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A Glimpse of Kunming
Kunming is the capital city of Yunnan provice in China, it is the commercial,
cultural and transportation center of Yunnan. Yunnan is situated in southwest China,
bordered by Vietnam, Laos, and Burma, it is China's gateway to southeast Asia.
The greater Kunming municipality has over 5 million residents living five municiapal
regions and 8 counties, with total administrative area of 21,000 square kilometers.
With over 2400 years of history, exotic indigenous cultural heritage, a pleasant
climate and beautiful scenery, Kunming is renowned tourist destination for millions
of travelers every year, it is also the gateway or staging area to numerous excursions
and adventures to the outer province of Yunnan.
People
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People of Kunming are known for their warmth and friendliness.
Though the city has been going through dramatic economic advancements and modernization,
its people and places still retain the same old-fashion laid-back attitude and
provincial city atomsphere.
There are over 26 native ethnic groups in Yunnan, each with its own uniq and colorful
heritage and tradition. Major ethnic groups in Yunnan are Han, Dai, Bai, Naxi, Lisu,
Hani, Tibetan, Hui, Jingpo etc. Dai and Bai believe in Hinayana Buddhism,
Tibetan and Naxi believe in Lamais Buddhism, Hui people are muslims, and many other
ethnic groups believe in their own kind of primal worship.
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Climate
Yunnan province is blessed with a year-round mild climate. The capital city of Kunming
also known as China's "Spring City", because of its spring like climate
throughout the year. It has rich horicultural habitats, lush vegetation, and beautiful
blooming flowers perpetually decorated the cityscape, and average tempreature in Kunming is
15 degrees Celsius, or 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tabulated average temperature and precipitation data for Kunming
| | Temperature (c) | Temperature (f) | Rain (in) | Rain (cm) |
| Jan | 2 - 15 | 36-59 | 0.4 | 1.25 |
| Feb | 4 - 17 | 38-63 | 0.5 | 1.25 |
| Mar | 7 - 21 | 44-69 | 0.7 | 1.75 |
| Apr | 10 - 24 | 50-75 | 0.8 | 2.25 |
| May | 14 - 25 | 57-76 | 3.3 | 8.25 |
| Jun | 17 - 24 | 62-75 | 6.9 | 17.75 |
| Jul | 17 - 24 | 62-75 | 8.4 | 21.25 |
| Aug | 16 - 24 | 61-75 | 7.9 | 20.25 |
| Sep | 14 - 23 | 58-72 | 4.8 | 12.25 |
| Oct | 12 - 20 | 53-68 | 3.1 | 7.75 |
| Nov | 7 - 17 | 45-63 | 1.4 | 3.75 |
| Dec | 3 - 15 | 38-59 | 0.4 | 1.25 |
Transportation
Kunming International Airport is one of the five major airflight hubs in China. There are
frequent flights to all major cities in China, as well as direct international
flights to Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Burma, and Korea. There is also daily
train service to Sichuan, Guangxi and the Vietnam border. Most major sightseeing areas
in Yunnan are also acceessable by direct highway link.
Local Flavors
Being at the crossroad of a rich melting pot of cultural diversity, Yunnan's mainstream cuisine
reflects its unique blending of spicy Sichuan flavor along with the influence of Southeast Asia's
cooking techniques. Each ethnic minority group has its own distinctive and exotic food.
Famous food staples in Yunnan are cross-bridge noodles, and steamed pot chicken. If you arrive
at the right season, there is bountiful supply of prized exotic mushrooms and fungi
which are delicacies that no one should miss.
There a also a wide selection of local Souvenirs that suit every tourist's need. There are
many kinds of locally produced products that can only be found here. Some of these are:
ethnic minority handicrafts, Pu-Er Tea (a black tea well-known for it's health benefits),
red wood animal carvings, jade and precious stone, wax-dyed fabic, native alpine coffee,
butterfly sample, and unique kind of local painting style known as "Zhong-cai-hua", which
never fail to grab your attention with its saturated colors.
Sightseeing
In addition to numerous sightseeing spots around the region, Yunnan is known as
the golf heaven of China. Golf Digest rates some of its courses among the
best in China/East Asia, Many of these courses are located in the outskirts of Kunming.
There are also many hot-spring resorts situated on the south side of the city.
Famous Kunming Tourist Destinations:
- Stone Forest
- Xishan (West Hill)
- Jiuxiang Cave
- Yunan Minorities Cultural Villege
- Black Dragon Pool
- Dian Chi Lake
- Golden Palace
- World Horiculture Fair
- Anning Hot Spring Resort
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