always amused to see the word "solicitor" used by a non-British English speaker. totally different meaning.

Flew over it the other day coming in from Thailand. Doesn't appear to be anywhere near completion. Unfinished runways, buildings, support roads, etc. On the other hand, it does appear to be a massive airport.It will be nice when completed to be able to take direct flights to EU and the States as well as the rest of Asia.

Good info. Bear in mind that if you stay up there for sunset and then come down at night that there are large construction trucks using the road that goes up there. A little dangerous and I arrived back down totally covered in dust as the trucks kick up clouds of dirt.

Like Sajeev, I've searched high and lo for any hint about when the new airport is likely to open and can't find anything. I'd really like to know also:)

MUHAHAHAMUHAHAHAMUHAHAHAMUHAHAHA!!!

Nice place to get out of the city! Anyone would be insterested in going hiking together next Saturday? Email me at amelielinc@gmail.com.

There used to be a funny rock at the top with "I love you" painted in white on it, facing the Kunming view... Decided to hike this mountain in 2006 because it was the coolest thing visible from our 6th floor living room window. Good decision. No maps just following the mountain and general direction instinct. Awesome place!

Anyone ever skiied or done a winter hike here? Seems super awesome. Did lots of random hiking (no trails) when I was there and it was super fun. Want to go back so much!

very good finding, and thanks for the sharing!

This is the first I have just heard of my friend Arun's passing. It has been nearly a year since I left Kunming but it seems like only yesterday that we had so many good times together there.

It is truly a tragic waste of someone so smart, vivacious and charming. I cannot imagine Kunming without him frankly. Indeed he was mainly responsible for me deciding to stay there at all.

As with so many of you, I will miss him sorely but never forget.

My commiserations to his familly and all of his many friends there. He will be sorely missed.

As usual, it's nothing but a show. The "laws" may be written, but until there is rule of law, it's all a bad joke. They are deluding themselves.

Richland Hospital's website is still up at: www.intrh.com/GetKnowledge/zh-cn/Default.aspx However they appear to have lost their English website. We had a baby at Richland in Nov 2009, posted cost for natural delivery without anesthesia, two nights inpatient was Y6000, they charged us Y7000 at check out and we finally settled at Y6700. We've written about the experience elsewhere on GoKunming (search "luciole"). Better than most Yunnan hospitals, not as good as most hospitals in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, definitely "international" in name only.

You also need to be Chinese, over 50, a bit of Grey Hair, or they will not listen to you anyways.

That is just the way they do it, regardless of rules. Call it Culture.

i see more of a chance for yunnan and especially kunming to become a trade and transport hub competing with the coastal harbors for trade with southeast asian countries. so a better infrastructure wil be required.
for the farmers: we don't know which farmers can produce what at what price, but calmatt is right to say that competition is only good if you actually are competitive.

Many teachers, both Chinese and foreign, who are aware of this report will make it a subject of comment today. Of course, the greatest contributing factor for these results is financial which results in an energy spiral strengthened by the attraction of foreign experts and, thus, the best students. Therefore, in a way, it goes without saying that the Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing universities will lead the pack.

Having spent my extended China teaching time equally in Chengdu and Kunming, I am aware of some contributing factors that Liu Shaohuai ignores. Obviously, as a diligent political member of the Party, it is unlikely that his education has concentrated on much more than propaganda and, thus, some very good teachers at Yunnan University (known to me personally) who are not active Party members are given little attention.

I remember meeting a Chinese senior English-language teacher who had been introduced, proudly, with a Ph.D. Upon enquiry, I learnt that her dissertation was about Ethnic Tourism. Is there a link between ethnic groups and language? Yes, but will this knowledge improve the teaching of language in Yunnan? Very little, in my opinion. There is also the memory of my first introduction to a Kunming university - My guide proudly telling me that 90% of the university's teachers had a bachelor degree. Seeking more information, I learnt that of the remaining 9% comprised those with masters and doctorates, but 1% (approximately) only had a college diploma. I understand that this is no longer the case.

Yet, by comparison, I know of an elderly foreign tenured-professor from a top U.S. university, with two doctorates, who visits Kunming for six months every year - he teaches privately during his visit and has never been approached to assist with the university assessments that Mr. Liu seems to advocate.

Finally, I should be interested to know why there is a 60 years-old age cut-off for useful foreign experts ... perhaps related but a whole new subject.