8 Reasons You'll Love Yunnan
Lonely Planet Asia|July - August 2016

With its unique blend of rich history, picturesque landscapes and an inimitable local culture, expect to be beguiled by the wonders of this Chinese province

8 Reasons You'll Love Yunnan

WHATEVER TIME OF YEAR YOU GO, THE WEATHER WILL BE GREAT

As you’d expect from a geographic gateway leading into South and Southeast Asia, Yunnan Province benefits from a pleasant climate all year round. Even in winter, it averages 20°C. A typical altitude of 2,000m shields it from the climatic influences of the Pacific and Indian oceans, and the further south you journey the more you’ll be able to enjoy the reliable sunshine that enables an abundance of flora and fauna to thrive.

YUNNAN HAS AN EXCEPTIONAL HISTORY FOR YOU TO UNCOVER

For millennia, Yunnan has played an important part in the development of Chinese culture. In 279 BC, as the Western world was preparing for the rise of the Roman Empire, Yunnan’s oldest recorded civilisation – the Dian Kingdom – was established beside the grand Dianchi Lake. The sophistication of the tribes there meant that during the era of the Dali Kingdom, founded in 937 AD, the province was able to establish diplomatic relations with the Song Dynasty. It was also a significant stop-off point on the Silk Road – the ancient trading route that spanned from China to the Mediterranean.

THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE LANDSCAPES IS UNSURPASSED

This story is from the July - August 2016 edition of Lonely Planet Asia.

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This story is from the July - August 2016 edition of Lonely Planet Asia.

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