In China’s southwest corner, Yunnan is a land of extremes—where snow peaks touch the clouds, rice terraces mirror the sky, and tropical jungles hum with life. Home to 25 ethnic groups, each with unique festivals, foods, and crafts, it’s like traveling through many worlds in one province. From ancient tea trails to wild elephant forests, Yunnan invites you to slow down and savor its natural poetry.
Lijiang Old Town
This 800-year-old UNESCO town, built by the Naxi people, is a maze of cobblestone streets, wooden houses, and singing streams. Follow the waterwheels to Black Dragon Pool, where Jade Dragon Snow Mountain’s reflection shimmers in the lake. At night, lanterns glow as elders dance in the square to traditional Dongba music played with century-old instruments.
The Stone Forest
The Stone Forest (Shilin), a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yunnan Province, is one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders—a mesmerizing labyrinth of towering limestone pinnacles sculpted over 270 million years by ancient seas and tectonic forces. Steeped in the culture of the local Sani Yi people, the site breathes with legends like the iconic "Ashima" rock, symbolizing a girl eternally waiting for her lover.
Dali Ancient City
Between Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountain, this 1,400-year-old town charms with white-walled Bai homes adorned with painted flowers. Shop for hand-dyed indigo cloth at Foreigner Street, then bike along the lake to see fishermen trained by cormorant birds. The Three Pagodas, built to guard against floods, glow golden at sunset.
Shangri-La
At 3,300 meters, this Tibetan town feels close to the heavens. Visit Songzanlin Monastery—its golden roofs shining like a mini Potala Palace—where monks chant prayers in smoky butter lamp halls. In Pudacuo National Park, walk wooden boardwalks through meadows dotted with yaks and wild orchids.
Yuanyang Rice Terraces
For over 1,300 years, the Hani people carved these terraces into steep hills. From December to April, flooded fields turn into liquid rainbows at sunrise. Stay in a village guesthouse to watch farmers plant rice with water buffaloes.
Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest
Near the Laos border, this tropical wonderland bursts with banana trees, tea plantations, and Dai bamboo houses on stilts. Every April, the Water Splashing Festival turns streets into joyful water battles celebrating new beginnings.
Yunnan