Yunnan represents everything that’s most exotic about the country. Bordered by Tibet, Myanmar (Burma), Laos and Vietnam, the province encompasses extraordinary geographic extremes: ice peaks, rice terraces, jaw-dropping mountain gorges, high-altitude grasslands with moist sub-tropical forests and the most diverse of traditional cultures and crafts. Even in today's fast-changing world, this region retains a wealth of historic towns, foremost among them Dali and Lijiang, along the 'old Tea–Horse trade route' to Lhasa, where large concentrations of antique houses and temples have been painstakingly restored, to recreate the refined atmosphere of the Ming and Qing eras. Ethnic minorities such as the Naxi and Bai have a high profile in both cities. Further south, a traditional way is beginning a resurgence following decades of suppression, making this one of the most culturally engaging regions to explore.

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