Kunming—“Spring City”
Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, is known as the “city of eternal spring.” It is located at an altitude of 1,900 m above sea level and at a latitude north of the Tropic of Cancer. It covers an area of 21,501 km2 and its urban area covers 6,200 km2. Kunming has an estimated population of 
5,740,000 including 3,055,000 in the urban area and is located at the northern edge of the large Dianchi Lake (also called Kunming Lake), surrounded by temples and lake-and-limestone hill landscapes.
Kunming has a mild climate and flowers bloom most of the year round. But its association with eternal spring can be misleading, because there are sometimes cold winds in winter, chilly days in spring, and heavy rains in summer. Generally speaking, the city's climate is kind to travelers most of the time. Kunming is world-famous for its abundance of camellias, orchids, azaleas and Primula malacoides , which can be found in the Kunming Botanical Garden, where 4,000 varieties of tropical and subtropical plants grow profusely.
Kunming has a history spanning more than 3,000 years. It is known to have been a small settlement as early as 109 B.C., trading in salt, silver, gold, silk and lumber. Through the eighth to the 13th centuries, it was the secondary capital of a small kingdom in the region, before falling to the Mongols in 1374. A small group of Mongols still exists at Tonghai, about 75 miles south of Kunming.
Tourist Attractions
- Xishuangbanna—“Tropical Paradise”: Located in Yunnan Province in southwestern part of China, Xishuangbanna is famous for its mysterious tropical rainforests, wild animals and minority customs. It is an area of China that few travelers afford themselves the time to see. Yet it is a mysterious paradise. As the only tr
opical rainforest nature reservation in China, Xishuangbanna is ideal for nurturing wonderful plants and flora and is home to unusual wildlife. Western adventurers have journeyed here seeking rich biological treasures as far back as the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). For many years, Xishuangbanna's fame as a natural paradise was as well known as that of the Amazon. Dai Minority people have lived on this land for generations. The distinctive natural environment here has created unusual customs and traditions. Now visitors can enjoy folk dance and other performances in local scenic spots in Xishuangbanna, thanks to the quickly developed tourism.
- Stone Forest: The Stone Forest Scenic Area is located in Shilin County, 89 kilometers from Kunming. The area, covering 350 square kilometers, is the highest karst terrain in the world and a national scenic area in China. In the scenic area one can see stone forest, known as "No. 1 wonder under heaven." It is known as the " First Wonder of the World ". “It is a waste of time without being in the Stone Forest while visiting Kunming " is a local saying to express the deep love of the local people toward this world wonder. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder.
The scenery of " Figure of Ashima ", " Shi Ba Xiang Song " ( originated from a Chinese love story " Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai " ) and " Lotus peak "greatly astonish visitors; the scenic spots " One Piece of Thread Sky " , " Close Call ", and " Sword Peak Pond " are all miraculous. You will be astonished by the unique peaks and strange caves, by the Flying-Down Mountain Spring, and by Plateau lake. All these wonders combine to present you with a picture of astounding natural beauty.
- Dianchi Lake: Dianchi, also known as Kunming Lake, covers 130 square miles and was formed by a geological fault in the central Y
unnan Plateau. It is a freshwater fault lake at an altitude of 1,886.5 meters above sea level. It is 39 kilometers long from north to south, and the average depth is 4.4 meters. It is one of China's key scenic areas and has a reputation as 'A Pearl on the Plateau'. Dian Lake has a long history. In the Warrior Period, a Dian State was built in this region. Dian Lake with crystal clean water, ripple lake surface, boats sailing on the lake looks like a glittering pearl set on a mountain basin and reflects the surrounding mountains the blue sky. The area around the Dian Lake is clustered with sights of either beautiful scenery or rich cultural heritage. These include the Nanyun Nationalities Villages, West Hills, Grand View Park. Indeed, Marco Polo praised the variety and bounty of catches in his 13th century account of his travels in the region.
Local Culture and Art
Yunnan is home to 25 ethnic minorities, and is endowed with a remarkable traditional folk culture. Kunming is well known for its diverse cultures, breath-taking natural scenery and pleasant climate. While in Kunming, one should also try to catch a glimpse of the various costumes of the many ethnic groups in Yunnan. The best chance is probably during the Water Splashing Festival, a traditional gala held every April to celebrate the new year on the calendar of the Dai, Blang, Beng
long, Achang and Wa peoples. At the festival, people splash water on each other as a symbol of best wishes for a long life and a good harvest. The biggest celebration is usually held in Xishuangbanna. At present, Water Splashing Festival is a traditional festival for the Dai people in Xishuangbanna and other places .The festive activities include bathing Lord Buddha, sprinkling water to each other for good fortune, dragon boat racing, launching rockets and the Kongming Lantern, going to the fair, etc. Young girls dance the Peacock Dance accompanied by the elephant leg drums. Young boys and girsl throw a finely embroidered purse to the person he or she is in love.
