| As the cold winter wind blows away, let's | | | | out visit other interesting places such as |
| welcome the fresh air that spring brings as | | | | the Yunnan Province. The Old Town of Lijiang |
| we travel all the way to Kunming, the capital | | | | and Dali and Zhongdian are interesting places |
| of Yunnan Province in China. Spending your | | | | to visit. |
| spring vacation in China can only be best | | | | |
| enjoyed in Kunming; known as the "the City of | | | | In Dali, you will find old styled traditional |
| Eternal Spring", Kunming welcomes local and | | | | houses which have been preserved over the |
| foreign tourists from year toyear and its | | | | years and signify the rich culture of the Bai |
| highest peak season is always in the spring. | | | | people. This area also boasts of the Dali |
| The temperature during this time of the year | | | | Museum where you can find archaeological |
| is always pleasant with abundance of green | | | | pieces relating the history of the Bai |
| plants, trees and flowers adorning the | | | | people. A three day tour in Dali also grants |
| beautiful gardens and orchids in Kunming. | | | | you the opportunity to see Erhai Lake |
| | | | |
| One of the reasons why I love Kunming in | | | | - a lake formed into the shape of an ear and |
| spring is because of its great climate. If | | | | The Three Pagodas - an important landmark in |
| you are a nature lover and you want to spend | | | | Dali showing the religious devotion of the |
| some time with the local minorities of China, | | | | Bai people to Buddhism. |
| then this city has to your next destination. | | | | |
| With a beautiful landscape and natural | | | | Lijiang Old Town is an old city with |
| habitat, the majority of the people who live | | | | magnificent landforms which stands on the |
| in Kunming and other parts of the | | | | plateau located in northwest Yunnan. The |
| | | | landscape of this town is what adds to the |
| Yunnan Province are the Yunnan minority | | | | beauty of Lijiang. |
| group. The differences in their ways of | | | | |
| living can be seen from the styles of clothes | | | | Spending a weekend in Lijiang Old Town, you |
| they wear and traditional folk songs and | | | | can see the natural wonders of this place |
| dances. It is obvious that they are full of | | | | which attracts visitors to come. These |
| life and down to earth in the way they | | | | includes the Tiger Leaping Gorge - This is a |
| preserve their natural and ecological | | | | naturally formed gorge which gives a splendid |
| environment. This is another reason why | | | | view of the turbulent flows and gushing |
| Kunming has one of the most popular birds and | | | | rapids of the Golden River; The Jade Dragon |
| flowers market in China. Their birds and | | | | Snow Mountain is an ice capped snow mountain |
| flowers market in Jingxing Street is said to | | | | which is situated on the southern part of the |
| best place to rear and culture birds, flowers | | | | Himalayas peaks and look at it from afar, the |
| and aquatic animals due to its mild and | | | | mountain looks like a jade Dragon dancing in |
| stable climate. | | | | the clouds hence its name. The Black Dragon |
| | | | Pool and the Baisha Village is also a tourist |
| Yunnan is also famous for the different types | | | | attraction to see; in Baisha Village, you |
| of festivals celebrated in the province. The | | | | experience another culture and lifestyle with |
| most important festival is the Kunming | | | | the Naxi people and their Dongba writing |
| International Tourist Festival which takes | | | | scripts. |
| place between April and May every year. This | | | | |
| festival brings foreign tourists together | | | | Zhongdian is a town in Yunnan which houses |
| from different parts of the world, all | | | | the Emerald Pagoda Lake locally known as Bita |
| dressed up in oriental style andparticipating | | | | hai, the major highlight of this town. |
| in all types of Chinese activities like the | | | | |
| Shilin Stone Forest Tour, The Stone Forest | | | | With the various festivals, natural sceneries |
| Torch Carnival, Daguan Lake Park tours, Green | | | | and wonderful locals to spend time with, |
| Lake Park tours, Bowling activities, Night | | | | Yunnan is so beautiful that you can be rest |
| market exhibition, horticulture exhibitions | | | | assured that your spring vacation for 2007 |
| and local food festivals. | | | | would be a wonderful experience. |
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| While spending some time exploring the | | | | For comments and inquiries about this |
| beautiful city of Kunming, you can take time | | | | article, visit China Tours and Travels. |