Kunming, as the capital city of Yunnan province of China, serves as the center of the province in terms of politics, economics and culture.
Kunming is exceptionally clean and tidy for it is huge size
(population 3.75 million), What's more, the city has the best climate of all
cities of China, popularly known as the "Spring City". Kunming does not have
severe winters or hot summers and the natural features of the four seasons are
clearly defined.
Kunming has a lot to offer visitors, although
the city is not the final destination for many travelers to Yunnan. The rich
cultural and historical heritage here offer a wealth of treasures. The
Golden Temple Park and the Bamboo Temple are essential stops on the tourist
route.
Kunming also boasts numerous natural attractions, the Stone Forest being the
most popular, winning world fame for of its breathtaking beauty.
Another fascinating aspect of Kunming are the many different cultures and
nationalities thriving here. Various cultural and religious activities are
practiced by the people here and add to the vibrancy and color of Kunming
city life. These different minority groups produce a wealth of cuisine and
entertainment- inspirational to the weary China traveler.
Tourism is now one of the major incomes here. The recent 1999 Kunming
International Horticulture Exposition gave the city a major face lift,
making it an even more attractive spot to be based for travel in Yunnan.
Known also as Kunming lake, Lake Dian is located at the foot of the
Western Hills south-west of Kunming city in Yunnan Province. Being a bright and
smooth highland lake, it's reputed as "A Pearl on the Yungui Plateau".
The picturesque lake, dotted with sails, appears green and boundless and
shining with ripples. Along its 150 kilometers long winding bank, lies numerous
scenic spots and historical sites such as the Grand View Pavilion, West Garden,
the Lake Embankment.
The Grand View Pavilion:- Located at the lake's northern bank, it was built in
the 29th year of Kangxi Reign in the Qing Dynasty (1690 AD). It's an exquisite
structure with upturned roof-corners and eaves. Looking to the south, one has a
fascinating view of the spectacular Lake Dian, and the graceful and full shape
of the distant "Sleeping Beauty Mountain" shrouded in white clouds. The lake is
surrounded by lush growth of trees and plants, with peony in full bloom in
spring, and chrysanthemum blossoms found all over the place in autumn. The
golden calligraphy of the Grand View Pavilion in bold Chinese characters
sparkles brilliantly.
Western Hills Scenic Area:- Located at the west bank of the lake, it's a large
forest park with hills and ridges rising one upon another, and covered with old
tall trees. The park is endowed with dense natural forests, murmuring streams,
luxuriantly green bamboos, and crisscross with ancient paths. Scenic spots and
historical sites are over hill and dale. The area from Sanqing Tower to Longmen
is a place of concentration of the most spectacular scenic spots and
architecture, and therefore reputed as "No.1 Scenery in middle Yunnan".
Hill of Goddess of Mercy:- The temple of Goddess of Mercy perches on the Hill
at the lake's west bank, with a beak-shaped portion of the hill extending into
the lake water. The temple is confronted by perilous cliffs covered with lush
woods. A seven-storey brick pagoda stands on the hill top which commands a
bird's eye view of the Lake Dian, the mountain ranges along the Lake, the vast
expanse of fertile land, and the smoke belching from the chimneys of
fishermen's homes.
The
Stone Forest is in the Lunan Yi Nationality Autonomous County, Yunnan
Province. It covers an area of 2,670 square kilometers and is divided into
several scenic areas with names like Greater Stone Forest, Lesser Stone
forest, Outer Stone Forest, Underground Stone Forest, Stone Forest Lake, and
Da Dieshui Fall. The Stone Forest was formed by karst two million to thirty
mullion years ago. The Forest was contains peaks, pillars, stalagmites,
depressions, underground rivers, and caves. The fantastic stone pinnacles
rising abruptly from the ground resemble a huge, dense forest. Many of the
stone pinnacles are associated with legends. In the Lesser Stone Forest.
There is one pinnacle that resembles a slim and beautiful girl. Seen in
silhouette with another stone formation, the girl appears to be carrying a
basket on her back. This is the famous Ashma, heroine of an epic poem
popular among the Sani people. According to the legend, Ashma, a Sani girl,
refusing to be married to the landlord Rebubala, fought against the landlord
and his men with her true love Ahei. They finally ran away from the landlord
and came to the Stone Forest. But ganging up with the stone demon, Rebubala
summoned up a flood and drowned Ashma, who then turned into the stone peak.
The origin of the Stone Forest is also the subject of an old legend. Long,
long ago, in an attempt to flood the farmland of Lunan, the evil monster
Asabe used his magic whip to drive a group of stone pinnacles to a place
where they would obstruct the current of the Nanpan River. A hero of the
Sani people, on hearing the news, rushed to the spot and fought the monster.
Asabe was finally defeated and had to flee, leaving behind him the pinnacles
that still bore the scars of his whip. These became the Stone Forest.
Every year, around the 24th and 25th day of the sixth lunar month, the
Sani people gather in the Stone Forest to celebrate the “Torch Festival.”
Visitors are welcome to enjoy the folk dances and the wrestling competitions
of the Sani youngsters.
Bus trips take visitors to the Stone Forest from Kunming. On the way there
is a cave which contains a chamber with stone beds and stone benches on
which people can rest. Lying on a stone bed, one can see a strip of sky
through a fine crack in the roof of the cave. Tourists can either return to
Kunming on the same day or stay overnight at the Stone Forest Hotel. Hotels,
shops, and restaurants have been built to meet the needs of the developing
tourist industry in the area.
The
World Horti-Expo Garden is the site of the 1999 Kunming International
Horticulture Exposition. It is a first class garden with typical Chinese and
Yunnan characteristics. Here you can see a grand exhibition of horticulture from
everywhere in the world. It is situated in the northern suburbs of Kunming, 6 km
from downtown, next to the Golden Temple scenic spot. It sits at an elevation of
1,920-2,010 meters above sea level, with 218 hectares in area, 2.5 km in length,
and 1.1 km in width. The theme of this exposition is "Man and Nature, marching
into the 21st century."
In the garden you can find 5 big exhibition
halls (China Hall, the Man and Nature Hall, the Green House, the Science and
Technology Hall, and the International Hall), 6 theme gardens (the Tree Garden,
the Tea Garden, the Bonsai Garden, the Medicinal Herb Garden, the Bamboo Garden,
and the Vegetable and Fruit Garden), 3 outdoor showplaces (the International
Outdoor Exhibition Area, the Domestic Outdoor Exhibition Area, and the
Exhibition Area for Enterprises), and 2 big squares (Century Plaza, and the
Performance Plaza).
They are connected with one another by 9 paths
which cover a distance of 10 km in all. Along these paths, you can find
restaurants, amusement parks, toilets, telephone booths, shops, statues, and
lakes. You also can see an observatory tower on a hill and cable cars which lead
to the Golden Temple.
