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Yunnan Province Attractions

Over the Bridge Noodles

Over the Bridge Noodles is possibly the most famous and notable culinary treat local to Kunming. When ordering these noodles, the customer has many options that range from the bare-bones 6 RMB bowl to more extravagant options that can cost more than 30 RMB.  With any choice, the customer is ...

Over the Bridge Noodles is possibly the most famous and notable culinary treat local to Kunming. When ordering these noodles, the customer has many options that range from the bare-bones 6 RMB bowl to more extravagant options that can cost more than 30 RMB.  With any choice, the customer is first served a steaming hot bowl of chicken broth. The customer is then given a host of small plates of meats, tofu, and other things to cook in the broth.  Lastly, a bowl of rice noodles is added into the mix.  The difference in price varies with the quantity and selection of the small plates given.  This authors recommends that Western diners choose the cheapest option for three reasons:

1) Some of the more expensive options often include items that most Westerners will not want to eat, such as chicken feet
2) The increases in price does not usually reflect in a comparable increase of enjoyment
3) Over the Bridge Noodles are not overwhelmingly special. 

In the author’s opinion, Over the Bridge Noodles are certainly worth a try, but there are better options for noodles in Kunming.  This is particularly true, because the most popular outlet for finding these noodles is at one of the many The Brothers Jiang locations around Kunming. This franchise unfortunately serves the lowest quality Over the Bridge Noodles of any of the options in town.  In short, The Brothers Jiang is like Over the Bridge Noodles fast food - if you are going to give these noodles a try, you are better off finding a different restaurant and increase your chances of enjoying them. Often a seemingly out of the way, unassuming noodle joint might be your best bet for trying Over the Bridge Noodles.

Wal-Mart Supercenter

Daguang Branch (大观分店):
1-3/F, E1 & E2 Blocks, Daguan Commercial Town, North Wing, Wuhua District
五华区大观商业城北面E1-E2座1-3层
+86 (0)871 5386208, 800-889-8002 (Toll Free)

 

Find it on the map

Jida Branch(
集大分店):
No. 188 Huancheng Road East, Panlong District
盘龙区环城东路188号
+86 (0)871 3397405, 800-889-8383 (Toll Free)

International Trade Center Branch (国贸中心分店):
No. 289 Chuncheng Road, Guandu District
官渡区春城路289号
+86 (0)871 3573470, 800-357-3470 (Toll Free)

Lin Yu Branch (霖雨路分店):
2-3/F, Zhonghui Commercial Center, intersection of Beijing Road Extention and Linyu Lu.
北京路延长线与霖雨路南侧交叉口中汇商业中心地上第二层及地上第三层
+86 (0)871 5817762, 5817764

Xing Yuan Branch (兴苑路分店):
No. 525 Zhangjia Cun, Xingyuan Lu, Xishan Dist.
西山区兴苑路张家村525号
+86 (0)871 8228182, 8228500

While the author is left with a bad taste in his mouth for even suggesting to go to Wal-Mart, Kunming’s lack of  comprehensive supermarkets leaves few options (besides Carrefour) for anyone in need of a ’supercenter’s’ convenience.  Some western goods that are not easily found in the average Chinese shop are stocked at Wal-Mart (i.e. cheese, sugar-less breads, condiments, etc.), but most products are geared towards the Chinese customers as there are much more of them. 

A few good things about Wal-Mart: 
1) Standard prices (no worrying about a "laowai price" here)
2) Wal-Mart accepts western credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex should all work)
3) Convenience. 

Some bad things about Wal-Mart: 
1) Way too crowded. You thought the streets were bad... well if you did not have a headache before entering Wal-Mart, you certainly will leave with one
2) Wal-Mart is evil.


Find it on the map

How to get to the Daguang branchThe Daguang branch of Wal-mart is located just south of Dong Feng Xi Lu near it’s intersection with Renmin Xi Lu.  There are a lot of mobile phone shops on Dong Feng Xi Lu in this area, and Green Lake Park is close by.

Dianchi Hotspring Garden Hotel

  This is a very beautiful hotel, with beautiful gardens, water pond, and villa-like rooms, and swimming pool with hot spring. The hotel is a bit old, built up around 10 years ago, but it was designed for the rich retired people to have a plseasant retreat, in the beautiful spring city of Ku...

