云南简介和历史景点(英文的).doc

YunnanProvince, ChinaDian is short for Yunnan. It lies in the southwest in China. It is more than 380 thousand square kilometers in area. The population is 37.7 million. Yunnan is located in Yungui Plateau. The hilly land occupied 93 percent of the area. And the basin only occupied 6 percent. The topography her is complicated. Approximately, the northwestern part is higher than the southern part. The rivers are parts of Jinsha River, Nu River, Nan pan River, Yuan River and Yiluowadi River. It is the moist monsoon climate of tropical highland in subtropical zone. The vertical change is very striking. Yun nan abounds in mineral resources. Mainly, there is tin, zinc, titanium, copper, antimony, and phosphorous. Non-ferrous metals, tobacco and sugar production are in the first places in China. In agriculture, mainly, there is rice, rape and tobacco. Sugar-cane, tobacco, tea and tropical crops are in the important places in our country. The main communication is railway. The highway is important too. In Yunnan, there is a lot of natural scene. The places of interest here are Dian Spring, Cang Mountain in Dali, Xishuang banna and so on. The traditional specialties are Dali sculpture, Yun tobacco, Yun tea, Yun medicinal herbs and silver ornament.Yunnan - Scenic Spots in Kunming Enjoying mild weather for most of the year, this historic subtropical capital city, 1,900 meters above sea level, is skirted by mountains to the north, east and west, and Dianchi lake in the south. Kunming is a Jewel of the Mekong.Stone Forest ( A national grade scenic and tourist spot ): Stone Forest is located 126 kilometers southeast of Kunming city of Yunnan Province, covering an area of 2667 square kilometers. Due to erosion and brushing along the crevices of limestones over aeons by sea waters, the sea bottom was broken up and moulded into a multitude of stone pillars, V-shaped gorges and eroded cracks. A myriad of grotesque pinnacles shot up and formed a spectacular stone forest. Front Scenery of Stone Forest:- As soon as one enters the Stone Forest scenic area, a crystal-clear lake comes into focus. By the east lakeside, rise from the water a good array of fantastic stone pinnacles, pillars, shoots, and stalactites, resembling a natural potted scenery. A few hundred steps beyond the lake, there is a pool with a huge boulder in the shape of a squatting lion. Hence its given the name of Lion Pool. Further on, a couple of tall limestones block the way like a green screen. Greater Stone Forest:- Inside the sea of Stone Forest, one feels as if were in a bizarre fairyland. The stone formations standing still resemble a variety of things such as ancient fortresses, birds, beasts, flowers, trees, human beings, and whatever else one can imagine. Lesser Stone Forest:- It adjoins the Greater Stone Forest, and has large lawns, lush growth of bamboos and trees as well as mountain flowers in Spring and Autumn. Most fantastic are The Cluster of Pinnacles Propping up the Sky and The Stone Singing Praises of Plums. Outer Stone Forest:- Its gifted with myriad of stone peaks of various shapes. The Lion Hill resembles a squatting male lion on a height.Cuiho Park: Performances of Chinese operas and people watching make this park, near Yuantong Temple, a pleasant place to spend some time. Lake Dian: Covering 300 square km and extending 40 km from north to south, the lake is dotted with sail boats and has many scenic spots and picnic sites along its shores. It is best viewed from Kumnings Western Hills Forest Reserve.Yuantong Temple: Although thought to be more than 1,000 years old, Kunmings largest Buddhist temple has undergone many renovations. A new building contains a statue of Sakyamuni, presented as a gift from the King of Thailand.Jindian ( Golden Temple ) Park: The park, sprawling for more than 2,000 mu on the Mingfeng Mountain seven kilometres northeast of Kunming, is a national forest reserve. With a natural scenery mingled with sites of historical interest and man-made gardens, it is also a large scenic resort in Kunming. On the Mingfeng Mountain stands the exquisite and serene Golden Temple, 6.7 metres in height and 7.8 metres in width, and cast of 250 tons of solid bronze. It is the largest bronze hall in China.Yunnan Ethnic Villages: Yunnan Ethnic Villages, situated six kilometres south of Kunming, is a 2,000 mu theme park bordering on the south by the