Tips & Stories

Haven’t visited many places in China. I was looking for a place that combines both traditional Chinese culture and some unique features.  After visiting ancient Yunnan, I decided that Yunnan is the best choice that I could make . Due to the location and historical background, Yunnan is the most diverse province in China. There are 26 minorities, 15 of which are unique to this area. Ancient Yunnan helped me to organize the trip, to explore the whole Yunnan province .

First, we went to Dali. Dali is a place of residence of Bai people. Whilst glowing Bai culture, we had the chance to try Bai-tie-dying handcraft. Dali is famous for its old town and Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple. This is the place you have to go to.

After Dali, we went to Lijiang. Lijiang’s Old town is amazing. It is big and you need to have at least 4 to 5 hours to explore it. But it is a place that is definitely worthy of going.

After Dali and Lijiang, we had a chance to go to smaller ancient towns, Shaxi and Baisha. In these smaller towns, you can take a rest from the active big city life and mention what life was two/three hundred years ago. Apart from some cultural and historical spots, Yunnan is famous for its nature. You definitely have to go to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in the world, with breath-taking views. Apart from Tiger Leaping Gorge, you should also go to Pudacuo National Park. This national park is amazing all year round, from spring to winter. So, if you want to combine both historical experiences and enjoy the natural scenic spots, you should definitely go to Yunnan!

Lijiang, located at the junction of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in northwestern Yunnan Province, has been a transit point for the southern Silk Road/the Old Tea-Horse Road since ancient times. The old town of Lijiang was built in the Southern Song Dynasty. It is a rare and well-preserved ancient city in China. It not only contains the essence of Naxi culture but also fully retains the historical features formed since Song and Yuan. This city has so many beautiful symbols and was approved to be included in the World Cultural Heritage List by UNESCO. It owns both of the feature of a water-bound town and a mountain city. It is praised as “the Gusu on the plateau and the Venice in the East”.