If you are looking for an organized trip to Yunnan, you are in the right place. Traveling in China can be complicated by the language barrier so the route includes an experienced guide who has lived in Yunnan for years and will make your trip much easier. Also, getting around China, looking for stations, buying…
Here is a list of the best of Yunnan; the essential places to visit if you are planning a trip to Yunnan. Yunnan is a province in southwestern China that is known to be the most diverse in the whole country. Every year, more and more people are coming to Yunnan to learn about its…
Have you ever heard of Kunming? Do you know where Kunming is and what to see in Kunming? Kunming is the capital of the Yunnan Province, located in southwestern China. It has a population of approximately 7 million inhabitants and a temperate climate year-round. The first thing I knew about Yunnan Province was what I…
During my stay in Yunnan (China), I crossed the land border between China and Vietnam, passing through Hekou (Yunnan, China) and Lao Cai (Vietnam). It had been five years since my first visit to Vietnam, and I was eager to return. We spent two weeks visiting Vietnam and returned to China via the same border,…
Jinghong (景洪) is the capital of Xishuangbanna Autonomous Prefecture (西双版纳). Located in China, in the southwest of Yunnan, 400km from Kunming, Xishuangbanna borders Laos and Myanmar. They call it the “little Chinese Thailand” thanks to the cultural and architectural heritage left by the Dai ethnic minority. At the time of feudal China, because of continuous wars, much…
The Old Town of Lijiang is located in Yunnan Province (云南), approximately 500 km from Kunming and 190 km north of Dali, another well-known city in Yunnan. Lijiang is famous for its stunning natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and its well-preserved Old Town. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serves as…
The ancient city of Dali is one of the most visited towns in Yunnan by both Chinese and foreigners. It has a history dating back more than 4,000 years. However, it was consolidated as a city in 738 AD when it was established as the capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom (738-902 AD). Almost the entire…
400 years old, Wengding is reputed to be the best-preserved village in all of China. After the Monihei festival, we went to Wengding (翁丁村). This village has the privilege of being the best preserved Wa village in China and it is even said to be the last real tribal village left in China. From Cangyuan…
Monihei（摸你黑）is a mud festival held in southwestern Yunnan, specifically in Cangyuan, a city bordering Myanmar. The tradition of this festival is based on spreading mud on people to spread health and prosperity. It’s believed that the more muddy you get, the better. Held every May 1 and 2, this festival comes from the Wa ethical…
When it comes to traveling, the destination matters, but also the means and the good company. In my case, this was going to be my first cycling trip through China (Yunnan), in company of good friend. We had two weeks of vacation, it wasn’t much, but it was enough to get us where we wanted…
After two and a half years in Yunnan, just when I thought I couldn’t see anything more beautiful than what I had already experienced and that I had visited all the major landmarks in the province, I went on a trip to Puzhehei and discovered what would become one of my favorite places in Yunnan….
The Rice Terraces of Yuanyang (原阳) are located south of Yunnan in Honghe Prefecture. This entire area is famous for its large expanses of rice fields, which are undoubtedly some of the most spectacular rice terraces of China. Ninety-five per cent of Yuanyang’s population is engaged in agriculture, 88% of whom belong to different ethnic…
During my trip to Lijiang, I took a couple of days to go trekking at Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡), which turned out to be the most breathtaking experience I’ve had in China so far. Tiger Leaping Gorge is the name given to the canyons carved by the Yangtze River, located 60 km from Lijiang, in…
This time we ventured to visit Luoping (罗平), located 4 hours from Kunming eastbound, in the Chinese province of Yunnan. When we asked the Chinese what to see in Luoping we were told that this place is famous for being the place where during the beginning of spring until the end of February (coinciding with the…
On one of our trips through Yunnan we went to visit the Puer tea fields. Puer (普洱) is located southwest of Yunnan. It is an area known for being the place where the famous Puer tea is grown and named (普洱茶). I took advantage of my first week of Christmas vacation (just four days) to…