Yunnan: wonders of the whole planet in one province of China. The most beautiful and interesting places in Yunnan Province (China)

Traveling in China, I was lucky to see a lot of amazing places and enjoy the beauty of completely different parts of China. During the year I managed to visit several provinces of the People's Republic of China.
And now I can say with confidence that Yunnan is the most beautiful province China. As the Chinese themselves say about it: 有山有水, which literally means “there are mountains, there is water”, but in fact this expression means “a very beautiful place, the landscape of which will appeal to everyone, because everyone will find something of their own, there there are mountains and water.

Yunnan (Chinese 云南, pinyin: Yúnnán, literally: "cloudy South") is the most southwestern province of China, bordering Laos and Vietnam in the south, Myanmar in the west, and other Chinese territories in the North and East.

Nature of the province

Most of the province is occupied by mountains, which in some places can reach a height of up to 6740 meters.

But besides the mountains, there are picturesque hills. The province is crossed by numerous rivers.

These are rivers such as the Yangtze and Mekong, which you have certainly heard of, the Yuanjiang, Nujiang and other smaller rivers, there are valleys with fertile soils, and lakes of indescribable beauty.

You will see such a variety and magnificence of nature in China only here, it is even surprising how many beautiful places can be concentrated in one province, albeit a fairly large one.

The climate of the province

The climate in the province also varies. In the north and west, a temperate climate prevails, and in the south, where the territory is already getting closer to Thailand, this tropical climate.

As I wrote above, Yunnan literally means "Cloudy South" in Chinese. Indeed, there are a lot of clouds, bizarre shapes, of various sizes ...

And what is the air in Yunnan province! It is fresh, clean, fills you with it so it is pleasant to breathe ... At first, such purity of air will be unusual, but it will only take a couple of days when you will revel in the local air and do not want to leave here!

Yunnan is the birthplace of Pu-erh tea

There is no abundance of factories and exhaust gases here, because the main occupation local population is agriculture.

Thanks to the tropical climate, sugar cane, tobacco and rice are successfully cultivated here.

Yunnan tea 普洱 pǔěr, pu-erh tea, is especially famous all over the world. Try it and you will feel all the variety of its flavors and delicate aroma of pure Yunnan air.

What to visit in the province

The provincial capital is Kunming (Chinese 昆明, pinyin: Kūnmíng).
However, believe me, the most interesting thing happens not in the capital.

There are many cities worth visiting, for example:
Shangri-La (Chinese: 香格里拉, pinyin: Xiānggélǐlā),
Lijiang (Chinese 丽江, pinyin: Lìjiāng),
Dali (Chinese 大理, pinyin: Dàlǐ).

You can also visit Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous region(西双版纳傣族自治州, pinyin: Xīshuāngbǎnnà Dǎizú Zìzhìzhōu), as well as a place called Luguhu (or Lugu Lake, 泸沽湖, pinyin: Lúgū Hú).

Peoples of the province

Yunnan is not only landscapes for every taste, but the place of residence of many ethnic groups in China. In addition to the Chinese (Han), out of China's 56 ethnic groups, Yunnan is home to 51 ethnic minorities.

Moreover, each national minority in China has its own customs, its own costumes and even its own language. Sometimes it's a dialect of Chinese, and sometimes it's a non-Chinese language, but in larger cities in the provinces you will still be understood if you speak Mandarin Chinese.

In more detail about these and other places worth visiting in Yunnan, I will tell you in the following articles.

