Latest Comments

• • June 24, 2009
  • Photo contest to promote conservation in Yunnan
    

    Do you know if you have to be present in Kunming at that time to win?

• • October 19, 2007
  • Kunming residents: By the numbers
    

    I want to know the number of western waiguoren registered in the city. It would be interesting to compare that to other minorities!

Latest Forum Posts

• • April 13, 2009
    
  • Forums > Living in Kunming > Shilin (Stone Forest)
    

    When I went to the Stone Forest, I took a private minivan (mian bao che) and it cost 300 for the whole day.

    It's best if some hostel or someone can give you the number of a driver to arrange in advance. I knew of a place where one is sometimes sitting, so I just went there, but that's somewhat risky.

    Unfortunately, I do not have a number to give you, but many foreigners who have been here for a while have one they call.

• • January 21, 2009
    
  • Forums > Travel Yunnan > No Visa for Vietnam??
    

    I think that only works for Chinese people and maybe only in border regions. I could be wrong, but I have been there several times and have always needed an actual visa (fairly easy to get and straightforward. Just need a few days and 350RMB, I think).

• • January 19, 2009
    
  • Forums > Food & Drink > Local Organic Vegetable Delivery... Interested??
    

    i'm interested, but money is tight...how much would it cost per week or per month?

• • January 6, 2008
    
  • Forums > Study > Chinese classes during semester break?
    

    Some of the schools around here (I think Southcloud?) offer private one-on-one lessons. That might be your best bet during the break.

• • January 6, 2008
    
  • Forums > Living in Kunming > Teaching at YUFE this Semester: Suggestions? Help or Advice.
    

    Hello--

    I have taught at YUFE for the past two semesters (won't be there next semester, though...in fact, you might be living in my apartment...but anyway).

    I think what you can do to be most prepared for teaching at YUFE and general life in China is to come with an open mind and no expectations. I have seen several other questions you have posted on here about various things. I'm sure you're very curious about what life will be like here. It certainly is different. No matter how much people tell you, though, and no matter how much you think you know what to expect or what it will be like, you will be wrong. Everyone has different experiences even at the same school depending on what classes they are teaching, their personalities, etc. I'm sure some days you will love life here and some days you will hate it. But that's probably true with any job, even in the States. Just expect an adventure. Expect every day to be different. Expect things to often not follow logic. Expect the unexpected and just generally be flexible and you will come out of your time here having had a very interesting (good, bad, weird, etc...) experience.

Latest Reviews

• • WeiXue
    June 25, 2009
    
  • Kunming > The Box
    老夫子

    Good for hanging out, drinking, and snacking. Thin crust pizza and sangria. Sounds like a fun night to me! :)

• • WeiXue
    June 25, 2009
    
  • Kunming > Feiyang Teppanyaki
    飞阳铁板烧

    The atmosphere is quite nice, modern, and clean. Of course, it's also great fun to watch your food being cooked teppanyaki style. The service is also quite good. The last time I went I kept trying to pour myself Coke from the bottle we had purchased and the waitress kept running over to pour it for me. I also had a huge dinner party with 26 people and the staff was quite helpful with reservations, etc.

    Now on to the food. It's incredible! It's obvious that the meat is of a much higher quality than other places around here as it's tender and flavorful. Everything I have ever had here has been great. I especially like the terriyaki beef with wasabi in the dipping sauce and the sticky rice stuffed lotus.

    **Update: I am also sad about the new menu which raised prices drastically and got rid of some of the foreign-favorite dishes. :( Sometimes they will still make them if you ask, sometimes not. Beer battered apple rings, where are you???

• • WeiXue
    June 25, 2009
    
  • Kunming > Chicago Coffee
    芝城咖啡

    The atmosphere at Chicago Coffee is amazing. It is obvious that a lot of time and hard work was put into it. You might think you're at a coffee shop back in the states. The colors are great and the place just feels relaxing. Due to a high ceiling, it also seems much more spacious than the places around Wenlin Jie. There is also a fireplace (fake), but still radiates heat. Curl up with a magazine (they have a pretty good collection...Sports Illustrated, Time, National Geographic, etc.) or a book from the book shelf and you might never leave!

    As far as the coffee, it's usually great! A tad on the expensive side, but worth it. It's roasted on site, so I hear. They also had some imported sodas (Dr. Pepper, Cherry Coke, etc.).

    As for the food, the deep dish pizza has been around for a while (the place is called CHICAGO coffee, after all!), and it's pretty good and reasonably priced (30ish depending on what toppings). They also now have a Tortilla bar, which can do wraps, tacos, burritos, and fajitas. They're pretty tasty and also reasonably priced (14-16RMB). They also have soup of the day. The espresso brownies are to die for!

• • WeiXue
    June 25, 2009
    
  • Kunming > Sandra's

    Definitely nice to have somewhere different to try. I probably wouldn't go back regularly because the price is a little too much for me, but you do get free bread, etc. which is nice for a change. The owners are also very friendly and make most things from scratch. The atmosphere is also relaxed, clean, and quiet.

• • WeiXue
    June 23, 2009
    
  • Kunming > Mazagran Café
    水井咖啡屋

    The clean, bright and airy Ikea-like atmosphere (no smoking!!!) is what keeps me coming back to Mazagran. As far as the food goes, the pizzas are pretty good (there's one with cranberry that sounds strange, but is surprisingly good), the pumpkin soup is incredible, and there's a cheesy chicken dish (I can't remember the exact name) that is like Chicken Parmesan and a similar one with Eggplant that is delicious. I love that they come as meals with bread and salad. Also, the "Millionaire's Shortbread" is pretty much the best thing ever (a layer of shortbread, caramel, and chocolate).

• The Old Theatre Inn
• Lost Garden Guesthouse & Restaurant
• Chicago Coffee
• Kunming Mei's Mandarin School
• As You Like
• Keats School
• Moondog
• GoKunming
• YMCA Club 1933
• Slice of Heaven
• Kingsway Tented Resorts
• Bakery 88
• Camel Bar
• The Mask
• Kunming College of Eastern Language and Culture
• My Favor Restaurant
• Chapter One
• Wonders Of Yunnan Travel
• O'Reilly's Irish Pub
• Salvador's Coffee House
• Wangtianshu Restaurant & Deli
• Tenwest Mandarin School
• Cacao Mexican Restaurant
• Flying Tigers Restaurant
• Kunming Yu-Cong Enterprise Management Company
• Huiying Dental Clinic