Kunming, China (Yunnan Province)

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Kunming is more of a modern city than I expected. Riding in I saw the drab, industrial outskirts but there are very nice parts of the city. Unfortunately, I had to spend a couple hours per day trying to arrange flights for the end of this trip.


I did make it to the large Green Lake Park in the center of Kunming. I was there on a Saturday and it was packed with musicians, artists and families. It was really like stepping in to a different world; I didn't see another foreigner until I got back to the hostel that night. There were so many little music performances going on, I could hear several from one spot and had to gravitate to the one I wanted to hear at any given time. There was everything from a lone violinist to groups of old guys improvising to a ten piece (obviously profesional) band set up under a tree on the grass bank of the lake.


I also went to Yuantong Temple in Kunming. This is a 1200 year old Buddhist temple that was pretty impressive. I have seen so many Buddhist temples in the last six months, it was nice to see the Chinese take on it. China is interesting in the fact that, since I have been here, I have seen the most industrial, ugly, character-lacking places I have ever seen. But also the most beautiful, well manicured, stunning places paying full attention to aesthetics.

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