Victoria Volchenko,

special correspondent of the Free Travelers Club

Bordered to the east by northern part Myanmar, in the south - with Laos and Vietnam. It is separated from neighboring Chinese provinces by a river. The French, who occupied Indochina, laid a railway line from Hanoi to Kunming and at the end of the 19th century declared Yunnan to be their sphere of influence. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why Chinese government provided all-round support to the peoples of Indochina in their struggle against colonial France. The expulsion of the French did not bring peace to these parts. Yunnan served as a key link in the chain of intricacies of Southeast Asian politics as early as ancient times. From the territory of this province - and for a long time only from here - communist Vietnam received help in the fight against the French and Americans. However, when the common enemies were defeated, relations between neighbors deteriorated sharply. The Chinese army occupied a number of border areas in Vietnam. Now along the demarcation line separating the two states, there are mainly military bases, and foreigners are strictly forbidden to visit these areas. The same situation has developed on the border with Laos and Myanmar. However, in last years there has been a trend towards normalization of relations in the region.

The provincial capital of Kunming is often referred to as the city of eternal spring hinting at the most fertile climate of Yunnan. However, despite favorable weather, fertile land and rich vegetation, the province remains one of the poorest in China.

Province of China

A significant part of the territory Chinese province Yunnan is occupied by mountains. The most high mountain Yunnan - Kagebo Peak (6740 m) - is located in the northwest of the province. Many parts of Yunnan are impassable. The southwestern province of the Celestial Empire is called the "melting pot of peoples": exactly one third of the population belongs to the number of 24 national minorities officially recognized in the Republic of China. The largest of these are the Yi, Bai, Hani, Zhuang, Dai, Miao and Hui peoples. The Naxi people still live according to the laws of martiarchy. In total, minorities inhabit 70% of Yunnan's territory. The largest communities live in the south of the province, in the impenetrable forests and mountains of the border regions (on the border with Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam). Yunnan is the second poorest province in China, although the favorable climate and fertile soils contribute to the rapid growth of vegetation. For example, rice gives here three crops a year. Not surprisingly, Yunnan's flora is considered one of the richest in the world. The few tourists who bring income to the province in freely convertible currency primarily see the sights near Kunming: the Stone Forest in Shilin (bizarrely frozen blocks of stone), Dian Lake, which, according to legend, is nothing more than the eye of the Buddha, and the Golden Temple 8 km north of Kunming. All the interior decoration of this temple is cast in bronze.

general information

Province of China.
Capital: Kunming (3 million inhabitants).
Borders: Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.
Language: Chinese and many dialects.
Currency: yuan.
Religions: Buddhism and Islam.
Largest cities: Dali, Xiaguan, Jinghong, Lijiang.
Major lakes: Dian and Fuxianhu.
Major rivers: Yangtze, .
The province is inhabited by representatives of 24 nationalities.

Numbers

Population: 43.3 million people.

Population density: 109 people per km2.

highest point: Mount Kagebo (6740 m).

Economy

Agriculture: rice, barley, wheat, corn, sugar beet, tea, tobacco.
Mining industry: tin, copper, ferrous metals, coal.

Industry: heavy industry, mechanical engineering, electronics.

Climate and weather

Attractions

■ Pagodas in the city of Dali.

Curious facts

Such a place as China's Yunnan province is difficult to find anywhere else on Earth, but by the way, it is impossible. Any place on the planet is different from another, even similar to it.
Located in the southwest of the country, bordering Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, it stands out from the entire territory of China not only for its nature, but also for the fact that several dozen national minorities live here.


Including, for this reason, there has been no peace on its territory for all long times, and even now the situation there is not very calm. The richest in all respects, the province has been and remains a bone of contention, no matter what power there is.
And due to the fact that the nature of Yunnan is rich, it would be possible to have a developed economy on its territory. Alas, this is not noted.

In principle, Yunnan is one of the lands with the most interesting geology, the province has all the conditions for the extraction of minerals in very large volumes, however, the neighboring province of Sichuan, which is similar to it, is more developed in this.
Several deposits of the province give a lot of non-ferrous metals - copper, tin, zinc, lead.

It is a hemimorphite and is used as zinc ore.


One of the copper deposits.


And this is cassiterite tin ore, but I only saw a bluish color.
It must be said that the tin reserves here are about a third of the world's.
But the main activity of the population is agriculture.


