Nestled in the south of the country bordering Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar, Yunnan shares various traits with its Southeast Asian neighbors including both cuisine and culture. A different side of Chinese culture to what you'll find further east in cities like Shanghai and Beijing, Yunnan has its own unique style that's heightened by the groups of minorities found all over the province. With some of the most unique scenery in the world, Yunnan has an unrivaled beauty making it a perfect option for those who want to escape to the great outdoors.
Honghe Hani Rice Terraces
One of the most incredible sights in Asia, Honghe is probably the best example of terraced rice fields in the world. The rice paddies stretch on for 16,603-hectares across the Ailao mountains, created by the local Hani minority over hundreds of years. The sight is particularly beautiful in the evening when the light starts to glisten off the water at different angles, giving the appearance of different colors.
Dongchuan
It doesn't get much more photogenic than the multicolored hills of Dongchuan, known for its bright red and green fields that cover the landscape around there. The red color of the soil comes from a difference in climate resulting in a high iron content in the ground. For the best spread of colors, try to get there sometime during late April to early May, when crop flowers blossom and contrast with the red hills.
Songzanlin
This huge Tibetan Buddhist monastery nestled in the mountains around Shangri La is the largest of its kind in the province, often compared to the iconic Potala Palace in Lhasa. The architecture of the building is incredible and despite its vicinity to the popular tourism town of Shangri La, it's not so commonly visited. The monastery is a great place to understand the local Tibetan culture and see the daily life of the monks living there.
Lijiang
No visit to Yunnan is complete without taking a moment to admire the beautiful traditional architecture and streets in the old town of Lijiang. With a history of over at least 800 years and dating back as far as the Song Dynasty, Lijiang's ancient streets are lined with canals and waterways that add to the charm of the town. You might recognize the beautiful backdrop of its incredible architecture and red lanterns as they're often seen in television shows and movies from China. The town is surrounding by mountains and stunning scenery that warrants staying there for a few extra days in order to check out.
Jiulong Waterfall
A few hours drive from Yunnan's major city of Kunming, Jiulong Waterfall is a series of falls and pools that forms a beautiful natural wonder. It's one of Yunnan's most underrated sights, usually only seeing a few tourists that make it out there. The surrounding scenery is also stunning, set among the incredible karst landscape of Luoping.
Luoping
Although tourists flock to see the similarly impressive landscape of Guilin, Yunnan's Luoping hardly sees that many tourists in comparison, despite its equally beautiful scenery. The unique point of Luoping however is in the bright yellow canola fields that contrast with the dark green hills and mountains dotted around there. With the canola flowers blossoming early Spring, you'll want to head there during February or March to see it at its most impressive state.
Conclusion
While tourism to Yunnan has been growing quickly in recent years, it still sees a slow increase compared to some other famous spots in the country, mainly visited by domestic tourists. However, if you're looking for some of the best natural scenery in the country, along with a fascinating side of traditional and local minority culture, there's nowhere better than this beautiful South Chinese province. If you want a taste of Southeast Asia without leaving the country, head to the southern town of Jing Hong, often nicknamed as 'Little Thailand' for its unique mix of Thai culture found there.