Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/sights_1106/18133.html
The news was updated on October 30, 2019.
Over 120 years ago in 1892, Alfred Liétard, a humble missionary from France travelled to the Binchuan county of Dali in today’s northwest Yunnan province. He carried some coffee seeds himself and planted them near a small mountainous village he passed by. Now, after several generations, Yunnan has grown to be the largest coffee producer across China, with totally 1.8 million mu (equal to 120,000 hectares) of coffee gardens and 400,000 tons of annual output. Major producing areas include Pu’er, Baoshan, Dehong, Lincang and Xishuangbanna. Thanks to the boom of coffee industry and its associated agro-tourism and agritainment business, local developments of these areas have been notably accelerated; coffee enterprises with national and international reputations have also emerged. A mature and well-functioning coffee supply chain which incorporates planting, processing, branding as well as sale and marketing has been set up at China’s southwestern gateway.
What’s new about coffee?
Xinzhai village, sitting at the foot of the renowned Gaoligong Mountain in western Yunnan’s Baoshan city, has long been hailed as the “Home of Chinese Coffee”. Arid and sweltering valleys, accompanied by sufficient sunlight all year round, provide a rather unique environment for the cultivation of Xiaoli (how Coffea Arabica L. is dubbed in China, meaning small grain) coffee- the typical coffee beans being grown in Yunnan. The village currently owns about 13,600 mu (approximately 907 hectares) of coffee farms, with over 2,000 residents involving in coffee-related works.
According to Wang Jiawei, the village secretary of the Party, Xinzhai is experiencing a tremendous industrial transformation and upgrade. The village endeavors to incorporate its coffee products with newly-developed agro-tourism and ethnic tourism, promoting coffee consumption through a series of cultural activities and events. The Baoshan Coffee Tourism and Cultural Festival, for example, has been held by the Municipal Government of Baoshan since 2016. Activities range from coffee-picking and brewing contests to walking and cycling tours across a number of coffee gardens.
During the festival of last year, Zhong Huandi, a former champion of the National Games of China and renowned Yunnan-born athlete of long-distance running, was invited to Baoshan as a guest. She joined thousands of running enthusiasts and coffee lovers, and ran together with them among coffee plantations. The local economy – particularly those hostels and catering businesses in Baoshan – has been greatly invigorated by coffee itself and the so called “coffee economy” in a broader sense.
“I came to know about Xinzhai and Yunnan’s abundant coffee resources many years ago via the Internet. And now I’m more than happy to see such prosperity brought by coffee growing. To me, coffee is something that can create endless business opportunities,” said Liu Hailong, a businessman and investor from Shenzhen who visited Xinzhai in 2018 for the first time.
“I decided to stay here and do something almost immediately,” he continued. In just one year time, several coffee farms and an exhibition center to display the history of Yunnan’s coffee industry have been swiftly built up by his team. Meanwhile, hostels and car campsites themed coffee culture are planned to be constructed. Investments from the outside – notably China’s coastal areas – have brought benefits to local coffee growers as well. Liu said that the average purchasing price for fresh and unroasted coffee beans remains around 10 yuan (approximately 1.4 US dollars), which means farmers can barely earn any money out of growing and collecting coffee. But since they elevate the the price to about 60 yuan (8.5 US dollars) per kilogram, farmers’ income has been largely increased.
Currently, the village has received investments from four domestic coffee companies. “I believe that the integration of coffee growing, processing and related agro-tourism has great potential to bring its development to a new height and create a lot more opportunities for us,” said Wang Jiewei with full confidence, in regard of the future of Xinzhai.
In Search of “fine coffee”
As one cradle of Chinese coffee, the Pu’er city in southwest Yunnan has a long history of growing coffee, compared with other areas of China. In the early 1980s, Nestlé – the Swiss food and beverage conglomerate -started to dispatch groups of coffee experts to Pu’er, instructing local farmers how to grow coffee plants carefully and then collect and process their fruits. It is fair to say that this was where the modern history of Yunnan coffee began. Featuring high productivity and resistance to pests, Catimor – as a cross between Timor and Calturra- has dominated the coffee being cultivated in Yunnan ever since. It also acquires enormous popularity among domestic consumers, even though its taste can hardly be considered perfect. Indeed, the commercial influence of Catimor never seems to be swayed by this. But it is very likely to hinder the quality improvement of Yunnan’s coffee and undermine its international reputation in a long run.
