Article from Yunnan Daily

In everyone's heart, there is a Yunnan dream, and every corner of Yunnan has a many splendoured life.

This land boasts the world's most complex and unique terrain, giving rise to a myriad of climate types. Nourished by this fertile soil, it also imparts rich cultural significance to all living things.

Come to Yunnan and experience "Yunnan, a many splendoured life.” Feel the breathtaking natural scenery and the rich ethnic customs. The weather here feels like perpetual spring, with flowers blooming throughout the four seasons. Stepping into Yunnan is like stepping into eternal spring.

So, where does the sentence “Yunnan, a many splendoured life” come from?

In Yunnan, the cultural treasures forged by the sedimentation of years flow in the daily lives of the local people, becoming a dynamic inheritance spanning thousands of years.

Viewed from space, our planet displays large areas of blue and green, representing its purest colours. Getting closer, the dazzling night scenes and crisscrossing transportation networks left by human civilization on Earth are another kind of magnificence and beauty.

The unique geographical environment and climate types have made Yunnan a corridor for human migration since the Qin and Han dynasties. Over two thousand years ago, the ancient Dian Kingdom was born here, recorded in historical records by Sima Qian, only to disappear without a trace, leaving behind mysterious legends and archaeological exploration. Even earlier, 1.7 million years ago, the "Yuanmou upright man," the earliest human ancestor discovered in China and even Asia, already lived here.

Over thousands of years, people migrating into Yunnan and the local ethnic groups have blended and evolved, nurturing diverse ethnic and regional cultures in this magical land.

In the southern part of Ailao Mountain, around Yuanyang, thousands of layers of Hani terraces stack and interweave, presenting a picturesque landscape. Between heaven and earth, the vast terraced fields resemble unfolded giant pages of a book, narrating a deeply moving story of optimism and magnanimity. This has been the "carving" of the Hani people for over 1,300 years, evolving from a majestic and tragic millennium epic into a vibrant and fiery hymn of life.

In the ancient city of Lijiang, the Dongba script is still written and used. This script, known as the "world's only living pictographic script," witnessed the childhood of human writing and is still full of vitality today. It has become a cultural symbol of Lijiang, visible everywhere on public buses, shop signs, cultural walls, and the clothing and headwear of the Naxi people.

In the vastness of time, this colourful land has nurtured different forms of ethnic culture, and people speak the same ancient story in different languages. During the celebration of harvest, the Tibetan compatriots in Deqin engage in horse racing, a praise of strength and courage, showcasing the Tibetan people's bold and valiant character. In the New Year's Water Splashing Festival of the Dai people, people joyfully splash water on each other with basins, conveying blessings of good fortune. On the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, Yi ethnic youth ignite torches, gather around bonfires, sing and dance, expressing admiration for light and praying for peace.

In Yunnan, the cultural treasures sedimented by the passage of time flow in the daily lives of the local people, serving as a dynamic heritage spanning thousands of years. These cultures are like shimmering streams, converging on the land of Yunnan, merging or evolving, ultimately forming a narrative named "Yunnan," outlining the human years of Yunnan.

With three rivers flowing, snow-capped mountains as witnesses, dense forests, and blossoming flowers, harmonious coexistence of ethnic groups, this is Yunnan, a vast land gathering a myriad of colours.

Yunnan always manages to evoke people's imagination, painting a vivid and sensorially impactful scroll in their minds, while also unfolding diverse cultural threads.

Yunnan is not just a geographical location; it can also be described as a way of life: "Yunnan, a many splendoured life."

In everyone's heart, there is a Yunnan dream, and in every corner of Yunnan, there is a many splendoured life. Whether exploring natural landscapes, savouring human warmth, or reflecting on inner peace, people flock to experience "Yunnan, a many splendoured life."