Kunming

The next part of my trip to China is a group tour of Yunnan.  It is located in the southwestern part of China, bordering Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos.  It is one of the least developed provinces in China.  The province is located in a mountainous region next to the Himalayas.  Part of the allure of Yunnan is that it is different front other parts of China because of its geography and diversity of ethnic groups in the province.

I've heard of its beauty and have always wanted to visit the province.  I almost did about 10 years ago but because of some medical issues with family members, I had to cancel the trip.  So with the help of Eileen at Asia Odyssey Travel I made sure I included Yunnan on the trip.  I will be visiting four cities:  Kunming, Dali, Shangri-la and Lejiang.  

I envisioned Kunming to be an idyllic city in the mountains.  But it is a modern city with a population of more than 8 million people.  I flew from Hangzhou to Kunming on a 3-hour flight on China Eastern Airlines.  I checked into the high-rise Weilong Hotel.  It was late afternoon and I was looking for something to eat.  I asked the receptionist at the front desk and she said there are many choices just across the street.  I did not realize that I was staying in the middle of the city, right across the street from a very big mall.

Big, beautiful Hangzhou airport

My first delicious meal in Kunming

Lots of choices at the food court in the mall

Right next to the food court is a supermarket and upstairs is a high-end mall.

Supermarket under the mall

High-end shops

Outside the mall is a lively pedestrian mall, lined with food stands.

The next morning I met the others in my group tour.  There are four of us:  a couple from Chile and a young lady from Switzerland.  Our guide is Winnie, who can barely speak English.  Luckily I was there to help her interpret many of the things she said. The highlight of Kunming is a visit to the Stone Forest. 

Our tour group.  Guide Winnie is on the left

The Chinese characters say "Stone Forest"

Other Rock formations

Following the visit to the Stone Forest we visited the Yuantong Temple and Cuihu Park.

Entrance to the temple

Kuanyin Statue

Beautiful lake

Another view of the temple

Cuihu Park

Cuihu Park

It looks like prosperity has come to Kunming.  There are high-rises everywhere I walked and beautiful expensive shops.  I wonder how many of the locals can afford to shop at these high-end stores.  However, walking around the neighborhood I still see remnants of the old days and small businesses.

Selling corn, peanuts and sweet potatoes

Old-style Locksmith

An Old Street

Traditional Street Food

I barely scratched the surface in Kunming.  It rained the 2 or 3 days I was there.  Like many cities in China, it is transforming from an old to a modern city.  Money always beat tradition.