Thoughts on freedom in China and a look around KunMing

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Kunming, the capital of China's Yunnan province, is known as the 'City of Eternal Spring' due to its mild climate year-round. It's a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage, stunning natural scenery, and diverse ethnic minority communities. Here's a guide for tourists visiting Kunming:

Natural Attractions:
Stone Forest (Shilin): Located about 90 kilometers southeast of Kunming, the Stone Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its surreal limestone formations resembling a forest of stone pillars. Visitors can explore the maze-like paths, visit local villages, and learn about the Yi ethnic minority culture.

Dianchi Lake: Kunming's largest lake offers scenic views, waterfront parks, and recreational activities such as boating and fishing. Nearby attractions include the Yunnan Nationalities Village, where visitors can learn about the diverse cultures of Yunnan's ethnic minority groups.

Jiaozi Snow Mountain: This scenic area northwest of Kunming features snow-capped peaks, alpine meadows, and hiking trails. Visitors can take a cable car ride to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Cultural and Historical Sites:
Yuantong Temple: Dating back over 1,200 years, Yuantong Temple is one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Kunming. It features traditional architecture, serene gardens, and ornate halls with Buddhist statues and artifacts.

Kunming Old Street (Guandu Ancient Town): Explore the historic streets and traditional architecture of Guandu Ancient Town, located on the outskirts of Kunming. Highlights include the Guandu Old Bridge, temples, and local markets.

Ethnic Minority Culture:
Yunnan Ethnic Village: This cultural theme park showcases the diverse traditions, customs, and architecture of Yunnan's ethnic minority groups, including the Yi, Bai, Dai, and Hani people. Visitors can watch cultural performances, shop for handicrafts, and sample ethnic cuisine.

Golden Temple (Jin Dian): Located on Mingfeng Hill, the Golden Temple is a Taoist temple complex known for its large copper pavilion covered in gold leaf. It offers panoramic views of Kunming and the surrounding countryside.

Modern Attractions:
Green Lake Park (Cuihu Park): This urban park in central Kunming is a popular recreational spot for locals and tourists alike. It features scenic walking paths, pavilions, gardens, and a variety of bird species.

Daguan Park: Known for its expansive lake and picturesque views of the Western Hills, Daguan Park is a tranquil retreat from the city's hustle and bustle. Visitors can stroll along the lakeside promenade, enjoy traditional tea houses, and admire the park's classical Chinese architecture.

Practical Tips:
Transportation: Kunming has a well-developed public transportation system, including buses and the Kunming Metro. Taxis and ride-hailing services are also widely available.

Weather: Kunming enjoys a mild climate year-round, but it can be cool and rainy in the winter months. It's advisable to check the weather forecast and pack accordingly.

Language: Mandarin Chinese is the official language, but English may not be widely spoken outside of tourist areas. It's helpful to learn a few basic phrases or carry a translation app, especially when interacting with locals from ethnic minority groups.

Kunming's blend of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and historical charm makes it a fascinating destination for tourists. Whether you're exploring ancient temples, admiring stunning landscapes, or immersing yourself in ethnic minority culture, Kunming offers a unique and memorable experience for visitors of all interests.