“Most of our elder farmers have never tasted the coffee they grow themselves, and know almost nothing about modern processing. The methods they use are those of decades ago,” said Hua Runmei, the youngest coffee grower in Pu’er who gave up job opportunities in Shanghai and returned home in 2015, after graduating from university. “I hope to elevate the quality of coffee in Pu’er and bring more what I call ‘fine coffee’ to the market.”
Changes began with ways of processing. “The elder generation barely knows any method out of fully washing, in terms processing green and fresh coffee beans,” said Hua. In order to improve coffee’s quality, she had to explain to the farmers how semi-washed, dry and honey processes worked in the first place. She also hosted coffee workshops at her place and taught them how to drink and appreciate different types of coffees. “Only when farmers know what coffee tastes like and how it should be drunk, the quality of our coffee products can be truly raised,” said she. Interestingly, most attendees said they had fell in love with coffee after several times of training; some were even able to taste coffee like connoissuers.
In 2018, Hua Runmei’s fine coffee beans were chosen by Seesaw, a Shanghai-based coffee house chain, and brought to eastern China. “The most obvious features of these beans are their moderate acidity and balanced flavor. We simply can’t wait to introduce them to our customers,” said a staff of Seesaw. So far, Seesaw has ordered over 20 tons of fresh coffee beans from Pu’er, with a purchase price that is three times higher than that of Nestlé and Starbucks – is major competitors. “Yunnan’s fine coffee business has just started off, but we are very optimistic about its future,” Hua concluded.
Hua apparently is not the only one who dedicates herself to promoting coffees of Yunnan on both national and international stages. In the of year of 2016, the Yunnan International Coffee Exchange Center was unveiled in Pu’er city. According to Shu Yang, the general manager, the center aims to raise the proportion of fine coffee by 20 percent in the next five years, and increase its production value from 15,000 to 30,000 yuan per mu (1 mu equals to 0.67 hectare). The global reputation of Yunnan coffee thus is expected to be further enhanced in the near future.
Strengthening the coffee industry chain
In recent years, a number of local coffee enterprises have gradually come into the sight of consumers, along with the burgeoning coffee industry of Yunnan. Take Hogood, China’s first domestic coffee brand, for example, it invents a method to graft coffee plants with walnut trees. The quality of both coffee beans and walnuts has been significantly improved by this means. Another renowned coffee producer Aini, on the other hand, develops the first “green” coffee that can be planted in Yunnan’s jungles and rain forests. The company believes that coffee could contribute to the protection of agroforestry system and maintenance of biodiversity.
Last October, a coffee price index was jointly published by the China Economic Information Service, Municipal Government of Pu’er as well as Yunnan International Coffee Exchange Center. Samples were collected from the five major coffee growing areas of Yunnan, encompassing Pu’er, Dehong, Baoshan, Lincang and Xishuangbanna. The index can precisely predict the trend of coffee price change in both short and long terms – which is pivotal to the industrial upgrade and healthy development of Yunnan’s coffee business.
Since 2018 when Yunnan initiated a project to promote green food, considerable vitality has been injected into its coffee production. A systematic industrial chain incorporating cultivation, collection, processing and marketing has been established by steps. Now, local governments, coffee-growing households as well as private enterprises are making joint efforts to turn coffee into a leading green food of Yunnan.
Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/flavor_1030/18085.html
The news was updated on November 12, 2019.
Employees work on the China-Laos railway project in Kunming, Yunnan province, the starting point of the railway line under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Officials from the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport and other sectors are learning about railway operations from Chinese experts in Lao capital Vientiane to prepare for the opening of China-Laos railway in 2021.
The final railway technology training course is taking place at the Lao Front for National Development’s training center from Friday to Nov 28, with 45 people attending the course, local daily Vientiane Times reported Monday.
The training program teaches Lao officials about railway operations and management and is supported by China’s Ministry of Commerce and implemented by Peking University.
Speaking at the opening of the program, Lao Deputy Head of Office of the Laos-China Cooperation Commission Anongdeth Chanthala said “The railway is currently about 70 percent complete and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2021. It is a large-scale cooperation project and will require more technical personnel to operate and maintain the railway.”
