Yunnan Province is located in the southwest of China and the topography in its central region is mainly mountainous and the climate fresh and spring-like all year round, with mild winters and cool summers. Kunming, the capital city, is located at the heart of the province.
In the center of Yunnan Province, the rugged countryside is home to an array of attractions, both natural and manmade. One of the most dramatic landscapes in the province is the Stone Forest, located 120kms outside the city. Here an army of jagged limestone peaks and pillars jut from the ground creating a unique and abstract rock-scape.
The formation was once the limestone floor of a shallow sea; it rose due to the earth’s movements and the intricate shapes formed during a million years of exposure to harsh natural elements such as rain and wind.
Dinanchi Lake, just south of the city, covers an area of 300 square kilometers, making it the sixth largest freshwater lake in China. It is a peaceful location and a welcome escape from the city; the encircling mountains add to the tranquillity.
Central Yunnan is also home to a diverse range of ethnic minorities, with around 26 different groups inhabiting the area. Clustered on the edge of Dianchi Lake, Yi, Hani and many other groups have set up small villages. The villagers regularly perform cultural displays, allowing visitors to experience their unique, colorful culture and traditional customs.
Getting There & Away
There are daily flights from Beijing to Kunming with a journey time of 2 hours, 30 minutes. Public transport serves all the main attractions in Central Yunnan, with most places within 150kms of Kunming.