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?

Vivid and Fragrant

In Yunnan, where everything grows, all tastes can be "easily reached," including sweet, sour, bitter and spicy. The most unique flavour of Yunnan comes from the mountains and forests.

At the heart of Yunnan's bustling season is the return of the "headwater fungus." Ancient beliefs considered wild fungi as manifestations of the essence of heaven, earth, sun, and moon, thus earning them the title of "mountain treasures." Song Dynasty poet Yang Wanli described them in his poem ‘Fungi:’ "Resounding like goose palms, tasting like honey, smooth as peeled silk, with no hint of bitterness." This vividly illustrates their deliciousness.

Wang Zengqi depicted Yunnan's mushrooms in this way: When the rainy season arrives, various fungi emerge, and the air is filled with the aroma of mushrooms. This description is not exaggerated. Starting from April each year when the first flush of the headwater fungus appears, until the end of September when wild mushrooms are in abundance, a diverse array of flavours unfolds. Not to mention the sweet and tasty Chicken Mushroom, the "king" Matsutake known for its unique flavour, the aromatic and fragrant Boletus and the jerky-like Dry Boletus, even the common Green Head Mushroom has captured Wang Zengqi's admiration.

Roaming through the bustling wild mushroom markets, the lively sounds of vendors and bargaining echo, creating an atmosphere of vibrant "freshness" during this limited mushroom season. In Yunnan, the phrase "live colours and fragrances" is not only found in the mountains and fields but also on lips and tongues.

Golden Trumpet Flower, resembling a small yellow bird, is used for stir-frying eggs, offering a brilliant golden hue, exuding a sweet fragrance, and possessing a tender and fresh taste. Using flowers in cuisine is not a new concept, as seen in the ancient saying, "Morning drink the dew of magnolia, evening feast on the falling petals of chrysanthemum." In the ever-blooming Yunnan, people incorporate flowers into their feasts, integrating them into their taste buds.

Starting with the pear blossoms in spring, the flavours vary from the slightly honeyed taste of dandelion flowers, with the freshness of lettuce leaves, to the subtly sweet and slightly bitter taste of clove flowers. Pumpkin flowers have a hint of nutty flavour with a delicate texture, while calendula flowers combine spiciness and bitterness, adding vibrant colours to the dishes. Regardless of the flower type, each bite symbolizes a taste of spring.

"In ten miles, different skies; in a hundred miles, different flavours." Yunnan's unique natural environment and diverse ethnic cultures contribute to the myriad flavours of life.

In the ancient city of Weishan, the "Nanzhao Health Long Street Banquet" introduces the tradition of roasted duck from the north, making the small Ma duck a unique specialty in Yunnan. The Bai people preserve the original flavour of the food using the simplest cooking methods, making "raw skin" a renowned dish. The Hani people's "Long Street Banquet," a feast for blessings, not only offers a feast for the senses but is also rich in good wishes. "Sa Pie" is a traditional dish among the Dai people, initially slightly bitter but leaving a sweet aftertaste. And not to forget Yunnan's notable insect feast, whether it's bee pupae, bamboo worms, crickets, or dragonflies, a quick fry in hot oil earns them a review of being "crispy and fragrant."

As writer Jia Pingwa once said, "The stomach has a memory function," encapsulating all the joys and sorrows of life. This bowl of earthly fireworks, imbued with Yunnan's cultural essence, has long transcended the basic need for sustenance, becoming a bond of emotions, an embodiment of life's sentiments, and adorned with specific feelings.