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.