Dali     大理 Offering a well-preserved old town, stunning natural scenery, and an array of western restaurants and bars, Dali has long been a backpacker favorite. The old town, with its Ming Dynasty architecture and partial city walls, is wonderfully atmospheric. And the immense... ( more )

Kunming     昆明 In the wonderfully relaxed Yunnan Province, even the capital city is chilled-out. While it is home to several million people, Kunming is a world away from China’s bustling mega cities, both figuratively and literally. Although it is developing rapidly... ( more )

Chongqing     重庆 Chongqing is an immense, dazzling mess of a city. In some ways its existence seems just plain wrong. While its location on hilly terrain at the convergence of the Jialing and Yangtze rivers held great strategic value in times past, it seems preposterous to... ( more )

Guilin     桂林 The weird and wonderful limestone hills of the Guilin region are renowned throughout China and, increasingly, throughout the world. This strange landscape of karst mountains sprouting erratically from the earth spreads for hundreds of kilometers around the city... ( more )

Tiger Leaping Gorge   (虎跳峡)A couple of hours drive north-west of Lijiang is one of China’s most stunning natural wonders. Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest river canyons in the world. Here the mighty Yangtze River (known in Yunnan Province as the Jinsha River) gushes between... ( more )

Dali Practicalities 1. Emergencies In case of an emergency it’s best to contact the manager of the hotel where you’re staying, or the local police.The operators of emergency services speak Chinese only:110 – Police119 – Fire120 – Ambulance If you lose your... ( more )

Transport To, From and Around DaliArrival and Departure in DaliTravelers should be aware that trains and buses to Dali arrive in Dali City (officially known as Xiaguan), not in Dali Old Town (大理古城). All buses from Kunming will arrive in Xiaguan (if a travel agent claims it will go all the way... ( more )

... ( more )

Lijiang Practicalities 1. Emergencies In case of an emergency it’s best to contact the manager of the hotel where you’re staying, or the local police.The operators of emergency services speak Chinese only:110 – Police119 – Fire120 – Ambulance If you lose your... ( more )

... ( more )