Canadian Connie: Amazing Yunnan makes my dream!
Connie is teaching in Guangdong Technion Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) in southeast China’s Shantou city
My name is Constance Van Horne. I am a professor from Vancouver Island, Canada. I am teaching in Guangdong Technion Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) in southeast China’s Shantou city.
I love traveling and I have been to many countries in the world. I have been in China for 5 years and I love the Chinese food and the traditional cultures here.
The Cuihu Park
When I was in Shantou, I sometimes visited the posts on twitter accounts “Amazing Yunnan”, “Amazing Puer” and “Amazing Lijiang”. Because the twitter series have a feed of photos of scenery and cultures that capture the imagination and made me dream of beautiful places.
Besides, as the hit TV series Meet Yourself was shot in Dali, I recently heard people around me talking about the province. Therefore, I decided to set foot on Yunnan in the Chinese New Year holiday.
Yunnan wild mushroom hot pot
My first station is Yunnan’s capital city, Kunming. I arrived in Kunming on Jan 31. I went to the Cuihu Park and tried wild mushroom hot pot. Yunnan people regard wild mushrooms as an indispensable delicacy in their life. Now I understand why. It was my first time to see so many kinds of wild mushrooms and vegetables. The soup was so delicious and I really love the vegetables in the hot pot.
Guoqiao rice noodles
The second day, I tasted Guoqiao rice noodles in a time-honored noodle restaurant. The restaurant has a century-long history. There was a legend about how Guoqiao rice noodles were invented. It is said that a wife invented it for her husband in order to keep the soup warm. It is such a good idea and I really love the soup.
Dounan flower market
After the lunch, I decided to visit Dounan Flower Market. It is the biggest fresh-cut flower market in Asia and I couldn’t wait to see it. On arriving, I was overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle in the market. The kinds of the flowers were so numerous that I couldn’t recognize some of them.
Dounan flower market
One thing I feel incredible is the trading area. The auction way they use is from Netherlands. I know it because I lived in Netherlands for one year. The market adapting to the international and professional management impressed me a lot.
The old town of Lijiang
The second stop was Lijiang, where my colleague’s nephew, a brilliant medical student, gave me a tour of the ancient town and a park his grandfather likes to walk in. The ancient town felt like being in a movie set of ancient China. The architecture is so stunningly beautiful, with blossoming trees and a clear blue sky. It felt like I was transported to another time and place.
The Lugu Lake
I also explored the town on my own and bought baskets and a lovely stool to ship home to Shantou. I ate deliciously fried potatoes and a sandwich with fermented vegetables wrapped in a thin sheet of rice bread. I actually had it for dinner twice. I loved it so much.
The Lugu Lake
My third stop was the Lugu Lake. I only had one day so I packed a lot into it! First I rowed to an island in the middle of the lake in a heavy wooden boat filled with tourists… it was hand towed by the local Mosou young man and woman. The water is crystal clear and the birds came up to the boat to be fed by the young girl sitting behind me. I tasted the water and it was sweet. When we sailed to the Island in the middle of the lake, I walked up to the temple and said prayers of gratitude I was in such an amazing place.
The Tiger Leaping Gorge
The most well-known culture in the Mosuo people is “walking marriage”. I met a young woman at the front desk in the hotel who helped me buy the beautiful scarf local women wore on their heads. Her mother was in town and dropped it off. Then we did a photoshoot of me in local dress and we laughed and it was so much fun! She told me she won’t do the “walking marriage” -- I asked through Wechat. She wasn’t offended and understood I was just curious.
Putatso National Park
The next morning, I walked on the marriage bridge and than stopped in a Yi town for a delicious lunch. Then I spent a quick night in Lijiang againwhere I ate potatoes for dinner. Honestly, I normally never eat potatoes-- but in Yunnan they are out of this world.
Ganden Sumtseling Monastery
On the next day, I visited the Tiger Leaping Gorge. The Jinsha River is suddenly squeezed by two snow mountains, making the gorge so grand and incredible. I had an amazing Tibetan lunch there. Then I had a stop for a coffee and was treated to a delicious bowl of yak soup by the owner. When listening to a singer and drinking a local beer, I feel like I’ve been transported back to the West Coast of Vancouver Island -- except there are beautiful cosplay young people everywhere.
Shangri-La
My trip in Yunnan is still going on but I have to go back to Shantou soon. The memory here is unforgettable and impressive. I’m sure to come back in the near future soon.
Editing by Mo Yingyi; Photos provoded by Constance and Guangdong Technion Israel Institute of Technology