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Zhaotong and Qujing are neighboring Prefectures in Northeast Yunnan. The area is home to three famous rivers; the Jinshajiang, the Niulanjiang and the Baishuijiang. Zhaotong, sitting at just under 6000 feet and is very mountainous, only 4% of the land is flat. The tallest mountain in the area is the Yaoshan Mountain which reaches 12,100 feet. In Zhaotong many of the older Han inhabitants dress in traditional style - women in big turbans, side-fastened jackets and long aprons while men wear ankle-length coats and long beards.
Qujing on the other hand sits in the middle of the Yungui mountain plateau bordering Guizhou and Guangxi provinces. It is the second largest city in Yunnan, located less than 100 miles from Kunming. Its railway and highway system is well developed but the drive to Kunming can still take upwards of 3 hours due to the complicated mountain roads and traffic. Over 8% of Qujing’s population is made up of minority people including the Yi, Hui, Zhuang, Buyi, Miao, Yao and Shui.
Zhaotong
Zhaotong Prefecture has a population of 4.7 million people. Zhaotong used to be an important gateway to Sichuan and Guizhou provinces and one of the major economic and cultural centers on the Silk Road. Zhaotong city has kept a sizable part of its old town wooden shop houses, narrow lanes and small shops in tact. The weather is cold during the winter with snow likely but spring and summer temperatures tend to be mild and comparable to Kunming. Zhaotong has a small regional airport 2.5 miles east of the city’s downtown area with flights to Kunming.
The most popular tourist stops in Zhaotong include:
• Great Dragon Cave Temple which is a Daoist temple surrounded by beautiful scenery in the Jiulongshan Mountains (Nine Dragons Mountain) 6 miles north of Zhaotong City.
Qujing
Qujing City has a population of 650,000. It is the capital of Qujing Region, population 5.7 million a rapidly developing area 100 miles from Kunming. By population it is the second largest city in Yunnan. The population has a healthy representation of Yi, Zhuang, Miao and Yao people. Spring and autumn are the best time to visit weather wise, with the months of March through October having the greatest number of festivals and celebrations. Tobacco is the largest industry in the region with almost a half of all premium quality tobaccos grown in Yunnan produced in Qujing.
Quijing’s closest airport is in Kunming. Qujing is accessible by bus or train. Trains take about 2 hours and 40 minutes, buses slightly less time. Buses to Kunming depart half hour from the Quijing Bus Station. Once in Qujing, the 8 major bus routes cover most of the areas where you will find hotels, restaurants and shopping. Taxi rates start at 5 Yuan.
The most popular tourist stops in Qujing are:
• The Pearl River, the third longest river in China emanates from a forested area east of Maxiong Mountain.
• Huashan Lake.
• Tiansheng Cave almost a mile deep labyrinth of stalactites
• Luliang’s Sand Colored Forest
• The Temple of a Thousand Buddhas 11 miles from Qujing has 1614 Buddha figures seated in a pagoda.
• Jiulong Waterfalls (10 waterfalls) 12.5 miles northeast of Luoping county.
• The Cutworm Festival on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month is a Buyi people celebration with singing, dancing and romantic interludes in the forest.
• The Flower Hill Show in January and the Torch Festival in June.
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