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