Laos and China are also planning to build a training school for railway technicians and expect to start its design in 2020, he added.
The planned 417-km railway, which connects Vientiane capital with the Chinese border, traverses the provinces of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay and Luang Namtha, passing through 75 tunnels with a combined length of 197.83km.
The railway will be a milestone in the socio-economic and cooperation strategies of the two countries.
The Lao government places great importance on the project, which is part of a planned regional railway linking southern China to Singapore via Laos, Thailand and Malaysia.
Laos is closely examining opportunities under the Belt and Road initiative, which provides clear goals for comprehensive cooperation between countries in the region and promotes greater connectivity in policies, infrastructure, trade and investment, finance, society, and culture, said the report.
Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/asean_1112/18160.html
The news was updated on October 30, 2019.
Recently, a rare view was captured by environmental photographers in Ruili, western Yunnan’s Dehong autonomous prefecture of the Dai and Jingpo minorities.
Flocks of red-breasted parakeets(Psittacula alexandri) appeared in the sky, flying low over waters and forests.
Characterized primarily by their red bills and green plumage, red-breasted parakeets migrate for food and proper habitats regularly.
The clean air and stretches of corn fields here are believed as the main magnet to attract them to this city right on China’s border with Myanmar.
Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/latestnews_1030/18090.html
The news was updated on November 8, 2019.
A view of the Pudacuo National Park in Diqing Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Southwest China’s Yunnan province, on Nov 7, 2019.
Pudacuo, or Potatso, National Park is located in Yunnan province’s Shangri-La. The region of this park contains more than 20 percent of China’s plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species, though it comprises only 0.7 percent of the country’s land area.
It is notably home to vulnerable black-necked cranes, many rare and beautiful orchids, and Himalayan Yew, a coniferous tree whose extracts are a source of the anticancer drug, paclitaxel.
A view of the Pudacuo National Park in Diqing Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Southwest China’s Yunnan province, on Nov 7, 2019.
Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/sights_1108/18147.html
The news was updated on November 6, 2019.
In late autumn, the sky in Lijiang City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, is colored with a breathtaking blue, against the crystal-clear water of the Lugu Lake, pleasing visitors with this beautiful scroll paint lookalike.
Launching the project of ruling and protecting the environment of Lugu Lake and other eight major plateau lakes, Lijiang City implemented a series of policies and regulations from 2018. Now, the environment of Lugu Lake wetland is improving gradually having a higher ability to restore the local ecological system. In this year, the water quality of Lugu Lake remained in Class I, becoming the best among the nine plateau lakes among the area.
Starbucks is proud to participate in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) for the second straight year, supporting one of the leading landmark events for Shanghai and China. This year, 260 Starbucks baristas will be presenting Starbucks Reserve Yunnan coffee that’s fully grown and roasted in China, alongside other premium Starbucks Reserve coffee and tea beverages, complemented by appetizing food by Princi. Nineteen Starbucks locations will be set up across the event venue in total.
“Starbucks is honored to contribute again to the success of the Expo. Over the past two decades, Starbucks has not only dedicated itself to bringing people and communities in China together through our coffee, but also to supporting the continued growth and elevation of Chinese coffee,” said Leo Tsoi, chief operating officer and president, Starbucks China Retail. “Today, our partners are proud to convey their pride and passion for top quality Chinese coffee, through sharing the distinctive flavor of premium Starbucks Reserve Yunnan coffee on this prestigious international stage.”
Having brought coffee culture to China, Starbucks aspires to bring top quality Chinese coffee to the world.
Over the past seven years, Starbucks has partnered closely with Yunnan farmers to continuously improve the quality of their coffee through providing agronomy expertise and resources. This year’s CIIE showcases the latest premium Starbucks Reserve Yunnan coffee – Qingkai Farm. It is the first single origin Reserve coffee to be named after a Yunnan coffee farmer, honoring the tireless labor, perseverance and pursuit of excellence by local farmers.
Starbucks will also be providing freshly baked artisanal food by Princi, bringing a taste of Italian baking craft to the event. The food menu features several thoughtfully prepared items, including an oatmeal cranberry cookie featuring the letters ‘CIIE’ specially created to commemorate the event.
