Beautiful Kunming "City of Eternal Spring"!!!!!!!

Holiday in Kunming

Hi, everyone. It is me again, Tisha. Now, I am going to tell you about  an amazing city in China. It is called Kunming. I visited Kunming from March 24^th until March 29^th 2013.

 Kunming is a beautiful and an awesome city. It has a lot of mountains and beautiful landscapes. Kunming is also known as the “City of Eternal Spring”, for its pleasant climate which allows flowers to bloom all year long.

SHILIN - THE STONE FOREST

The first place I went to Kunming is the Shilin or the Stone Forest. It is in Lunan Yi Nationality Autonomous County, which is about 120 kilometres (75 miles) from Kunming and requires only a three-hour drive. 

We went inside the Stone Forest. In the Stone Forest, there are many tall and rocky stones. I wandered through the various paths and climbed up steep rocky steps and I saw many tall rocks that resemble petrified trees. All these tall rocky structures created an illusion of a stone forest. 

When I climbed up to the highest peak, I looked down and I saw thousands of tall rocky stones amidst beautiful green trees of Kunming.

Actually, there is also a story in the Stone Forest. This story is about a beautiful Sani girl named Ashima. According to legend, the beautiful Ashima was petrified until she was transformed into a permanent rock peak which stands in the Minor Stone Forest. Slim and graceful, she gazes afar to expect her sweetheart Ahei. When we reached the Stone Forest Lake, we saw the stone of Ashima. It looks indeed like a very beautiful lady like rock formation sculptured by mother nature.

 The Stone Forest is a unique place to visit. It is like heaven on earth.










JIUXIANG- THE NINE VILLAGES

The second place I visited in Kunming is Jiuxiang or ‘The Nine Villages’ if translated literally . 

It is located in Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Autonomous Township of Yiliang County in Southeast Kunming. It is 90 kilometres away from Kunming downtown and 30 kilometres from the Stone Forest. Formed in the Sinian Periodsome 600 million years ago, Jiuxiang Karst cave cluster consists of over 100 caves.

My parents, friends and I started our journey into the grand underground valley of Jiuxiang from the Gate of Diehong Bridge Zone. We walked into the mountain and into the deep deep karst caves. 

We walked along narrow rocky passageways carved along the side of the mountains. 

As we walked further, we came to a karst cave called the Lion Hall. Here, you can visit the museum about the cave man of this mountain. 

There is also a very unique fish which has no eyes that is found in the mountain. The Lion Hall is a very interesting place to visit.

  

Next, we crossed a bridge that is the Diehong Bridge. There is a river flowing gracefully below the bridge. 

Further into the cave, we come to the Twin Waterfalls. It is my first time to see a waterfall in an underground cave. The water gushes down like thunder. 

After that, we went to the Fairy Fields. It is very beautiful and fantastic. The Fairy Field contains interesting formations caused by vertical and horizontal corrosion. The Twin Waterfalls and Fairy Field are also not to be missed.

After  walking underground in this huge enormous mountain for more than three hours, we exited from the other end of the mountain. We took a tramp car from the mountain down to the entrance. We had an exciting ride as we zoom down while admiring the beautiful view of green trees and the natural landscape of the mountains.

CUIHU PARK- GREEN LAKE PARK

Another place that I visited in Kunming is the Green Lake Park or Cuihu Park. It is also known as "Kunming's Jade". It is located on the west side of Wuhua Mountain in Kunming, Green Lake Park was built in the 17th century. 

There are two long banks which divide Green Lake Park into four parts. In winter, the banks are covered with an abundance of green willow trees. The air here is fresh and clean. 

It is so nice to take a morning stroll or simply sit and relax by the lake and to admire her beauty. No wonder it is known as "Kunming's Jade". 






There were many local people dancing and exercising and enjoying themselves. Some of them even flew kites. There are also many stalls and shops selling souvenirs. I really had a good time in this park.