Yunnan
Kunming City and Surroundings 昆明市

There is more to Kunming than just the capital of Yunnan: the red soil areas of Dongchuan, the pretty wild mountains of Luquan, the karst caves of Yiliang...

Early Maps of Yunnan

The history of maps in Yunnan began more than a thousand years ago. But it was the Jesuits who revolutionised mapping in China, producing the first accurate maps of the provinces, including remote Yunnan.

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The Red Soil of Dongchuan

The Wumeng Mountains' bright red soil, the buckwheat's yellow and Yunnan's dramatic skies make the region around Dongchuan a paradise for photographers.

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Guandu Old Town

With the Bird and Flower Market and the Muslim Quarter fallen, little remains of 'Lao Kunming', the characterful old town of former times. Now it is all high-rises, wide avenues, chain-shops. Everywhere? No, a small part of Kunming is holding out...

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Kunming City

The now sprawling capital of Yunnan, dubbed 'Spring City'.

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Dongchuan County

Heart of Yunnan's copper industry in the beautiful Wumeng Mountains.

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Shilin County

Shilin hosts Yunnan’s arguably most famous attraction, the Stone Forest, from which the county now takes its name – to locals it remains better known as Lunan 路南. Shilin's dominant minority are the Sani, who comprise around one third of the 200,000 population.

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Chenggong County

At the turn of the millennium still countryside growing vegetables for Kunming and flowers for China, Chenggong has not been swallowed up into Kunming City.

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Anning City

Famous hot springs, but also a major industrial area.

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Xundian Hui and Yi Autonomous County

Xundian’s gently rolling hills north of Magai and around Banqiao give a first taste of Dongchuan’s red soil areas to the north. But the county’s main attraction is the market at Banqiao, attended by a large number of traditionally dressed Bai Yi.

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