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About Yunnan
There are many reasons why Lonely Planet
contends that “If you have time for but one province in China,
Yunnan should be it." The abundance of ethnic groups like Tibetan
and Thai is undoubtedly a major reason
for such high praise.
The truth is that no other province in China can come close to
matching Yunnan's cultural diversity. The people of Yunnan's
variety of food, dress, and music make the province the most
dynamic in the entire country and make it an ideal place for both
travelers and people intent on getting a
more complete picture
of China's 1.3 billion people.
In addition to its cultural
diversity, Yunnan's position at the heart of Asia (nearby five
Southeast Asian
nations) is undoubtedly another reason for its
acclaim. One also cannot ignore Yunnan's clean air and diversity
of climates that perfectly fits the Chinese ideal of 有山有水 (yǒushān
yǒushuǐ, rich in mountains
and water).
Yet, these are
just a few of the reasons for Yunnan becoming the #1 destination
for Chinese domestic
citizens when they travel over all other
destinations, including Beijing and Shanghai. The truth is that
for
each person Yunnan might have a different allure. It truly
offers something for everyone.
Intern FAQ
The People
of Yunnan
 The
main thing that sets Yunnan apart from all other provinces in
China is its diverse population. Within Yunnan are 25 ethnic
minorities which is nearly half the total in all of China. This
diversity of peoples has
led to each area of the province
having its own unique feeling.
One of the largest of these
ethnic minority groups is the Naxi who live below the massive
snow-capped
peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the town of
Lijiang. The Naxi are famous for their animistic
Dongba
religionas well as for having one of the last living cultures of
traditional music in China.
Their traditional way of life
has led to people calling them a “living fossil” of ancient China.
Another example
of the Naxi's ancient culture is their
pictograph script (also called Dongba) that is used for religious
practices and is believed to have originated independently of
both the Tibetan and Chinese
written languages.
Between
Lijiang and Kunming is Dali, home of the Bai people whose thousand
year old traditions still
remain an integral part of their
life. Most of the Bai are farmers due to the incredibly fertile
valleys below
the Cang Shan mountain range. While rice and
potatoes are grown by many Bai, it is tea that has been
the
focus of Bai agriculture for at least the 1500 years that Dali was
a major center on the Tea Horse
Road (also knownas the
Southern Silk Road). At the center of the valley is Erhai lake
from whose
waters Bai fishermen still catch fish with the help
of their flocks of trained birds.
Yunnan’s Climate
While the
convenient access to other regions is one of Yunnan’s greatest
selling points, the truth is that
within its own borders you
can experience almost all of the climates the world has to offer.
The southern region of Xishuangbanna is a tropical paradise with
pineapple palms and exotic species of passion flowers endemic to
the region. On the other end of the province are the northwest
regions of Deqin and Shangri-La where wild orchids bloom in the
foothills of snow-capped Himalayan peaks that tower above you. In
between are breathtaking limestone peaks rising above rice
patties, terraced tea fields blanketing mountain slopes
and
even China’s only major coffee plantations.
Not
surprisingly, this variety of climates makes Yunnan’s biodiversity
one of the world’s most impressive.
The province has over
15,000 species of plants, a sixth of them found nowhere else in
the world. Amazingly, the diversity of fauna is perhaps even more
impressive. Yunnan is home to 50% of China’s birds and mammals
despite being only 4% of the country’s total area.
Why Kunming?
There are many reasons why Kunming is the ideal
place for students from around the world to study Mandarin. One of
the main advantages of Kunming is that it is the southernmost
Mandarin speaking city in
all of China, guaranteeing warm
weather year round unlike places such as Beijing and Shanghai. Its
pleasant climate has earned it the nickname of “City of
Eternal Spring” and surveys consistently rank Kunming’s air
quality as the best in all of China. One result of this fantastic
environment is that it gives the city a relaxed feeling that is
quite different from the frenzied pace of most other cities in the
country.
Yet Kunming’s fantastic climate is far from its
only attraction. The city is also filled with history and
surrounded by many of China’s most spectacular sights. Its legacy
as a major center of the Nanzhao Kingdom, a southern rival of the
mighty Tang Dynasty, can still be seen in surviving temples and
pagodas
that are strewn throughout the city.
Perhaps the
most prominent of these is a nearly 1500 year old bamboo temple
covered with elaborate Buddhist carvings. From Kunming one can
also easily access sites like the Stone Forest, a breathtaking
limestone Karst formation that appears as if it is a monstrous
cluster of contorted trees. While there are plenty of sites of
interest in Yunnan outside of Kunming, one can easily get their
fill without leaving the city. Somehow Kunming is managing to
succeed where most other Chinese cities are not. While Kunming’s
economic development is surging like in the rest of the country,
development isn’t taking precedence over preserving the historical
and natural beauty that the city is built on. Combine this with
the city’s fantastic climate and cultural diversity and it is easy
to see why Kunming is an ideal place for anyone interested in
living and studying in China.
For more information on
Kunming please click
here
The Sites of
Yunnan
Besides having an
unparalleled diversity of cultures, Yunnan also has many
historical and beautiful sites
that would be of interest to
any foreign visitor to China. To experience Tibetan culture you
can go up to the northern region of Shangri-La in Tibet’s
historical region of Kham. The centerpiece of Shangri-La is Ganden
Sumtseling Gompal, a 300-year-old Tibetan monastery that is still
home to over 600 practicing monks. The setting on top of a hill
with snow-capped Himalayan peaks in the background make a trip to
Ganden monastery a must for any traveler to Yunnan. You don’t need
to go all the way to Lhasa to get a taste of Tibetan culture and
architecture. Yunnan has it all.
