Yunnan (Beautiful Clouds in the South) Province is the most southwest region of China bordering the countries of Vietnam, Laos, and Burma. Yunnan Province borders Guizhou Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to the east, Chongqing and Sichuan to the north, and Tibet Autonomous Region to the northwest. Yunnan encompasses 394,000 square kilometers (152,084 square miles) and has a population of more than 42 million people.
Within these borders, Yunnan has a diverse topography that ranges from alpine mountain ranges to tropical rainforests and the greatest number of plant species in China (more than 18,000) as well as an incredible array of animals, including the Asian elephant and the protected Yunnan golden monkey. There is even a rainforest in the area known as Xishuangbanna where you will find many rare and endangered species of plants and animals.
Ethnic Minority Groups
Yunnan Province is endlessly fascinating. There are 25 different ethnic minorities in Yunnan, making it the most culturally diverse province in China. This multiplicity of cultures has endowed the province with a rich heritage that it shares with all who come to visit. There is always something wonderful to see and do here. Whether you are visiting a Dongba village, the Dai Water Splashing Festival, the Third Month Fair of the Bai Nationality, or the Torch Festival of the Yi people, you will find that Yunnan is a place that celebrates life.
Stone Forest (Shi Lin), located outside of the capital city of Kunming, is one of the world's natural wonders. Here, massive pillars of gray rock have formed a gigantic forest of stone. Some of these natural stone formations have the appearance of animals such as snakes, elephants, birds, and dragons. Kunming has many interesting temples and parks such as Daguan Park, Black Dragon Pool, Zheng He Park, Bamboo Temple, Golden Temple, and the Western Hills, to name only a few. Each of these places has unique features that capture the imagination. For example, the Bamboo Temple has 500 life-size luohans that were sculpted in the 1800's. The Western Hills contains three temples: Huating Temple (from the 11th century), Taihua Temple, and the Sanqing Temple. At the 
top of the path, which takes about two hours to reach, is Longmen (Dragon Gate). Dragon Gate is comprised of sculptures, grottos, and pathways that were built by a Taoist monk in the late 1700's. The view from Dragon Gate overlooking DianChi Lake and the city of Kunming is spectacular. Moreover, you can always be certain of fabulous spring weather in Kunming regardless of the time of year!
At the southern end of Yunnan Province bordering on Laos and Myanmar is Xishuangbanna, a tropical rainforest that is the home of the Dai people. The Dai have many festivals that span across the year. The Water Splashing Festival occurs officially in mid-April but has become such a famous event that it is enacted regularly. In the northwest section of Yunnan, on a plateau amidst the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Mountain), is its most beautiful pearl, the city of Lijiang. Lijiang Old Town, rebuilt because of a devastating earthquake in 1996, is a traveler's oasis. Three small rivers course through Old Town's cobbles-stoned streets that are lined with trees, wonderful restaurants and cafes, shops, residences and a theatre where you can attend a performance of music played on original period instruments that date back to the Han dynasty. Lijiang has been designated by UNESCO as one of the world's major cultural heritages, and is the center of the Lijiang Naxi Ethnic Minority Autonomous County. The Naxi (one of 25 ethnic minorities of Yunnan Province) are the predominate population of Lijiang and its surrounding area. There are also a variety of beautiful parks and temples around Lijiang.
The natural beauty of Yunnan Province defies description. It has mountain ranges and glaciers that are snow-capped all year round, deep virgin forests, lakes and hot springs, alpine landscapes, precipitous valleys, beautiful farmlands, mountain rivers and valley streams, floral splendor that blooms throughout the year, and vast skies with amazing clouds.
Until recent times most of Yunnan was not easily reachable as it was cut off from communication with the outside world by precipitous mountains. Many believe that the Shangri-La referred to in James Milton's Lost Horizons, was here in Yunnan. It now may be the last virgin land where one can observe cultures whose layers go back for thousands of years into the past. Visit Yunnan and be prepared to be enchanted. She welcomes you!
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Travelers' Voices on Yunnan Province
1.
Nov. 15,2009 21:28 Reply
Ms.Amy (Malaysia) said:
Hi, hi, can anyone advise how will the weather in Yunnan be from Dec 5 - Dec 25? And I was advised not to go to Yunnan during Dec as the scenery would be quite bleak? Any advice would be appreciate. thank you.
Nov. 16,2009 08:51
Mr.Anthony Ho(Singapore) replied:
I have visit Yunnan last month. The first night in Shangri-La the temperature drop to -2 degree. Because October is not winter time the hotel did not turn on the heater. The whole night we could not sleep. Everything inside the room you touch is icy. In Shangri-La the scenery is not as beautiful as some people have describe. It is just ok. Winter night after 6.30pm almost all shop close. Take my advise, don't go.
