Many-splendored Yunnan life: Dali landscape liked by int’l visitors

The international guests present at the 2023 Erhai Forum on Global Ecological Civilization Construction visited Cangshan Mountain and Eehai Lake in west Yunnan’s Dali Bai autonomous prefecture on May 29, following in-depth discussions around the theme of "Man and Nature in Harmony Towards a Path to Modernization".

The international guests present at the 2023 Erhai Forum visit Cangshan Mountain in west Yunnan on May 29. Photo/Yunnan Daily

At the Qingbi Stream in the Cangshan World Geopark, they enjoyed fresh air and embraced the emerald greenness from the lush vegetation. Strolling in the eco-corridor of Erhai Lake, the international guests had a better appreciation of the many-splendored Yunnan life in trails, marshes and traditional villages.

The Chinese-style modernization is the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and such theory impressed Somsavath Phongsa, Deputy Director of Mass Media Department, Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

Somsavath Phongsa carefully listened to the Dali practice in ecological progress at the forum. What impressed him most is that Erhai ecology used to be threatened by traditional industries, but now the lake is frequented by water fowls, visitors and folks in leisure.

The international guests present at the 2023 Erhai Forum visit Cangshan Mountain in west Yunnan on May 29. Photo/Yunnan Daily

On an electric tourist car in the Erhai Ecological Corridor, the guests were greeted by a dense wood of Metasequoia trees, where the would-be couples were taking wedding photos. What made Somsavath Phongsa even more excited is that the Lao coffee was available at a roadside cafe. "Right now, everything is in harmony: folks, lake, villages," said the Laotian guest, enjoying the taste from his hometown.

The Erhai Ecological Corridor was occupied by tourists, who were either watching the delicate ottelia flowers floating on the lake, the egrets resting on the shore and the wild ducks tossing their heads into the water, or just listening to the folk songs performed by Dali villagers. Walking along the eco-corridor, Thong Sovan Raingsey, Secretary-General of the Club of Cambodian Journalists and General Manager of Koh Santepheap Daily, was delighted.

"The eco-corridor has effectively kept pollutants in the surrounding areas away from the Erhai Lake, while bringing tourist revenue to local villagers," said the tour guide. Thong Sovan Raingse thought that the Dali practice could be applied to Mekong countries, especially to the development and protection of Lake Tonle Sap in Cambodia. He hoped for more Cambodia-Yunnan cooperation in environment.

The international guests present at the 2023 Erhai Forum visit the Erhai lake in west Yunnan on May 29. Photo/Yunnan Daily

Wang Haoyu, managing director of Boston Consulting Group in Greater China, said China is a worldwide leader in solar energy, wind energy and hydropower, offering technological aid to other countries in their energy conservation and cuts of CO2 emission. "In the joint pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative, countries need to coordinate for reaching the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality,” said Wang.

After a lapse of seven years, Nang Moon Aung, a Myanmar native teaching at the Yangon-based Oriental Language and Business School, visited Dali for the second time and noticed great changes in local environment. "A sound ecology brings a sense of gain and happiness, making our life more fulfilled," said Nang Moon Aung, recording Dali's natural beauty with her smart phone.

Reporting by Wang Huan, Mo Yingyi, Shen Yan, Zhang Yinglin, Hu Lixian and Yang Chunmei (Yunnan Daily); Trans-editing by Wang Shixue