The humid subtropical and tropical climate of the province allows harvesting twice and rice three times a year.


The main crop in agriculture can certainly be called tea.


Naturally, other crops are also grown here. One of them is rapeseed, the oil of which is used for the production of biofuels.

The land of Yunnan is cut by numerous canyons, through which a large number of rivers flow.


The forest gives a lot of mushrooms, various fruits, and also serves as a building material.


However, it should be borne in mind that not all peasants in China have the opportunity to build such houses.


Most houses are built from bamboo.


This is what most villages in Yunnan look like.

Yunnan's capital city of Kunming is located closer to the northeast of the province, already in highlands where there are many attractions.


For example, this natural park.

The remnants formed as a result of water and eolian weathering attract many tourists.

When looking at this photo, it seems that a man put his hands to the creation of nature.

The silhouette of this formation in the sunset sky makes you want to climb it to be closer to the sky.


The miraculous sphinx.
Photo

Dianchi lake


Another lake in the province, which is called Fuxiang.


Now tell me, does this remind you of anything? Yes, the real pyramids of the north South America only located underwater.
They are located at the bottom of Lake Fuxiang, their height is about 20 meters, and there are 10 of them.
What is it - the connection of ancient civilizations, or a coincidence?

Yunnan - known province China, famous amazing landscapes and excellent climate. Here live ancient ethnic groups that have preserved their unique way of life to this day. The nature of the province is represented by the richest diversity - from permafrost to the tropics. The reason for this is the bizarre landscapes and topographical features. It is not surprising that it is here that the flora and fauna are the most extensive in all of China.

Yunnan- a famous province of China, famous for its amazing landscapes and wonderful climate. Here live ancient ethnic groups that have preserved their unique way of life to this day. Yunnan can rightfully be considered a museum of humanity, because the communities living here are distinguished by a variety of history, culture, and dialects. Local National holidays attract tourists with their entertainment and unbridled fun. Their names are as exotic as surrounding nature: Dali 3rd Month Festival, Lisu and Munao Zongge Sword Festival, Xishuangbanna and Dehong Sprinkling Water, Stone Forest Fire Festival.

The nature of the province is represented by the richest diversity - from permafrost to the tropics. The reason for this is the bizarre landscapes and topographical features. It is not surprising that it is here that the flora and fauna are the most extensive in all of China.

Kunming - administrative center Yunnan. Traveling around the city and its environs, inquisitive tourists will be able to enjoy historical places and attractive architecture, known throughout the world: Western and Eastern Pagodas of Sisyt and Dongsyt(buildings from the Tang Dynasty 618-907 AD), Qingzhengusi Mosque, Zhenqing Square. Probably no one will be left indifferent Green Rooster and Golden Horse arches.

Yuantong Temple renowned as the largest Buddhist complex Southeast Asia, it attracts pilgrims and architecture lovers from all over the world. Temples in the province occupy one of the leading places where tourists strive to go and enjoy the exotic and splendor. golden temple(Jinsi), Bamboo shrine m (Chzhusy), tanhua temple- decorations of unique natural corners located on snowy peaks mountain ranges Yulongwan and Luquan Jiaozi. Here you can admire the panorama of the park and green lake(Luhu). Ethnic villages will not be left unattended by those who love history and know how to appreciate the peculiarities of an eastern country.

Mountain range "Stone forest" Shilin (Shilin) located 120 km southeast of Kunming. This is the most famous and extensive tourist area in Kunming, spread over an area of ​​350 sq. km. Limestone pillars of gray color whimsically pierce the heights. Massive giants reach a height of up to 30 m. Erosion and rain have turned these creations of nature into fairy tale characters, evoking surrealistic fantasies, especially on a moonlit night.

