Joanna James
Whether indulging in a game of golf at one of the world's best, or watching a fire festival of Yi Tribe, Kunming will have you enthralled. Listed are just six activities to make your holiday magical.
The Torch Festival of the Yi People has been held over the years as one of the tribes most traditional festivals. This celebration is popular in the Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan areas belonging to the Yi Province. The belief that fire has superhuman powers and helps ward off evil and ghosts have made this festival sacred amongst the Yi People, who identify themselves as being born of fire.
The Stone Forest also called Shilin is a collection of limestone formations located within the Shilin Yi County, they are about 90kms from any central hotel Kunming has to offer. This beautiful karst formation which is tipped to be over 270 million years old covers an entire landmass of 300sqkms. To get there you can take the bus from the Kunming East Bus Station, the journey takes about 1.5kms, the station is easy to access if you are a guest at Grand Park Kunming.
Better known as Dian Lake, the Dianchi Lake is located within the Yunnan Guizhou Plateau. It is towards the south-west of Kunming city and perfect for a day spent within the folds of nature. This is one of the best natural swimming pools you will come across on your explorations of China; hence, the place can be quite crowded. Nevertheless the stunning surroundings and soothing ambience are hard to beat, and a trip planned to the lake is well worth the effort.
The Yunnan Ethnic Village is located at 1310 Dianchi Road, and is a theme park, which helps visitors get acquainted with traditions and customs of the ethnic tribes within Yunnan. There are a total 26 ethnic groups within the province, and this park offers one a marvellous insight to the culture of each group. Take part in traditional rituals, observe age old practises of cooking with vintage devices, join in the fun and shop for handmade crafts.
The Western Mountains are located 12kms to the western edge of Kunming City. This beautiful collection of hills is formed by the Huating, Luohan and Taihua mountain ranges which rise up from around the northern and eastern banks of the beautiful Dianchi Lake. The area is truly spectacular and well worth visiting. Check with your Kunming hotel for tour guides, or join a tour group and you will be able to explore the mountains comprehensively.
Commonly known as Dayan the Old Town or Lijiang City, the place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A historical centre, the place is a treat to explore. With a history that dates back to over 1000 years the Dayan Town is popular for its waterways, and vintage bridges. If you love culture, tradition and antique architecture, do plan a visit to the town.
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