A traveller's reflection: Yunnan 07: From Tea Treasures to Trendy Streets...

Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Yunnan 07: From Tea Treasures to Trendy Streets...

“Traveling with good friends makes the road shorter...” - Chinese proverb

(The CR450AF Fuxing, the preferred Chinese high speed train)

Day 07: 30 August 2025 (Saturday)

Route: Lijiang - Kunming - Yiliang
Hotel: Yiliang Ramada By Wyndham

We woke up groggy from too little sleep, dragging ourselves out of bed for an early breakfast. It felt rushed, but we had no choice - we needed to check out by 6:40 a.m. and get to the station before the morning crowd. Our big bags went with the driver on the bus bound for Kunming, while we kept only our small carry-ons for the bullet train. It felt strange to part with our luggage, but at the same time, there was a sense of lightness traveling with just the essentials.

(Cheerful morning, ready to hit the road)

(Fresh salad, a great dish to start the day)

When we reached Lijiang Train Station, it was already buzzing with morning commuters. Thankfully, our tickets had been pre-booked, so check-in was smooth and hassle-free. Our group was seated together in the same coach, which made the journey more comfortable. The high-speed bullet train carried us from Lijiang to Kunming in about three and a half hours, cruising steadily at around 170 km/h - though never quite reaching its maximum speed of 300 km/h.

(Lijiang Train Station)

(Disciplined commuters falling into neat queues)

(Looking for our coach)

(Our coach No. 1 is at the very end)

(Time to sit back and enjoy the sceneries)

(Our group was seated in the same coach)

(Sceneries along the train route)

We arrived at Kunming South Railway Station, still an hour’s drive from the city center. From there, another tour bus picked us up and brought us straight to a Muslim restaurant in Xishan, where we were ready for a much-needed meal.

(Kunming Train Station is more crowded that Jiliang;s)

(Passing through the city of Kunming)

(The skyline of Kunming)

(Golden Horse and Rooster Archways, the iconic landmarks)

(A Muslim restaurant in Xishan)

(Our seafood lunch for today)

After lunch we crossed the road to Yongning Mosque and performed our jamak prayers there. The mosque was originally built during the Yuan Dynasty and is one of the oldest and most significant Islamic sites in Yunnan. The mosque has stood for centuries, symbolizing resilience amid Kunming’s urbanization, with its crescent still visible amid the changing skyline. Historically, it has weathered destruction - most notably in 1856 during the Qing suppression of a Muslim rebellion - but was rebuilt afterwards, reflecting the enduring faith of the local Muslim community.

(Yongming Mosque from across the road)

(The main prayer hall is on the upper floor)

(The old and the new minaret of the mosque)

(One of the oldest mosques in Yunnan)

(The spacious main prayer hall)

Our journey continued with a compulsory visit to a silk factory, a stop that soon turned into a shopping opportunity for some, as the discounts and free gifts proved too tempting to resist. The factory tour covered the silk production process, from the worms’ cocoons to the finest bed sheets, one of the things that make China famous all over the world. During the Han Dynasty, when economic and cultural relations between China and its neighbors were expanding, China's silk commerce and exports grew exponentially, leading to the formation of the legendary Silk Road.

(A Chinese Imperial golden dragon silk robe)

(The process of silk making and a finished product)

Next we visited the Luosiwan Wholesale Market, the ultimate place in Kunming for bulk shopping: from silk fabrics and clothes to household goods and toys. It is one of the largest wholesale market in South-East-Asia. It is busy, chaotic, and massive. Prices are much cheaper if you buy in bulk, but some shops will also sell single pieces. At night, however, right outside and around the Luosiwan area, there are night market–style food stalls and small vendors.

(Luosiwan Wholesale Market, the largest in SEA)

(Too short a time to cover the many shops)

(Traders move their merchandise to premises outside the building)

(The bustling night markets)

While waiting for our bus, we had coffee at Luckin Coffee. This franchise sources coffee beans from the Yunnan province in China, which is a key coffee producing region. The company has invested in a green coffee bean processing plant in Baoshan City, Yunnan, to enhance its supply chain, control bean quality, and implemented sustainable processing practices. Luckin Coffee also uses Yunnan beans in some of their specialty products, like the Yunnan Small Citrus Series coffee beans.

(Having iced cappuccino at Luckin Coffee)

We had dinner in one of the banquet rooms of Xin Sheng Da Hong Sheng International Hotel. Tonight's dinner was special. We had 'Crossing the Bridge Noodles' Yunnan’s most famous dish, especially in Kunming. The dish contains a traditional rice noodle served with a rich hot broth plus a tray of raw and cooked ingredients that you add into the soup. The name 'Crossing the Bridge Noodles' comes from a famous local legend.

(The raw ingredients to add to the piping hot broth)

(A large bowl of hot savory broth)

(Additional dishes to go with the noodles)

Tonight we celebrated five birthdays of our August-born group members, marking the occasion with reciting of doa and the cutting of a huge delicious cake.

(Birthday celebration for the August borns)

After dinner, we travelled to Yiliang Located about 52 km east of Kunming City which is an hour's drive away. Checked-in Yiliang Ramada by Wyndham Hotel for the night.