The 19 Starbucks locations at the event are designed to highlight the growing emphasis on sustainability. Inspired by the aesthetical characteristics of paper straws, they were constructed using kraft paper and flame-retardant materials, to create a novel and comfortable ‘third place’ where guests may take a moment to refuel and recharge amidst their busy schedules. Starbucks baristas will also be on hand to guide visitors on waste categorization, which will be implemented across all locations.
During the CIIE, Starbucks baristas will be working round-the-clock to deliver an exceptional Starbucks Experience at any time of the day. Said Sky Ji, a partner who is participating in CIIE for the second straight year, “Every partner has been rigorously trained on all facets of service and etiquette, to ensure that we deliver only the highest service standards. We cannot be more proud to represent Shanghai, to be part of such an important milestone event for the city!”
Since entering the Chinese market 20 years ago, Starbucks has grown to operate over 4,100 stores across more than 160 cities in China. Starbucks is growing and innovating faster in China than any part of the world. It also creates more than 10,000 new jobs in China every year.
Shanghai is not only the headquarters and innovation center for Starbucks China, but also the city with the most number of Starbucks stores in the world, and home to the first Starbucks Roastery to be opened outside the United States. China’s favorable operating environment, the tremendous potential of the Chinese coffee market as well as the momentum generated by the CIIE have helped to fuel Starbucks growth in the market. Building on its strong growth momentum, the company has launched an array of innovative store concepts in the past year, such as the Starbucks Reserve® Bakery Café and the Starbucks Reserve Café & Bar Mixato, while continuously elevating and enhancing the digital retail experience in China.
Echoing the CIIE’s theme – “New Era, Shared Future” – Starbucks is committed to being “in China for China,” through partnering with local suppliers to diversify its global coffee supply chain and increase the proportion of specialty coffee purchased from Yunnan. It is currently the largest buyer of exported Arabica coffee from Yunnan, and will continue to showcase the distinctive flavor of top quality coffee grown and roasted in China to CIIE and other international platforms.
Source from https://www.thatsmags.com/guangzhou/post/29898/starbucks-serving-top-quality-yunnan-coffee-at-china-int-l-import-expo-2019
The news was updated on November 5, 2019.
In southern Yunnan, there is an old town standing right on the ancient caravan route. The town is characterized by its distinctive architectural form which combines stained glasses of France with traditional Chinese-styled courtyards. Known as Yisa, it has been hailed as the “fortress on horseback”.
Yisa is located in Honghe township, the Honghe prefecture of the Hani and Yi minorities in today’s southern Yunnan province. Its name derives from the Yi language, which can be translated to aridity or lack of water. The town thrived and reached its climax during the period of Qianlong emperor (1736-1795) in the middle of the Qing Dynasty, following the discovery of copper deposits. However, copper ores were quickly mined out in just a few decades, and the town which had already lied on its brink of collapse urgently needed a new chance to recover.
Caravan trade was an opportunity of such to bring Yisa back on is track. Mules and horses being used in copper mines before were massed again, carrying tons of local linens and silks to as far as Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and other southeast Asian countries of present day for exchanges. And these journeys were called “Xia Bazi” by the locals, simply meaning “going abroad”.
In is heyday, there were 11 trade routes linking Yisa with its surrounding areas. Local residents here even left their hometown and emigrated to the southeast Asia where they soon formed some of the first communities of Yunnan people overseas. Indeed, the caravan trade brought Yisa with tremendous wealth and prosperity. In the meantime, Western ideas and cultures were allowed to reach and leave marks on this piece of land. Architecture is apparent the best example.
“Yisa did not produce plank, tile, glass or any other building materials. All of these had to be relied on import, or more specially the merchants and their caravans from the outside,” said Yang Zhaowei, director of a local cultural research institute. “Experienced builders were also lacking, so our ancestors had to hire workers from Tonghai, E’shan, Kunming and a few other neighboring areas.”
As a result of the British ad French colonial influences in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Hybridization is the most prominent feature of Yisa’s architectures. Strolling in those narrow lanes, you would find elements from both the East and West juxtaposing in one space: traditional Chinese courtyards with marble arches, curved roofs with stained glass window and so forth. Houses with white crosses being placed on the rooftops may even been seen, though they are neither churches nor hospitals. This is definitely an unexpected cultural hybridization that you might think only existing in the postmodern era.
