Kunming

Kunming is situated in central Yunnan and north of the Dianchi Basin, is skirted on three sides by mountains, with one side opening onto the dianchi Lake. The city is nicknamed ¡° City of Spring ¡° due to the fact that it is covered all the year round with the rich verdure of trees and plants. Endowed with a pleasant climate, the city¡¯s 15000 square kilometers of land is adorned with more than 400 kinds of flowers. Kunming is world ¨Cfamous for its abundance of camellias, orchids, azaleas and Primula malacoides, which can be found in the Kunming Botanical Garden, where 4000 varieties of tropical and subtropical plants grow profusely amidst dense clusters of camellias. Kunming is also a renowned historical and cultural city in southwest China. In ancient times it was an important gateway to the celebrated Silk Road which conducted to Tibet, Sichuan, Myanmar and India. The city's highland scenery is as its karst landform is bewithching. Its people are known for their varied and exotic habits and customs, and its land is pockmarked with historical artifacts, places of cultural interest, and gardens landscaped with a picturesque taste. Among the major scenic spots of Kunming are the Dianchi Lake, the Cuihu Lake, the Village of Ethnic Culture, the Jindian (Golden Temple ) Park, the Western Hills, the Stone Forest, the Grand View Pavilion, and Bamboo Temple.