Travel to Chinas paradise in Yunnan province.

If you are on a tour to China and decide to stop atFountain and Dali Museum to enrich your knowledge
Yunnan province, then you are guaranteed aabout the history and culture of Yunnan.
wonderful time with Chinese minority groups. Yunnan isLijiang is an old town resting in northwestern Yunnan. It
a beautiful province which is proud of its ethnicis located on a plateau which rises on an elevation of
minorities and culture; this is reflected in the lifestyle of8,530 feet above sea level. Lijiang Old town is
the locals who inhabit the community. Considered asYunnans mecca for most Chinese tour groups and
one of the beautiful places to go in China, the provincethis is because of the magnificent landscape which it
of Yunnan is a place that celebrates life. It can behas. The Old town is a world heritage relic site as listed
divided into different cities namely Kunming, Dali, Lijiang,by UNESCO. It has a number of attractions for tourists
Zhongdian and Deqin. Each of these cities has variousto visit, many of which includes The Jade Dragon
sightseeing and highlights which attracts tourists all yearSnow Mountain: a snow capped mountain which looks
round.like a jade dragon lying in the clouds when seen from
Kunming is known as the city of eternal spring which isLijiang, the tiger leaping gorge believed to be the
usually the best city to travel to in China in spring. Thisdeepest gorge in the world which attracts rafters and
is because of its mild climate which has in turn boostedadventure tourists. Other interesting things to do in
the tourism and natural beauty of the city. With overLijiang are the use of cable cars to the top of
four hundred types of flowers and orchids in theCangshan Mountain to witness a panoramic view
various gardens, it is no wonder horticulturists andoverlooking Erhai Lake and the traditional musical
nature lovers flock to this part of China to spend someconcerts.
time. Kunming is also known to be the center of theZhongdian and Deqin should be the final destination on
Yunnan minority culture where over 25 different ethnicyour Yunnan province tour. It is one of the three
groups live together. The major ethnic minorities havecounties that form the Diqen Tibetan Autonomous
their various cultures, languages, and customs andTerritory. With some of its history based on the
celebrate different festivals. Major highlights to see inconcept of Shambhala, a mystical city in Tibetan
Kunming include the stone forest, a long acre of karstsBuddhism; it was formerly called Zhongdian County
limestone formations which were formed into cliffs,and was later renamed to Shangri-la after the fictional
peaks, caves and arches; the birds and flowersland in the book Lost Horizon in 2001. Shangri-la is
market where different species of birds and flowersconsidered to be a mythical distant paradise on earth
are sold; Dian Chi Lake, the Yunnan nationalitiescharacterized with great beauty and peacefulness; this
museum and the World Horticultural Expo garden.is why many travelers come to this place to spend
Dali is another city in Yunnan well known for preservedsome peaceful time. This town has also been used by
relics for historical interests. The beautiful sceneries,hikers and mountaineers as a gateway to Tibet. Some
different traditions, the locals and the uniqueof the major highlights in this town include the Emerald
environment are what makes Dali a stop over forPagoda Lake (Bita hai Lake), the Meili Snow mountain
tourists on their Yunnan province tour. For example the(God Mountain) and the Ganden Sumtseling Gompa
Old town of Dali is a place that was set up in the Mingmonastery. This monastery is a 300 year old complex
Dynasty where you will find well preserved traditionalwhich has around 600 monks. The small town is
styled houses of the Bai people. These houses werecentered with multi story temples filled with statues
built with unique designs featuring grey tilted roofs,and colorful paintings of Tibetan lamas, guardians and
stone walls, windows and doors carved in dragonmandalas. The landscape of Zhongdian is not enough
patterns. The streams fed by the run offs from theto describe in words, it gives a kind of feeling which is
Cangshan Mountains and the idyllic courtyards anddifficult to describe; this is why most people
peaceful streets which were well known in the ancientrecommend a visit to Zhongdian and its sacred
times have now become a place of interest fortemples.
visitors. Major highlights in Dali include the Erhai Lake, anFor comments and inquiries about this article, visit
ear like shaped Lake, the Three Pagodas, the ButterflyGreat Wall of China tours.