Hubei’s coronavirus cases rise 10-fold after change in diagnostic criteria
13 Feb 2020
In the latest effort to use big data to help contain the coronavirus outbreak, a province in southwestern China is asking residents to scan a code when they enter public places, sparking debate over whether the measure is effective.
Starting Wednesday, authorities in Yunnan province require all residents to scan the code through a WeChat mini-program when they enter and leave all public places to trace those who have had close contact with anybody confirmed or suspected to have been infected.
The move has sparked criticism on social media as to the effectiveness of such a screening process, especially since not everyone owns a smartphone with the required app. A Weibo post by state media people.cn seeking public opinion on the plan received a mixed response, with some indicating support but many others commenting “I disagree.”
“There are still many elderly people who do not use smartphones,” said one Weibo user. “Once implemented, there will no doubt be congestion and queues in public places [to scan the code]. The risk of infection will be higher,” said another.
The latest move in Yunnan province is in line with the country’s efforts to contain the outbreak. Earlier this week China’s State Council backed the launch of a “close contact detector” platform with a similar purpose, based on information gathered from public transport records, including trains and flights.
The coronavirus, which is now officially called Covid-19, has spread to at least 24 countries, sickening more than 60,000 people worldwide. There have been more than 48,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in China’s Hubei province resulting in more than 1,300 deaths, although Yunnan province had only recorded 155 infections, according to figures reported on Thursday.
The mini-program, whose name roughly translates as “Fight the coronavirus in Yunnan”, requires users to enter their phone number and receive a verification code to register. After that, they scan the “in” and “out” code when visiting public places such as airports, railway stations, subways, bus terminals, shopping malls, supermarkets, residential areas, as well as hospitals and pharmacies.
The mini-program does not ask users to enter their name and national identity numbers.
Some residents have indicated support for the Yunnan government’s effort to trace people’s movements as a way to limit the spread of the virus. “We’ve been very cooperative because we really want to get this outbreak under control,” a Yunnan resident surnamed Gao, who declined to give her full name, told the Post.
In the city of Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, authorities have implemented a “health code” which asks residents to use a web-based program to report their health status when returning home. Only those with a “green” code can enter the city, while those with “red” must undergo a 14 day quarantine and those with a “yellow” code need seven days of quarantine.
On Thursday, Zhejiang reported 1,145 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Purchase the China AI Report 2020
brought to you by SCMP Research and enjoy a 20% discount (original price US$400). This 60-page all new intelligence report gives you first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments and intelligence about China AI. Get exclusive access to our webinars for continuous learning, and interact with China AI executives in live Q&A. Offer valid until 31 March 2020.
Located in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China, Xilinshan Tea International Tea Company (锡林山古茶) is one of the premier international trade companies specializing in Puerh Tea and Dianhong Black Tea. Established in 2008, Xilinshan Tea has dedicated itself to offering a highly curated selection of premium quality teas and teawares.
Specialties
Xilinshan Tea Company excels in the production and trade of various types of tea, including:
- Ancient Tree Puerh Tea: Sourced from ancient tea trees, known for their rich and complex flavors.
- Dianhong Black Tea: A celebrated Yunnan black tea with robust taste and deep color.
- White Tea: Delicate and fragrant, providing a subtle and refreshing flavor.
- Green Tea: Fresh and vibrant, known for its health benefits and brisk taste.
- Tuocha Tea: Compressed tea cakes, traditionally shaped and packed for aging.
- Puer Tea: Both sheng (raw) and shou (ripe) varieties, prized for their unique aging potential and health benefits.
- Clay Teapots: Handcrafted teapots that enhance the tea-drinking experience through traditional Chinese craftsmanship.
Commitment to Quality
Xilinshan Tea Company prides itself on delivering the highest quality teas. Each product is carefully selected to ensure premium standards, offering tea enthusiasts a true taste of Yunnan’s rich tea heritage.
Where to Drink and Buy Pu-erh Tea and Dianhong Black Tea in Kunming
For those looking to experience and purchase Pu-erh tea and Dianhong Black Tea in Kunming, Yunnan, the Xilinshan Tea House (锡林山古茶体验店) is the ideal destination. This tea house offers:
- A Wide Selection: Enjoy and purchase a diverse range of teas, including Pu-erh, Yunnan tea, Chinese tea, Dianhong Black Tea, White Tea, Green Tea, and Tuocha Tea.
- Quality Teawares: Choose from a curated selection of clay teapots and other teaware to enhance your tea-drinking experience.
- Premium Quality: All products at Xilinshan Tea are of the highest quality, carefully curated to meet the standards of tea enthusiasts.
Conclusion
Xilinshan Tea Company not only brings the best of Yunnan’s teas to the world but also provides an exceptional place for tea lovers to enjoy and purchase premium teas in Kunming. Whether you’re a seasoned tea connoisseur or new to the world of tea, the Xilinshan Tea House offers an unparalleled selection of teas and teawares to enhance your tea-drinking journey.
Located in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China, Xilinshan Tea Trade Company(锡林山古茶) stands as one of the premier international trade companies specializing in Puerh Tea and Dianhong Black Tea. Established in 2008, Xilinshan Tea Trade Company has dedicated itself to offering a highly curated selection of premium quality teas and teawares.
Specialties
Xilinshan Tea Trade Company excels in the production and trade of various types of tea, including:
- Ancient Tree Puerh Tea: Sourced from ancient tea trees, known for their rich and complex flavors.
- Dianhong Black Tea: A celebrated Yunnan black tea with robust taste and deep color.
- White Tea: Delicate and fragrant, providing a subtle and refreshing flavor.
- Green Tea: Fresh and vibrant, known for its health benefits and brisk taste.
- Tuocha Tea: Compressed tea cakes, traditionally shaped and packed for aging.
- Puer Tea: Both sheng (raw) and shou (ripe) varieties, prized for their unique aging potential and health benefits.
- Clay Teapots: Handcrafted teapots that enhance the tea-drinking experience through traditional Chinese craftsmanship.
Commitment to Quality
Xilinshan Tea Trade Company prides itself on delivering the highest quality teas. Each product is carefully selected to ensure premium standards, offering tea enthusiasts a true taste of Yunnan’s rich tea heritage.
Expertise
With over a decade of experience in the Yunnan tea industry, Xilinshan Tea has cultivated extensive knowledge and expertise. This deep understanding of tea cultivation, processing, and trading allows the company to provide exceptional products to international markets.
Conclusion
Xilinshan Tea Trade Company not only brings the best of Yunnan’s teas to the world but also embodies the rich cultural heritage of Chinese tea. Whether you’re a seasoned tea connoisseur or new to the world of tea, Rutsan Organic Tea offers an unparalleled selection of teas and teawares to enhance your tea-drinking journey.
Rutsan Organic Tea Trade Company Kunming Yunnan
Chinease Name: 圆通山樱花
English Name: Cherry Blossoms in Kunming
Location: Kunming Zoo of Yuantong Mountain/No. 92, Qingnian Road, Kunming City
Best Time: Februrary to March
Openning Time: 8 a.m. -18 p.m.
Ticket Price: 15 RMB
Overview
Every year in February and March, the cherry blossoms bloom beautifully in the Kunming Zoo located on Yuantong Mountain. Admiring the cherry blossoms has become a popular spring outing choice for many residents of Kunming. Visiting the Kunming Yuantong Mountain Zoo to enjoy the blossoms and taste delicious food is a traditional custom of the people in Kunming.