  This is a very beautiful hotel, with beautiful gardens, water pond, and villa-like rooms, and swimming pool with hot spring. The hotel is a bit old, built up around 10 years ago, but it was designed for the rich retired people to have a plseasant retreat, in the beautiful spring city of Kunming. Now it's also opened to people from different countries to have a beautiful stay here. Every room is very large and cozy, with comfortable sofas. Each room enjoys a private balcony, overlooking the green grassland and the peaceful lake, and excited customers around.

    It locates next to Yunnan Ethnique Village, by the Dianchi Lake, bear Western Hill, which makes it very easy to go around and enjoy a relaxing and pleasant time in Kunming. The hotel has different restaurants to satisfy your desire for local Yunnan cuisine, at very reasonable price. Each restaurant has beautiful view.

  The hotel is in the wide open area near Dianchi Lake, where gathers beautiful hotels, gardens, galleries, and Yunnan Govermental Meeting Hall. Lots of high-classed villas are around, so it grows beautiful trees and gardens. The whole area is very fresh, clean, wide and open space, with builidings no more than 3 stories high.

  It is very fresh and pleasant to run or bike around in the morning along the clean and quiet street.

  Another lovely thing is there is a local daily market going on not far away, where you can get fresh fruite, veges and all types of smnceks from local Kunming. Really amazing area.

Take bus No. A1, A4, A9.

Yunnan Province Articles

Top Yunnan Province Tours

$300 Per Day

4-Day 3-Night Shangri-la Tour

our Itinerary:

Day 1 Shangri-la Arrival (L)
You will be picked up at the Diqing (Shangri-la) Airport and then transferred to visit the Songzan Lin Temple, the Napa Lake and the local market. Overnight in local hotel.

- Songzan Lin Temple: It was founded in the 17th century during the reign of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, when the yellow Hat school came to full ascendancy in Tibet. It lies a few kilometers beyond the north end of town and welcomes visitors who behave respectfully.
- Napa Lake: It locates at the northern end of Zhongdian's plain, a beautiful marshland and an important wintering ground for the black-necked crane and other wild fowl. In spring the meadow is in full flowers with the bleak mountains as backdrop. In summer, after the rains, the water level rises, but in winter it almost dries up again.

Day 2 Shangri-la (B, L)
Visit the Beta Lake, the Xiage Hot Spring. You will visit a Tibetan family and have lunch with them.

- Beta Lake: It is widely recognized as 'A Pearl on the Plateau' and the most attractive lake in Shangri-La. It is said that a goddess dropped her mirror carelessly to the earth when she was making up. The mirror was broken into pieces and they became lakes on the plateau. Among these pieces, the most beautiful piece with green jade turned into today's Bita Lake.

Day 3 Shangri-la (B, L)
Visit the Shangri-la valley or Baishui Terrace. You can choose one.

- Baishui Terrace:  Snugly situated on a mountain slope 2,380 meters (about 7,806 feet) above sea level, Baishui Terrace, 140 meters (about 459 feet) in length and 160 meters (about 525 feet) in width, is one of the biggest such terraces in China. The spring water runs down from the top row by row to the bottom, like a white terraced field.

Day 4 Shangri-la Departure (B)
Free at leisure until prepared to be transferred to airport for your departure flight.

 

Our price includes:
A. Airport pick up and drop-off services; Entrance fees.
B. Meals as listed in the itinerary, B=breakfast; L=lunch.
C. Personal Guide & Driver + Private car / van for Transfers.
D. All Service Charge and Taxes.
E. Luggage Transfers between airports and hotels.
Excludes:
A. Flights in and out Shangri-la.
B. Personal Expenses.
C. Tips to the guide and driver.

Please Note: Price may vary according to different seasons.

How to Book?
1. You can book online or by email, tell us your arrival flight and personal informations, then receive our confirmation email.
2. When you arrive at airport, our tour guide will meet you there by holding a sign with your name on it and transfer you to the confirmed hotel.

$300 Per Day

7 Days Kunming - Dali - Lijiang Classic Tour

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming - Free time

Today's Activities
Arrive in Kunming, the Spring City of China. Meet your guide at the airport and transfer to the featured hotel to check in. After a little rest, free to explore around Kunming city, such as the "Kunming 's Jade" - Green Lake Park, Kunming's symbol building - Phoenix Archway, and the vibrant Flowers and Birds Market. Tonight you will stay at the featured hotel in Kunming.

