were used to build a temple, thus making it the largest bronze temple in China. The temple was originally built in the early 17th century by a Yunnan Governor who was a devout Taoist. The present Golden Temple was later renovated in the 19th century.
Lake Dian is another interesting attraction popular among locals, if not by tourists. It offers respite for Kunming residents who come here for relaxation or exercise. Located in the south of the city, the lake is about 40 km long and surrounded by farms, villages and industrial sites. At the northern tip of lake is Daguan Gongyuan or the Grand View Park. The 60-hectare park has a children’s playground, landscaped gardens and stone towers – one of them, the Grand View Tower, provides scenic view of the lake and the grassland.