Cherry Blossom Blooming Period
When do the cherry blossoms bloom in Kunming Yuantong Mountain? Every year, from mid to late February, the cherry blossoms begin to bloom and continue until the end of March. Typically, during the cherry blossom festival, the peak bloom period occurs around International Women’s Day on March 8. At that time, thousands of flowering crabapples and cherry blossoms bloom in competition, creating a breathtaking scene.
Transportation Tips
The buses passing near Kunming Yuantong Mountain include: Bus 4, 59, 74, 78, 83, 100, 101, 129, 234, A2, and others. Get off at Yuantong Mountain Station.
Viewing Guide
Nearby Attractions
- Yuantong Temple is located on Yuantong Street in the downtown area of Kunming and is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Kunming, with a history of over 1,200 years. It is also the largest temple in the city. Yuantong Temple features magnificent architecture and lush greenery, earning it reputations such as “Luofu Peak Embraced by Green” and “Layered Greens of Luofu Peak.” It has long been one of the eight scenic spots in Kunming, resembling a beautiful garden typical of the water towns in the Jiangnan region. Yuantong Temple currently serves as the site for the Yunnan Provincial and Kunming City Buddhist Associations and is an important center of Buddhist culture and a tourist attraction, highly regarded in Southeast Asia.
Why is Bamboo Temple so special?
Bamboo Temple is a famous Buddhist temple in Yunnan. These life-sized clay figures are stunning – either very realistic or very surrealistic. Down one huge wall come the incredible surfing Buddhas, some 70 odd, riding the waves on a variety of mounts – blue dogs, giant crabs shrimp, turtles, unicorns. One gentleman has meter long eyebrows; another has an arm that shoots clear across the hall to the ceiling.
Introduction
Legend of Bamboo Temple
During the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907), Yunnan was a separate country called Dali. One day, while two brothers of royal lineage were hunting in the hills outside Kunming, they spotted a bizarre rhinoceros. With hopes of capturing it, they followed the rhinoceros deep into the woods of Yu’an Mountain where the magical animal suddenly disappeared. Just as they lost sight of the rhinoceros, the brothers saw a group of monks who were unlike any monks they had seen before. When the monks saw the brothers, they vanished in clouds leaving only their walking sticks planted in the ground. By the following day, these walking sticks had become an entire bamboo forest. The amazed brothers knew that they had met enlightened, supernatural beings and, in order to honor them, they built Bamboo Temple in the forest of bamboo.
History of Bamboo Temple
Even though this is a marvelous story, it does not follow the historic record. Account of the Bamboo Temple dates back to the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279), but it was during the Yuan Dynasty (around 1280) that a highly renowned monk, who was reputed to have learned Buddhism from central China, gave his teachings that brought great fame to the temple as a spiritual center. After a devastating fire, the Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911) rebuilt the Bamboo Temple by adding five pavilions during the late 1880’s. Its most outstanding artistic (and perhaps spiritual) feature is the distinguished, finely crafted statues of the 500 Luohans (Buddhist Arhats, or ‘enlightened ones’) sculpted by the brilliant artist, Li Guangxiu.
What to See in Bamboo Temple?
The Great Buddha’s Hall
The Great Buddha’s Hall sits behind the gate, about 20 meters long, and 12 meters wide. When sculptor designed the series of carvings, they used combination of circle shape and collective march queue, each carving characters were showing their special prowess, speeding across the sky, riding a cheetah to go ahead, which creates a strong sense of dynamic. The whole arhat hall has a single carving and also the series of carvings; there is linear layout also a circular layout, various forms and interactive use made it colorful and the overall effect is perfect. And the carving character’s joys and sorrows, actions are as well as the world.
Huayan Pavilion
Pass through the Great Buddha’s Hall is Huayan Pavilion. Huayan Pavilion is about 20 meters long, 10 meters wide, and it is the only well-preserved Qing dynasty Dougong building (a system of brackets inserted between the top of a column and a cross beam) in Kunming. There are couplets written by scholars Qian Nantu in Qing dynasty and murals drawn by Li Guangxiu, unfortunately destroyed by fire accident in April 1984.In October 1989, under the support of local government and believers, Qiongzhu Temple was reconstructed by fund-raising and held a grand ceremony of Huayan Pavilion consecration. New Huayan Pavilion maintains the original style and features, the and uses reinforced concrete instead of wood double-hipped roof arches, glazed tile, carved wooden doors and windows and so on are in the style of ancient building. The pavilion is in two parts, with a total area of more than 400 square meters. In the middle of lower floor there is consecrating white marble of the “Three Saints of Hua-yen”, the upper floor consecrated the Burmese jade carving Shakyamuni Buddha, about 2 meters high. And in the middle of Huayan Pavilion was hanging a large horizontal inscribed board written “Huayan Pavilion” from Mr. Zhao Puchu.
Five Hundreds Arhats
Qiongzhu Temple Five Hundreds Arhats sculptures are created by Sichuan clay sculpture master Li Guangxiu and his disciple who were invited by the abbot monk Mengfo, and they spent “seven years” to work on it with continuous innovation during Qing dynasty Guangxu period 9th to 16th year (AD 1883 to AD 1883).
What to Do in Bamboo Temple?
1. Admiring Architectural Pattern
Bamboo Temple built around the mountain due to terrain. And its layout sits west to east, forming the type of four into the three courtyards. Now Bamboo Temple has three courtyards, the buildings along the axial direction in the order are: Gate, the Great Buddha’s Hall and Yanhua Pavilion. The left and right wing at the Tianwang Hall is Tianlai Pavilion and Sanskrit Pavilion. The left and right wing of the Great Buddha’s Hall is Zushi Palace and Qielan Palace. The rest of temple is the guest room, abstinence room, the monk chamber, the abbot room, incense room, corridor etc.
2. Exploring Buddhist Culture
Bamboo Temple is the first temple of Chinese Buddhist Zen sect into Yunnan. On October 12, 1994, Bamboo Temple was inaugurated and the Buddha statue opened. The abbot of Bamboo Temple, Mingdao Elder, hold the consecration ceremony.
How to Get to Bamboo Temple
1. People can take public bus No. C62 and C63 to Qiongzhu Temple bus stop in the Kunming city, the ticket is 5 yuan / person.
2. People can take bus No.7 and Additional No.7 to Heilinpu in Huangtupo, and then walk to the mountain along the path or transfer to mini bus to Qiongzhu Temple.
3. People can take special bus to Qiongzhu Temple directly in the Kunming Art Theater.
Recommended Bamboo Temple Tours
Top 3 Bamboo Temple chosen by most customers to explore Bamboo Temple in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us. We provide some tour routes for tourists to choose.
1 Day Kunming Temples Tour
13 Days Yunnan Festival Tour in Spring
Travel tips
Fare concessions are granted to religious believers, the elderly, active servicemen, retired cadres, minors, students, disabled persons and children.