At the east end of the town, there stands a grand and exquisite castle of mostly Chinese style. It is obviously the center of Yisa. Featuring colossal stones, labyrinthine paths as well as delicate roof tiles, the castle looks just like a piece of art. However, with stone walls of over 80 centimeters thick, it used to function as a reliable stronghold to protect residents from being looted by local bandits.
In comparison with other economic hubs in ancient Yunnan (like Jianshui and Lijiang), Yisa was a rather small place, with no more than 300 households (or 2,000 people). Yet nearly every family had adventurous and intrepid young men working with caravans – some even joined them at the age of 10 or 11. They journey down to the south was apparently an arduous and perilous one, as it had long been infested with not barely bandits, but deadly tropical diseases, such as malaria, cholera and leprosy.
Moreover, the life of muleteers – as you can perhaps imagine – has no much difference from that of seafarers who need to voyage for months or even years before they can finally return home.
“Yisa is a secluded town in the Ailao Mountain of Yunnan,” said Yang. “With no arable land, being part of the caravan trade was an practical and expedient way to get money and live a better life.”
Today – after centuries – caravans can no longer be found here in Yisa. But the fortress and those exquisite and exotic houses keep telling the exceptional past of this small town.
Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/travel_1105/18123.html
The news was updated on November 4, 2019.
Yu Xiaode, 62, works at the Shangri-La Snub-Nosed Monkeys National Park in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan province. He treats the monkeys like friends and family members. As a villager of the Lisu ethnic minority, Yu has been acting as a ranger for more than ten years. Now, the snub-nosed monkeys in the surrounding forests can recognise his voice and understand his whistle. They play and eat around Yu like friends.
The Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys live predominantly by the Baima Snow Mountain. Together with the giant pandas, they are national first-class protected animals. “They have a human-like face and big red lips. They are special and beautiful,” said Yu excitedly—even if he is usually a reticent man. Around the 1980s, hunting and logging had damaged the habitats of snub-nosed monkeys and threatened their survival. To protect the snub-nosed monkeys from extinction, China established the Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve. In 1999, the nature reserve joined hands with the local communities. This cooperation has not only protected the snub-nosed monkeys, but has furthermore provided employment for local residents, benefiting the villagers in Xiangguqing and several other villages in the Shangri-La Snub-Nosed Monkeys National Park.
Yu and some of his fellow become the first park rangers. “I earn a monthly salary of 1,700 RM (US$239.87). While working as a ranger, I can also help my family grow corn and potatoes,” said Yu. He has a family of four and they earn nearly 40,000 RMB (US$ 5,644) a year.
After years of protection efforts, the number of snub-nosed monkeys is increasing year by year, and is estimated to have exceeded 3,500. Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/sights_1104/18117.html
The news was updated on November 1, 2019.
Reporters has recently encountered some Skywalker hoolock gibbons in the Gaoligong Mountains, southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
Being in the hoolock genus, it is endemic to the area, and is thus known as Gaoligong hoolock gibbon as well.
Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/sights_1101/18104.html
The news was updted on October 28, 2019.
Ruili Airlines will be flying four times weekly from Yangon International Airport to Dehong, Yunnan Province.
Chinese service carrier Ruili Airlines has started its second direct flight, this time connecting Yangon and Dehong, Yunnan Province, on Sunday.
Ruili Airlines will be flying four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from Yangon International Airport (YIA) to Dehong, the airport said in a statement. The airline will be flying a Boeing 737 aircraft which can carry up to 144 passengers.
Ruili Airlines’ first direct flight commenced between Mangshi to Mandalay on January 31.
With the addition of this new route, YIA is now operating flights to 34 international destinations with services from 36 international airlines.
Dehong is situated on the China-Myanmar border and known for its Hinayana Buddhist temples, stretches of Banyan trees, and the Dai ethnic group. The Dai ethnic group celebrates a festival similar to Myanmar’s Thingyan and splash water for 3-4 days in April.
YIA is seeing a passenger increase of more than 6 percent over the last 12 months due to new routes mainly from the Chinese market.
Passenger traffic at the main aviation gateway of Yangon increased to 4.6 million in the first nine months of 2019, 6.5pc higher than the previous year.
As tourism is badly affected by the northern Rakhine crisis, the government has granted visa-on-arrival arrangements for citizens from six Western countries this year, after relaxing the visas for six territories in 2018.
