China Travel

Dian Lake (Dianchi) is the sixth largest lake in China (300 square kilometers) and dominates the landscape southwest of Kunming. The lake is surrounded by mountains, flatlands and some industrial sites and its shore is dotted with small villages, parks and fishing endeavors. The best views of the lake are from above, either from the mountains (Xi Shan) or Daguan Tower. Western Hill Park provides access to the water and facilities for renting paddle boats and the like. Out on the lake you'll get closer looks at the pirate-shipesque junks and smaller local fishing vessels.   more »

Completed in 1690 during the Qing Dynasty, Grand View Park lives up to its name by providing visitors with grand views of Dian Lake. It's located at the northern tip of the lake, with the whole body of water stretching out before it. Climb the Grand View Tower for even better views or enjoy any of the usual Chinese park activities—playgrounds, pavilions, boat rentals and the like.   more »

Juixiang Scenic Area is perhaps most famous for its extensive series of caves, loaded with ancient Yi myths (hire a local tour guide to hear some of the stories) and featuring an underground waterfall. Local villages and an impressive view of a scenic gorge round out the highlights of this area 80 kilometers from Kunming and provide lots to see on a full daytrip from the city.   more »

Western Hill (Xi Shan) Park stretches along almost the entire western edge of Dian Lake, providing acres and acres of outdoor entertainment. Trails throughout the park link several temples and other ancient structures (Huating Temple, Taihua Temple, Sanqing Ge) and chairlifts and cablecars ensure that most of the park is accessible to those who aren't in the mood for hiking. Dragon Gate, near the top of the mountain, is certainly a highlight, and various other caves and gardens should satisfy those seeking a natural repose from Kunming's concrete.   more »

The Yunnan Nationalities Village (Yunnan Minzu Cun) is located on the northeastern shore of Dian Lake and provides a neatly packaged and slightly cheesy view of the cultural ways and traditions of the numerous ethnic groups of the province. Various performances go on throughout the day including an elephant show and welcome ceremony. Most of the "villagers" are the real deal—Dai, Bai and Yi ethnic minorities wearing their traditional dress and singing, dancing and making handicrafts just as they would in their local village (we trust). The three major villages represent the Dai, the Bai and the Yi nationalities. In a province that still has many traditional villages, it may be more appropriate to go see the "real thing," but if you can't explore Yunnan fully, the Village can provide a glimpse into its cultural heritage. The butterfly museum and the Yi &quo... more »

The Dragon Gate actually refers to a collection of grottoes and sculptures in the stone corridor of Western Hills Park. A series of narrow caves, just wide enough for two thin persons in places, exposes a plethora of ancient inscriptions, drawings and figures. The nooks and crannies inside these caves have incense burners, vases and other historic relics paying homage to the artists of the cave and the rest of the Northern Wei Dynasty of the 5th century. more »

The World Horticulture Expo Park was built for the plant division of the World Expo in 1999. As the capital of Yunnan, Kunming is capital of the world's botanical showcase, so it was a fitting choice for the expo. The gardens and the site remain a popular tourist destination (the expo brought in somewhere around 10 million visitors in 1999), featuring a number of horicultural exhibits that highlight Yunnan's unique and famous flora as well as plants from all over the world.   more »

The Taoist Golden Temple isn't actually made of gold but it is cast of solid bronze, which is almost as impressive and means it's the heaviest temple in all of China. It's an active temple making it popular with both local worshippers as well as foreign visitors. The setting is a nature preserve full of attractive pine forests and there are some thematic man-made gardens also surrounding the temple.   more »

Built during the Tang Dynasty, the Bamboo Temple (Qiongzhu Si) is best known for housing a large collection of luohan (like Buddhist saint sculptures, also known as arhat). These life-size clay figures were sculpted over seven years by Li Guangxiu and his craftsmen and each represents some aspect of the human experience. It is a delighfully realistic (or surrealistic) collection of statues with perfectly fixed expressions seemingly frozen in time. The architecture of the temple is worth checking out also, and there's a large gilded Buddha out back in the courtyard.   more »

A two-hour bus ride from Kunming, the Stone Forest (Shilin) is one of Yunnan's most famous sites. The unique karst limestone formations are the inspiration for a whole school of Chinese art and Shilin has a nice collection of columns and other whimsical formations. The main paths through the forest can be crowded with tourists, but it's possible to perservere and find yourself completely alone on a rough trail away from the park's center, pondering the bizarre geological formations.   more »