Lake Erhai (Erhai Hu)- a natural reservoir, majestically grown from north to south. It seems that Tibetan mountains lined up their guards - peaks 4 thousand kilometers high surround the endless expanse of water. The lake generously endows local fishermen, and large junks and small boats find a worthy catch here. Two large cities - southern Xiaguan and western Dali - are safely located on the coast of the lake. With them in the neighborhood - a lot of small villages, towns, etc. of course, temples.

Xiaguan, as a rule, are not too favored by tourists these days. Once the city occupied a place of honor on the Burma road, located 400 km west of Kunming, and today it has remained a major transport center. However, they stop here if the bus is in another Big City- Dali - goes only in the morning. Xiaguan boasts beautiful natural scenery. It is enough to get on a boat and sail along the coast to the east, literally after a few kilometers a beautiful Erhai Park. Amazingly beautiful views of the mountains and the lake will not leave you indifferent, and a tour around Erhai Lake, which is easy to get to from the Xinqiao pier, will leave an indelible impression.

If you move east from Xiaguan, after 70 km you can get to the sacred jicushan mountain. The place of pilgrimage for Buddhists survived and survived the Cultural Revolution. Chinese and Tibetan Buddhists climb to a height of 3240 m in search of peace. Once there were about a hundred monasteries here. More than 5 thousand monks studied and contemplated the world daily. Of course, most of the monasteries were destroyed, but restoration work is underway today.

The most important Zhongshan Mountain Temple - Zhongshan Si. This "Middle Temple" is located just in the middle of the way to the top. Climbing to the top is not easy, and tourists most often rent ponies. The top of the mountain is crowned Lengyan pagoda(Lengyan Ta) in 13 floors. Temple Jinding (Jinding) will shelter tired tourists, do not forget to grab a sleeping bag - it will come in handy.

Dali- ancient city China, which is of historical value. It was the capital of the kingdoms of Nanzhao and Dali for several centuries, from the eighth to the thirteenth century. Today the city has retained its political, economic and cultural significance. The city is full of various attractions: the Dehua stele, the ruins of Taihe, the three pagodas of the Chongsheng monastery and the stele in honor of the conquest of Yunnan by Khan Kublai - everything here breathes history and antiquity. The city is surrounded by no less attractive natural landscapes and ethnographic monuments.

Canshan Mountains and Erhai Lake invite you to meet local residents, their culture and way of life. The architecture of local villages is remarkable - it is simple and elegant at the same time: a patio, a bonsai garden, a water source are indispensable elements of the life of the local Bai people. Festivals and ethnic holidays, which many visitors manage to get to, give pleasure and are remembered for a long time.

If China is famous for tea, then China's Yunnan province is famous for the best tea in China. Pu-erh tea looks like a ball of cobwebs, and it is alive: it has been fermenting for many years. Yunnan is rightfully called the “Tea Land”: even in ancient times, the Chamagudao tea route ran through its mountains and many porters dragged bags of tea weighing almost a centner. The current province of Yunnan is the land of modern cities coexisting with the pagan customs of the village.

The bowels of Yunnan province are full of minerals, the most important transport routes and large enterprises. But agriculture remains the most important sector of the economy.

IN THE EXTREME SOUTHWEST OF CHINA

Yunnan Province is strategically located Chinese border, where from ancient times ran trade routes between the coastal regions and the interior regions of China.

The name of the Chinese province of Yunnan is translated as "cloudy south": the tops of its mountains are constantly shrouded in fog.

There are a lot of rivers in the province, even by Chinese standards. Here is created a unique national park"Three parallel rivers" in the Sino-Tibetan mountains, where the upper reaches of three largest rivers Asia: Yangtze, Mekong and Salween. They flow in gorges up to 3000 m deep, almost parallel, from north to south. The park is included in the List world heritage UNESCO.

In the III-II centuries. BC e. several small national feudal states were formed on the territory of Yunnan. They did not last long, were defeated by China in the II century. BC e. and incorporated into the Han Empire. However, the mountains and the lack of roads prevented China from completely seizing Yunnan at that time.

