Kunming

This shop offers exclusively handmade knitwear, embroidery, and various engraved and polished ornaments, mostly made of seeds from the holy peepul tree. These fashionable accessories with an ethnic touch make excellent souvenirs.

The gigantic rocks of the Stone Forest rise from the ground like petrified trees or stalagmites. These curious-looking limestone formations are a wonder of the natural world, and are not to be missed.

At the foot of Kunming’s Xishan Mountain and resting on the northern shore of the Dian Lake is the Daguan Lou (pavilion), a two-storey structure built during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and famous for its 180 characters, in couplets, written by the poet Sun Rangweng. The inscription is perhaps the most famous work of its kind. Like the Stone Forest, this is another of Kunming’s must-sees.

This Garden, which hosted the 1999 World Horticulture Exposition, remains as charming as ever. It houses an impressive array of flowers that come from various areas of China. Take a stroll through this floral haven to see a nation in bloom.

Situated in a sanctuary of bamboo in the Green Lake area is the curiously named but cosy Bamboo Civet Time restaurant that has transformed down-to-earth Yunnan dishes into something out of the ordinary. Especially recommended are the Yunnan-style cold rice noodles, a refreshing alternative to the noodles in hot broth for which Yunnan is known.

The Golden Temple (Jin Dian) sits in beautiful gardens that once contained the home of Wu Sangui, a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) general who played a key role in establishing the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The building itself is China's largest copper temple, while the park is also home to rare species of trees and shrubs.