Tourists from Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and Russia have been given visa-on-arrival access for US$50 each at Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw airports, starting this month.
Last October, tourists from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Macau were granted visa-free entry into Myanmar, while Indian and Chinese nationals were given visas-on-arrival. These arrangements have been renewed this year.
Source from https://www.mmtimes.com/news/ruili-airlines-starts-direct-flight-between-yangon-and-yunnans-dehong.html
The news was updated on October 30, 2019.
Featured primarily by its rough and slightly tawny surface, Dongba paper is a seemingly humble existence, relative to papers of modern era. But in Lijiang, the historical and cultural hub of northwest Yunnan, artisans of the Naxi are still passionate about learning and inheriting traditional techniques of making Dongba papers – which have been hailed as paper’s “living fossils.”
Dongba paper takes a rather special role in the cultural and spiritual life of Naxi people, the dominant ethnic group of Lijiang. For centuries, local priests have been drawing and writing sacred scriptures of Bön – a pre-Buddhist religion native to Tibet – on these papers with their own pictographic characters. Hence, they are considered an important vehicle to convey and spread the Naxi history and culture. What is more surprising, however, is the fact that Dongba paper can remain intact and usable for thousands of years without the concern of being decomposed. That’s why it is called the “paper with a longevity of millennia.”
Different from white printer papers we now use on a daily basis, Dongba paper looks yellowish (like the papyrus of ancient Egypt), and does not feel smooth and even when you touch it. According to He Huaqiang, Dongba papers are made from canescent wikstroemia, a locally-grown shrub. Having been learning with a few elder masters for years, Mr. He is a famed inheritor of Lijiang’s traditional paper-making techniques. “Stalks and leaves of the plant can still be seen, if you scrutinize the paper under sunlight,” he said.
Manufacturing Dongba paper is a fairly sophisticated process, involving several steps. Paper makers have to remove those black skins of the shrub first. The white plant left inside then needs to be boiled in hot water for a few hours. During this time, He Huaqiang and his peers must sit by the stove to keep the fire stable and constant. “Temperature is the key,” he said. “Heat has to be carefully controlled, because this is the premise for making exquisite Dongba papers.”
After being boiled, fabrics of the plant would turn exceptionally soft. The following processes include hammering, soaking, stirring, drying and eventually rolling. And it’s worth mentioning that all these steps above have to be done by hand.
He Huaqiang has been keen on popularizing the ethnic culture of Naxi people. His products gained much popularity during the 2019 Creative Yunnan Culture Industries Expo between August 8 and 12. “These yellowish papers look very special and they feel like barks when I put my hand on them.” said Zhang Ning, a Kunming citizen who attended the expo.
In terms of the question whether Dongba papers can really keep their shapes for thousands of years, He responded confidently that canescent wikstroemia is a special and sometimes even magical plant, because it contains a toxin which could effectively inhibit the growth of bacteria, and this would not affect people’s health after processing. “That is what I call the secret of Dongba paper”.
Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/craft_1030/18084.html
The news was updated on October 28, 2019.
If I am bored one day, I will get on a Kunming bullet train in the morning and reach Vientiane, Laos in the evening. I’ll feed the pigeons under a Bodhi tree alone for a whole afternoon, and without saying a word take another train back to Kunming the next day.
— Nicholas, the editor
Recently, good news on building the China-Laos railway came to us one after another. This railway linking Kunming to Laos, the country of hermits, is around the corner.
The Manzhang Tunnel on the Yuxi-Mohan railway was completed on October 21.
Sections of the 495.6m Ganlanba bridge were joined in south Yunnan on October 18.
Also, an amazing video on the railway’s Lao section went viral online, making a hit in the cyber world. The 926 km China-Laos Railway consists of the Chinese section and the Lao section.
The Chinese section starts in Kunming and ends in the border town Mohan. Passing through the cites of Yuxi, Pu’er and Jinghong, the section extends for 508 kilometers. The 414 km Lao section starts in Boten and reaches Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
With a designed speed of 160 km per hour, the China-Laos railway is expected to be fully operational in 2021. The China-Laos railway is of great significance for bilateral relations. And it is thus highly anticipated.
