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Kunming’s Dianchi Lake Offers Tranquility and Calm

Wednesday, August 1st, 2012

China’s spectacular destinations are one of the main reasons why so many students and travelers flock to the country every year. Be it for Chinatour or studying abroad, the country has one of the highest number of international students and tourists who visit it. The diversity of culture, rich history and stunning landscapes combined together offer a travel experience that is unlike any other.

Dianchi Lake: Location and History

Kunming, the provincial capital of YunnanProvinceis the eternal ‘SpringCity’ of Chinaand is a favorite mostly owing of its excellent year-round weather. Added to it are the local travel delights that make the city an all-around place to visit. The city is a popular hub for Chinese language programs and gives students the opportunity to travel to several destinations within the city.

Among the many interesting landmarks, one that stands out is the pristineDianchiLake. It has earned the beautiful nickname of ‘Sparkling Pearl Embedded in aHighland’. It isChina’s sixth largest fresh water lake and has been consistently known for its popularity as an amazing place for sightseeing, entertainment and leisure.

It’s proximity to various other important places nearby gives it the perfect vantage point. Just around the lake are located the Grand View Park, National Sports Training Base, Yunnan Ethnic Village, Western Mountains Forest Park and several more. Acting as the central focal point of the Kunming Scenic Region, the lake was also regarded as Kunming Dianchi Lake National Resort Region, one of the twelve National Resort Regions.

The lake is located at the foot of theWeishanMountainswhich are also otherwise known as the ‘Plateau Pearl’, around 3 miles away from downtownKunming. The lake is fenced on all four sides; the Jinma Hill lies in the east, the Biji Hill in the west, the Heshan Hill in the south and Snake Hill in the north.

The area adjoining the lake shore is rich due to the favorable climatic conditions as well as several rivers required for irrigation. According to legend, the lake was named after one of the most prominent ethnic groups during the First Century known as ‘Dian’. They were responsible for the establishment of the ancientDianKingdomback during the Han Dynasty.

Due to its calmness and serenity, people prefer to come here throughout the day, mostly for recreation and unwinding. The crystal clear water and the rippling waves look like a picture out of a postcard. Every year, from November till March, huge fleets of sea gulls migrate to this lake fromSiberiain order to escape the harsh winter. The area’s warm weather attracts the birds and the view is often a sight to behold.

A circular railway has been built around Dianchi Lake

The railway around Dianchi Lake

A panoramic view of Dianchi Lake.

A panoramic view of Dianchi Lake

The lake is fenced on all four sides

From November till March, huge fleets of sea gulls migrate to this lake from Siberia in order to escape the harsh winter.

huge fleets of sea gulls

Tags: Dianchi Lake, Dianchi Lake Kunming
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The Western Hills in Kunming

Friday, July 20th, 2012

The Famous Western Hills in Kunming is Steeped in History

Not far from Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province is the Western Hills formed by three hills. These are often referred to as the Lying Budhha. These hills overlook the Dianchi Lake and are a source of natural beauty. They are one of the most popular getaways for tourists and locals alike who want to take time out of their busy schedules and relax in the lap of nature. These hills are also the site for spring celebrations for locals. They were considered to be the most beautiful place in Yunnan Province in the past.

A Natural Gateway: Western Hills

Yunnan Province is home to 26 out of the 52 ethnic minorities in China. Also, the province lies in the temperate climatic zone which makes it most suitable for study abroad programs and gap year jobs all year round. Most of the other big cities of China like Beijing and Shanghai experience considerably warm weather during summer months. Therefore despite being important cities economically, they are not ideal destinations for Chinese language programs and gap year programs.

Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan is a great destination for students who want to go on China tour or for learning Chinese. Kunming, without a doubt, has terrific climate which adds to its popularity. Apart from this it has a lot of sites that the students can visit during weekends and familiarize themselves with the culture and lifestyle of the Chinese. One of such places is the Western Hills. These hills are comprised of three hills; the Huating Hill, the Taihua Hill and the Louhan Hill, respectively. Their altitude ranges from 1900 meters to 2350 meters above sea level.

