Sightseeing in Kunming

Kunming is featured in Part 3 of my 25-day Elderhostel program in China called “Tibet, Border Kingdoms, and Yangtze River Study Cruise” with stays in ten cities and three days cruising on the Yangtze River in April and May 2007.

I have published 15 articles relating to this adventure. Click on "next" to advance through the pictures rather than "article index". Please visit my home page for easy access to the articles which begin with "The Many Faces of ... (more)

Dianchi Lake can be seen from the
Western Hills in the western suburbs of Kunming. They are also called...

This stairway is the beginning of a
climb to the Dragon Gate. The Dragon Gate Grotto complex was constructed in a...

At the top of the only flight of steps I
felt I could safely climb, a small temple housed this character. I could see...

This temple was visible through the
trees from a viewpoint near the Western Hills market.

Bargaining is a real challenge in China
and should never be started unless the customer has a sincere desire to buy a...

The Museum of National Minorities has
eight main halls relating to festivals, folk art, jewelry, costumes, social...

Our visit to the museum was to be a
guided tour and free time in the museum. However, we were in for a...

Dancers are prepared to begin their
dragon dance. The Chinese dragon is considered to be the ultimate...

In China the lion is regarded as the
king of the forests and of the other animals. It is a symbol of power and...

Kunming-these dancers appear to be
having a lot of fun as lions at the outdoor festival

What a wonderful opportunity for us
to see up close the costumes of the various minorities, hear their music, and...

Kunming-a participant at the outdoor
festival in the dress of her minority

Kunming-festival dancers who were
asked several times by visitors to pose for a picture showing off their costumes

A tea ceremony took place as the
minority lady on the left explained in Chinese on the outdoor festival stage.

These musicians played to a small
group of people inside the museum where it was possible to take this...

Two Elderhostelers in my group pose
with some of the minority performers

One of the musicians performing as part
of a lecture/demonstration at the Institute of Music and Fine Arts

Demonstration of an erhu and a pipa
at Institute of Music and Fine Arts.

The pipa is a four-stringed lute with a
pear-shaped body. Its short, bent neck has 30 frets which extend onto the...

The professor is explaining the erhu
as part of his lecture which was translated from Chinese.

The erhu is a type of violin or fiddle
with two strings. Its origin dates to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) as an...

The sound body of the erhu is a drum-
like little case usually made of ebony or sandalwood and snake skins in a...

Kunming's Wal-Mart is located in a
shopping center and was convenient for items forgotten in packing

Wal-Mart's sales are handled the same
as at home

A busy street in Kunming

Modern Kunming seen from the top of
our hotel, the Harbour Plaza Hotel

Green Lake, in the middle of Kunming,
was created in the 17th century and is a group of 4 lakes linked by...

The bridal car in front of our hotel was
decorated with fresh roses which are quite cheap since they are grown...

Two more examples of fresh roses on
bridal cars

A bride and groom welcome guests to
their reception in our hotel as attendants offer cigarettes and candy

article published 07/01/2007

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