Brief Introduction of Kunming Bird and Flower Market
There are many bird and flower markets in Kunming city, but Jingxing Bird and Flower Market in downtown is a top popular bird and flower market in this city and also the label of the daily life of Kunming people. This market became into shape in 1980s and has around 700 stores selling abundant types of things. Walking along this market, you will not only be glad with the countless flowers in various colors with pleasing aroma, but also enjoy the crispy chirm of many species of birds. It is really a new try to feel the local life while hear Kunming people chatting in their special dialect and select your favorites among those nice antiques, jewelry ornaments, handicrafts, and so forth.
8 Free Markets Visitors to Kunming Must Know
Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market
Located at Yongdao Street (甬道街), Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market was opened for business in 1983, gathering vendors selling flowers, birds, fish and so on, and finally became the biggest flowers and birds market in Kunming. Local people of the city, especially children getting pocket money during the Spring Festival, like wandering around this oldest flowers and birds market to buy the merchandise they like or shop with eyes only. Yongtong Street is no less than 200 meters long and about 15 meters wide, but there are more than 300 setting booths and about 700 traders. Phoenix trees are planted in line on sides of the road, providing shade for visitors in summer. Besides various kinds of flowers, birds, fishes and pet-insects, item for collection and decoration such as jewels,handcrafts, antiques and commemorative coins are also sold at this market. At least seven to eight groups of foreign visitors can be seen shopping in Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market every day.
Add: Downtown, near the Nanping Street
Yongdao Street Bird and Flower Market
It is the earliest bird and flower market of Yunnan province opened in 1980. There are more than 360 booths for selling fresh flowers, bonsais, flower fertilizers, birds, fish, fishing tools, fodders, marble handicrafts, porcelains, silver handicrafts and antiques etc.
Add: Yongdao Street
West (Xibu) Bird and Flower Market
The authentic market dedicated to different kinds of pets in Kunming
Add: North section of Kehua Rd, Liangjiahe Neighborhood.
Yunnan Expo Impression Tourism Culture Town
It is near Kunming Expo Garden, and mainly for flowers, pets, jades, handicrafts, fishing tools, herbs, and antique etc.
Add: Road crossing of Bailong Rd. and Yuanbo Rd.
Xiaolong Bird and Flower Market
Mainly for flower and pets especially dogs
Add: Xiaolong Road Crossing
Beidamen Bird and Flower Market
Mainly for bonsais, flowers, root sculptures, and stone sculptures etc, the market is also where the offices of Yunnan Bosai Association, Yunnan Orchid Association and Yunnan Root Carving Association are located.
Add: Kunming North (Railway) Station
Jinshuchun Bird and Flower Market
Mainly for fish, flowers, pets, jades, handicrafts, specialties, fishing tools, herbs, embroideries, ornaments and antiques etc.
Add: 403, Renmindong Rd. (Dashuying Neighborhood)
Chunyuan Bird and Flower Market
There are so far more than 300 businesses selling flowers, pets and tourist souvenirs etc. It is also one the popular pet markets in Kunming.
Add: Jinhuapu Rd (on the opposite of Chunyuan Residential Quarter)
Some other flowers and birds markets in Kunming
1. White Dragon Flowers and Birds Market(白龙花鸟市场): take bus No. 47, 69 or 95, get off at the stop of Shibo Jixinyuan (世博吉鑫园);
2. Western Pets, Flowers and Birds Market(西部宠物花鸟市场): take bus No. 58 or 80, get off at the stop of Xiyuan Keyunzhan (西苑客运站);
3. Chunyuan Flowers and Birds Market(春苑花鸟市场): take bus No. 58, 61 or 62, get off at the stop of Chunyuan Xiaoqu (春苑小区);
4. Daguan Flowers, Birds and Insect Market(大观花鸟虫市场): take bus No. 125, or 160, get off at the stop of Daguan Shangyecheng (大观商业城);
5. Golden Tree Village Flowers and Birds Market(金树村花鸟市场): take bus No. 47, or 50, get off at the stop of Xinying Lukou(新迎路口/人民东路);
6. Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market(景星花鸟市场): take bus No. 10, or 82, get off at the stop of Nanpingjie Xikou(南屏街西口);
7. Dounan Flowers Trading Market(斗南花卉交易市场): take bus No. 12 get off at the stop of Beimen Jiekou (北门街口), then take bus 215 get off at the bus stop of Dounan (斗南);
8. Expo Garden Flowers and Birds Market(世博园花鸟市场): take bus No. 47, 69 or 95, get off at the stop of Shibo Jixinyuan (世博吉鑫园);
9. Little Dragon Sifang Street Flowers and Birds Market(小龙四方街花鸟市场): take bus No. 60 or 95, get off at the stop of Xinying Lukou(新迎路口/白龙路);
10. Zhongbei Flowers and Birds Market(中北花鸟市场): take bus No. 99 or 171, get off at the stop of Jinyuan Huayuan(锦苑花园).
What to Do in Kunming Bird and Flower Market
To have fun in Kunming Bird and Flower Market, you can do many things and get a lot of new worthy experience. Just go and explore it!
Appreciate Diverse Flowers and Birds
Since Jingxing Bird and Flower Market has opened for over 30 years, it has become a mature visiting place with tremendous number of flowers. Many kinds of orchids, various camellias, narcissuses, azaleas, roses, begonias, etc. decorate this market into a very bright and colorful paradise with refreshing fragrance. Moreover, you can find different species of birds chirping along the street, like parrots, crested mynas, thrushes, beyond count, and those types you have never seen, which plays an especially ear-pleasing sound for your Kunming tour.
Besides, you can see a lot of adorable fishes, crabs, turtles, etc. in red, white, yellow, orange, black and other colors having fun in the water. And apart from that, you can still continue your “treasure hunt” in Kunming bird and flower market, since there is a numerous number of jadestones, rubies, sapphires, wood carving works, handicrafts in marble stones, snuff bottles, hookahs, jade ornaments, calligraphies and paintings, coins at home and abroad from ancient to present, etc., which is too many to see all their charm but will give your trip a surprise.
Feel the Interesting Culture
You can stroll in Kunming Bird and Flower Market to feel the culture of Kunming and even Yunnan, because it shows the real daily life of the local people. A fair lady wearing a beautiful long dress in bandhnu is selecting a pot of the most gorgeous blossom; a local elder grandpa is purchasing for the new buying worms for his birds; an “expert” is distinguishing the commodity and bargain with the seller. Every scene is the epitome of the usual life of Kunming people.
Taste the Delicious Local Food
Besides appreciate the prosperous scene in Kunming Bird and Flower Market, you can sit in a restaurant to taste the particular local delicious food of Kunming, like the Yunnan Rice Noodles, BBQ in old Kunming flavor, tasteful Yunnan Dishes, etc.
How to Get to Jingxing Bird and Flower Market
By Bus
It is located at downtown Kunming and not far away from Kunming Department Store and Nanping Pedestrian Street (南屏步行街). Travelers can take bus No.1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 26 or 52, or take a taxi.
By Subway
Tourists can take Subway Line.2 to Dongfeng Square, then we can walk to Jingxing Bird and Flower Markets.
Private Tour (Top Recommended)
If you want to get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers sightseeing, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Jingxing Bird and Flower Market with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing.
Travel tips:
1. Measure system in Kunming is different from that of other cities. Traders in Kunming always quote at 1 kilogram per unit while traders in other China cities will quote at 500 gram per unit. Please make sure the unit price before you buy anything.
