Just outside of Dali (大理), a ninety-minute drive away, lie some of the greatest and most accessible views on offer in Yunnan. Rising to a height of 3,240 meters, Jizu Mountain (鸡足山) — literally Chicken Foot Mountain — towers above all of its surroundings. It is no ordinary peak, as it is home to several temples and a dizzying... Continue Reading →

Welcome back! It’s been quite some time since I’ve had the time to properly write up an update, but here we are. Today marks four months in China, and nearly six since I took off from San Francisco. As such, it’s as good a time as any. It's been crazy busy these past months. Since... Continue Reading →

November 8, 2015 marked a historic date in Myanmar. For the first time in five decades, a fair and free election was allowed to take place in the former pariah state. That is not to say that there were not elections previously. Famously, in 1990, the ruling military junta allowed for a free, multi-party election. On... Continue Reading →

This past Saturday, just past midnight Beijing time, Laos launched its first telecommunications satellite, LaoSat 1. The take off, however, did not occur in Laos, but rather from a launchpad in Sichuan, as China's participation in the venture has been critical throughout. In addition to providing the facility — because Laos does not possess an... Continue Reading →

Kunming, and greater Yunnan province, will enter the American spotlight later this month. Last Tuesday, plans were unveiled to feature one of the province's most visited tourist sites, the Stone Forest, in the eighty-ninth annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This is not the first time China has had a presence in the near century-old holiday tradition.... Continue Reading →

China and India, earth's two most populous nations, have never had the warmest of relations. The key point of contention is always border disputes. Traditionally, the Chinese government has laid claim to portions of what India claims to be areas in Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir. This source of diplomatic conflict escalated, most famously, in... Continue Reading →

Geographically speaking, Vietnam is one of Yunnan's closest international neighbors. Although only six hours away by train, it might as well be an entire world of separation for all its differences. Crossing the Red River from Yunnan into Vietnam's Lao Cai Province, many traces of Chinese culture disappear. Gone are mixian and dumplings, replaced with fresh-baked bread and pho. Most... Continue Reading →

On September 15, the Kunming Craft Beer Society (KCBS) held its twelfth monthly meeting. Established by Darryl Snow a year ago, the group has rapidly grown to become a good example of inter-cultural exchange in Kunming. Of the approximately 20 attendees, the meeting was an equal mix of local Chinese, foreign expatriates, new club members, and returnees.... Continue Reading →

Over the weekend, I was invited by a friend to visit the Yunnan Provincial Museum. A bronze-age artifact exhibit had recently opened, and it seemed like a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Previous to this, I had only been to one other museum in Kunming, so I did not have much in the way... Continue Reading →

Note (December 8th): This is a revamp of the post 'Don't Worry, Be Hampi' I published last August. Prior to arriving in Kunming, I spent a month in India with three friends. It had its ups and downs, but my five-day visit to the little-known village of Hampi was the highlight of the trip. I arrived on... Continue Reading →