Kunming, in his eternal spring
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If you like traveling, you will like Shangrilá. A different book from trips, in which the protagonist, the author who offers you this information about Beijing, penetrates in some of the most remote regions of China. In this succession of mountains that spread to the south of Sichuan and the northwest of Yunnan, inhabited by related peoples of some form with the Tibetan culture, as the Yi, the Moso, the Naxi or the Bai. Following the track that the always damned Yi mark, it will finish bottled in the Shangrilá search. |
The capital of the province of Yunnan is a city full of attractions. With a sweet climate most of the year and a good representation of the provincial population, it is city of three million inhabitants has thrown itself directly to the modernity. Fortunately, along with his luxurious hotels and shopping centers, constructed in last years, a small streets labyrinth still stays with his wooden houses or brick, his carefree inhabitants and his street vendors, that it can make us turn back in the history. Lacking in big monuments in the proper city, his stay there forces to the permanent excursion, since in his surroundings places of big interest exist.
Also, considering his capital condition of the province, Kunming is the point from which to plan our activities for the interesting cities of Lijiang, Dali or Zhongdian and the sceneries of the Lake Lugu or Xishuangbanna.
Inhabited from the times of the Kingdom Dian, since they bear witness to the numerous bronzes today in the Museum of Kunming, the city did not happen of being a Chinese frontier position up to the establishment of the Kingdom of Nanzhao, which turns it in his second capital. The Mongols will take it in the XIIIth century, finishing with the Nanzhao independence. With the Ming a wall will be constructed about the city, today eliminated. In 1855 it will be the center from which the Muslims of the region are infuriated, be destroyed big part of the city during the attacks to suffocate the rebellion. His growth and development will go parallel to the opening of routes of communication. Especially, in 1910, the railroad up to Haifong, in Vietnam constructed by the French and during the Second World war, the Route of Burma, for which there was supported the supplying of supplies and military material to the China not occupied by the Japanese. During the eighties the city has suffered big transformations. New industries have been created in his surroundings, turning into an important cultural, educational, financial and industrial center.
Park Cuihu
With his lake in the center and these small islets protected by the willows, you will always surprise it with the daily activities of the people. In the morning early the people do taiji and other exercises.
Temple Yuantong
The temple is the biggest Buddhist of Kunming and an important center of peregrination. It was constructed in the VIIIth century. Some of his pavilions are very interesting, they have very beautiful wall paintings, although tremendously damaged and a statue of Sakyamuni, gift of the King of Thailand.
Provincial museum
It opens of 8:30 to 18 h, except on Monday. With rest to mealtime, it is interesting especially for the bronzes of the Kingdom of Dian, sarcofagi, bibs, drums, with a quite special style with regard to found in the north of China and his ethnographic collections on the minorities of this province.
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