Yunnan is the most southwestern province in China, with the Tropic of Cancer running through its southern part. The province has an area of 394,000 square km, 4.1 % of the nation's total. The province borders Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Guizhou Province in the east, Sichuan Province in the north, and Tibet Autonomous Region in the northwest. It shares a border of 4,060 km with Myanmar in the west, Laos in the south, and Vietnam in the southeast.

Yunnan abounds in natural resources. It is known as the kingdom of plants, animals and home of non-ferrous metals and medicinal herbs.

The province not only has more plant species of tropical, subtropical, temperate, and frozen zones than any other province in the country, but also has many ancient, derivative plants, as well as species introduced from foreign countries. Among the 30,000 species of plants in China, 18,000 can be found in Yunnan.

More than 150 kinds of minerals have been discovered in the province. The potential value of the proven deposits in Yunnan is 3 trillion yuan, 40 % of which come from fuel minerals, 7.3 % from metallic minerals, and 52.7 % from nonmetallic minerals.

Yunnan has proved deposits of 86 kinds of minerals in 2,700 places. Some 13 % of the proved deposits of minerals are the largest of their kind in China, and two-thirds of the deposits are among the largest of their kind in the Yangtze River valley and in south China. Yunnan ranks first in the country in deposits of zinc, lead, tin, cadmium, indium, thallium, and crocidolite.

GDP: 246.5 billion yuan (2003) 29.7 billion USD

GDP growth rate: 8.1 %

Average GDP per capita: 5,630 yuan (2003) 680 USD

GDP ratio (1st, 2nd and tertiary industries): 21.1 : 42.8 : 36.1

Industrial added value: 77.8 billion yuan in 2002, up by 9.2% over the previous year

Revenue: 20.67 billion yuan (2002)

Foreign trade

Yunnan has trade contacts with more than 70 countries and regions in the world. It mainly exports tobacco, machinery and electrical equipment, chemical and agricultural products and non-ferrous metals. In 2002 its total imports and exports reached US$2.23 billion.

Foreign investment

In 2002, the province signed direct foreign investment contracts involving US$333 million. US$112 million were actually utilized during the year.

With a unique array of fascinating ecological resources, including snow-capped mountains, lakes and hot springs, tropical rainforests, as well as a healthy climate and the friendly people, Yunnan is one of the most alluring destinations in China

The Old Town of Lijiang, which is perfectly adapted to the uneven topography of this key commercial and strategic site, has retained a historic townscape of high quality and authenticity. Its architecture is noteworthy for the blending of elements from several cultures that have come together over many centuries. Lijiang also possesses an ancient water-supply system of great complexity and ingenuity that still functions effectively today.

The pagodas are located in Yangpi Village north of Xiaguan in Dali City, Yunnan Province. Shegu Pagoda may have been built during the Nanzhao period. The style of the existing pagoda is very close to that of multi-eave pagodas in the Central Plains during the Tang Dynasty

One of Yunnan's famous products is Pu-erh tea, named after the town of Pu-erh, as well as the Yunnan Golden Needle tea

Fire Dragon Dance
In Shuangliu County, Sichuan Province. The fire dragon dance is played to celebrate the Spring Festival on every year.

Yunnan was considered by Beijing to be on the edge of ... Journey to Shangri La