the City of Spring
cctv.com 02-15-2006 14:15
Kunming is the political, economical and cultural center of Yunnan Province and has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southwest China.
As I mentioned before, Kunming enjoys a pleasant climate that lives up to the nickname of "the City of Spring". The summers are never too hot, nor the winters too cold.
Yunnan province is home to some 26 ethnic groups, such as the Yi2, Bai2, Miao2, Dai4 and Ha1ni2, and so is one of the most colourful cultural regions of China. Each group has their own customs and festivals, such as the Torch festival of the Yi people, to mention just one of many examples. Each region within Yunnan province boasts its own distinct cultural flavour.
In 1999, Kunming was host to a huge International Horticultural Expo. This was a huge boost to the local economy and helped to put Kunming on the map, as it were, as a major tourist destination.
Expo '99 was the first horticultural exposition to have been held in China. The site of Expo'99 was located in the scenic area named "the Golden Temple Resort" in the northern suburbs of Kunming, covering an area of 218 hectares. Covered with dense vegetation, the site is laid out against the mountains with streams murmuring throughout the entire area. Horticultural works are integrated with modern architecture of markedly different styles to explore the expo鈥檚 theme of "Man and Nature". Delegations from many different countries built their own pavilions here to display their particular interpretation of the theme and to introduce people to the native flora and fauna of their respective countries.
After the Expo, these ground were converted into a permanent exhibition of horticulture. They are still one of the most popular sites to visit in Kunming.
Editor:Wang Source:CCTV.com