2.
Nov. 14,2009 09:25 Reply
Ms.JOEYPCTAN(Singapore) said:
I am planning to do a trip in Yunnan in 3rd week of January and I have a few queries:
1) Is there any place that is too cold that I should avoid during that time? Understand from a few guide books that I should avoid highlands.
2) Is near Chinese New Year, will i get a lot of inconvenience?
3) I would love to get to know the native people and interact with them, I speak Mandarin. Is it better to join a tour group in order to interact with them? Is it possible to go stay with them?
4) I am vegetarian. Would that be a problem?
5) Is there any ethnic festival during that period of time?
3.
Oct. 31,2009 18:55 Reply
Ms.Viola said:
Hi, Sam,
Thanks for your reply. Among those places, is it possible to stay in one of the local's house? Dai's family or Li's? Is there anyway that I could make an arrangement for that?
Thanks and regards,
Nov. 3,2009 22:15
Mr.Sandy replied:
You can find local house in Lijiang, Dali or Shangri-la and Lugu area. Dai is mainly in southern Yunnan. Dali is a gathering place for Bai people, Lijiang is characteristic for Naxi people. Moso people in Lugu Lake area is mysterious and interesting.
4.
Oct. 30,2009 21:25 Reply
Ms.Viola said:
Hi, Im planning to go YunNan this Nov 10 to 16th, and could any1 provide some suggestions? I've heard Da Li, Xi Shuang Ban Na and Lu Gu He are the must-visit places. and Im also wondering about accommodation. Thanks
Oct. 31,2009 02:49
Mr.Sam replied:
For a popular line, you could go to Kunming->Dali->Lijiang. When you are in Lijiang, you could visit Shangri-la and Lugu Lake. All of these places' introduction could be found on this website.
Nov. 2,2009 08:20
Mr.Rudolf(CH) replied:
Hi Viola
You were asking re. reliable guide - I did not yet get any answer from Mr. Leute. I will arrive in Kunming on Nov. 12, stay in Camellia hotel, and after KM I will go to Dali and Lijiang. Maybe we can do a part of the trip together? Pls answer to rstampfli@hotmail.com. Am a Swiss man. Regards. Rudolf
5.
Sep. 11,2009 04:11 Reply
Mr.Rudolf(Switzerland) said:
Hi
Anybody knows a reliable private tour guide/companion in Kunming/Yunnan for a trip of approx. 2 to 3 weeks?
Tanks for help!
Sep. 14,2009 01:40
Mr.Leute(usa) replied:
Excellent question! I have just spent the past three weeks "interviewing" a half dozen operators via email to figure out the answer. I think I have settled on one, I leave in late October and can let you know how it turns out.
Sep. 15,2009 01:33
Mr.Rudolf replied:
To Mr. Leute
Thanks a lot for your help! Would it be possible to give me the name, email etc. already now? If not: I wait until you have made up your experiences!
Have a good and nice trip!
Rudolf
Sep. 15,2009 03:53
Mr.hannah(beijing) replied:
i am interested in a private guide as well, could i trouble you for the contact information you discovered for the guide you hired
thanks
hannah
Oct. 31,2009 18:57
Ms.Viola replied:
Hi, I am interested in the private tour as well. Could u send me the details as well?
Thank you very much.
6.
Oct. 16,2009 02:52 Reply
Mr.Ho(Singapore) said:
Hi, I'm from Singapore. I am going to visit Yunnan this October 22nd to 31st 2009. My 83 years old mother is going there too. Any advice regarding weather and high attitute, especially in Shangri-La. Thank You.
Oct. 17,2009 04:13
Mr.Sam replied:
The weather and altitude of Kunming will not cause any problem for elder. But, please prepare a jacket and tablet for altitude sickness for her in Shangri-la.
Oct. 19,2009 03:29
Mrs.Hao(china) replied:
the altitude can cause big problems to anyone with heart or lung problems
7.
Oct. 17,2009 20:49 Reply
Ms.lee(USA) said:
Hello,
I'm planning on traveling to Yunnan on November 3rd and would like to visit Kunming, Lijiang, and Dali. I heard it takes about 10 days to visit these three places. I plan to stay in Yunnan for another 20 days before heading through Northeastern Thailand. I'm wondering if you can suggest some other interesting sites and places to visit in Yunnan since i'm not familiar with the area. I'm very interested seeing ethnic minorities and observing their way of life, especially visiting the matriarchal tribes. I'm also interested in scenic areas. Thanks so much for your suggestions!