Dianchi Lake and on the west by the famous Western Mountains Scenic Area. The famous historical and cultural city of Kunming is in the north of the villages. Each of the 26 ethnic peoples of Yunnan will have a village built on the premises, and there will also be a square symbolizing unity among various ethnic oroups, a theatre for the performance of ethnic songs and dances, a folklore museum, and a museum of ethnic waxworks. When completed, the Yunnan Ethnic Villages will become an epitome of Yunnan as a multi-ethnic province, and an immense garden in south Chinese horticultural and landscaping traditions. Haigeng Park, a National Sport Training Base, is only two kilomeyers away from the Minority Nationalities Park.Qiongzhu Si ( Bamboo Temple ): This Tang Dynasty temple is twelve km northwest of the city. The current structure is not that old, however. After burning down in the 15th century it had to be rebuilt during a major renovation between 1833 and 1850, some 500 life-size sulptures of Buddhism arhats were molded and colored.Dianchi Lack & Daguan Park : The Dianchi Lake, 370 square kilometres in area, 44 metres in depth, and 1,885 metres in altitude, is the eighth largest lake in China and the largest in Yunnan Province. For its exceptional charms the lake is nicknamed Sparkling Pearl Imbedded in a Highland . Its shores are strewn with scenic spots and places of folklores. Sailing on the lake, with the boat swaying gently on a vast expanse of liquid silver, proves to be a most enchanting experience. At night, the moon casts a gauzy veil over the lake, and the silence of the scene is broken only by the soughing of a refreshing breeze. Known for its longest antithetical couplet in China, the Grand View Park, also called Daguan Park, is found within a walking distance from the Western Hills. It shares the same Dianchi lake water with the Western Hills, which are on the opposite side, the total area, including water and land, is approximate 60 ha.The Lugu Lake and Mosuo Culture The Lugu Lake is located between Ninglang County in Yunnan Province and Yanyuan County in Sichuan Province, 300 kilometers away from Lijiang County. It is a plateau lake with a total area of 52 square kilometers, 2685 meters above sea level. The average depth is 45 meters, the deepest point being 93 meters. The water is very clear. The lake remains na uncontaminated plateau lake. Among the five islands in the lake, three are in the territory of Yunnan and two in that of Sichuan. Heiwawudao, Ligedao are metaphorically called Three Islands of Ponglai (Islands of the Immortals). Sitting in the middle of the lake, Heiwawudao Island is also called the Chieftain Island because Ashaoyun, the chieftain of Yongning, built his villa on the island in the Guangxu period of the Qing dynasty. Rock, an American scientist, also used to reside on this island. A dozen of Mosuo families live on this island so it is possible for the visitors to experience the life on the island and, at the same time, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake. The pretty and graceful Mosuo girls, the ancient and natural canoes and the moving and pleasant fishing songs are considered to be the three most enjoyable things on the lake. The lugu lake is embraced in green mountains. The best-loved one by the Mosuo people is the Holy Gemu Mountain (the Lion Mountaion). The local people worship it as their Goddess Gemu. On 25th July of each lunar year, they will gather at the foot of the mountain for a great sacrificial rite.We can see Mosuo villages along the lakeside, also we can see the plateau hot springs, the underground maze-The Lucky Cave, the Chieftains Palace, the Zhamei Lamaist Temple, yongning - the key town on the ancient tea and horse trading route. Many beautiful legends have been circulating among the people. The Mosuos, a branch of the Naxi nationality with a population of about 15000, are the main ethnic group scattered in the lakeside villages. The Mosuo women wear long hair tied into a bun and red, green and black garments and white folding skirts with colorful sashes tied round their waists. Before 13 years old, they usually wear long gowns. After the initiation ceremony at the age of 13, men wear trousers and women wear skirts. The Mosuo people have their own ways and customs, still retain some remnants of the matriarchal society. Men and women are not bound by marriage, each