(English version from the text posted in Jun/2014)
The Kunming railway station more closely resembles an airport’s boarding rooms, with baggage check, ticket verification, and with its various gates, each identified with the train’s number and destination, and where efficient Officials validate tickets, and from which passengers are directly referred to the boarding pier. At the door of each of the carriages, is a formal employee, wearing an authoritative and complex uniform of military appearance, in a dry gesture direct the passengers to the respective carriages.
At the entrance of the train, we are greeted by the sound of a classical music orchestra, whose epic tone evokes the arrival of the cavalry that grows in intensity, while the passengers search the place and accommodate the luggage, until reaching the peak at the exact moment in which the Train begins its march. There follows a long sequence of instructions or information, spoken in Chinese, which passengers seem to ignore, absorbed by various electronic devices, entertained with games, messages, photographs and telephone conversations, food and drinks.
This trip, like the one previously held between Kunming and Dali, offered great comfort, not only for the quality of the carriages but also for the good condition of the road, which appears to be relatively new, offering ample stations with generous passenger berths, apparently oversized for the present demand.
Info
For information about China trains timetable, prices and duration of the trip:
Dalí… the postcard city
(English version from the text posted in Jun/2014)
Dali is a small town in the Yunnan region which stands out because it is located on the trade route between China and Burma (Myanmar) and although it has lost importance with the closure of this access it has been able to take advantage of its architectural features to become a tourist place, attracting thousands of visitors, mostly Chinese, who come here on a day trip or choose to stay longer attracted by the picturesque calm of the village.
The old part of Dali is concentrated in the interior of thick lower walls, forming a square, with a door in each of the faces, oriented according to the cardinal points. Of these ornate doors with elaborate wooden constructions painted with gaudy corrals and which contrasts strongly with the gray of the stones that form the walls, one gets a clear idea of the privileged location of the city, which on the one hand has the massive presence of a seemingly An insurmountable mountainous chain, from where small streams flow through the city, flowing into Lake Dian (Diã Chí) that is on the opposite side.
The gray of the stone that serves as the base for most of the buildings and the clay used in the fabrication of the characteristic tiles that uniformly cover the houses of Dalí, make the city a gray and dull stain that defers in the blue of the sky that punctuated of thick white clouds frame Almost always the landscape.
The main streets are exclusively dedicated to the sale of traditional items from the region, between weaving and goldsmith, food products dominated by dried meat and flower-based sweets, amulets and clothes inspired by the traditional costumes of various ethnic groups and many tea shops, by which the Yunnan region is famous.
In the evening, countless restaurants fill up, livening the streets with live music, along which craftsmen expose their work, in a more creative and alternative approach to the local crafts.
In Dali, the Bai ethnic group predominates, whose traditional costumes are only worn by guides who lead large groups of Chinese tourists through the city streets, in silent electric vehicles, visiting museums and temples and strolling along the walls surrounding the old part of the city.
From Dalí lies a touristy and picturesque town, calm and organised, but where a certain spontaneity is lacking, breathing a “postal” atmosphere. The small market located in one of the corners of the wall offers a bit of color and exoticism due to the diversity of the products on display, some difficult to identify in the eyes of a Westerner not accustomed to Chinese cuisine.
Population: 110.000
Elevation: 1900 m
Footer
I’m Catarina, a wanderer from Lisbon, Portugal… or a backpack traveller with a camera!
Every word and photo here comes from my own journey — the places I’ve stayed, the meals I’ve enjoyed, and the routes I’ve taken. I travel independently and share it all without sponsors or ads, so what you read is real and unfiltered.
If you’ve found my blog helpful or inspiring, consider supporting it with a small contribution. Every donation helps me keep this project alive and free for everyone who loves exploring the world.
Thank you for helping me keep the journey going!