2. Besides flowers, birds, fish and pet-insect, many folk arts and crafts are selling in Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market which is surrounding by large numbers of most well-preserved ancient architectures in Kunming.
Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market in Kunming
Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market in Kunming
Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market in Kunming
Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market in Kunming
Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market in Kunming
Haigeng Park is mainly a natural scenic spot and a lakeside bathing beach with green willows, sky-piercing eucalyptuses, and blooming flowers. The part and the nearby fishing villages merge harmoniously into one. On bright sunny days, the water stretches out in a boundless expanse; white clouds float lazily across the blue sky while gentle waves are rippling, sails are drifting with the current and sea gulls are skimming over the water.
On moonlit nights, gentle breeze caresses you fondlingly while the silver moonlight shimmers on the wrinkled surface of the lake; the dim reflection of the Western Hills flickers in the lake, while the lights of fishing boats flare. Haigeng is a natural lakeside park where you can enjoy the enchanting beauty of nature, go swimming in summer, and go angling in the four seasons.
There are four Dragon Kings who are the divine rulers of the four seas (each sea corresponds to one of the cardinal directions) in Chinese mythology. Although Dragon Kings appear in their true forms as dragons, they have the ability to shift shape into human form. The Dragon Kings live in crystal palaces, guarded by shrimp soldiers and crab generals. Besides ruling over the aquatic life, the Dragon Kings also manipulate clouds and rain. When enraged, they can flood cities. They are very important divines for Chinese since traditional Chinese society is a agriculture society.
Located at the western edge of the Haigeng Park, the Dragon King’s Temple once was an important worship site for fishers who live by the Dianchi Lake and indigenous people of Kunming. They prayed for good harvest and favorable climate here. And every year on Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), Sanyuesan Festival (March 3 of Chinese Lunar Calendar) and some major holidays and events, grand rally would be held here.
How to get there:
From the railway station, you can take No.24 or No.44 bus.
Trave Tips:
You could enjoy the beautifull scenery on the lake by boating, or enjoy other different landscapes, local delicacy and culture by bicycle!
Introduction
Yunnan Provincial Museum is located in the east section of Guangfu Road in Guandu District. As a comprehensive museum, it has rich collections of more than 200,000 pieces. For tourists, the museum can help them to know Yunnan’s history and the rich ethnic culture; for history lovers, its rich collections give them the opportunity to better understand Yunnan and the ancient Dian Kingdom’s (278 – 115BC) historical features as well as bronze culture.
History of Yunnan Provincial Museum
Founded in 1951, the Yunnan Provincial Museum is a comprehensive museum. Since that year it has collected various kinds of special items with historical and ethnic features from archaeological excavations, purchases from collectors and has been the recipient of donations from organizations. With more that 190 thousand pieces of art works ranging from bronze wares, ancient moneys, porcelains, old Chinese paintings, stone tablet rubbings to stamps, the museum ranks first in terms of the volume of collected items. Among these items, more than 1000 are categorized as first class cultural relics at state level.
From 1955 to 1960, an extensive tomb excavation was conducted in the ancient tomb clusters of Jingning Shizaishan in Yuxi city, Yunnan. The large amount of bronze wares from this excavation unveiled the mysterious legend of the Ancient Dian Kingdom recorded in ancient Chinese historical literature back to more 2000 years ago. Later on these were regarded as Shi Zai Shan (Stone Village Mountain) Culture.
In 1972, the tomb excavation in Li Jia Shan in Jiang Chuan County made it another important archaeological site for Shi Zai Shan Culture. The excavated items presented more evidence for people to understand the Ancient Dian Kingdom, enabling people to understand this long lost civilization on China’s frontier.
From 1975 to 1976, there was another archeological dig at Wang Jia Ba in Chuxiong. About 1245 items were found which are believed to belong to the period of Spring and Autumn of the West Han Dynasty in ancient China (around 770 BC to second century AD). Among these important unearthed art works there are five bronze drums that could be dated back to the Spring and Autumn Period. They are believed to be the earliest of their kind in the world up to now.
Major Exhibitions
1. Bronze Vessels of the Dian Kingdom: Bronze vessels here maintain a high artistic level and have rich social & cultural meanings. The related collections mainly include Bronze Oxhead Ornaments, Chime of the King of the Dian Kingdom, Bronze Lantern with Three Branches, Gilding Horsewoman Ornaments, Ox-shaped Bronze Reed-pipes, etc. Those bronze vessels reveal people’s daily lives of that time period vividly.
2. Buddhism Relics: Yunnan is a place that Buddhism shines everywhere. Numbers of Buddhism relics have been inherited from history and preserved in the Yunnan Provincial Museum. The representative collections include a Golden Kwanyin Statue unearthed in Dali and a Five-colored Model Dagoba.
3. Intangible Cultural Heritage: Yunnan is a province that inhabited by many minority nationalities which have different life styles and habits, and whose culture is very colorful. Yunnan Provincial Museum exhibits rich intangible cultural heritages of the local ethnic minorities such as manual dyeing, batik, metal crafts and handmade Pu’er tea.
4. Metalwork: Bronze Drum In addition to the bronze vessels, metal crafts showed in the Yunnan Provincial Museum include gold vessels and silver vessels, all of which came from the Han (202BC – 220AD) and Ming Dynasty. Those came from the Han Dynasty are mostly golden decorations, such as golden earrings inlaid with jewels, and the golden tuinga. Silver vessels are mostly from the local minorities. Each exhibition reflects different cultural backgrounds and different understandings of beauty.
5. Jewelry and Jade Articles: They mainly include jade, amber, carnelian and crystal. Most of the selected items are made from superb material and by excellent carving. Among them, the most distinctive collection is jade articles of the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911 AD), including a blue jade Bitian (a tool used to wipe writing brush), and Jadite Bed-curtain Hook. They are made of exquisite workmanship, which fully indicate the wisdom of the ancient Chinese.
6. Carving Craft: There are about ten pieces of carving crafts of different shapes in Yunnan Provincial Museum, which are made from different material like bamboo, wood, ivory, stone, horn, bone, etc. Among them, the Ivory Carving of Cursive Wall Hangings is the highlight; with a height of 198 cm (6.5 feet) and a width of 58 cm (2 feet), all of the twelve paintings are painted by famous Yunnan local sculptors.
7. Yunnan Minority Customs and Ornaments Exhibition: This exhibit displays the dress and ornamentation of some 22 national minorities living in Yunnan, including Dai, Bai, Naxi, Hani, Lahu, Jingpo, Blang, De’ang, Lisu, Pumi, Va, Nu, Drung, Achang, and Jino.
Highlighted Cultural Relics of Yunnan Provincial Museum
There are 1,000 Grade One relics among over 400,000 pieces of cultural relics in the museum, including a cloud and thunder-vein bronze drum of the Spring and Autumn Period, a bronze coffin (being 200 centimeters long, 62 centimeters wide, 64 centimeters tall and 257 kilograms in weight)and a bronze ware of “Two Tigers Devouring a Bull” of the Warring States Period,a “Knight Pasturing a Cattle”seashell container of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-9 AD), a gold statue of Kwan-yin (the Goddess of Mercy), the painting of Traveling Amid Mountains and Streams by Guo Xi of the Northern Song Dynasty(960-1127), the painting of Wugao Mountain by Shi Dandang of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)and the painting of Du Fu Riding a Horse by Qian Feng of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
In addition, there are bronze wares of the Dian Culture, Buddhist relics of the periods of Nanzhao (738-902)and the Dali Kingdom (937-1254),as well as various exquisite ethnic relics of modern times in Yunnan Provincial Museum.
