Kunming Stone Forest

石林

The Stone Forest (Shilin), 120 kilometers or two or three hours by bus from Kunming East Coach Station in Kunming, is a spectacular area of limestone peaks, caves and crags covering over 400 square kilometers.

Two parts of the Stone Forest, Naigu Stone Forest and Suogeyi Village are both classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The impressive limestone karst, at an altitude of over 1700 meters, was formed by retreating seas around 270 million years ago. Nowadays visitors can enjoying wandering around the eerie and strange rock and cave formations - many of which have resonant names such as Hanging Rock and Strange Wind Cave.

The Stone Forest is associated with the indigenous Yi people's legend of Ashima, a beautiful girl who was turned into stone after not being allowed to marry her chosen sweetheart. Each year the Yi celebrate the Torch Festival with folk dances and wrestling matches in the area.

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Kunming Flower and Bird Market

昆明花 鸟市场

Kunming Flower and Bird Market (Kunming Huaniao Shichang) in Kunming is located near the center of the city around the intersection of Dongfeng West Road (东风西路) and Wuyi Road (五一路).

Kunming's mild climate is perfect for growing flowers (camellias, lilies, orchids, and roses) and this large market has many stalls selling freshly cut flowers, along with caged song birds, antiques, curios, Mao badges, small animals, books, calligraphy brushes, Yunnan ethnic clothing and varieties of fish.

In operation since 1983, the Kunming Flower and Bird Market is also a good place to have lunch in one of the many restaurants in the area.

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Bai Theater Yunnan Nationalities Village

The Yunnan Nationalities Village is a short distance south of Kunming on the north east shore of Dianchi Lake.

Yunnan Province's many ethnic minorities including the Bai, the Dai and the Yi are represented here through displays of crafts and performances of ethnic music and drama, as in these images showing a traditional Bai drama.

Yunnan Nationalities Village theme park opened in 1992 and visitors can enjoy a variety of traditional re-enactments including an elephant show and musical performances.

© Beijing-Visitor.com


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Calligraphy Brushes For Sale

書法

These beautiful calligraphy brushes are for sale in a hutong street market in Beijing.

The brushes come in all shapes and sizes and make for a great souvenir from China whether you practice calligraphy or not.

The art of Chinese calligraphy grew out of writing the Chinese characters of the Chinese language.

Chinese calligraphy brushes are made of wood often bamboo and the heads are made from animal hair (or feathers).

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Shichihai

什刹海

Shichihai (lit. Lake of the Ten Buddhist Monasteries) is an area of three historic lakes Qianhai (前海), Xihai (西海) and the largest lake Houhai (后海) located north-west of the Forbidden City and Beihai Park.

The Prince Gong Mansion (恭亲王府), Zhengjue Temple, the Museum of Mei Langfang (the former residence of Beijing Opera star Mei Lanfang from 1949 to 1961) and the Prince Chun Mansion (醇亲王府) - the father of the last Chinese emperor - are all located in the area.

Shichahai was formerly the northernmost part of the Grand Canal connecting Beijing to Hangzhou in the south.

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Year of the Dragon 2012

龍

Monday 23 January was the start of the Chinese New Year celebrations. This year is the Year of the Dragon, a highly propitious year as the dragon is associated with power, vitality and action and was a symbol of the Chinese Emperor.

It is considered good luck to be born in the Year of the Dragon and maternity hospitals in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore are expecting a mini baby boom. The Year of the Dragon is also good news for companies producing baby products such as baby clothes, toys and medicines.

Temple Fairs are in full swing during Chinese New Year celebrations including Changdian Temple Fair in Taoranting Park, Shijingshan Temple Fair, Red Snail Temple Fair, Dongyue Temple Fair, Chaoyang Park Temple Fair, Yuanmingyuan Royal Temple Fair, Ditan Temple Fair, Daguanyuan Temple Fair, and Longtanhue Temple Fair.

Beijing Temple Fair By Wang Xi

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Valentine's Day In Hong Kong

Valentine's Day in Hong Kong is big business with florists, chocolate shops, hotels and restaurants all having improved sales.

Check the local listings magazines for Valentine Day's deals at the big hotels like the Peninsula, InterContinental and the Regal Hongkong Hotel in Causeway Bay, live music cabarets, aphrodisia dessert buffets and romantic dinner offers. In 2010 Valentine's Day fell on the first day of the lunar new year holiday making it a doubly busy day.

© Beijing-Visitor.com

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