Day 2 Kunming

Today's Activities
In the early morning we take you to visit the Yunnan Stone Forest, which is one of most remarkable natural phenomena of China. You will wonder at the innumerable bizarre-shaped ancient limestone cliffs and peaks, which is created by wind and water erosion some 270 million years ago.

After lunch you will proceed to explore the Guandu Old Town, which is one of the historic and cultural towns in Kunming area. The ancient Shaolin Temple and Vajra Pagoda are the must-see of this old town. You will spend a lazy afternoon without the hassle of leaving the city. You can sit down for a cup of tea and chat with local people. A designated food street on the old town's east side offers a wide selection of local eats. Tonight you will stay at the hotel in Kunming.

Day 3 Kunming - Dali

oday's Activities
After breakfast in the hotel, you will go to visit the Western Hills where Taoist temples and Buddhism Temples could be found. A very beautiful lake view of the Dianchi Lake comes into your eyes if being on the top of the Hills - Dragon Gate. The elevation of the Dragon Gate is over 2,300 meters, 300 meters higher than the water surface of the Dianchi Lake. It consists of the Sanqing Temple and the Dragon Gate Grotto which was accomplished through 72 years of hard work (1781-1853). The 3rd March of lunar year is a festive time in the Western Hills, when it is considered the best time for Kunming residents to climb the mountains and look into the distance, to admire the spring flowers and appreciate the feeling of new life.

After lunch, transfer to Dali city, the economic and cultural center of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. Overnight at the hotel in Dali.

Day 4 Dali 

Today's Activities
Today, enjoy your one-day day city tour. You will first take a visit to the famous Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Monastery. Then continue to explore Cangshan Mountain that made up of 17 peaks, among which, Malong Peak is the highest one that reach the height up to 4122m. You will catch a cable way up the mountain. On the mountain top, you can enjoy the fantastic view of Erhai Lake. After that, you have chance to ascend on the Ancient City Wall of Dali. Later return back to Dali Ancient Town to explore the town. Tonight you will stay at the hotel in Dali.

Day 5 Dali

Today's Activities
Today's program starts from Xizhou Village which is located about 18 kilometers north of Dali. Xizhou Village is one of the Bai ethnic minority villages around the Erhai Lake and has historic prominence with a cluster of over 100 protected buildings. First you will walk around local morning market to learn about local life and appreciate minority's handicraft works. Then your guide will escort you to visit the Yan Family's Residential House which is the typical house of local residents characterized by a traditional Chinese rectangular courtyard with a screen wall facing the gate. You will be greeted with the show of Three Courses of Tea which is the genuine tea ceremony of the Bai minority, and treated to a song & dance performance by local Bai people. Drive back to Dali. Enjoy a leisure stroll in Dali Old Town in the evening.

Day 6 Lijiang

Today's Activities
After breakfast, we will drive you to the spectacular Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which is the largest snow mountain in the Northern Hemisphere. You will first enjoy the beautiful landscape at the Baishui River (White Water River). It flows at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The riverbed is made up of white marble and lime stones and the river looks white, hence the name of White River (Baishui).

Then proceed to Jade Water Village - a sacred palce of Dongba people. where you will visit a local Naxi family to get a close touch to the daily life of Naxi Minority.

Then visit the Jade Summit Lamasery, a famous Tibetan Temple with ancient forests clustering around . In its northern countyard you can enjoy the treasure of the temple - the giant Camellia Tree, which is more than 500 years old. Because its blossoming period lasts more than 100 days a year, and produces more than 20,000 flowers in 20 groups, it is renowned as "Ten-thousand-flower Camellia".

Afterwards catch a cable car  to the summit of the Yak Meadow, one of 13 peaks of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The landscape rises and falls on the meadow. In spring and summer, you can find yaks with black and white skin wandering in grass and all kinds of flowers. In autumn and winter, you will wonder at the sharp contrast between the mild edge of the meadow and the peaks of the snow mountain. The view is unforgettable. Looking down at Ganhaizi and continuous mountains, you will find that the snow mountain is so close to you. Cool wind gently blows on your face. All the things here are so beautiful and peaceful.

After lunch you enjoy the famous movie director Zhang Yimou's musical show "Impression Lijiang". Tonight you will stay at the hotel in Lijiang.

Day 7 Depart Lijiang

Today's Activities Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for next destination. Wish you a happy journey!