This is a place to visit when one wishes to get away from the hustle bustle of the city and relax in tranquil natural surroundings. These hills are known for their lush vegetation and pristine natural beauty. There are two ways to go up the hill; one is a steep and narrow path which is generally avoided as it is quite an uphill task to scale the mountain via that route. There is a cable car facility available which is usually preferred for going up to the top. Those who like trekking can walk down if they want to complete the tour in a single day. During ancient times, these hills were considered to be the most beautiful in the whole of Yunnan Province. From afar, it often looks as if these three hills together form a silhouette of a girl lying down. The hills overlook the Dianchi Lake.

According to a Chinese mythical story, a princess, in search of love, met a prince and got married to him. However, the marriage was opposed by the king who had the prince executed. The princess wept so much that the Dianchi Lake was formed by her tears and her body formed the hills. Alternatively, these hills are referred to as the Lying Buddha because of their resemblance to it. During the spring season, locals gather here to celebrate. Folk songs are sung and the traditional dragon and lion shows are exhibited. The Dragon Gate is present among these hills–a structure that took seventy-two years to build. This is a site from where one can view the Dianchi Lake in its entirety.

The Western Hills overlook Dianchi Lake

The Western hills in Kunming overlook the Dianchi Lake

The Western Hills and Dianchi Lake

The West Hills and Dianchi Lake

Dragon Gate is present among these hills–a structure that took seventy-two years to build.

Dragon Gate is present among these hills–a structure that took seventy-two years to build

Kunming Dianchi Lake

Tags: Kunming Dianchi Lake, Kunming Dragon Gate, Kunming Western Hills
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Yunnan Ethnic Village

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012

Yunnan Ethnic Village Captures the Very Essence of China

Among all places of interest in China, one that stands out immediately is the Yunnan Ethnic Village near Kunming. This is a special place which sprawls over a huge area and houses a number of ethnic minorities of the country. If one wants to witness the nuances in the cultures of different Chinese ethnicities, this is the place to be. Here people live according to their traditional lifestyle in small villages that have been created for them in the premises. It is a perfect exhibition of the diverse Chinese culture.

What to Expect While Visiting the Yunnan Ethnic Village

Yunnan Ethnic Village is a theme park that has been set up barely 5 miles away from the capital city of Yunnan Province in China. This theme park is different in its pursuit, as it is dedicated to the celebration of the lifestyle of ethnic minorities of China. The question is what makes this place so special?

To begin with, this “Village” establishes a new standard of depicting the culture of a country. This kind of theme park is rarely found in other parts of the world. If there is a perfect destination for students learning Mandarin in China, then this is it. The objective of the Chinese language programs have been devised to give an overview of the Chinese culture and lifestyle. This is why elements like learning martial arts, calligraphy and traditional Chinese cooking are incorporated along with language classes. However the additional “on-job learning” comes from traveling to offbeat destinations and places which have been preserved. There are many places in the country which still bear the looks and lifestyle of the past and the Chinese authorities have taken care to ensure that they remain so. This helps students and people attending gap year programs to get to know about the past as well as the present of the country.

But what sets the Yunnan Ethnic Village apart from the rest of these destinations is its unique ability to showcase lifestyle and traditions of multiple ethnic groups in one place. Students interested in knowing China more closely, can get to see at least 26 minority groups of the country residing in one place. This village has been established next to the Dianchi Lake. Spanning over an area of 133.3 acres, it is divided into a number of “sub-villages”. Each of these villages is home to one ethnic minority group. The lifestyle, the houses and all traditions of these minority groups have been preserved here. Each of these groups follows and practices its traditional lifestyle.

Visitors are usually given a tour of the village so that they can experience and understand firsthand the lifestyle and culture of each of these groups. It must be pointed out that Yunnan is the home to 26 out of 52 ethnic minorities, and hence this village becomes an important destination for comprehensive cultural understanding. People don their ethnic dresses and costumes and a visitor can also wear these costumes if he or she so wishes. Additionally, there are dramatized dance performances which tell stories and mark the festive occasions of each of these minorities. One can see the celebrations of the Torch Festival by the Bai community, the Water Splashing Festival of the Dai people and even the Knife Ladder Climbing of the Lisu people. The cultural diversity seen in this village is impressive and the whole experience is rewarding at many levels. One must visit this unique “museum of ethnicities” while on China tour.

26 out of China’s 52 ethnic minorities in Yunnan Ethnic Village