Introduction

If we use a word to portray out Yunnan, the China’s southernmost province, it must be ‘diversity’, which already becomes the principal component in any descriptions of Yunnan, geographically, culturally as well as biologically.

With a romantic name meaning ‘South of the Clouds’, the exotic traits of Yunnan and its prolific attractions have beguiled travelers for decades. People easily immerge in the extremely varied and splendid land. Yunnan’s geographical wonder, the spectacular Three Parallel Rivers of Jinshajiang (Yangtze), Nujiang (Salween) and Lancangjiang (Mekong), rise from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the south, flow through the Yunnan’s most exotic and enchanting areas, but never converge. The sky-piercing and scared Meili snow mountain stands aloof at the north fridge towards Himalayan highland; the lush jungle of Xishuangbanna is sliced by the Mekong River in the south at tropical zone. The historical Tea-Horse Road, an old-time tea trading path connecting Tibet and in-land China, once crossed the rivers basin, penetrates hinterland of Yunnan and leaves over many extant ancient towns, the back-in-time memories greet on the journey to 800-years Lijiang, cobble streets Dali and hidden Jianchuan, wherein lies the thrilling Tiger Leaping Gorge passing by with roaring Yangtze River. Other natural marvels, such as the breathtaking Yuanyang rice terraces, the haunting bizarre Karst landforms, the gorgeous red earth in Dongchuan, the mysterious folks in Nujiang gorges, make Yunnan a microcosm of China at its very best.

Yunnan has the greatest number of ethnic populaces in China. Nearly half of the all country’s minority groups reside here, home to 25 diverse, unique and colorful ethnic cultures. The minorities inhabit through parts of Yunnan, scattering from verdant low-lying valleys to freeze high mountains, the main groups include Dai, Bai, Miao, Yi and Hui ect. Among the all, 15 indigenous ethnic groups are the sole ones in China, such as Naxi, Hani, Bulang, Dulong, Wa, Jingpo, Jinuo, Pumi ect. Most ethnic minorities have evolved their own particular religious systems, some are animist with ancestral veneration, but some follow the influential and organized religions, contain wide ranges of Buddhism, Taosim, Christianism, Catholicism and Moslemism. Hence don’t be fussily when one watches a Catholic church surrounded by Tibetan Buddhist Mani walls just outside. Locals have lived by their own comfort but traditional way unchanged for centuries.

Yunnan is a paradise for animals and plants. Known as the “Kingdom of Plants”, the province is a region of extraordinary biodiversity, which supports some 15,000 species of higher plants including 2500 native ones, covering almost all varieties from the tropics, the subtropics to the temperature and even the frigid zones. This reputation initially was made known to the outside world since the early 20th century, through the explorations and ventures of many western ‘plant hunters’, Joseph Rock and Frank Kingdon-Ward were famed ones. Yunnan has less than 4% of the land of China, yet astonishingly home to more than half of country's birds and mammals. Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey, also known as the Black Snub-nosed Monkey, is one of the most endangered species of primate inhabited in alpine forests in northwest Yunnan and southeast Tibet. Other major endemic fauna are Asian elephant, gaur, green peafowl, Sarus Crane ect.

Xuanke, the most influential celebrity and artist in Lijiang, the earliest inheritor and creator for ancient Naxi music, once metaphorized the human’s lifetime into a long journey, with a sole destination finally will be cemetery, which ones often rush towards it, but forget to switchback for paced and admirable views. Traveling Yunnan, home to legendary Xuanke, let’s take his inspiring advocacies in mind, slow down our trip speed, and be ready for explorations of the wonderlands!