Lijiang and Random Yunnan Thoughts
As previously stated, Lijiang was a big favorite. Laid back, not too many must sees, nice hotels and restaurants, the Naxi Orchestra with its very old members and little streets.
From Lijiang, we flew back to Kunming and home. Since this trip, Yunnan has become almost inundated with tourists - both Westerners and Chinese tour groups (the Chinese almost always travel as a big group) - and some say Lijiang is now spoiled. Perhaps, but I'd still visit and spend even a little more time here visiting a few of the other temples and villages around within easy bicycle range. I've read about the Puji Si Monastery that was destroyed on the inside only during the Cultural Revolution and it is supposedly situated in a gorgeous valley.
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The entire Yunnan area is easy for backpackers and budget travelers to visit on their own with local buses. Or, there are quite a few good-to-luxury hotels that have now been built if you choose to proceed this way.
Yunnan as a destination in China?
- A great sampling of cultures, ethnic groups and scenery probably because the entire province is separated from the rest of China by mountain ranges. Heading from South to North is the way to go. The South has become more comfortable, and we'll never forget the great food. Always an "experience" watching the owner concoct tasty dishes in no time flat, and with the freshest ingredients possible...
- Dali was the only town that we didn't really enjoy....
- We revisited Zhongdian five years later as the jump-off point for the Mt. Khawarkarpo Trek in Northwest Yunnan. How it had changed! More hotels, a few shops, airport, but still not overrun with tourists. The entire area Northwest of Zhongdian is breathtakingly beautiful...go see for yourselves... Schedule a trek, cultural visit or take the high road into Tibet.
- Some guides will always be better than others no matter where you travel... Sam was great, Kunming good, the others so-so...
- The Dai people hold water-splashing festivals every April in Xishuangbanna. The beauty of the amazing rice terraces there are difficult to get out of our minds. Especially after you see for yourself the labor that goes into creating the terraces and growing rice.
- Kunming was the perfect city to begin and end a trip. When our Kunming guide discovered we had hours between flights at the end of the trip, he promptly took us to a temple, high on a hill, with hundreds of life-size statues of former monks.
- A note on many restaurants throughout China - Don't be surprised when you see the Chinese people throw bones, and other pieces of food on the floor. Very unappetizing but that is their custom. Just be careful because all that food makes the floor extremely slippery...watch your step, and, one last suggestion (or thought)...
- If you can't stomach eating Chinese food three times a day, bring granola bars, peanut butter, packs or tins of tuna to vary the routine...
That's about it. Hope you enjoy Yunnan as much as we did...
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