How to get there?
1. Take bus no. 169, 252, A12, or D28 to Xin Bao Xiang He Qiao, and then walk southeast for about 270 meters (300 yards) to reach there.
2. Take bus no. 31, 165, 185, 186, 253, 255, 259, 908, C85, C142, C143, K15, K15 Express, or K42 and get off at Puzi Village, and then walk northwest for about 550 meters (600 yards) to get there.
Travel Tips:
1. There is a maximum of no more than 1500 tourists every day, including 500 tourists in the morning, 500 tourists in the afternoon, 500 tourists from other provinces.
2. Tourists should protect public facilities, or they must pay the full price for anything damaged.
3. No smoking and No spitting.
Why is Guandu Ancient Town so special?
Guandu Ancient Town is one of the birthplaces of Yunnan Culture, and also one of the main historical and cultural landscape of Kunming tourism. As early as Nanzhao Dali Kingdom, It had already been a large market and important transportation hub at the north east lake bank of the Dian Lake. Guandu Town used to be a fishing village during Tang Dynasty. The ancient Guandu is an ideal place for appreciating the beauty of the Dian Lake.
The History of Guandu Ancient Town
“The first of six temples” in Guandu–Miaozhan Temple was built in the from the early Yuan dynasty to Yuan twenty-seventh year (1290), was completed in 1295, after being flooded it became collapsed, and in 1325 relocated in the middle of the town. In the temple there is the east, and the west two 13 floors solid square brick tower with thick eaves. Later, west tower was destroyed by the earthquake and the east tower maintained today. Among Guandu Ancient Town religious buildings, the most famous and the most impressive is in front of the national key cultural relics protection unit Miaozhan Temple, Vajra-Base Throne Tower.
Guandu is the first place of Tibetan Buddhism bring into the area of Kunming, the stone pagoda of Miaozhan Temple has left a Tibetan tantra stupa impression deeply, it vividly reflected on lama tower style. Dazhengjue Temple, Temple of the Azure Clouds in Beijing and Ciyun Temple Vajra-base pagoda in Hohhot built later are typical Chinese type multilayer the pagoda of tight tiles.
In Yuan dynasty, Confucius Building also established in Guandu, which has a far-reaching influence on Guandu juniors’ reading. Later, the famous scholar Wang Sixun walked out from here. Wang Sixun is Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations of Qing dynasty) in 45th year of the reign of emperor Kangxi (1706), he held the post of Jiangxi learning official, and also became the Emperor Yongzheng’s teacher, and once Emperor Kangxi gave him thousand rolls of books. After Wang Sixun returned his hometown in glory, he built Cishu (Given Books) Hall to collect books. Cishu Hall still remains today.
In Qing dynasty, within the scope of the Luofeng, Xiuying, Xizhuang and Shangyi four villages in Guandu Town has formed architectural complex which was permeated with thick culture of “six temples, seven pavilions, and eight shrine temples”. These spectacular architectures were in the integration of natural scenery, constituted a beautiful picture and formed the so-called Guandu eight sights, namely “the Ancient Ferry Fishing Lights”, “Range upon Range of Luofeng Peak”, “Yuntai Moon Shines”, “Shepherd in the Apricot Nursery”, “The Smoke Wreathed upward Reach the Clouds”, “South of Yunnan Lawn”, “Buddha’s Guardian Warriors Night Words” and “Writing the Vault of Heaven”.
But, as the years went by, lake shoreline retreated and great changes have taken place in the natural landscape of Guandu. Ancient temple architecture gradually became old and tumbledown, some even been demolished, the famous Vajra-Base Throne Tower caved in for more than one meter, the throne tower also formed a huge crater. In April 2001, Guandu town construction of cultural monuments rescue project started working, after more than two years of hard efforts and due to different levels of government spend large sum of money on this project, 1350 tons of Vajra-Base Throne Tower was lifting 2.4 meters, and Miaozhan Temple and West Tower was rebuilt, the Confucius Temple, Guanwu Temple, Cishu Hall, Fading Temple, Local-Guard Temple, Guanyin Temple and ancient building such as upper and lower attic was repaired. The town’s traditional local-style dwelling houses are planned to repair, at the same time, folk and traditional folk cultural activities and traditional local flavor snacks are gradually restored, the protection of the natural ecological environment is also in the pipeline. We get a old and the young new Guandu contact with brilliant long history and glorious future.
What to see in Guandu Old Town
Major sights of Guandu Old Town can be briefed as “six temples, seven pavilions and eight shrines”, among which the earliest are Tuzhu Temple and Fading Temple.
1. Miaozhan Temple -the No. 1 of the six temples
Miaozhan Temple was first constructed in the 27th year (1290) of Zhiyuan Period of the Yuan Dynasty but was damaged by floods. It was reconstructed and shifted to the present site in 1325. There used to be two 13-storeyed dense-eave and solid pagodas of which the west one has been brought down by earthquake.
One can see a plaque inscribed with “Shao Lin Si” (Shaolin Temple). In 2008, Guandu District of Kunming and Shaolin Temple based in Songshan Mountain in Henan Province signed an agreement, according to which the latter is entitled to take over for 20 years Miaozhan Temple, Tuzhu Temple, Fa’ding Temple and Guanyin Temple in Guandu Old Town. Master Shi Yongxin, the Buddhist Abbot of Shaolin Temple, showed up to attend the opening ceremony of “Guandu Shaolin Temple”.
2. Fading Temple
Originally erected in the Nanzhao Kingdom Period (around 756), Fading Temple underwent renovation in the 21st year of Guangxu Period of the Qing Dynasty. It covers an area of about 2,500 square meters, consisting of the Main Hall, the Side Halls, the Wing Rooms and the Gate etc. Being a column-and-tie wooden structure (Chuan Dou Shi), the main hall used to be the shrine of Mahakaya. The side halls and wing rooms are shrines of Buddhist and Taoist deities such as Goddess of Mercy, God of Fortune and Yuewang King (namely Mr. Yue Fei, a brave general in the Song Dynasty).
3. Tuzhu Temple
Originally erected in the Nanzhao Kingdom Period (738-937), Tuzhu Temple covers an area of more than 5,000 square meters and serves as the shrine for Deity Mahakaya (Da Hei Tian Shen)-a protector of the Nanzhao Kingdom. Mahakaya was in fact Siva in Brahmanism in Ancient India. After converting into Buddhism, he became a Buddhist guardian. When Buddhism was introduced into the Nanzhao Kingdom (Dali Area) from Tianzhu (Ancient India), he was enshrined as a “patron god” (Tuzhu) by locals of Dali.