Further south, in a valley
below the massive Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the old town of
Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and perhaps Yunnan’s most
famous attraction. On the other side of the mountain is Tiger
Leaping Gorge, an impossibly beautiful canyon where the Yangtze
River surges between
two massive peaks with the ferocity of the
animal it is named after.
Dali’s old town, sandwiched
between the Cang Shan mountains and Er Hai lake is every bit a
match for Lijiang’s natural beauty and cultural history. A few
minutes’ drive from the old town’s cobblestone streets
and
ancient city wall are the 1200-year-old Three Pagodas, considered
to be some of the most unique and classical examples of Buddhist
architecture in all of China.
In Yunnan, one can also make
the trek down to Xishuangbanna to get a little taste of Southeast
Asia and
its Theravada Buddhist culture. The town of
Damenlong’s 800-year-old Manfeilong pagoda is perhaps the most
famous historical sight in Xishuangbanna. It’s Southeast Asian
design is a sharp contrast from the
more traditionally Chinese
and Mahayana Buddhist style of Dali’s Three Pagodas. The cluster
of 9 pointy white stupas have led to Manfeilong being given the
nickname “White Bamboo Shoot Pagoda.”
Each of these regions
of Yunnan has its own distinct flavor and awe-inspiring sites to
visit. Quite simply, Yunnan has something for you no matter what
you are interested in.
Nearby Countries and Provinces
 Another
advantage of studying in Yunnan is its easy access to the other
provinces of Southwestern China
and even the neighboring
countries of Southeast Asia. To the north of Yunnan is Sichuan
province where you can go see giant pandas, visit beautiful nature
reserves like Jiuzhaigou or simply experience the capital city
of Chengdu’s relaxed outdoor tea houses. Guizhou and Guangxi to
Yunnan’s east are amazing in their own right. You can visit
Guangxi’s famous city of Guilin, stop by the border of Vietnam at
breathtaking Detian Falls or even head to the beach in the
tropical port city of Beihai. All of these places are just a short
flight or
a comfortable overnight train or bus ride away from
Kunming.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about Yunnan is its
easy access to the Southeast Asian nations of Myanmar, Laos,
Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia which are all clustered below
Yunnan’s
southern border.
Vietnam
In the
last 20 years, Vietnam has emerged from decades of turmoil to
become a developing power in the region. Both Ho Chi Minh City
(formerly Saigon) and Hanoi are rapidly becoming modern
cosmopolitan cities like Bangkok. Despite this, Vietnam’s natural
beauty and traditions have not been completely overtaken by
economic development. Perhaps even more impressive is how well the
country’s landscape has recovered from a decade of napalm and
destruction during the Vietnam War. Spectacular landscapes such as
the UNESCO honored Ha Long Bay and the many picturesque rice
patties and waterfalls that are all around the country make
Vietnam one of the most beautiful destinations in all of Asia.
Thailand
Of all the countries of Southeast Asia, Thailand has seen the most
dramatic economic rise over the last few decades. Emblematic of
this development is the capital city of Bangkok turning into a
modern cosmopolitan city with bright lights and skyscrapers.
Despite this, Thailand is still full of the traditional Buddhist
history
that has been at the center of Thai society for a
millennium. This can be seen at sites such as Chiang Mai and the
UNESCO honored Sukhothai Historical Park and even in modern
Bangkok where there are over 400 temples throughout the city. If
tropical beaches are more what you are into, then you can head to
Phuket,
an island province off of Thailand’s western coast.
Myanmar
Myanmar, also known as Burma, is the largest country on the
Indochinese Peninsula as far as territory is concerned. The
country's infatuation with gold has led to it being nicknamed the
“Golden Land.”
Another passion of the Burmese is Theravada
Buddhism. For thousands of years Myanmar has been a
major
religious and cultural center of Southeast Asia. This has left the
country with sacred Buddhist pagodas and monasteries scattered
around its countryside. This makes Myanmar an outstanding
destination for anyone interested in Buddhism or the ancient
history of Indochina’s ancient kingdoms. Both ancient religious
sites like Shwedagon Pagoda and historical cities like Mandalay
and Bagan are easily accessible from Myanmar’s capital city of
Yangon.
Laos
Laos is easily one of the least developed countries in Southeast
Asia. It was only in 1988 that Laos started
to open up its
borders to tourists and begin work to develop the country’s
economy. Due to this fact, Laos is one of the least spoiled
countries in all of Asia.
Ancient sites like the UNESCO
honored Luang Prabang dot the country’s tropical countryside and
Buddhism continues to play a large role in Laotian society. Even
Laos’ capital of Vientiane has managed to keep ancient
architecture and maintain a relaxed way of life. If one wants a
peek at what Southeast Asia was like before the economic boom of
the last 20 years, then Laos is definitely the place to go.
Cambodia
A visit to Cambodia gives you a perfect view of the combination of
colonial and ancient forces that have shaped Southeast Asia. Its
capital city of Phnom Penh is filled with a mix of colonial French
and traditional Khmer (Cambodian) architecture. Perhaps the best
example of Cambodia’s ancient history is the UNESCO honored Angkor
Wat. As with many other important sites in Southeast Asia, Angkor
Wat was built for religious purposes. However, in this case the
complex was built to honor the Hindu god Vishnu and not Buddha.
While Cambodia is full of fantastic places to visit, Angkor Wat
alone makes it worth the trip.
For more information on
Yunnan's Southeast Asian neighbors please click
here
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