Yunnan (云南) is one of the most popular destinations for tourists when going to China. It is one of the few places in China that almost has a Southeast Asia feel with lots of guesthouses and restaurants aimed at foreigners. This makes traveling in Yunnan relatively more familiar then traveling in other parts of China. There is an easy loop to do from Vietnam, via Guangxi province, up to Kunming then around Yunnan and down south to Laos.

The reason why so many travelers go to Yunnan is because it’s amazing! Of the 56 recognized minorities, 25 live in Yunnan. The biodiversity in Yunnan is stunning, going from the Himalayan Mountains to low lying jungle valleys. The province with only 4% of China’s land is home to about half of China’s wild birds and mammals. Including wild elephants!

There is something for everybody in Yunnan. From shopping in Kunming to the remote Tibetan areas of Northern Yunnan, a traveller can spend an entire vacation in Yunnan alone. Just be prepared for lots of Chinese tourists during the high season because Yunnan is a popular domestic destination.

Brief History

Yunnan has historically been at the edge of almost all Chinese Dynasties. As dynasties started to decline Yunnan would be one of the first areas to break away from China. Because of this there is a long history of different kingdoms ruling the area between different dynasties. Today Yunnan is under Beijing's control, although the strength of the government's control may be questioned since a new minority group was discovered as late as the 1970s!

Cities

Central

North

Southwest

Xishuangbanna

There are many festival celebrated by the different minority groups in Yunnan. The water sprinkling festival is one of the more famous festivals in Jinghong but there are plenty of other great festivals to experience in Yunnan. There is even a fire festival in Dali.

Weather

Weather depends greatly on where and when a traveller is in Yunnan. In the wintertime (late November to March) the south can be very mild while the north, up by Tibet, can be brutally cold. With that being said the weather in Yunnan is not that bad during that period and mostly dry. In general Yunnan is known for having some of the best weather year round, when compared to the rest of China. Just remember that it is a large province with a diverse topography, which results in huge differences within Yunnan at any given moment.

Eat

Due to the diversity in the province the food changes greatly depending on where you are. One thing Yunnan is known for is having amazing tea. A trip to Yunnan is not complete unless you have a glass of tea.