August 31, Day 10 to Kunming, China

A super train! In true Chinese fasion people line up at the allocated spot to board each carriage

Today we boarded a train to travel the recently completed 750km rail link from Luang Prabang, Laos to Kunming, China.   I was very happy to be leaving the hot humid weather of southern regions behind us for the more temperate climate of the higher altitudes of Southern China. Whizzing through tunnel after tunnel, we climbed into higher and higher country into the Yunnan Province. Because of its high-altitude plateau location and year-round mild climate, Kunming, its capital, is famously known as the ‘produce capital’ of China, a major food, agricultural, and culinary centre supplying a vast variety of vegetables and flowers to the rest of China.  Our Kunming local guide welcomed us to what she called the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ and the weather was indeed balmy.  We had arrived in Kunming.

Acres of greenhouses

Altitude almost 2000m. Lake Dian is formed in a fault line

Not far from Kunming is Dian Lake, also known by a number of other names including Kunming Lake. It is a fault lake located on the Puduhe-Xishan fault in the Yunnan province. Its nickname is the "Sparkling Pearl Embedded in a Highland". Unfortunately we didn’t get close enough to visit it.

Kunming is named for the ethnic people of the region, the Kunmi people. Two thousand years ago, this was the Kingdom of Dian and was not part of Chinaat all. Incidentally of the 55 ethnic groups that live in China today 25 are from the Yunnan province. Called ‘Spring City’, Kunming sits at an altitude of 1900m and the temperature seems to vary between 19 to 26C - perfect really. Because of the altitude we were told that the food of Dian region is spicy and oily to ensure sufficient energy. Kunming is basically a region of farmers growing 60-odd% of Chinas fresh flowers, 90% of China’s coffee and tobacco as well as corn and potatoes. 

Daisy our guide sorting out the itinerary with our wonderful leader, Kara

So much to know but so hard to get information! We had arrived in China and were closed behind the Great Firewall of China! Cut off from the rest of the world for all intents and purposes. Our guide recommended a Chinese AI app, ‘Baidu’, which we hastily downloaded and installed, then we were able to ask some of those essential questions that nag at you when you enter a new locality. We will simply have to manage to survive without Google for the next 2 weeks!  

A local restaurant for dinner on our first night

Fascinating display of fungi in a country where they have taken cuisine to the utmost in using local produce