| Yunnan is known as a treasure house of natural | | | | Powder is useful for gunshot and puncture wounds, so |
| resources and ethnic minority culture. There are many | | | | every Chinese soldier carries a bottle of the medicine. |
| items unique to Yunnan Province that cannot be found | | | | It is also said to be good for slow healing sores, bug |
| elsewhere in the world. Yunnan is famous for its | | | | bites, and bleeding stomach ulcers. |
| production of traditional Chinese medicine and medicinal | | | | Engraved Green Plums: |
| herbs. It is a well-known shopping location in China | | | | A traditional and beautiful food of the Bai ethnic |
| because each city and village has its own unique | | | | minority group, Engraved Green Plums is unique to this |
| products that cannot be found if you missed on you | | | | area. Besides being delicious and beautiful, they are |
| yunnan tour: | | | | considered to have medicinal qualities. Dried green |
| Dai Embroidery: | | | | plums are engraved with various patterns and designs. |
| Dai Embroidery, created by women of the Dai ethnic | | | | The fruit is then soaked in a combination of salt, brown |
| minority group, is famous for its high level of quality. | | | | sugar and honey. They can be preserved for many |
| Almost every Dai woman learns to make embroidery | | | | months, and are beautiful combination of a work of art |
| when they are very young, and it is an integral part of | | | | and a delicious snack. |
| their culture. Dai Embroidery is known for its unique | | | | Puer Tea: |
| patterns, and beautiful and bright colors. Subject matter | | | | One of the most famous teas in China, Puer tea has |
| for the Dai Embroidery varies greatly. Birds, animals, | | | | been produced in Yunnan for centuries. The tea after |
| flowers, and the five grains; rice, two kinds of millet, | | | | being picked is dried before being pressed for storage. |
| wheat and beans are very popular subject for the | | | | Traditionally the tea was compressed into a brick |
| embroidery. Each subject has its own meaning and | | | | shape for easy storage and shipping, but now is |
| these designs have been passed down for | | | | pressed into disk, bowl, and mushroom shapes. Yunnan |
| generations. | | | | was one end of the famous Ancient Tea Horse Trail, |
| Dai and Bai Tie Dye: | | | | and the tea that was shipped along the trail was all |
| The Dai and Bai ethnic minority groups are famous for | | | | Yunnan Puer. Puer Tea has a rich flavor and aroma |
| their tie dyed cloth. White cotton cloth is tied and sewn | | | | and the tea liquor is rich red in color. One reason that |
| with string, and then dipped into indigo ink. The parts | | | | Puer Tea has become so popular is that it ages. Like a |
| that were tied remain white, while the surrounding cloth | | | | fine wine, Puer Tea improves with age and older Puer |
| is a rich deep blue. The patterns on the Dai tie dye are | | | | Tea fetches tens of thousands of dollars. Many |
| mainly animals, flowers, dragons and phoenix, and | | | | Chinese people buy Puer Tea as an investment. |
| geometric patterns. The cloth is used for many items | | | | Where to go Shopping |
| including; tablecloths, clothing, bags and purses, hats, | | | | Kunming: |
| and even DVD cases. Traditionally indigo dye is used, | | | | NanYao Market: |
| but recently other colors are more commonly being | | | | The largest open market in Kunming, this market deals |
| used. | | | | primarily with local handicrafts. Located beside the |
| Wax Printing: | | | | railway station, and the long distance bus station, this |
| Yunnan Province's many ethnic minority groups have | | | | market is a wonderful place to pick up souvenirs. |
| developed a form of printing cloth that is unique. They | | | | Yunnan Curio Building: |
| use wax to make designs in cloth and the results are | | | | The four story building located on Nanping Lu Street is |
| very beautiful. The designs vary depending on the | | | | where to buy artwork and handicrafts. |
| minority group, but some of the more popular designs | | | | Bird and Flower Market: |
| are animals, flowers, birds, and landscapes. The dying | | | | This market is a must-see destination in Kunming. It |
