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| Brief Introduction of Kunming |
| Kunming, located at the heart
of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, is the capital of Yunnan Province.
Encircled by mountains and adjoining the highland Dianchi Lake
in the south, Kunming is a city of picturesque landscapes. It
has no scorching summer nor freezing winter. Flowers bloom in
a riot of color and plants flourish all year round, thus giving
Kunming another name--"Spring City." Its people are
known for their varied and exotic customs. Its land is dotted
with historical artifacts and other places of cultural interest. |
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| Kunming Sightseeing Highlights |
 [Stone
Forest]
The Stone Forest is in Lunan Yi Nationality Autonomous County,
which is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Kunming. It covers
an area of 400 square kilometers (96,000 acres). It has long
been one of the most famous scenic spots in China, at least
since the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 A.D. The Stone Forest is divided
into several scenic areas with names like Greater Stone Forest,
Lesser Stone forest, Outer Stone Forest, Underground Stone Forest,
Stone Forest Lake, and Da Dieshui Fall. The Stone Forest was
formed by karst two million to thirty million years ago. It
contains peaks, pillars, stalagmites, depressions, underground
rivers, and caves. The fantastic stone pinnacles rising abruptly
from the ground resemble a huge, dense forest. |
![The International Horticultural Exposition Park]](/images/cityguide/Kunming/expo99_garden04.jpg) [The
International Horticultural Exposition Park]
Located 8 kilometers north-east of Kunming city, with an area
of 218 hectares, the Expo 99 Garden (Shiboyuan) now serves as
a permanent gardening center in Kunming. The garden?is now divided
into the China Hall, the International Hall, the "Man and
Nature" Hall, the Science and Technology Hall and the Greenhouse.
As an international botanical garden incorporating educational
and recreational activities in one location, the Expo 99 has
emerged as a significant Kunming landmark. The natural beauty
and the splendid horticulture of the world will display themselves
hand in hand to the tourist. |
[Dianchi Lake]
Dianchi Lake, which formed based upon a fault crossing the central
Yunnan Plateau, is located at the foot of the Western Hills,
southwest of Kunming. Occupying an area of 300 sqkm, the lake,
150km in circumference and 40km from north to south, is the
sixth largest fresh water lake in China. Being a highland lake
with an elevation of 1885 meters, the lake is also reputed as
a "Pearl of the Plateau." |
[Grand View Pavilion]
Located 7 kilometers west of Kunming, at the lakeshore of Dianchi
Lake, the Grand View Pavilion was built in 1682, by a Buddhist
monk named Qianyin. But it had been in disarray, destroyed and
restored several times because of the dynastic changes and the
civil wars. Decorated with flying eaves and splendid paintings,
the present-day pavilion is a square, three-storied pavilion
established in 1883. It is famous for the longest antithetical
couplet in China, this couplet of 180 characters is one of the
most valued cultural treasures in Yunnan Province. It provides
a spectacular view across sparkling Dtanchi Lake to the distant
Western Hills. |
[Golden Temple]
Located on top of Mingfeng (Singing Phoenix) Hill, the Golden
Temple is the popular name of the Taoist Taihe Palace. It is
the largest copper temple in China, also known as the Tongwa
Bronze Tile Temple. Originally built in 1604 during the Ming
dynasty and destroyed many times in the history, the present
temple was rebuilt in 1890 with 250 tons of solid bronze, 6.7
meters in height and 7.8 meters in width, Except staircases
and balustrades, which are made of marble, the walls, columns,
rafters, roof-tiles, altars, Buddha statues, wall decorations,
even the banner near the gate tower, were all made of copper. |
[Cuihu Park]
The Cuihu Park is found on the western side of the Yuhua Mountain
in Central District, Kunming. The forms of green trees are mirrored
in the lake, dying the water an emerald green. Beginning from
the end of the Yuan Dynasty, one building was built ashore after
another. Cuihu Lake's water is clear, bamboos are green in all
seasons and willows are jade green in spring and summer. |
[Yuantong Temple]
Yuantong Temple is the most important and biggest Buddhist temple
in Yunnan Province. With a history of more than 1,200 years,
it is famous for the unique mixed architectural style of the
Yuan (1271-1368 A.D) and Ming (1368-1644 A.D) Dynasties. Most
of the complex buildings in the temple were built in Ming and
Qing Dynasties (1644-1911 A.D). Yuantong Temple plays a very
important role both in history and in the modern world. |
[Dragon Gate]
Totally cut on a natural precipice, with an elevation of 2,500
meters, 8 kilometers west of Kunming city, the Dragon Gate is
the highest temple on the West Hill. It is famous for its spectacular
view. Climbing up the winding old stone stairs leading to the
natural cliff-top platform, passing through an archway on which
is inscribed "Longmen " (Dragon's Gate), many inscriptions
and steles are found here and there. You will have a birds-eye-view
of Kunming city and the Dianchi Lake. |
[Jiuxiang]
Jiuxiang, 90 kilometer from Kunming city or 22 kilometers north
from the Stone Forest, is a beautiful large state class scenic
spot. Jiuxiang mainly features karst caves, fused with natural
landscapes and human sights and national customs and conventions. |
 [Fuxian Lake]
Fuxian Lake is famous for its beautiful scenery and its Kanglang Fish. Located 63 km from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in Southwest China, Fuxian Lake covers 212 squre km and stretches into three counties. It is not only a provincial scenic spot but also the second largest freshwater lake in China. |
[Earth Forest
of Yuanmou]
The Earth Forest of Yuanmou situated in the north of Yunnan,
201 km. from Kunming, is both mysterious and magnificent.
Some are like old castles of ancient Greece; some are like
the magnificent cathedrals of ancient Rome, and others are
like temples of ancient China. There are numerous figures
resembling human beings or various kinds of animals and birds.
The visitors loitering among the earth mounds are just like
people touring in a wonderland. The main spectacles include
the earth mounds of Banguo, Xinhua, Hutiaotan and Wanbao which
located within an area of 50 square kilometers.
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