The Honghe Hani and Yi Nationalities Autonomous Prefecture is a multicultural and ethnically diverse region principally inhabited by Hani and Yi nationalities. Its capital is Gejiu City. There are two cities and 11 counties included within the prefecture. The prefecture has a varied and rugged terrain with mountain ridges and valleys in the South and hills and vast forests in the North. The prefecture also has plentiful natural resources, dazzling local scenery and colorful costumes worn by the ethnic nationalities. The most popular scenic spots are in Jianshui County, Luxi County (the ancient Alu Cave) and Hekou (which borders Viet Nam).

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The Ancient Buildings in Jianshui County

Numbering 12 centuries since its construction, the ancient Jianshui County is considered a famous national historic & culture city. With over 50 well-preserved ancient buildings, the city is sometimes referred to as the Museum of Ancient Buildings or the Museum of Civilian Houses . Representative buildings include the biggest Confucian temple in the country (founded in the Yuan Dynasty), the Chaoyang Tower (built in the Ming Dynasty), and a civilian house known as Zhus Garden. There is also the Shuanglong Bridge, the largest ancient bridge in Yunnan Province as well as the Examination Shed of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Jianshui County is 214 Km from Kunming. Tour buses are available in any bus station of Kunming via Tonghai.

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Swallow Cave of Jianshui

About 30 km from Jianshui County, one finds the Swallow Cave, which derives its name from the million or so swallows that perch and breed in the cave each spring and summer. The Swallow Cave has three scenic sections: the dry cave, the water cave, and land. In the spacious water cave, visitors can explore several dozen natural halls of various sizes along the manmade three-kilometer-long pathway. Among those natural halls, the hall of The Dreaming World has an area of 1,300 m.

A bare-handed rock climbing show up perilous cliffs can be seen everyday and is arranged by the administrative department. Every year, from August 8 to 18, the Collection of Bird Nest activity is staged.

Tour buses are available each week day to take visitors to and from the Swallow Cave, departing from Jianshui County.


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Yuangyang County Natural Photographic Scenic route

In the Yunnan and Tibetan regions of China there live ancient and mysterious peoples. Across the generations, their talent, hard work, and community spirit have combined to create an almost magical land. The spirit of the people is reflected in the mountains: in a land without a single stretch of plain land, they underlie endless expanses of terraced fields, which have seen hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation.

The majestic beauty of the land reflects the nature of the people, and their traditional dress is rich in color portrays the essence of their traditional culture. The fresh air and clean water nourish the bodies and souls of a beautiful people.

There are many unique and extraordinary customs, such as the Long Street Banquet in which the entire population feasts on a 1,000 meter long street where everyone kneels and all the tables are lined up together. Many tourists, having experienced these heart-warming events, feel as if they have found a new home that they never wish to leave.