October 15, 2009
In the last fifteen years, Yunnan has gone from being a best-kept secret to a must-visit travel destination. The old towns of Lijiang, Dali and Shangri-La have changed from rustic backwaters into highly commercialized versions of their former selves.
In wake of these tourism-driven changes, the search for new towns that preserve the cultural and architectural traditions of Yunnan s ethnic minorities is well under way, with Yunnan s second tier destinations such as Shaxi, Tengchong and Lugu Lake all receiving more domestic and foreign travelers.
The small town of Xizhou (喜州) is another example of an increasingly popular off-the-beaten-path stop for visitors to Yunnan. About 30 kilometers north of Dali, Xizhou has developed a reputation for its protected sites highlighting Bai architecture.
October 15, 2009
In the last fifteen years, Yunnan has gone from being a best-kept secret to a must-visit travel destination. The old towns of Lijiang, Dali and Shangri-La have changed from rustic backwaters into highly commercialized versions of their former selves.
In wake of these tourism-driven changes, the search for new towns that preserve the cultural and architectural traditions of Yunnan s ethnic minorities is well under way, with Yunnan s second tier destinations such as Shaxi, Tengchong and Lugu Lake all receiving more domestic and foreign travelers.
The small town of Xizhou (喜州) is another example of an increasingly popular off-the-beaten-path stop for visitors to Yunnan. About 30 kilometers north of Dali, Xizhou has developed a reputation for its protected sites highlighting Bai architecture.