The Yunnan Province

(Yunnan Travel Information)

The most Southwestern Province is without doubt one of the most attractive for visitors to China. Almost exactly the size of Germany and Holland combined the Yunnan Province boasts with snow peaked mountains, colorful ethnic minority villages, dense rainforest and a wide variety of rare plants and flowers. Four of the major rivers in China run through this abundant province. The borders with Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam make Yunnan an important transit route for all sorts of imported goods to the rest of China.

 

Yunnan Travel Information: Kunming: Capital & Partner City of Zürich/Switzerland

 

 

Kunming, the capital city of the Yunnan Province is situated on the fertile Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau almost 1900 meters above sea level. It's moderate and all year around pleasant climate gave the city its nickname "Spring City". Since 1982 the Swiss city of Zürich and Kunming maintain a City partnership. This partnership involves cultural and commercial exchanges as well as projects in urban development, city planning and environment. There are many interesting sites to visit in and around Kunming like the Western Mountains with many hidden temples and paths, the Stone Forrest, the romantic Fuxian Lake and various temples and public parks.

 

 

 

 

 

Yunnan Province Travel Information: The North-West (Shangri-La)

 

Yunnan's Northwest is geographically part of the Tibetan plateau. The highest peak of the Yunnan province, the majestic Kawa Karpo (Meili Xueshan) in Deqen county, rises up to 6740 meters.  Among Tibetans the Kawa Karpo is regarded sacred. Pilgrims from all over Tibet walk the 300 km trekk around the mountain in order to gain merit for their karma.

Zhongdian is the capital of the Deqin Autonomous Prefecture and the biggest town in the area. It recently was renamed to  Shangri-La, after the mysterious "Shangri-La", described by the British writer James Hilton in his novel "the lost horizon" published in 1933. "Shangri La" is a Tibetan word and means "Land of sacredness and peace" - it truly is the right description! The charming old town, the impressive Songzanlin Monastery  and the relaxed atmosphere make a visit to Zhongdian well worthwile.

 

Three of China's main rivers: the Mekong River, the Salween River (Nu Jiang) and the Yangtze River. They all flow paralel from north to south through this part of the Yunnan Province, until the Yangzi abruptly heads north again at the so called "first bend" at Shigu, near Lijiang, whereas the others contiune their journey south toward the Bay of  Bengal and the South China Sea respectively. One of the two main tributaries of Burma's Irrawaddy River, the Maika River,  has it's headwaters in Norwest Yunnan before heading across the border into Burma.

Within China there are 56 recognized minorities. 22 of these 56 ethnic minoritiy groups can be found in Northwestern Yunnan alone. The best known among them are the Naxi, which can be found around Lijiang. The Naxi traditionally wear blue bodices and trousers, together with black or blue aprons, and T-shaped, star-embroidered padded cotton capes across their backs.Another Minority group with a most interesting culture is the Mosu, who live around the stunningly beautiful Lugu Lake. Futher north , villages of the Nu, Pumi, Bai, the Drung, Tibetans - just to name a few - are a common sight along the way to the Tibetan border. Each of these ethnic groups (and each of their subgroups) can be distinguished by their beautiful colorful dresses and headscarfs. Northwest Yunnan is truly unique!  

Yunnan Province Travel Information: The South-East 

The scenic landscape between Kunming and the border of Vietnam is historically among the most interesting of this region. Impressive, hundreds of years old, rice terraces, clean lakes, colorful ethnic minority villages, historic buildings and a varied scenery are the high points of this region

Hui, Miao, Hani, Yi and – most surprisingly – Mongolians live in this, not much visited, corner of the Yunnan province. The region’s income is mainly from dairy and agricultural farming. Rice, tobacco, fruit and vegetables are also cultivated. Through the middle of this luscious, fertile area flows the Red River (Yuan Jiang). In an almost straight line it flows through deep canyons and picturesque valleys in a south-eastern direction across the border into Vietnam. The steep and fertile slopes high above both sides of the river are mainly cultivated by the Hani, who, until today, still speak their own language which belongs to the Yi branch of the Tibeto-Burman language Group.

Historically of interest is the birthplace of Admiral Zheng He, the famous Chinese seafarer. Already at the beginning of the 15th century, his Junks reached ports in India, Africa and possibly even America and Europe. 

Yunnan ProvvinceTravel Information: The South

Xi Shuang Ban Na (or Xishuangbanna) is the subtropical south of the Yunnan province and is fascinating for it’s outstanding ethnic and scenic variety. Everyday life has a noticeably slower pace than in other parts of China and it is hard to miss the fact, that the Burmese border is just a stone’s-throw away.

 

This Region is home to several Minority Peoples, amongst others the Dai, who practice mostly Hinayana Bhuddism. Xi Shuang Ban Na (Xishuangbanna)is also famous for it’s countless festivals throughout the year, of which the water-throwing festival in April is the best known. The Mekong River is the life-line of this fertile region. Apart from rice, sugar-cane and corn, fruit and vegetables are also cultivated. Along the splendid and beautiful southern mountain ranges of the borders to Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar countless tea plantations produce various kinds of tea, especially the Pu-Er Tea, which since recently, is gaining in popularity around the world.

The climate distinguishes itself significantly from the rest of Yunnan. The rainy season lasts between June and August with a significant amount of rainfall, high temperatures and high humidity. From September to February there is hardly any rain at all and temperatures are quite pleasant.

  

Yunnan Travel Information: TheWeather & Climate 

Due to the geography, the Yunnan Province can be divided into  3 climate zones: In the south tropical, suptropical and temperate. The weather is characterized by 2 main seasons. A dry monsoon in winter and a humid and hot monsoon in summer. However, there are climatic variations with various microclimats throughout the province due to differences in elevation. Xishuangbanna (Xi Shuang Ban Na)in the south is best visited from November to March. April and May are the hottest months there. Kunming on the other hand has a moderate climate throughout the year, the coldest months are January and February when temperarures can reach as low as 5 C celcius at night. The Tibetan Plateau in the northwest of Yunnan is best visited in spring and autumn.  

Travel Information Yunnan: The Yunnan Cuisine

The Yunnan Cuisine is as colorful and varied as the province itself. The Northeast is strongly influenced by the spices of the Sichuan Cuisine, whereas the South and South-Western parts are influenced by various ethnic groups as well as Vietnam and Laos. Among the most famous Yunnan tastes are the “over-the-bridge-rice noodles”, the Yunnan ham, sticky rice in bamboo, and the unmatched taste of a “steam pot chicken”.