Yunnan Province ("Beautiful Southern Clouds") borders Myanmar on the west and Laos and Vietnam on the south with Kunming as its capital. The region has a mild climate with balmy and fair weather, but although the growing period is long, there is little arable land. But, Yunnan has a diverse topography ranging from alpine mountain ranges to tropical rainforests, and more than 18,000 plant species -- the greatest number in China. Here is a home to an incredible array of animals, including the Asian elephant and the protected Yunnan golden monkey.
Some 25 different ethnic minorities also have thrived in Yunnan for more than 2,000 years, creating the most culturally diverse province in China.
Yunnan Ethnic Villages, six km south of Kunming, is a large theme park bordering on the south by the Dianchi Lake and on the west by the famous Western Mountains Scenic Area. When completed, each of the 26 ethnic peoples of Yunnan will have a village built on the premises. The forest reserve on the west bank of the Dianchi Lake consists of the Huating, Taihua and Luohan mountains, which extend for more than 40 km at an altitude of 2,500 ms. above sea level. Stone Forest (Shi Lin), located outside of the capital city of Kunming, features massive natural stone formations which have the appearance of animals such as snakes, elephants, birds, and dragons.
Yunnan encompasses 394,000 square km (152,084 square mi) and has a population of more than 42 million. From ancient times, the Chinese invaders gradually pushed the aboriginal tribes into mountain localities, where today, retaining their distinct languages and culture, they populate eight autonomous districts. The Miao, Yao, Lolo, Lao, Shan, Thai, and Lisu are some of the larger tribes; there is also a considerable Tibetan minority. Yunnan passed to the Manchus in 1659 and became a province of China under the control of the central government. It was the scene of a great Muslim revolt (1855-72). It was a major center of Chinese resistance in World War II, and in 1950 it passed to Communist control.
Until recently, most of Yunnan was not easily reachable, as it was cut off from communication with the outside world by precipitous mountains. Many believe that Shangri-la, referred to in James Milton's "Lost Horizons," was here in Yunnan. It now may be the last virgin land where one can observe cultures whose layers go back for thousands of years into the past.
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