Yunnan, a many splendoured life

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?

(IV) Harmony of All Things

In the world, there are many beautiful places, but none quite like Yunnan.

From the bottom of the Red River Valley to the Kawagarbo Peak, within a straight-line range of over 900 kilometers, Yunnan displays diverse natural environments "from Hainan Island to Heilongjiang." Snow-covered peaks stand tall, tropical rainforests appear like fairylands, great rivers surge ceaselessly, and highland lakes exhibit charming variety. It seems that nature has a particular fondness for Yunnan.

Located in the northwest of Yunnan, Gaoligong Mountain is the epitome of this favoritism.

Billions of years ago, due to the prolonged collision and compression of the Eurasian and Indian plates, the ancient Mediterranean Sea gradually receded, and plateaus with tremendous folds emerged, giving rise to Gaoligong Mountain.

"One mountain, four seasons, and a different world every ten miles." Gaoligong Mountain spans nearly all land climate types in China except for deserts. Here, towering peaks rise dramatically, bizarre rocks defy imagination, clouds and mist pervade endlessly, silver waterfalls cascade like hanging in the sky, primitive forests vertically distribute, hot springs are scattered like stars, and the world of tropical rainforests is truly remarkable. In this space, the proximity of tropical, temperate, and frigid zone flora and fauna provides infinite possibilities for evolution. Therefore, Gaoligong Mountain is also known as the "world's genetic library of species."

Every year in March and April, walking in Gaoligong Mountain is like a journey through time and space, providing a unique and extraordinary experience. The mountain ridges are covered in white snow, the middle slopes display a fiery red autumn, and the foothills are adorned with golden rapeseed flowers. Walking through the mountains feels like passing through the homes of myriad creatures, with lush vegetation, clear flowing water, fragrant wildflowers, and the mountain breeze bringing the soul-stirring symphony of bird songs.

It is often said that great birds emerge from deep mountains, and Gaoligong Mountain is undoubtedly the best choice for bird watching. When speaking of bird watching in Gaoligong, one cannot fail to mention Baihualing.

Baihualing, a small village with an altitude of over 1,000 metres, is located at the northernmost end of Gaoligong Mountain, nestled in the famous Nujiang Grand Canyon. It is referred to as the "golden triangle of bird watching in China" and the "best area for birding." It was the earliest bird-watching base in Gaoligong Mountain, where hundreds of bird species, including migratory birds and resident birds of Gaoligong Mountain, can be observed.

In the mornings here, if it doesn't rain, you will wake up amidst a chorus of bird calls – "kōduōluō, kōduōluō," as the Blue-throated Barbet proclaims its territory; "gāgāgā, gāgāgā" is the playful activities of the nearby drongos; "guìguì yō, guìguì yō" is the hawk eagle practicing its vocals. There are also many birds chirping, creating a bird music concert. Stepping outside, you can see various birds frolicking and singing on the branches, playing and foraging in the woods.

Being able to enjoy the earliest spring, appreciate the latest autumn, and discover the most novel species, Gaoligong, this magical place in Yunnan, remains a rarely explored sanctuary.

In Yunnan, there are many well-known natural wonders that capture people's attention. From the "sunshine on the golden mountain" of Meili Snow Mountain, the "dangerous, strange, beautiful, and elegant" Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the primitive forest of Xishuangbanna where single trees form a forest, to the Li River Mountain with "three sunrises in a day," the White Water Terrace in Shangri-La where waterfalls flow over terraces, the marvellously low-key Dahe Rift in Huize, and the mysterious and fantastical Yuanmou Earth Forest, along with the miraculous Tiger Leaping Gorge in the Hengduan Mountains. From south to north, from east to west, every detail showcases the unique endowments of Yunnan.

As Yang Liping (a famous dancer in Global) once said, "Living in Yunnan is like living in nature. This is a place where you can feel the growth of all things." At this moment, this statement has become the best interpretation.