In the 7th century the state of Nanzhao was formed here, which existed until the 13th century, until it was conquered by the Mongols, who included its territory in the Yuan empire. They brought Islam to the province.

The ancient Chamagudao tea route ran through the province, dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and flourishing during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The path passed along one of the most high mountain roads in the world, linking Tibet with the interior of the country. Later, due to the aggravation of internal political relations, the path was abandoned.

China persistently tried to gain a foothold in the copper-rich Yunnan: it built roads, cities, developed production and carried out mass settlement of territories. Since the middle of the XIV century. Yunnan was in the status of a governorship headed by a manager sent from Beijing. From the second half of the 17th century, during the Qing dynasty, Yunnan finally became part of China and became a province: the Beijing authorities thus strengthened the strategically important border territory.

The local population was constantly harassed by central authorities China, who did not care about the interests of indigenous peoples, and in the 19th century. its entire territory was engulfed in major uprisings of non-Chinese peoples, and there were enough cruelties on both sides. On the side of the rebels were difficult natural conditions provinces: it was not easy to transfer large military formations here, and there was simply nothing to feed them. The national movements succeeded in creating their own Ping-nan-guo rebel state in 1856: this was the only case in mainland China that, with such a rigid centralized authority in the territory, already existing country there was an area controlled by the opposition rulers. Ping-nan-guo existed for twenty whole years and died as a result of internal political quarrels, devastation and the cunning policy of Beijing, which outbid the leaders of the movement.

In the 1870s Yunnan's copper and tin attracted first the British and then the French. They forced China to give them - for a while - almost all of Yunnan into concession.

The same impenetrable mountains helped Yunnan during the Sino-Japanese war of 1937-1945: the Japanese did not reach these lands, and throughout the war - until the victory over Japan - the province remained an important rear base for China.

Since 1950, Yunnan has been part of the People's Republic of China.

Yunnan Province is located in the extreme southwest of China and is traversed by the Tropic of the North. Located for the most part on the territory of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, where folded mountain ranges- Sino-Tibetan mountains - and high hilly plateaus, separated by deep valleys.

PROVINCE OF A HUNDRED LANGUAGES

Yunnan Province is one of the most ethnically diverse regions in the world. IN different corners the provinces have survived matriarchy, people still write in pictographic or syllabic writing, live in bamboo houses and worship ancestors.

In the province - excellent climatic conditions for agriculture, which is concentrated in the river valleys: two crops are harvested here a year, and rice - the main food product - even three crops. The overall picture of prosperity is spoiled by the fact that half of all cases of malaria infection in the PRC are in the province of Yunnan with its swamps and damp river valleys. Due to the high water content of the province, devastating floods occur here regularly - once every two years. Minor earthquakes in these places are also a fairly common event.

The province's economy is diversified, but Pu'er tea, produced both for the domestic market and for export, remains the most famous product. Yunnan has the largest community of wild tea trees in the world. Pu-erh tea is grown in the vicinity of the city of the same name. Yunnan also holds another tea record: not far from Lincang, there are the oldest tea plantations in the world: it has been grown here for the past 3,200 years.

The majority of the population are ethnic Chinese (Han), living mainly northeast of the Yuanjiang River, historical place spread and flourishing of the southern branch of Chinese civilization. Yunnan is China's most ethnically diverse province: 56 national minorities live here - mainly in the west of the province - making up about a third of the total population.

One of the most ancient peoples is the Naxi, who inhabit the foothills of the Himalayas. Their main adviser and judge is the local shaman, they have preserved the ancient cult of trees and matriarchy with the primary right of wives to house and land. Another Himalayan people - the Moso - still conducts barter, and they have no official marriage, and relations between the sexes are based solely on the reciprocity of feelings. The Wa people stand apart, still practicing animism, totemism, and ancestor worship, and having a reputation as headhunters. The Wa did this until the middle of the 20th century.

