Kunming is known as the city of "eternal spring". And what a relief from Beijing. Visable mountains, fresh air, flowers in windows and on tables, bouganvilla cascading everywhere: a city that seems lived in, as opposed to just inhabited. I arrived at midnight amid rain, but by morning it was gone, and it was a great pleasure to walk around in the city of about a million and half. The bird market is not very big, but it is fun. Of course, there are the normal parrots, parakeets, finches, etc. , but also rabbits, puppies, kittens, snakes, spiders, silkworms, silkworm cocoons, gerbels, mice, fish, black squirrels, ferrets--a virtual zoo of household pets. There are a few food sellers, and a few rock sellers (seriously), but by far the most interesting sellers were the few people standling
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