I'd like to start a thread exploring some of the better routes around town for running. Ideally any route on this thread should have minimal car traffic (I know this is tough to do here) and maximum green space.
Let me start with my current favorite new route, which starts at the Yunnan University West Gate and finishes at the Haigeng Olympic Training Facility:
1. Head downhill from Yunnan University's west gate and cross Yieryi Dajie via the elevated passenger walkway.
2. Head west (left) on Yieryi Dajie to the Xizhan roundabout and continue on to Huancheng Xi Lu.
3. Follow Huancheng Xi Lu as it curves southward to Xiba Lu.
4. Take Xiba Lu westward until it curves southward and becomes Xihua Lu.
5. Take Xihua Lu west until you've reached the end of the road, then head left (south).
6. After approximately 250 meters you will cross a river - immediately after crossing the river, take the stairs on your right to the riverside path below.
7. Follow the riverside path for several kilometers until it hits Dianchi Lake and becomes a lakeside promenade.
8. Follow the promenade south until it ends at a street.
9. Go left (east) on said street until you hit Haigeng Park - pay 8 kuai and run along the lakeshore until you hit the east gate.
10. Cross the street and run into the Haigeng Olympic Training compound. In the little shop in the center of the compound there is a fridge full of supercold Gatorade, Amino Supli, Water, etc. At this point you've run about 18 km.
11. Continue past the shop and past the soccer/football fields on the north side of the compound, exiting out the north and heading left to Xingti Lu (兴体路).
12. Take Xingti Lu north until it reaches a T-intersection, head left (west) toward the roundabout - stop, stretch and take a taxi home.
Total distance: 21.4 kilometers
Any other good routes out there? They can start anywhere in the city... the more creative the better.
Giveaway: Hand treatments at Canaan Day Spa
发布者Congratulations to Michelle He and Zhong Yue, who were the first two readers to correctly answer that Ashima (阿诗玛) was the Yunnanese heroine who legend says became one of the pillars at Stone Forest.
Thanks to Canaan Day Spa for providing the hand treatments and to all the women who responded. Look out for more giveaways on GoKunming in the future!
Rugby: Kunming Tigers vs Chengdu Pandas
发布者We have just been notified by the Kunming Tigers that the match has been moved from Kunming Stadium to Tuodong Stadium at 99 Dongfeng Dong Lu. The match will still start at 2:15pm. Spectators should go to the stadium's second floor and enter through gate 14.
Interview: Jiang Li
发布者Thanks beckyld. As you may already know, GoKunming interviewed Clare Ye Sheng from PSI's Kunming office in 2008:
www.gokunming.com/[...]
Keep up the good work!
Snapshot: Shaxi
发布者@voltaire: You're right, Shibao Mountain is deserving of a mention in any Shaxi travel piece. We mentioned Shibao Mountain in our earlier Shaxi travel feature:
www.gokunming.com/en/blog/item/1937/getting_away_shaxi
I'd have included photos of the grottoes in that post, but as you know, taking photos there is not allowed.
As the "Snapshot" in the title of this post suggests, this piece is more of a short photo essay than it is a comprehensive travel feature.
Starbucks' thirst for Yunnan coffee growing
发布者@JLG: If coffee plantations do significantly reduce the amount of tea grown in Pu'er, it is likely to only lead to higher tea prices followed by increased tea planting and another tea bubble.