4. Jingang Pagoda -highlight of Guandu Old Town
Guandu Old Town is usually recognizable by Jingang Pagoda in front of Miaozhan Temple. Sponsored by Luo Gui, a eunuch who garrisoned in Yunnan in the Ming Dynasty, it was constructed in 1457. (“Jingang” is a kind of pagoda construction style originating from India. Buddhist pagodas designed in this style usually comprise two parts: the pedestal and the major part. The pedestal surface appears rectangle or square while the major part turns out to be a big pagoda surrounded by four small ones)
The pagoda is said to be erected to vanquish a devastating devil locally called “Luo Si Guai” (Devil Conch). As the core of the architecture complex of Guandu Old Town, Jingang Pagoda appears to be the oldest of its kind in China.
Jingang Pagoda is composed of the pedestal and the major part. The surface of the pedestal is 10.4 meters wide and long, and 4.7 meters high; its base is hollow and has four gates spacious enough for vehicles to pass through. The major part of the pagoda is five pagodas the biggest of which is as tall as 16 meters and the small four ones all measure 8.84 meters high.
What to Do in Guandu Ancient Town?
1. Exploring Buddhism Culture
This temple management takeover attracted its share of criticism for commercializing Buddhism, but on a recent visit we found that Guandu Shaolin Temple felt more cared-for than when it was Miaozhan Temple.
2. Studying Kung Fu
We sat down for a cup of tea and a chat with Yan Bei (延贝), the head monk from the Shaolin delegation, who told us that we could study Kung Fu for US$500 per week or US$10,000 per year, not including room and board. Not cheap, but probably worth it for martial arts enthusiasts who would rather learn Shaolin Kung Fu in sunny Yunnan than crowded and polluted Henan.
3. Tasting Local Foods
The majority of interesting things to do and see in Guandu Old Town is located south of Vajra Pagoda. A designated food street on the old town’s east side offers a wide selection of local eats including Rice Noodle(米线), Ersi (饵丝), Shao Erkuai (烧饵块), Yellow Pot Chicken, Stinky Tofu and Barbecued Chicken Feet, as well as food from further afield such as Western Yunnan and Burmese food at Ah Bo’s Burmese Cuisine or Kaili-style Sour Soup Chicken (suantang ji, 酸汤鸡).
4. Watching Kunming Opera
The old town is also home to one of the few places keeping the dying tradition of Kunming Opera (滇剧) alive. Gudu Liyuan Theater (古渡梨园) where the high-pitched singing in local dialect – Guandu’s Kunming dialect is considered the most “authentic” in the city – is accompanied by a small orchestra just offstage.
Best Time to Visit Guandu Ancient Town
Kunming do not have harsh winter nor hot temple, and is reputed as “Spring City. ” Belonging to the humid temperate type plateau monsoon climate, the average temperature of a year here is around 15℃. With the title of City of Eternal Spring, Kunming is a destination suitable for travelling throughout the whole year. However, the best time to visit Kunming is from March to October. One can find a lot of Yunnan ethnic celebrations during these times in addition to many fruits and blossoms within this period of time. Because of this, visiting within this time will take you the most enjoyment and delight.
How to Get there?
By Bus
You can take bus No.31 in the railway station to Guandu Ancient Town, or taking bus No.165, 169, 174, 185, 908, Kunming C74, and K15 to there.
Cycling
Cycling to Guandu Old Town is easy: simply get on Qingnian Lu, ride south until Guangfu Lu and head east until reaching the intersection with 043 County Road/Baoguan Lu, following the brown bilingual signs.
By Taxi
A taxi to or from the city center will run around 40 yuan and is not advised during rush hour.
Travel tips
(1)Nearby: Kunming Luosiwan International Trade City;
(2)Hotels: Hotels available in the Old Town; or you can get back to Kunming downtown the same day;
(3)Food: Eateries and restaurants to suite all wallets there; local delicacies (snacks) are Guandu Baba (pancakes) and Er’kuai rice cakes etc;
(4)Folk Customs: You can choose to experience Guandu Temple Fair held during the Spring Festival; to see how traditional Er’kuai is made in workshops; to see Huadeng Opera and intangible cultural heritage facts etc.
(5)Climate: There is stronger sunlight during the daytime in Kunming, tourists have better take along sunscreen and sunglasses. Also people should drink more water and eat more fruit to prevent dehydration. Kunming has a saying of “Wearing the same in the four seasons” which means that Kunming has the two extremes that the seasonal variation of four seasons are change little or unable to distinguish the four seasons are the wearing characteristics of Kunming. So you can see different season clothing in the street;
Introduction
In the history of Kunming, Nanping Street is the old block and the historical commercial street. In old Kunming, Nanping Street was a collection of finance, commerce and entertainment center, maintaining the attraction of downtown district. The Nanping Business Street is the result of encouraging the development of commerce, culture and entertainment. During the Anti Japanese War, there were 48 financial organizations including the old blocks of Huguo Road and Jinbi Road. It was praised as the “Wall Street” of Kunming.
The History of Nanping Business Walking Street
During the War of Resistance against Japan, Nanping Street was the center. There were as many as 48 financial institutions in the blocks, including Huguo Road and Jinbi Road, known as “Wall Street” in Kunming. Nanping Street was renamed Dongfeng Road in 1965 and restored to Nanping Street in 1982.
What to Do in Nanping Business Walking Street?
Having a Walk in the Street
Nanping Business Street attracts not only local people, but more and more visitors all over the world. Having become the emerging landmark of Kunming, Nanping Business Street is absolutely a must see containing historically commercial culture and modern shopping surroundings.
Nanping Business Street was heavily reproduced to make the scenes of this old walking street beautiful. Combining some folk art statues to promote the historical and cultural charm of Kunming, the street is a combination of tradition and modern. While the old Nanping Street was known as the “Wall Street” in Kunming, today’s Nanping Shopping Street was praised a fame of “Southwest First Street”. Having a walk in this street, visitors will have a feel of the mixture of the Kunming’s history, culture and innovation.
Experience Shopping Tour
The Nanping Business Street shows visitors the modern and the fashionable of Kunming and Nanping Shopping Mall can be a mark of the fast development of Kunming. Walking in the street, visitors can see and have a select to the wares ranging from elaborate local handicrafts to the fashion stylish clothes.
Tasting Local Snacks
In addition to go shopping in Nanping Business Street, to have a taste of the local characteristic snack is a must-do in Kunming.
There is a snack center in the Nanping Business Street. Visitors can taste different types of food vary from Chinese northern food to Southeast Asia. The reasonable price makes it a good place for Chinese visitors to taste delicious food outside China and for the visitors from outside China to taste Kunming local food.
When the night screen has hung down, the real lively street bustling with noise and excitement will all present to the visitors. The colorful and lovely neon lights light up and cover the shopping centers around the walking street only. The barbecue culture in Kunming will come to life in the evening. Delicious and cheap roast meat skewers in the middle of the road.
There are lots of restaurants for visitors to choose from, including western fast food outlets, such as McDonald’s and KFC. It will be a good chance to get into the Kunming culture to try the Chinese barbecue near the fountain.
Nearby Attractions
After visiting the urban area of Kunming, visitors can get rid of the buildings and the crowding of the city and go to the scenic spots to enjoy the graceful sights.
1.Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market in Kunming: Located at Yongdao Street (甬道街), Jingxing Flowers and . Birds Market was opened for business in 1983, gathering vendors selling flowers, birds, fish and so on, and finally became the biggest flowers and birds market in Kunming. Local people of the city, especially children getting pocket money during the Spring Festival, like wandering around this oldest flowers and birds market to buy the merchandise they like or shop with eyes only.
