Dali to Kunming, Yunnan

Dali-Dinosaur Valley-Daguan Yuan Park-Dynamic Yunan, Kunming (4/29/2013)

After the highlight of our tour to Dali and Lijiang, it was time for us to go back to Kunming. So far we have not been taken to much shopping stops, except for a 'seaweed pills' development, and a silver store. Fortunately, we were not under much pressure in purchasing at both places. I think it's because of our tour guide who was pretty lay back about such things. 

Leaving the Regent Hotel in Dali.

Passing by a typical "Bai" village along the highway.

After driving for about three hours, we were back to the Dinosaur Valley for lunch. I believe we paid for lunch with admission when we were here a couple of days ago but did not have time for it. So the credit was there for us to come back for lunch but not revisiting the park.

Sorry, just have to post more pictures of the "6-star" restroom.

Exterior of the restroom.

Daguan Yuan Park, Kunming
We continued our drive back to Kunming after lunch and stopped at the Daguan Yuan Park. It just happened that it was the May Day extended holidays and local visitors packed all attractions in the country. I was lucky to snapped a few pictures without the crowds in them. I think we would have enjoyed the park more if it was less crowded.

Beautiful lake

Daguang Tower which you have to pay extra to go up for a better view of Dian Lake.

Entrance to the park

We were only in the park for about an hour.

A street full of music stores.

Shopping begins--this is the Tea Store where the famous PuEr Tea is sold.

tea...

and more tea...

Prices were inconsistent here. We were separated into groups and each group was being sold tea with different price ranges for the same thing. Imagine how angry people were when they found out how much each others paid for their tea. They had us in this store for about two hours and only let us out of the room for a designated restroom break in between.

Next shopping stop, a pearl store where we enjoyed the delicious coffee. You can tell that we did not participate in the shopping madness.

Kunming is a beautiful city.

clean and orderly

Cute baby!

Last dinner together with our table mates from Perth, Australia. A couple of people already left for Canada that afternoon.

Dynamic Yunnan
This optional show was highly recommended to us by our tour guide and they have regular performances at the Kunming Conference Hall. This show was under the direction of famous Peacock dancer, Yang Li Ping, and it was indeed a great performance. Our tickets got us seats in row 10, #1 and #3, right in the middle. This group also travel around the world and when they do, it cost more than USD $100 to see, so we got a pretty good deal and worth every penny of. Row 8 and forward will cost more but you really don't want to be up front with loud music blasting all night long. The performance was well rehearsed and professionally done, showing dances and stories of minority tribes in Yunnan. Very impressive!

Dancers were outside greeting guests before the performance. So go early and have pictures with them.

A good ending to a long day. Even though it was raining that evening we felt that the show really topped our trip in Kunming. I have seen many shows while travelling in China and I have to say that this was the best show ever. At least one that I did not fall asleep at.