“At home, a thousand days are good; once you leave the door, difficulties arise...” - Chinese proverb
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| (Towering limestone pillars in the Stone Forest) |
Day 08: 31 August 2025 (Sunday)
Activity: The Stone Forest and Kunming City Tour
Route: Kunming - Airport transfer
Breakfast was at 7.00 am and checked out by 8.30 am. From our hotel we travelled for an hour to The Stone Forest, another attraction in Kunming.
The Stone Forest, one of Yunnan’s most famous attractions located about 90 km southeast of Kunming, in Shilin Yi Autonomous County. It is a spectacular karst landscape of tall limestone pillars that look like a forest made of stone. Formed over 270 million years of erosion. The Stone Forest is part of the South China Karst UNESCO World Heritage Site, since 2007. The Yi people live here. Many of their legends are tied to the rocks - like the story of Ashima, a Sani girl who turned into stone after resisting a forced marriage.
After visiting the Stone Forest we had lunch at one of the Muslim Restaurant within the Stone Forest area.
After lunch, the bus took us to Astaxanthin Factory, another compulsory visit. We visited Microalgae Cultivation Systems where there are rows of transparent photobioreactor tubes filled with green/red Haematococcus pluvialis. There was a guided tour where they explained the science behind H. pluvialis, the production cycle, and later showcasing and selling their finished medicinal and cosmetic goods.
From Yiliang, we travelled back to Kunming. Kunming is the provincial capital, nicknamed "Spring City". Known in China as the City of Eternal Spring, Kunming is at an almost-tropical latitude but with a 2000 m (6600 ft) altitude, which gives it a very temperate climate. However, in winter it has been known to snow. It was a nice sunny weather when we were there with intermittent rain towards the evening.
When we arrived in Kunming the bus took us direct to Shuncheng Mosque for jamak prayers. The Shuncheng Mosque is one of the largest and most notable mosques in Kunming, located on Shuncheng Street. The mosque holds significant historical and religious importance for the Hui Muslim community in Kunming. It serves as a central place for prayer services, religious ceremonies, and cultural events, fostering community engagement. The mosque's architecture reflects a blend of Islamic and traditional Chinese styles, showcasing the integration of cultures along the ancient Southern Silk Road.
After prayers, we walked a short distance to a Muslim retaurant for an early dinner.
Later we walked in the rain along Shuncheng Shopping Street. There are Modern Mall Complexes as part of a large, upscale commercial hub. There are food courts and restaurants with Chinese, Japanese, Korean BBQ, hotpot, and Western options. Cafés, Bakeries and choices of street snacks of Yunnan specialties lined the streets.
We spent almost two hours in Bolian Plaza and Nanping Pedestrian Street, which is popular for shopping, food, and nightlife.
Visited the Golden Horse and Jade Rooster Archways, two of the most famous landmarks in Kunming, The gates were built during the Ming Dynasty circa 1426–1435. They stand as twin ceremonial archways symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. The names come from two nearby mountains: Golden Horse Mountain and Jade Rooster Mountain.
By 10.00 pm we left the city and headed to Kunming Changshui International Airport located 28 km from city center.
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