2.Jinma Biji Archway: The Golden Horse Archway is in the east against the mountain with the same name as the archway; the Green Rooster Archway is in the west against the Green Chicken Mountain. Within a short distance of each other, the two archways are in the traditional archway styles. Together with another Loyalty Archway on the other side, these three archways shape a triangle of archway clusters. With their distinctive characteristics they present a spectacular view in the midst of surrounding downtown modern buildings.
3.Zhongaifang Archway: The Zhongai Archway or Archway of Loyalty and Love was solemnly standing in the downtown. It was built in early Yuan Dynasty (1280) in memory of Saiyid Ajall Shams Al-Din Umar (1211-1279), a famous Muslim politician of the early Yuan Dynasty, for his excellent administration and his great contribution to the social development and the pacification among the ethnic groups when he was in the office of the governor of Yunnan Province.
4.Yuantong Temple: Yuantong Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in Kunming with a history of more than 1200 years. It is also the largest temple in Kunming.
How to Get there?
By Bus
Take Bus No.3, 4, 90, 62 to Jinma Archway Station then walk for five minutes to Nanping Business Walking Street.
By Subway
Take Subway Line 1 or 2, get off at Dongfeng Square Statin and walk for about 15 minutes to Nanping Business Walking Street.
Travel Tips
It is a nice place to go since many fashion shops, fancy shops, restaurants, and health clubs, pubs, pleasure grounds, supermarkets and sight-seeing minibuses cluster in the Golden Horse and Jade Cock Pedestrian Street.
Introduction
The Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology is located in the campus of Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The museum occupies 7 350 square meters, including a research specimen library, a science awareness hall and a multi-functional reference room. The museum is currently housing the most substantial collections of zoological specimens in southwest China.
So far, the Museum have 700 000 individual specimens in storage, including 200 000 fish specimens, 40 000 amphibian and reptile specimens, 24 000 bird specimens, 19 000 mammal specimens and 400 000 insect specimens, and among them, 6 000 specimens are on display. The collections focus on the southern fauna in China, encompassing the diverse and unique animal resources of the “animal kingdom”-Yunnan province.
Architectural Layout
The museum consists of two floors, east and west. The main floor guide is composed of Science Popularization Hall, Scientific Research Specimen Library, Multi-function Academic Lecture Hall and so on. The exhibition is mainly concentrated on the first to third floors.
The First Floor: Preface Hall, Biodiversity Exhibition Hall, Asian Elephant Hall, Dinosaur and Fossil Exhibition Hall, Skeletal Exhibition Hall, Amphibious and Reptile Habitat Counter and Fish, Two Crawler Bottled Specimens Exhibition Hall.
The Second Floor: The exhibition of bird specimen and its habitat, insect resources and its habitat, human and nature, panda and wetland.
The Third Floor: There are aquatic organisms (including freshwater fish and marine organisms) and their living environment, microcosm of the cold temperate habitat of the habitat in northwest Yunnan and a large scale indoor ecological landscape of tropical and subtropical simulated nature.
Subcategories
This category has the following 6 subcategories, out of 6 total:
1. Fossils in the Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology;
2. Insects in the Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology ;
3. Preserved specimens in the Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology;
4. Reptiles in the Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology;
5. Skeletons in the Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology;
6. Taxidermy in the Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology.
Media in Category
1.Elephants – Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology
2.Entrance – Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology
3.Ground floor – Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology
4.Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology
Activities
1. Since 2007, the Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology has launched the “Member Club” service, which is aimed at people from all walks of life who are interested in natural science and are enthusiastic about museum undertakings, providing unique concessions and services, and rich and colorful participation activities;
2. Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology organizes a themed activity with family as the unit before each holiday, and selects 5-6 families from the registered families to participate in the activities;
3. On September 19, 2015, Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology launched a wealth of popular science activities with the theme of “Mass Innovation to Embrace Intelligent Life”.
The Value and Function
1. Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology has the largest collection of animal collections in southwest China. The collection covers the “Animal Kingdom” of Yunnan and almost all animal specimens of ecological types in neighboring provinces. With its strong regional characteristics, the museum highlights the importance of collecting rich biodiversity specimens from Southwest China, a hotspot region of biodiversity in the world.
2. Kunming Animal Museum Herbarium provides free collection service for relevant institutions and individuals at home and abroad, and provides service platform for related scientific research personnel.
Related Institute
Kunming Institute of Zoology: October 1958, an application to establish the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) was submitted to the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
How to Get there?
Take bus No. 115, No. 139, No. 146 and bus No. 92 and get off at Baiyun Road Station.
Why is Huating Temple so special?
Huating Temple is located at Xishan Mountain Forest Park in Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. Different from other temples, it faces east not south. The temple was frist built in 1063, during Song Dynasty, covering an area of 12,000 square meters in rectangle. The temple is axisymmetric and closed courtyard type. Huating Temple is the largest temple in Yunnan province. It was released as one of the kunming municipal cultural relics protection units.
Introduction
The History of Huating Temple
Yuan Dynasty
The temple was first established by Xuantong Yuanfeng (玄通元峰) in 1320, during the mid-Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). The construction was completed in 1334. In 1339, Xuantong Yuanfeng brought a set of Chinese Buddhist canon to the temple after he visited Jiangnan. At that time it initially called “Yuanjue Temple” (圆觉寺).
Ming Dynasty
In 1441, Emperor Yingzong of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) renamed it “Huating Temple” (华亭寺). This name has been used to date. In 1453, Emperor Yingzong sent an eunuch named Li Yi (黎义) to renovate and redecorate the temple.
After the fall of the Ming dynasty, Huating Temple was devastated by wars.
Qing dynasty
In 1687, during the reign of Kangxi Emperor (1662–1722) of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), the provincial governor of Yunnan Wang Jiwen (王继文) rebuilt the temple.
In 1857, in the Xianfeng era (1851–1861), Part of the temple was badly damaged in the Hui Uprising.
Huating Temple was restored in 1883 with a small-scale.
Republic of China
In 1920, Military Governor of Yunnan Tang Jiyao invited Hsu Yun to disseminate Buddhism. Hsu Yun supervised the reconstruction of Huating Temple.
People’s Republic of China
In 1969, the Buddhist Texts Library became dilapidated for neglect. It was demolished in the following year.
Huating Temple has been designated as a National Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area by the State Council of China in 1983.
Sturcture of Huating Temple
The architecture style of the Huating Temple is deeply affacted by palace style rule and Confucian culture. Along the central axis of the whole temple, there are Free Life Pond, Hall of Heavenly King, Eight Merit Pool, Mahavira Hall and Depository of Buddhist Sutras.
What to See in Huating Temple
Along the lateral axis from Mahavira Hall, there are scripture hall, ancestor’s hall, abbot’s quarter, Sengtang, living room, bath house, warehouse and so on. And the Mahavira Hall is the center of the temple.
Architecture
The Mahavira Hall: Along the central axis are the Four Heavenly Kings Hall, Mahavira Hall, Guanyin Hall and Buddhist Texts Library: There are over 10 halls and rooms on both sides, including Guru Hall, Abbot Hall, Monastic Dining Hall, Monastic Reception Hall and Meditation Hall.