living at ones mothers home. Men work at home during the day and spend their night with the women they love in theiv homes. Children are under the care of and supported by their maternal families. Fathers do not live in the same family with their children and women so that they are not bound up with their women financially in their production and life. This unique wedlock values affection and gives more freedom to men and women in their relationships. They may choose to unite or separate at will. It has been considered as the living fossil as a basis for a study of social patterns and matriarchal marriage customs in today s world. The Naxi Villages look graceful and unaffected. The Zhuanshan Festival (the Festival of Turning - around the Mountain) which falls on 25th July of the lunar year is the traditional festival of the Mosuo people. On that day they would dres in their Sunday best to worship the Gemu Goddess Mountain (the Lion Mountain) and pray for the Goddess protection. It is also a time for horse racing, wrestling and antiphonal sining. The young people take the chance to search for their lovers, whom they call Axia.The Ancient Town of Lijiang - World Cultural Heritage The ancient town of Lijiang was built in the middle of a flatland at the foot of the Yulong Snow Mountain. It got its name Dayan Zheng (the Town of Big Ink Slab)because the town is surrounded by tree-covered mountains on all sides with crystal clear water running in the middle of it. It has the appearance of a big jade ink slab. The town covers an area of 3.8 square kilometers at an elevation of 2400 meters. It has a population of 25379, among whom there are 16999 Naxi people. The town was huilt in the late song dynasty and the early Yuan dynasty. Since then, it has been the political, cultural, and educational center in this area. For a time, it had been an important trading center for business between Yunnan Tibet, China and India. The town is full of shops with a superb collection of handicrafts made of brass, fur, leather and textile, most of which are run by shrewd Naxi women. The Naxi houses have been built in close order. From time to time, one can see Naxi old men walking leisurely under the eaves and in the narrow lanes. The town embodies rich traditional Naxi culture and fully reflects the prosperity and progress of the Naxi ethnic group. The buildings in the town have incorporated the best Han, Tibet, and Bai styles into the unique Naxi style so it is one of the rarest and best preserved ancient towns of the minority ethnic people in China. The geographical features and the Helongtan (Black Dragon Pool) river system were taken into account by the builders while selecting the site and planning the layout of the town. Houses have been built on the mountain slopes tier upon tier. The city depends on water for existence and water comes along with the city has become one of the main features of the old town. The roads in the old town radiate from Sifang Street (Square Street) to form a network connecting every cornet of the city. Small squares are scattered along appropriate sections of the main streets. All the streets and lanes of the town are paved with red breccia, which is neither muddy in the rainy season nor dusty in the dry season. These fine-grained stones cohere perfectly with the entire environment of the town. Heilongtan (The Black Dragon Pool) is the main source of water where three rivers rise: the West, the Middle and the East and then they subdivide into many streams which flow through the town. Supplemented by wells and springs here and there, the entire water system meets the needs of people in the town. Flanked by willows, streams of water run by each house, making the town a waterside village on the plateau. The more than 350 bridges built on the rivers in the town are varied and unique in styles. Among them, Suocui, Dashi, Wanzi, Nanmen, Maan, Renshou bridges, which were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, are considered to be the best. The houses in the old town are a typical manifestation of the architectural art and style of the Naxi nationality. Based on its original jingganshi timber structrure, the Naxi people developed a unique architectural art and style by absorbing some merits of the architectural styles of the Han and Zang nationalities. Most of the Naxi houses are two-storied wooden structures with chuangdoushi (a style of mortise and tenon joints in ancient Chinese architecture) wooden framework, mud-brick walls and tile roofs. The typical fayouts are Sanfangyizhaobi (houses on three sides with a screen wall opposites the main house) and Sihewutianjing. The Sanfangyizhaobi pattern consists of a main house, two side houses and a screen wall facing the main house. The four houses form a closed compound, in which there are five courtyards, the main one in the middle and a small one in each of the four corner of the compound. Residents in Lijiang pay great attention to the decoration of their houses. Carved decorations are often used on wooden doors and windows. Screen walls are inlaid with marble and the heads of the main beams are often carved into beast heads. Courtyards are paved with cobbles or variegated stones. All the decorations are a combination of function and art with distinctive minority styles. Now, 32 residences have been listed among the cultural relics under the state protection. In 1997, the UNESCO put Lijiang on a list of the worlds major cultural heritages. The Yangzi River and the Yellow River are well-known as the two longest rivers in China and are noted as Giant Asian Rivers. Situated between 99o 30 E to 100o 50 E and 26o N to 27o 50 N, Lijiang can be easily located by every tourist from abroad when they trace along the Yangzi River from its mouth in Shanghai back toward its source. The ajncient town of Lijiang is a travelers wonderland which has been classified as a World-class Cultural Legacy by UNESCO, Nationallevel Scenic Zone and a National Town of History and Culture. Lijiang is a beautiful shining jewel on the Northwest Yunnan Plateau neighbouring the southeast side of the Tibentan Plateau which is considered to be the Roof of the World . It covers an area of 20,600 square kilometers with a population of 1,030 ,000. The whole district is comprised of four counties: Lijiang, Yongsheng, Huaping and Ninglang. LiJiangs weather is remark-ably pleasant. Spring there lasts as long as 241 days and there is no hots ummer. Lijiang is 603 kilometers away from Kunming and 280 kilometers from the JingJiang Railway Station on the Kunming - Chengdu line. The airport in LiJiang had been opened in 1994. Lijiang boasts of breath - takingly wonderful sights such as Jade DragonSnow Mountain (Yulong Xueshan) and its modern maritime glacier,the only one of its kind in the southern end of the Northern Hemisphere; Tiger Leaping Gorge ( Hutiaoxia ); the world - famous grand canyon; Lugu Lake, the culturalcradle of the Matriarchy of the Yongning Mosuo people in Ninglang; the Old Town of Dayan Lijiang, which is referred to by European and American tourists as the Oriental Venice .All these natural sceneries and these cultural treasures of the minority peoples, such as Dongba Culture, Naxi Classical Music,Baisha Murals and Mosuo Customs, have been continuously drawing tourists from all over the world and have recently vote Lijiang as one of the favorite destinations in China. In 1989, Lijiang was ranked as a Level - 1 Tourisrn Hot Spot of China by the yunnan Tourism Bureau. In 1992, it was rated as one of the four provincial - level travel zones of Yunnan by the provincial government. There is a saying which goes: Visit not Lijiang, visit not Yunnan ! Lijiang is now opening its gate ready to heartily welcome guests from all over the world and show off its exotic and alluring scenery as well as the rich and colourful ethnic customs of its people.The Ancient City of Dali The Ancient City of Dali, also known as Yeyu in ancient times, is located 13 km south of Xiaguan, at the foot of the Cangshan Mountain in the west and overlooks the Erhai Lake in the east. It was set up in the 15th year of Emperor Hongwu Period of the Ming Dynasty (in 1382 AD) as the capital of the Dali kingdom.The original city wall was 8 metres in height and 6 km in length with four gates and gate towers in the east, west, south and north. The four gate towers are named Chen En, Tong Hai, Cangshan and An Yuan respectively. At present, only the south and north gate towers remain standing. The layout of the ancient city resembles a chessboard. There are five streets stretching from south to north, and 8 lanes from east to west, all paved with blue slabstones. Along them are the typical houses of the Bais which have stone walls and dark blue tile roofs. The brooks from the Can