Area: 394,000 sq km (152,000 square miles)

Population:43 million.

Capital City: Kunming

Major Cities: Kunmin, Dali, Lijiang, Qujing, Yuxi, Xishuangbanna, Simao, Nujiang, and Lincang.

Temperature and Elevation:

Yunnan Province is continuation of the Tibetan plateau, and occupies an area of 394,000 square kilometres, similar in size ti the US State of Califonia. With the Himalayas dominating the north, and the equatorial tropics warming the sounthern areas, the features are diverse and spectacular. Yunnan shares a western border with Myanmar, and a southern bodee with Laso and Vietnam. Two geographically different region are divided by the Ai-lao Mountains: a limestone plateau to the east, and a mountainous area with serveral peaks above 5,000 metres, to the west. The highest point is the 6,740 metre Kagebo Peak on the Yunnan-Tibet border. The torrential rivers are too swift for navigation, but have huge largely untapped hydroelectric potential. The elevation of the eastern plateau varies from 2,130 metres its western end, to 1,370 metres on the Kweichow border, where intermontane basins and broad fertile valleys facilitate intensive farming More than 40 freshwater lakes, the highest number in Southwest China, lie in geological faults on the plateau. Larger lakes include Dianchi, Erhai, Fuxian, Yangzonghai and Lagu. About 30 percent of the land area is forested, and is home to a large variety of flora and fauna. Yunnan@,@s varied and diverse climate means that, while Kunming enjoys pleasant spring-like weather for most of the year, the elevated eastern plateau experiences warm summers and mild winters, and the climate can change substantially during a journey of just a few kilometres. To the west, the valley floors and lower slopes of this mountainous area enjoy warm humid weather, while a temperate zone stands between 2,000 to 3,000 metres, and ice and snow envelop the high summits. Monsoons off the Pacific and Indian oceans provide adequate rainfall, with May through October the wettest months. Other things about yunnan

 Three countries are its close neighbors: Burma to its west, Laos and Vietnam to its southwest. There are 17 preferctures and cities. Kunming is its capital city.

For Westerners, Yunnan and Kunming are possibly better associated with the Flying Tigers daring pilots who flew "over the hump" from Bengal to help China during the Second World War. Yunnan actually has plenty of other claims to fame.

Yunnan is a cradle of mankind. The Yuanmou Ape Man lived and multiplied in Yunnan as early as 1.7 million years ago. In ancient time, caravans ran through Yunnan along the Southern Silk Road into Burman and India. Today Yunnan boasts the country@,@s most diverse population of cllorful minority peoples and such natural wonders as the Stone Forest, Xishuangbanna, Dali, etc.

There are 10 national scenic resorts and 48 provincial scenic resorts in Yunnna. The major tourist routes are as follows. Southeast Route: Kunming- the Stone Forest in Lunna-the Alu Cave-Puzhehei in Qiubei-Lubuge in Luoping. West Route: Kunming-Chuxiang-Baoshan-Dehong. Northwest Route: Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Diqing. Southwest Route: Kunming-Simao-Xishuangbanna.

As well as an important province sharing a large part in exporting to the ASEAN countries, Yunnan has been known for its well-developed tourism tourism industry and infrastructure apart from its rich tourist resources.

Yunnan is undoubtedly an ideal tourist destination.