Four Heavenly Kings Hall: Statues of lion and elephant stands in front of the Four Heavenly Kings Hall. On both sides of the hall there are the statues of Heng and Ha. In the center of the hall enshrines the statues of Maitreya Buddha and Skanda. Statues of Four Heavenly Kings are enshrined in the left and right side of the hall.
Mahavira Hall: The Mahavira Hall enshrining the statues of Sakyamuni, Amitabha and Bhaisajyaguru. In front of Sakyamuni stand Ananda and Kassapa Buddha on the left and right. At the back of Sakyamuni’s statue are statues of Guanyin and Twenty-four Gods of Heaven. Totally 500 niches with small statues of Arhats are carved on both sides of the bounding walls.
Other Attractions
The Bell Tower: The gate of Huating Temple is a high and grand Bell Tower withcornices and old trees there. There is a pool with lots of fish in it. In summer, the white and red lotus are very beautiful in the pond.
Eight Merit Pool: Out of the Heavenly King Hall, you will enter a two layer courtyard, the lower layer is small and exquisite. There is a stone bridge on the Eight Merit Pood which divides the pond into two parts. There are rockery and fishes in the pond. There are also planted wisteria purple, podocarpus, camellia, ginkgo, magnolia. Under the rattan shade, there are stone tables for visitors to have a rest. The upper courtyard stand a giant stone incense burner in the midlle. Incense smoke all day, giving a sense of vulgarity.
What to Do in Huating Temple?
1. Exploring Buddhism Culture
The Huating Buddhist Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple that was originally a retreat for the local ruler. Sitting at the foot of Mount Huating, it is one of the best-preserved Buddhist temples in Kunming. The main temple contains a trinity of gilded lacquer Buddhas seated on lotus thrones. It is characterized by blue hair, august gesture and sumptuous setting.
2. Tying Wishing Red Ribbon
Tourists can buy a red ribbon in Huating Temple, then make a wish, tie the red ribbon on the tree, pray for the wish to come true.
3. Watching Plants
The temple is famous for its rare flowers and trees. Many camellia, magnolia, sweet-scented osmanthus and others trees were planted in and outside the temple, made the temple the best place to enjoy the flowers.
How to Get there?
By Bus
People can take public bus No.6, 17, 18, 21, , 51 and 94 to Xinshan Park Station, then walk to Huating Temple.
By Taxi
A taxi to the temple entrance from downtown of Kunming should cost roughly 50 yuan.
Travel Tips
1. Visitors are advised to always carry changes of clothing due to the large variations in temperature between day and night.
2. The climate is relatively dry, so drink more water every day.
3 Protecting oneself from strong UV radiation at high altitude.
4. Protecting oneself from altitude sickness. Lessen the effects of altitude sickness, avoid strenuous exercise and have plenty of rest.
5. Respect local customs , habits, and religious beliefs.
You Might Like
- 3 Days Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Tour from Kunming
- 20 Days Yunnan Three Parallel Rivers Adventure Trekking Tour
- 3 Days Kunming Cycling Tour from Anning Hot Spring to Fuxian Lake
- 20 Days Yunnan Sichuan Cycling Tour from Lijiang to Chengdu
- 7 Days Lincang Puerh Tea and Dianhong Black Tea Tour with Ancient Tea Horse Road Hiking to Xilinshan
- 34 Days China Panorama Tour with Yunnan, Tibet and Yangtze River Cruise
- 1 Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Hiking Tour from Yufeng Monastery to Yulong Reservoir and Yuhu Village
- 12 Days Yunnan Self driving Tour with Tank 300 by Yaso Trip
Yunnan province plan to contain coronavirus by tracking residents in public places comes under question
In the latest effort to use big data to help contain the coronavirus outbreak, a province in southwestern China is asking residents to scan a code when they enter...
Xilinshan Tea House (Kunming, Yunnan)
Located in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China, Xilinshan Tea International Tea Company (锡林山古茶) is one of the premier international trade companies specializing in Puerh Tea and Dianhong Black Tea....
Xilinshan Tea Trade Company (Kunming, Yunnan)
Located in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China, Xilinshan Tea Trade Company(锡林山古茶) stands as one of the premier international trade companies specializing in Puerh Tea and Dianhong Black Tea. Established...
The Cherry Blossoms in Yuantong Mountain, Kunming
Chinease Name: 圆通山樱花 English Name: Cherry Blossoms in Kunming Location: Kunming Zoo of Yuantong Mountain/No. 92, Qingnian Road, Kunming City Best Time: Februrary to March Openning Time: 8 a.m....
Bamboo Temple, Kunming
Why is Bamboo Temple so special? Bamboo Temple is a famous Buddhist temple in Yunnan. These life-sized clay figures are stunning – either very realistic or very surrealistic. Down one huge...
The Flowers and Birds Markets List in Kunming
Brief Introduction of Kunming Bird and Flower Market There are many bird and flower markets in Kunming city, but Jingxing Bird and Flower Market in downtown is a top...
Haigeng Park, Kunming
Haigeng Park is mainly a natural scenic spot and a lakeside bathing beach with green willows, sky-piercing eucalyptuses, and blooming flowers. The part and the nearby fishing villages merge...
Yunnan Provincial Museum
Introduction Yunnan Provincial Museum is located in the east section of Guangfu Road in Guandu District. As a comprehensive museum, it has rich collections of more than 200,000 pieces....
Guandu Ancient Town, Kunming
Why is Guandu Ancient Town so special? Guandu Ancient Town is one of the birthplaces of Yunnan Culture, and also one of the main historical and cultural landscape of...
Nanping Pedestrian Street in Kunming
Introduction In the history of Kunming, Nanping Street is the old block and the historical commercial street. In old Kunming, Nanping Street was a collection of finance, commerce and...
Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology
Introduction The Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology is located in the campus of Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The museum occupies 7...
Huating Temple in Kunming
Why is Huating Temple so special? Huating Temple is located at Xishan Mountain Forest Park in Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. Different from other temples, it faces east...
Tips Before Travel
Bring copies of your passport
Don't assume you're restricted to the main hubs of Beijing and Shanghai, our tours can start from any city.
Register with your embassy
For your safety, please register with the Embassy.
Always have local cash
Exchange some local currency for your trip
Our Team
Fenggu Yingshan Tea House and Tea Culture Learning Lijiang
Charlie Lee-General Manager of Yaso Travel and Xilinshan Tea Company
Leon Liu-Network Engineer of Trans Asia Discovery
Vincent Zhao-French Market and the Founder of VoyagesYunnan.com
Gary Elliot-Shareholder of Trans Asia Discovery
Michael Huang-Excellent French and English-speaking Tour Guide in Yunnan
Stephane-Volunteer of Yaso Travel
David Yao-Lijiang Tour Operator of Yunnan Exploration
Cindy Cao-Yunnan Tour Operator
Xilinshan Tea House (Kunming, Yunnan)
Rachel Nan-China Tour Operator
Lydia Li-The Founder of Yunnan Exploration
Anna Chen-Yunnan Tour Operator
Kelly Yu-Yunnan Travel Consultant
Cloudy Fu-Website Editor of Yunnan Exploration
Cuiyuan Yang
Skye Zhang-website editor of Yunnan Exploration
Customize a Trip
Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once enquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.
Latest Articles
Contact Info
