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Kunming
Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province,
serves as the political, economic and cultural
center of the province. Although a huge city (3.8
million), Kunming is exceptionally clean and tidy.
The mild climate, which is preferred by most tourists,
gained the city a popular name as "the Spring
City".
Kunming may not be the final destination
for many travelers to Yunnan, yet it has a lot
to offer. The rich cultural and historical heritages
like the Golden Temple Park and the Bamboo Temple
are essential parts of one's tour program.
The city also boasts numerous natural
attractions, the Stone Forest being the most popular,
winning world fame for its breathtaking formation.
Another fascinating aspect of the
city is the many different cultures of minority
groups. Various cultural and religious activities
would make Kunming's city life more vibrant and
colorful. These different minority groups produce
a wealth of cuisine and entertainment-inspirational
to the weary China travelers.
As early as 2000 years ago, Kunming
was a major textile distribution centre on the
"Southern Silk Road" which started from
Sichuan, traversed through Yunnan and continued
on to Vietnam. In 1910, the Dianyue railway (from
Yunnan to Vietnam) was opened, thus enabling Kunming
to develop into a business and industrial center
in southwest China.
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 even more attractive for travelers.
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