Surrounded on three sides by mountain ranges, Kunming has embraced the spirit of modernization and is beginning to look like many of China's other mega cities.
One remaining gem is Yuantong Si, a large Buddhist complex from the Qing dynasty.
The dragon sculptures are a gift from the king of Thailand ...
and are a big attraction for pilgrims.
A group of women from one of the minority groups; their dress is less colorful since they're married.
The premier natural wonder is Shilin, the Stone Forest, an exposed bed of limestone spires.
We, like these girls, wonder what the future holds for China.
A change in the weather caused us to shorten our holiday. But it all worked out in the end.