For China, this railway makes another international passage from southwest. In the future, China-Laos Railway will be extended to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, serving the construction of the China-ASEAN free trade area. For Yunnan, the railway will shorten the Kunming-Xishuangbanna trip to 3 hours, putting the Dai prefecture into the rail network.
The railway is the “No. 1 Project” for Lao government for it will turn the landlocked country into a land linked one. The railway will be conducive to Lao transportation, economic growth and social progress.
Lattanamany Khounnyvong, Lao Vice Minister of Public Works and Transport , said that China-Laos railway is the top project in the eighth five-year plan of Laos, and is of great significance for Laos.
The Lao people believe the railway will make it easier for them to travel from Vientiane to Jinghong or Kunming.
When the railway opens to traffic, the morning train from Kunming will reach Xishuangbanna in 3 hours and Vientiane in the evening. Laos will be another destination favored by Yunnan tourists.
No.1: Vientiane
With a long history, Vientiane has been the capital and economic center of Laos since the 14th century. The Arc de Triomphe, or the Victory Gate, is a top tourist attraction in Vientiane, built to commemorate the Lao independence.
No.2: Luang Prabang
It is a famous ancient capital and Buddhist center in Laos. The beautiful and unique place is recognized as the most charming old town in Southeast Asia.
No.3: Vang Vieng
Like the Guilin scenic area in China’s Guangxi, Vang Vieng has the quiet Nam Song River, the karst landform, and amazing caves. All make the area idyllic.
No.4: Si Phan Don
Meaning 4000 islands, Si Phan Don is an archipelago in a wide section of the Mekong River. The sight is most visible in the dry season when it is touristy.
No.5: Pakse
As the capital city of Champasak province, Pakse is a pleasant city worth a long stay. It boasts beautiful waterfalls.
Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/travel_1028/18070.html
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Yunnan: China’s largest coffee producer
The news was updated on October 30, 2019. Over 120 years ago in 1892, Alfred Liétard, a humble missionary from France travelled to the Binchuan county of Dali in today’s northwest...
Lao gov’t gets ready for opening of China-Laos railway in 2021
The news was updated on November 12, 2019. Employees work on the China-Laos railway project in Kunming, Yunnan province, the starting point of the railway line under the Belt...
Flocks of parakeets captured in Dehong, W Yunnan
The news was updated on October 30, 2019. Recently, a rare view was captured by environmental photographers in Ruili, western Yunnan’s Dehong autonomous prefecture of the Dai and Jingpo...
Enchanting view of Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-La
The news was updated on November 8, 2019. A view of the Pudacuo National Park in Diqing Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Southwest China’s Yunnan province, on Nov 7, 2019. Pudacuo,...
The crystal-clear Lugu Lake against the autumn sky
The news was updated on November 6, 2019. In late autumn, the sky in Lijiang City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, is colored with a breathtaking blue, against the crystal-clear...
Starbucks Serving Top Quality Yunnan Coffee at China Int’l Import Expo 2019
Starbucks is proud to participate in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) for the second straight year, supporting one of the leading landmark events for Shanghai and China. This...
Yisa: the fortress on horseback
The news was updated on November 5, 2019. In southern Yunnan, there is an old town standing right on the ancient caravan route. The town is characterized by its...
Yu Xiaode and his snub-nosed monkey friends
The news was updated on November 4, 2019. Yu Xiaode, 62, works at the Shangri-La Snub-Nosed Monkeys National Park in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan province. He...
Skywalker hoolock gibbons spotted in SW China
The news was updated on November 1, 2019. Reporters has recently encountered some Skywalker hoolock gibbons in the Gaoligong Mountains, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Being in the hoolock genus,...
Ruili Airlines starts direct flight between Yangon and Yunnan’s Dehong
The news was updted on October 28, 2019. Ruili Airlines will be flying four times weekly from Yangon International Airport to Dehong, Yunnan Province. Chinese service carrier Ruili Airlines...
Dongba, the paper that never crumbles
The news was updated on October 30, 2019. Featured primarily by its rough and slightly tawny surface, Dongba paper is a seemingly humble existence, relative to papers of modern...
Railway to take more Chinese tourists to Laos, a beautiful neighbor
The news was updated on October 28, 2019. If I am bored one day, I will get on a Kunming bullet train in the morning and reach Vientiane, Laos...
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