Food
The variety and diversity of Kunming cuisine never fails to satisfy hungry travelers. It really is a “crossroads” for dishes from all over Yunnan, the hallmark of which is a balance of sour and hot flavors. With its high humidity and mild temperatures there is an abundance of fruits and vegetables all year round for use in local cooking and all around the city, street stalls sell a great variety of delicious snacks.
- Guoqiao Mixian (rice-flour noodles): It has a history of over 100 years. It is prepared in a big bowl of hot chicken soup with very thick and oily gravy coved on the surface to keep the heat. Firstly the food like thinly sliced port or beef, cooked chicken, pork liver, and fish slices are put into the soup, then vegetable are added in as the second course. Finally it is the rice noodles. Please be very patient and take your time to eat the delicacy as both the bowl and soup are very hot!
- Mushroom Soups: Few people realize how delicious are soups made of shanmao wild herbs, edible flowers, and wild mushrooms. Upon the mention of dishes such as ganba mushrooms, niugan mushrooms, and Xuanwei ham. Because of all these kinds of mushrooms, herbs are coming from large different areas of mountains, all restaurants offer authentic local flavors of making special mushrooms soups and hot pot.
- Xuanwei Ham (Xuanwei Huotui): is also called “Yuntui” or “Yunnan Ham” and is one of the three most famous and best hams in China. A main ingredient in many local dishes, Yunnan ham retains its unique flavor and can be stored for long periods of time. Offered in most local restaurants, ham preparation includes baking, salting, warming, and freezing.
Shopping
- Wax-Dyed Cloth: Wax-dyed cloth is a folk handicraft of ethnic groups in Yunnan Province which is made by applying wax to white fabric in order keep sections undyed when the fabric is dipped in blue dye. This rather plain, yet charming handicraft shows off various local cultural symbols including animals, flowers and legendary personages. The cloth is made into garments, handbags, tapestries or simply sold as wall hangings.
- Dai Bamboo Craftwork: The moment a tourist approaches a house of the Dai ethnic group, he will be amazed by what he sees-- everything from the house, wall, carpet to wardrobe, chair or even bowl is made of bamboo. Besides, it is also the chief material in the temples there. In the local markets of Xishangbanna, tourists will be able to find different elegantly made bamboo ware. Although many of the local-oriented products are too big to be carried away by travelers, however, the smart owners managed to make some of their articrafts small enough for tourists to pack into their baggage.
- Dai Brocade: Dai brocade (Daijin) is a kind of silk made by women of the Dai ethnic group. It features gorgeous colors and incricate patterns, which use rare animals, flowers and geometrical forms as design themes. Each of these patterns has its implications and hidden meaning. For instance, a peacock symbolizes good luck while an elephant symbolizes a good harvest. Brocade is commonly made into handbags, bedsheets, cushions, and window drapes.
Transportation
- By Plane: The Wujiabei Airport is around 5 kilometers away from the city center. CAAC shuttle buses conveniently serve passengers between the city center and the airport. To get to the airport by taxi cost around 15 yuan and it takes about 20 minutes. Three public buses run on the route including No 52, 67 and 78. There are flights to most of China's major cities including the famous tourist cities Beijing, Xian, Guilin and Shanghai. International flights to Bangkok, Rangoon, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong are also available. The airport has a few regional connections with some of the popular tourist destination within the province including Dali, Lijiang, Zhongdian, Xishuangbana, Baoshan, Jinghong, Manshi. It is very convenient to travel around the region via airplane.
- By Train: Apart from the sprawling airway network, the Yunnan Region is connected with other part of China mainly through the Guikun(Guiyang-Kunming), Chengkun(Chengdu-Kunming) and Nankun(Nanning-Kunming) railways.
- By Bus: There are many bus stations in Kunming, for safety we recommend that tourists take buses at well-operated stations. Over one hundred bus lines crisscross the city proper, reaching every corner. The price is quite cheap usually 1 yuan for a non air-conditioning one and 2 yuan for a air-conditioning bus.