A Spontaneous Trip to Yunnan

Since last Spring Festival, due to special circumstances, I've been cooped up at home. These two years have felt unbearably stifling. Not going out for long walks, life always seems to lack seasoning—bland and flavorless. But there was nothing I could do, so I browsed through my old travel photos at home, sharing them with everyone to soothe my restless soul.

A few years ago, I went to Yunnan. As winter was approaching, the temperature difference on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau was huge, mainly influenced by the South Bengal High forming a highland monsoon climate. Most parts of Yunnan enjoy warm winters and cool summers—perpetual spring.

Yunnan's tourism resources can be broadly divided into four major regions. The northwest—Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Lugu Lake, and other popular spots—are surrounded by breathtaking alpine scenery, drawing countless visitors each year to experience a laid-back, romantic lifestyle. Centered around the provincial capital Kunming, Stone Forest, Fuxian Lake, and the rapeseed flower fields of Luoping are well worth a visit. The south boasts Xishuangbanna, Yuanyang Terraced Fields, Puzhehei, and Bamei. To the west are Baoshan, Dehong, and Nujiang, but the absolutely brilliant Tengchong, Heshun, Ginkgo Village, Three Parallel Rivers, and the border town Ruili are not to be missed.

I've traveled to many places within China: Yangzhou is enchanting in March; Xining is a top summer retreat; Kunming is pleasant all year round; Chongqing is the gourmet capital; Xi'an boasts profound culture; Tibet purifies the soul; the Jiangnan region exudes ancient town charm. Yet colorful Yunnan somehow blends all of these perfectly, balancing their strengths and weaknesses.

Perhaps everyone who dreams of traveling to Lijiang imagines a beautiful romantic encounter, wondering what might happen there—a chance meeting under the rain eaves, in a bar, at an inn, on a street corner... a serendipitous rendezvous. How exactly it will unfold, you only realize once you're in Lijiang that it's nothing but wishful thinking.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain should be the main attraction when visiting Yunnan, renowned for its precipitousness, uniqueness, beauty, and elegance. Subtropical, temperate, and frigid zone landscapes unfold from the foot to the summit. At the base, Ganhaizi (Dry Sea Meadow) is a vast pasture; from here, the Jade Dragon peaks stand proudly amid blue skies and white clouds.

Yunshanping (Spruce Meadow) is a sacred place in the hearts of Naxi youths, a tranquil grassland surrounded by ancient trees reaching for the clouds, draped in vines—a secluded, serene setting. In the distance, Jade Dragon Peak hangs like a waterfall, shimmering silver in the sunlight.

The Naxi music in the Impression Lijiang show, together with the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the stage backdrop—the red stage, the white snow mountain, the azure sky—creates a powerful visual impact. The performers' superb acting and exquisite lines leave a deep impression. There are galloping horse caravans, Naxi women with their back baskets, rugged mountain paths, hard labor, and Naxi men drinking and dancing, welcoming guests from afar.

Blue Moon Valley is rather ordinary, with too much artificial construction.

Fifty-six ethnic groups, fifty-six flowers. Girls from all ethnicities, dressed in red and green, are elegant and graceful, gentle and charming.

Among China's 56 ethnic minorities, Yunnan is home to 51, of which 25 have populations over 5,000 and concentrated communities. It is said that 15 of Yunnan's 51 minority groups—including the Bai, Hani, Dai, and Lisu—are unique to the province, found nowhere else. The rich and diverse folk customs of these minorities add a unique charm to Yunnan tourism.

Yunnan is a plateau region, and attractions are widely scattered. After traveling a long distance, I arrived at Shuhe Ancient Town.

Shuhe Ancient Town's main draws are the snow mountain views and inns. Looking up at the snow mountain, gazing around at beautiful ladies, looking down at the flagstones, hearing the sound of water, and savoring delicious food—that's the truest experience of Shuhe Ancient Town.

Compared to Dayan Ancient Town's characteristic courtyards, bustling lanes, and lively bars, Shuhe Ancient Town is even more lively.

Before I knew it, I had stepped into Lijiang, into the mysterious ancient Naxi kingdom. The pure water from the snow mountains, with a hint of cool breeze, cleanses worldly dust and soothes the restless human soul.

This spot in Lijiang is a must-visit check-in place; fortune keeps turning.

Lijiang's nightscape is not to be missed. As night falls and neon lights flicker, you simply have to hit a bar and have a blast.

Every city in Yunnan is very clean and tidy, and the pace of life is slow—it's a great place for retirement.

Chongsheng Temple is another must-see attraction. Facing Erhai Lake to the east and backed by Cangshan Mountain to the west, it sits at the foot of Cangshan and borders Erhai. The temple's Three Pagodas are especially famous, also known as the 'Three Pagodas of Dali,' one of China's renowned stupas. The pagodas have long been symbols of Dali and were filming locations for Jin Yong's martial arts dramas. A sunny afternoon is the best time to capture the pagodas' reflections.

In the evening, the bars begin to open. Only by pausing can you see the most beautiful scenery.

But I still like the water wheel, firmly believing that fortune turns in the world.

After enjoying Lijiang's night view, the next day you must experience an audio-visual feast—the grand ethnic performance 'Lishui Jinsha'.

Through song and dance, the ethnic minorities present family love, friendship, and romance in a gala format to visitors unfamiliar with Lijiang. This is not just a performance showcasing ethnic customs, but a collision of civilization and primal wildness. Getting away from the hustle and bustle to feel this raw rhythm—what could be more meaningful?

The show includes group ethnic dances, Hani women's drum dance, Tibetan song and dance, Yi dance, De'ang women's dance, and a costume display of all Chinese ethnic groups, among others. The scale is grand, and the audience is mesmerized.

In the Dai maidens' dance, they move with serene grace, like water's tenderness, like the nectar of the earth, like the flowing moon's lingering affection.

The most representative part of the show is the marriage and love culture—the world's only surviving matriarchal society, the 'Axia' walking marriage custom by Lugu Lake. Through tender emotions and graceful dances, it vividly portrays the endless charm and profound depth of Lijiang's courtship traditions.

Love and hate, life and death are eternal human themes. In a 5,000-year civilization, the matrilineal marriage custom is a magnificent expression of spirit and flesh, wisdom and emotion. Humanity calls for civilization, yearns for happiness, and prays for eternal life.

'Lishui Jinsha' is a tourist show and also modern art. Through graceful dance, melodious music, colorful costumes, grand scenes, and flickering lights, it pioneers a new form of ethnic song and dance, worthy of being called China's 'Broadway'.

The entire performance was met with constant applause—a sumptuous feast that lingers in the memory.

The show concluded with a grand finale showcasing the unity of all ethnic groups.

The Chinese nation, a people who have endured much suffering, thrives and stands tall in the East thanks to the unity and friendship among all ethnic groups.

If a family is not united, relatives may turn against each other; if an organization is not united, there may be infighting; if an ethnic group is not united, it may be scattered like loose sand; if a nation is not united, it may suffer bullying.

Over thousands of years of migration, trade, marriage, and integration, all ethnic groups in our country have formed a pattern of intermingling, living together in a mutually complementary way, fostering a precious tradition of unity and fraternity.

An important reason why the Chinese nation has been able to rise from the ashes and march toward glory is that all ethnic groups share weal and woe, share honor and disgrace, unite against common enemies, and jointly resist foreign aggression. In this process, not only has the fine tradition of ethnic unity and friendship been unprecedentedly enhanced, but we have also embarked on a brand-new journey toward great rejuvenation.