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Tiān 天 - Heaven: TianAnMen 天安门 - TianAnMen Mén 门 - Gate: DongMen 东门 - East Gate Sì 寺 - Temple: ShaoLinSi 少林寺 - ShaoLin Temple Shān 山 - Mountain: HuangShan 黄山 - Yellow Mountain Hé 河 - River: HuangHe 黄河 - Yellow River Jiāng 江 - River (large): ChangJiang 长江 - Yangtze River Hú 湖 - Lake: XiHu 西湖 - West Lake Hǎi 海 - Sea: QingDao 青岛 - QingDao Zhōu 州 - State or Prefecture: GuangZhou 广州 - GuangZhou Shì 市 - City: ShangHai 市 - ShangHai City Zhèn 镇 - Town: ZhouZhuang 镇 周庄镇 - ZhouZhuang Town Cūn 村 - Village: ZhouCun 周村 - Zhou Village Miào 庙 - Temple: WenMiao 文庙 - Confucius Temple Qiáo 桥 - Bridge: LuGouQiao 卢沟桥 - Marco Polo Bridge Dòng 洞 - Cave: YunGang ShiKu 云冈石窟 - YunGang Grottoes Bǎo 堡 - Fort or Castle: ZhangJiaJie 张家界 - ZhangJiaJie Tái 台 - Platform or Terrace: DongTai 东台 - DongTai Lǐng 岭 - Ridge or Mountain Range: WuLing 五岭 - Five Ridges Gǎng 港 - Harbor or Port: XiangGang 香港 - Hong Kong Yuàn 苑 - Park or Garden: YiHeYuan 颐和园 - Summer Palace Quán 泉 - Spring: JiNan 济南 - JiNan Wān 湾 - Bay: ShenZhen Wan 深圳湾 - ShenZhen Bay Dǎo 岛 - Island: HaiNan Dao 海南岛 - HaiNan Island Chéng 城 - City or Town: NanJing Cheng 南京城 - NanJing City Guǎngchǎng 广场 - Square: TianAnMen GuangChang 天安门广场 - TianAnMen Square Gōng 宫 - Palace: GuGong 故宫 - Forbidden City Yuàn 院 - Courtyard or Compound: BeiJing DaXue 北京大学 - Peking University Cūnzhuāng 村庄 - Village: ZhouZhuang Cun 周庄村 - ZhouZhuang Village Qū 区 - District or Area: ChaoYang Qu 朝阳区 - ChaoYang District Lù 路 - Road or Street: Chang'An Lu 长安路 - Chang'An Road Jiē 街 - Street: WangFuJing Jie 王府井街 - WangFuJing Street Fāng 坊 - Lane or Alley: NanLuoGuXiang 南锣鼓巷 - NanLuoGuXiang Běi 北 - North: BeiJing 北京 - BeiJing Nán 南 - South: NanJing 南京 - NanJing Dōng 东 - East: DongGuan 东莞 - DongGuan Xī 西 - West: Xi'An 西安 - Xi'An Zhōng 中 - Central: ZhongShan 中山 - ZhongShan Wài 外 - Outer: WaiTan 外滩 - The Bund Nèi 内 - Inner: NeiMengGu 内蒙古 - Inner Mongolia Xīn 新 - New: XinJiang 新疆 - XinJiang Jiù 旧 - Old: JiuJinShan 旧金山 - San Francisco Shàng 上 - Upper: ShangHai 上海 - ShangHai Xià 下 - Lower: XiaGuan 下关 - XiaGuan Qián 前 - Front: QianMen 前门 - QianMen Hòu 后 - Back: HouHai 后海 - HouHai Cháng 长 - Long: ChangChun 长春 - ChangChun Duǎn 短 - Short: DuanShan 短山 - DuanShan Gāo 高 - High: GaoXiong 高雄 - KaoHsiung Dī 低 - Low: DiCun 低村 - DiCun Dà 大 - Big: DaTong 大同 - DaTong Xiǎo 小 - Small: XiaoZhen 小镇 - XiaoZhen Lóng 龙 - Dragon: LongYan 龙岩 - LongYan Fèng 凤 - Phoenix: FengYang 凤阳 - FengYang Fú 福 - Fortune: FuZhou 福州 - FuZhou Ān 安 - Peace: Xi'An 西安 - Xi'An Qìng 庆 - Celebration: QingYang 庆阳 - QingYang Xīng 兴 - Prosperous: XingHua 兴化 - XingHua Jí 吉 - Lucky: JiLin 吉林 - JiLin Xiáng 祥 - Auspicious: XiangFu 祥符 - XiangFu Guāng 光 - Light: GuangZhou 广州 - GuangZhou Míng 明 - Bright: MingGuang 明光 - MingGuang Hékǒu 河口 - River Mouth: HeKou 河口 - HeKou Qiáotóu 桥头 - Bridgehead: QiaoTou 桥头 - QiaoTou Shānjiǎo 山脚 - Foothill: ShanJiao 山脚 - ShanJiao Hǎibīn 海滨 - Seaside: HaiBin 海滨 - HaiBin Mǎtóu 码头 - Wharf: MaTou 码头 - MaTou Gǔ 古 - Ancient: GuZhen 古镇 - GuZhen Wén 文 - Culture: WenHua Cun 文化村 - WenHua Village Chāng 昌 - Flourishing: ChangPing 昌平 - ChangPing Cuì 翠 - Emerald (green): CuiHu 翠湖 - CuiHu Jīn 金 - Gold: JinShan 金山 - JinShan Yín 银 - Silver: YinChuan 银川 - YinChuan Qīng 青 - Blue/Green: QingDao 青岛 - QingDao Hóng 红 - Red: HongHe 红河 - HongHe Huáng 黄 - Yellow: HuangShan 黄山 - HuangShan Bái 白 - White: BaiYun 白云 - BaiYun Hēi 黑 - Black: HeiLongJiang 黑龙江 - HeiLongJiang Yáng 阳 - Sun: LuoYang 洛阳 - LuoYang Yīn 阴 - Shade: YinShan 阴山 - YinShan Xīng 星 - Star: XingZi 星子 - XingZi Yuè 月 - Moon: YueLiang Wan 月亮湾 - Moon Bay Huā 花 - Flower: HuaDu 花都 - HuaDu Cǎo 草 - Grass: CaoYuan 草原 - Grassland Shù 树 - Tree: ShuCun 树村 - ShuCun Lín 林 - Forest: LinHai 林海 - LinHai Yuán 园 - Garden: YuanLin 园林 - YuanLin Nóng 农 - Agricultural: NongChang 农场 - NongChang Gōng 工 - Industrial: GongYe Qu 工业区 - GongYe District Shāng 商 - Commercial: ShangYe Jie 商业街 - Commercial Street Xué 学 - Learning: XueYuan Lu 学院路 - XueYuan Road Yī 医 - Medical: YiYuan Jie 医院街 - YiYuan Street Zhàn 站 - Station: HuoChe Zhan 火车站 - Train Station Shì 室 - Room: BanGong Shi 办公室 - Office Lóu 楼 - Building: GaoLou 高楼 - Tall Building Qū 区 - Area/District: ShiQu 市区 - Urban Area Yuánqū 园区 - Park/Zone: GongYe YuanQu 工业园区 - Industrial Park Jīdì 基地 - Base: KeJi JiDi 科技基地 - Technology Base Jiēdào 街道 - Street: Gu JieDao 古街道 - Ancient Street Xiǎoqū 小区 - Residential area: XiaoQū 小区 - Residential Area Zhōngxīn 中心 - Center: Shi ZhōngXīn 市中心 - City Center Chinese city names and their meanings : BeiJing 北京 - North Capital ShangHai 上海 - Above Sea ChongQing 重庆 - Double Celebration TianJin 天津 - Heavenly Ford GuangZhou 广州 - Expansive Prefecture ShenZhen 深圳 - Deep Ditch ChengDu 成都 - Become Capital Nanjing 南京 - South Capital Xi'An 西安 - Western Peace HangZhou 杭州 - Hang Prefecture Wuhan 武汉 - Combined from WuChang (武昌) and HanKou (汉口) SuZhou 苏州 - Su Prefecture Shenyang 沈阳 - Rising Sun Dongguan 东莞 - East Pass Ningbo 宁波 - Tranquil Waves Qingdao 青岛 - Green Island Guiyang 贵阳 - Precious Sun Haikou 海口 - Sea Mouth Kunming 昆明 - Bright Merits Xiamen 厦门 - Door of the House
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