Oct. 19,2009 02:08
Mr.Manny replied:
You can get further to Shangri-La and Lugu Lake from Lijiang. This are the northern part of Yunnan. You can get back to Kunming and travel to Tengchong and Ruilin in Dehong, southwest of Yunan, and Jinghong in Xishuangbanna in southern Yunan. They are close to the border with Burma. You can get around the border makets, or cross the border if visa is not a problem.
8.
Oct. 12,2009 12:28 Reply
Ms.MARCELO_PALMA(Brazil) said:
Hi!
I am going to travel to China on my next vacation and plan to spend 25 days in the country. I should fly into either Peking or Shanghai on May 18 and it's going to be my second trip to the country. I went there 5 months ago, stayed in Peking for 5 days and only got outside the city to visit the Great Wall. This time I plan to explore the west/southwest of the country, the provinces of Sichcuan and Yunnan and Tibet. I know that i am required to hold a special permit to travel to Lhasa and think of applying for the permit some weeks in advance, before my arrival in the country, if possible. I still don't know what would be the most convenient route to take in China, considering the places I am interested in visiting. Also, I plan to take my bike with me, as I would rather go exploring some sites by bicycle than by car, van, bus...etc. I am that kind of adventurous tourist and I specially would like to cycle around Tibet (Lhasa, Shigatse, Gyantse...). However, I have heard that it is not easy to communicate with chinese people (in english) in the countryside, so I plan to hire a guide. So I would be very grateful if anybody could give me some advice about the most suitable route to take in China (would you recommended me to fly to Peking or Shanghai?), places to visit, how I could find a guide and if I am allowed to take my bicycle into the trains or buses. Consider I plan to visit Lijiang, Shangri-la, kunming and Lhasa.
Many thanks (xie-xie)
Marcelo
Oct. 14,2009 03:36
Mr.Manny replied:
Here is my suggestion on the route: If you have been to Beijing, you can choose Shanghai this time as the first stop of this trip. Then fly to Lhasa from Shanghai then Gyantse- Shigatse - Lhasa. Get to Shangri-La from Lhasa then Lijiang - Dali - Kunming - Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou, then back to Chengdu - Shanghai. Leaving for your country. :-)
9.
Oct. 2,2009 18:08 Reply
Mr.Haig(canada) said:
I'm planning to visit Yunnan in December for 2 weeks or so. Arriving in Kunming - Dali - LiJiang - Kunming. HOw long would you recommend in each place - does anyone have "must do" recommnedations in these places as well as "character" places to stay (for the "must do" part - this can be places to see, hikes, cultural events, classes, art centres, etc. , etc,)? Has anyone stayed at the Linden Center in Dali?
I will have another 2 weeks after in the region eventually heading to KL/Singapore and visiting friends in Jakarta. Are there other areas in Yunnan recommended to visit - where I can transit to SE Asia with doubling back to Kunming or a northern centre to leave China?
If there are excellent guides you can recommend that would be apprecaited too.
Thank-you very much!! Xie-xie!
Oct. 8,2009 20:35
Mr.Manny replied:
Hi, two weeks are too long for these three places. There are many places can be added to this route. Rice noodle is a famous food in Kunming. You can get around the city to buy some Puer tea. Then get to Jiuxiang and Stone Forest. Take bus to Dali, visit Dali Ancient City, Cangshan Mountain (snow in Cangshan Mountain is a famous scene of this place), you can take cable car to the mountian top. Then go to the Three Pagada. After that go to take cruise on Erhai Lake. Shift to Lijiang by bus then. Lijiang Ancient City is a good place to get around. There is a bar street in it. Rent a vehicle to Jade Snow Mountain. Ask for the local guide if it is still available in winter and keep warm. Get back to Lijiang, you can go further north to Lugu Lake and then Shangri-La (Zhongdian). Lugu Lake in the morning is charming and Mosuo people is a special minority group there. Baima Snow Mountain, Yuliang Wan, Meili Snow Mountain and Songzanlin Monastery are all good place to visit in Zhongdian. Suggest you rent a car in Lijiang for 3 or 4 days to those places. That's to say, a good local guide is very important, who can also help you save some money. In December, Wa, Lisu, Dulong and Shui minorities may has some celebrations for their special festivals. Those above may take you some 12 days. If you still have time, you can visit Xishungbanna in Southern Yunan to experience subtropical scene, a good idea in winter, isn't. Anyway, good luck to you.
10.
Sep. 26,2009 01:25 Reply
Ms. Wong(Singapore) said:
Where can I find jade pieces from reputable factories or shops in Tenchong? Any recomendations to cottage industries or carvers?
Thank you.
Oct. 8,2009 20:06
Mr.Manny replied:
Tengchong's jewlery and Jade trade center is in Fengying Xiaoqu, Xiufeng Community. You can see there. If you don't know jade, in big and honored shops and bargaining is necessary.