| technique is surprisingly simple. Melted wax is applied to | | | | offers many exotic birds, and animals, as well as many |
| the cloth with a knife. When the wax is cooled, the | | | | curios, artwork, and local handicrafts. Not touristy, this |
| cloth is dipped into dye. The parts of the cloth with the | | | | market is a great way to get a glimpse into local |
| wax do not accept the dye leaving them bright white. | | | | people's daily lives. |
| After the cloth is dipped into the dye several times to | | | | Kunming Department Store: |
| reach the desired color, the cloth is allowed to dry. | | | | Located on Dongfeng Xi Lu Street, the shopping |
| When the cloth is dried, the wax is scrapped off and | | | | center offers all sort of modern commodities. |
| then the cloth is soaked in hot water to make sure all | | | | Qian Cun Department Store: |
| of the wax is removed. The resulting cloth has a | | | | Located on Renmin Zhong Lu Street, this department |
| beautiful pattern and the cloth can be used for a | | | | store offers daily necessities and is quite popular with |
| multitude of uses. | | | | tourists. |
| Tengchong Jade: | | | | Dali City and Dali Ancient City: |
| Jade objects have been crafted in Yunnan for | | | | Foreigner Street: |
| centuries and are sold throughout China and around | | | | The ideal place to pick up souvenirs, Foreigner Street |
| the world. The jade comes in a large variety of colors, | | | | in Dali Ancient City offers many shops selling local |
| and quality. Jade, being the hardest stone in the world | | | | specialties and handicrafts. Home to the Bai ethnic |
| requires many years of apprenticeship before an | | | | minority group, many Bai ethnic crafts can be found |
| artisan can create a work of art. Jade cannot actually | | | | here. |
| be carved, it needs to be ground with diamond grit | | | | Square Street Supermarket: |
| tools. In ancient times, diamond dust was used to grind | | | | This supermarket has several chain stores that sell |
| the items by hand, but now electric tools are used. The | | | | food and snacks. No.13, West Street, Xiaguan, Dali City |
| jade can be made into many different items. Jade | | | | No.43-46, Zhenxing Street, Xiaguan, Dali City No.342, |
| broaches, pendants, earrings, seals, decorative | | | | Fuxing Road, Dali Ancient City, Dali City |
| ornaments, chopsticks, and much more can all be | | | | Wholesale Markets: |
| found in Yunnan. | | | | There are several wholesale markets in Dali City. |
| Dali Marble: | | | | There are wholesale markets at Xingsheng Road and |
| The ancient city of Dali produces the most famous | | | | Fuxing Road in Dali City which are great spots to pick |
| marble in China. The marble is white with black | | | | up small items and souvenirs at cheap prices. There is |
| streaking, which often appears to take on shapes. The | | | | a vegetable wholesale market also located in Dali City, |
| marble is used in construction, such as floor tiles, and | | | | which can be reached by taking the number 6 bus. |
| inlay in furniture. The marble with particularly beautiful | | | | Lijiang Ancient City: |
| patterns are often framed and hung as works of art. | | | | Square Street: |
| The black swirls in the marble can often amazingly | | | | The most bustling area of the city, Square Street |
| look like landscapes, people, or animals. The marble | | | | offers something for everybody. The street is famous |
| from Dali Ancient City is so famous, that the Chinese | | | | for having a huge selection of shops selling local |
| word for marble is literally "Dali Stone". | | | | handicrafts and art and is a must-stop spot for visitors. |
| Yunnan Baiyao (White Medicinal Powder): | | | | Bunong Bells: |
| Developed in Kunming by a folk doctor in 1914, the | | | | The best place to buy Lijiang's famous Bunong bells is |
| White Medicinal Powder is very famous as a traditional | | | | east of the ancient stone bridge of Lijiang Old Town. |
| Chinese medicine. The medicine is made from many | | | | These bells are unique to this town and cannot be |
| different medicinal herbs and is said to heal almost any | | | | found anywhere else in the world. |
| kind of injury. It is believed that the White Medicinal | | | | |