Lost in a fairytale land, "going to the place where the wind blows," Yunnan.

In early November, Bui Huu Duc (24 years old, living and working in Hanoi) embarked on a 6-day, 5-night road trip to explore Yunnan Province, China. Sharing his inspiration for this travel experience, Huu Duc said: “I am passionate about exploring China. I’ve watched many films shot in Yunnan before, such as 'Going to Where the Wind Blows' and 'Tian Long Ba Bu'… In particular, I wanted to conquer the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which is 4,680 meters high.”

Located in southwestern China, Yunnan Province is one of the important birthplaces of human civilization. It boasts a long history and rich culture, as well as beautiful natural landscapes such as ancient towns, rivers, rocky forests, and terraced rice fields.

According to Huu Duc, the ideal time to visit Yunnan is autumn. In autumn, Yunnan captivates visitors with its unique beauty in every corner of its ancient towns, in the cool breezes by the rippling lakes… “My trip was very lucky because the weather was favorable; it was sunny every day. I had plenty of time at each location, so I took many beautiful photos,” the young man shared.

The enchanting beauty of the ancient city of Dali.

The ancient city of Dali, once the glorious capital of the Dali Kingdom, boasts an exceptionally advantageous location. Today, it retains many ancient buildings, temples, and shrines, along with valuable historical architecture and a romantic landscape complete with "wind, flowers, snow, and moon." The area is quite peaceful, with no traffic, allowing visitors to freely stroll and explore. Amidst the simple, ancient streets and moss-covered stone walls, time seems to slow down.

The "Four Great Scenic Spots" of Erhai Lake

Erhai Lake is located east of Dali City, about 265 km northwest of Kunming. It's another prominent destination with significant influence and a large number of visitors. The name Erhai (Earthly Lake) is meaningful because, when viewed from above, the lake's winding shoreline resembles an ear. According to Huu Duc, the sunrise is particularly beautiful at this S-shaped stretch of road.

"The hidden gem" of Sa Khe ancient town

Sa Khe Ancient Town is located in Jianchuan County, Yunnan Province, China. It is praised by UNESCO as "the only remaining market on the ancient Tea Horse Road." However, with the decline of this legendary road, the town has gradually fallen into oblivion. Therefore, it has preserved its unique style and characteristics.

This place still retains its peaceful scenery, slow pace of life, and simple folk culture. “After watching the movie 'Going to Where the Wind Blows,' I decided I had to visit Sa Khe Ancient Town, where Xu Hongdou and Xie Zhidao met. Arriving in Sa Khe on an autumn day, the peaceful ancient town under the trees that had turned yellow created a truly beautiful picture,” Huu Duc expressed.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain - A magnificent landscape amidst the Lijiang sky.

“Jade Dragon Snow Mountain was the place I was most looking forward to on the trip. I took the cable car almost to the summit, then walked up the stairs for about an hour to reach an altitude of 4,680 meters,” the young man in his 20s confided.

Standing majestically amidst the landscapes of Lijiang, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is located in Yunnan Province, southwestern mainland China. Considered one of the highest mountains and a special symbol for the people of Naxi, it boasts a record height of over 5,000 meters, with its highest peak, Fanzidou, reaching 5,596 meters, and covered in snow year-round.

The land of timeless romance: Lijiang Ancient Town.

With a history spanning approximately 800 years, Lijiang is the only ancient town built without city walls and boasts a unique spatial layout with a system of waterways throughout the town. Visiting here, tourists feel as if they have stepped into another world, with scenery as beautiful as a painting. Along the streets, flowers of various colors are used to create a romantic atmosphere.

All the travel tips and experiences for Yunnan.

Offering advice to travel enthusiasts who also want to conquer Yunnan Province (China), Huu Duc shares a few tips as follows:

First, there's the matter of time. According to Huu Duc, you should choose 6 days and 5 nights to fully enjoy Yunnan, because if you go for fewer days, you won't have enough time to visit all the attractions.

Secondly, you should carefully check the weather forecast before you go to choose appropriate clothing. Lijiang and Shangri-La are in Yunnan, a plateau with cold, cloudy weather year-round, so you may experience altitude sickness causing dizziness and nausea. Therefore, remember to prepare yourself with good health, warm clothing, and consider bringing heat patches and an oxygen tank for use when needed.

Thirdly, there's the language barrier. If you're traveling independently, you need someone who speaks fluent Chinese, and ideally someone who can read as well, because English isn't commonly used in China. Huu Duc shared that while translation apps can be used for communication, they have many limitations.

Fourth, Chinese food is quite spicy, salty, and oily. If possible, ask the restaurant to reduce the spiciness when ordering. "I was very lucky to visit restaurants that had adjusted their cooking to be closer to Vietnamese tastes, so the food was quite suitable," the young man in his 20s said.

Fifthly, clothing is important. There are many ancient towns here, so in addition to warm clothes, you should choose outfits in shades of red, yellow, white, or brocade to take plenty of photos for social media and create lasting memories.

Phuong Mai is a reporter for Travellive Magazine in Hanoi.

Phuong Mai