At present, the festivals in Yunnan are far less violent, such as the Sprinkling of Water in Xishuangbanna and Dehong, the Third Month Festival in Dali, the Festival of Lights of the People, the Stone Forest Festival, the Sword Festival of the Lisu Peoples, and Munao Zongge, which is celebrated by the Jingpo people. In Lufeng county, the Big Knife Festival is held in honor of the friendship between the military strategist of the kingdom of Shu, Zhuge Liang, and Meng Huo, the leader of the people during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). Also famous are the Yui Torch Festival and the Bai March Fair.

The main city of the province - Kunming - is known for its flower and garden festivals and fairs: plants bloom here all year round due to the favorable climate. Kunming has become a particularly revered city in China after the discovery of the remains of Yuanmou Man, who lived 1.7 million years ago, and now local patriots claim that the Chinese come from Yunnan.

There are many strange and wonderful places in the province, like the Stone Forest, whose age is 270-300 million years. It really looks like a forest, but in fact it's just thin pointed stones from a special type of limestone.

CURIOUS FACTS

■ Landmark Yuxi - Red Pagoda. Initially, it was the traditional white color, but during the "cultural revolution" the Red Guards repainted it in patriotic red.

■ The name of Tiger Leaping Gorge comes from a legend that once a tiger, running away from hunters, jumped over a river where it was 30 meters wide. Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest in the world (2000 m).

■ B national park"Three parallel rivers" in the Sino-Tibetan mountains, a quarter of all species of the fauna of China lives.

■ Dogs are practically members of the Moso family, they are forbidden to eat, and people pray in front of them, which is connected with the legend that in ancient times people lived only 13 years, and dogs - as much as 60, but cunning people bargained for the life of a dog in exchange for their veneration.

■ The porters who delivered tea on foot along the ancient Chamagudao tea route carried loads weighing up to 90 kg for hundreds of kilometers.

■ Pu-erh tea (literally "tea from Pu-erh" or "earth tea") refers to a variety of post-fermented tea. This means that the collected leaves undergo fermentation - natural or artificial aging, for which it is twisted into a ball so that the release of tea juice begins. Tea will be ready only after 2-3 years of storage, but it acquires a very special taste only after 10-20 years.

■ Western mountains called the Sleeping Beauty Mountains: they stretch west from Lake Dian-chi and in their shape resemble a girl whose curls fall right into the lake.

■ During the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945. From Burma to Yunnan, the Burma Road was built, which served as the only way of communication between China and the allies, through which weapons and humanitarian aid were supplied. When transporting goods and dogfights over 600 aircraft were lost with the Japanese over the Burma Road by Allied forces.

■ More than a third of the world's tin ore reserves lie in the depths of Yunnan Province.

■ Yunnan Province is one of the world's leading harvesters of wild edible mushrooms. Of the 938 species of edible mushrooms growing in China, more than 800 species are found in Yunnan.

■ There are 18,000 plant species in Yunnan Province, accounting for 60% of China's flora.

■ Fuxianhu Lake is China's second deepest lake (155 m), it is also the most large lake in Yunnan province water resources. In 2001, Chinese archaeologists discovered at the bottom of the lake a stepped pyramid 19 meters high, made of stone slabs. In total, about a dozen more similar objects were found in the lake. The date of the creation of the pyramids is about 257 BC. e. This is supposed to be all that's left of ancient kingdom Dian washed into the lake during an earthquake.

ATTRACTIONS

■ Natural: Dianchi and Fuxianhu Lakes, Jiulong Waterfall (Nine Dragons, Qujing), Tiansheng Cave (Qujing), Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiaoxia, Lijiang), Three Parallel Rivers National Park (Sino-Tibetan Mountains), Baishui natural mountain terraces (Lijiang), Yulongxueshan ("Snow Peak of the Jade Dragon Mountain", Lijiang), a tropical forest(Xishuangbanna), Stone Forest, Black Dragon Pond.