Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture is in central Yunnan Province. It’s between Kunming to the east and Dali Bai Autonomous Region to the west. It is a mountainous region with more than 90 percent of its territory made up of hills and mountains. The Jinsha Jiang and Yuan Jiang rivers flow out of the central Chuxiong area and then go off in different directions.
Two thirds of the population of Chuxiong are Han Chinese, with the Yi people comprising a quarter of the population. But Chuxiong is also home to a number of ethnic minorities, including the Lisu, Miao, Dai, Hui and Bai people.
Chuxiong is the transportation, water conservancy, energy, big data and logistics hub of Yunnan. The region is popular as a place to experience the rich culture of the Yi people.
It's also known for discoveries of dinosaur fossils and footprints that were made there. Most notable of them all was the discovery there in 1965 of fossils of Yuanmou Man dated to 1.7 million years ago. Yuanmou Man is the earliest human known to have lived in Asia, making Chuxiong one of the principal cradles of human civilization in the world.
At the Exhibition Hall of Yuanmou Man in the Longchuan Street in Yuanmou County seat you can trace the history of Yuanmou Man.
One of Chuxiong's greatest draws is its ethnic festivals, which showcase the costumes, songs and dances of Yi culture. The Ancient Town of the Yi People preserves the traditional architecture and culture of Yi, with restaurants, handicraft shops and bars scattered among them. Every night during the festivals, the Yi people sing and dance in their costumes.
Every year on June 24 of the lunar calendar, multitudes gather to celebrate the biggest festival of the Yi people, Torch Festival.
The Yuanmou Clay (Earth) Forest is a natural landform shaped by the erosion of rocks by running water over centuries. The clay forests in Yuanmou County are made up of three scenic spots: Hutiaotan, Banguo and Xinhua, where visitors can see spectacular and unique land formations.
Other scenic attractions include the Ten Month Calendar Garden of Chinese Yi Nationality, the Zixishan Forest Park and Wutai Mountain.
Special products of the region include mountain delicacies such as edible fungus, traditional Yi ornaments and garments, totem masks and silk products.
