The dust has settled following a vigorous voting process for the Best of Kunming 2016-2017. On the website, the number of ballots cast was once again up from the previous year, and participation on WeChat was fantastic. Now it's time to get down to the business of recognizing the winners, handing out some hardware and throwing an awesome party.

Photographer: He Xinwen (何新闻)

Awards show 2016-2017

We are happy to announce that on Friday, January 13, at 8:30pm, GoKunming will hold its fourth annual Best of Kunming Awards Ceremony. As with last year's party, we are planning an informal gathering — one with an emphasis on fun, thanking GoKunming's great user base and of course recognizing our winners. The event will once again be hosted at the ACMEC Conference Center at the top of Jinding Mountain.

Award winners

The evening will begin with the recognition of each of our 10 winners, as selected by GoKunming readers and those who follow our WeChat official account. In addition, we will present awards to the best travel destinations in Kunming and Yunnan. The awards ceremony will be the first public announcement of the winners, with an article published on GoKunming the following day. Each winning business will be presented on stage with a commemorative award, and in addition receive a bottle of chilled Prosecco and a 'swag bag', as the kids say these days.

t'Mo!

Entertainment

We will have a full cash bar sponsored by the award-winning Shangri-la Beer and staffed by GoKunming employees. Live music will be featured throughout the evening, with performances by t'Mo, playing their unique brand of champagne jazz and deeply scented Oriental lounge music. They will be joined onstage by miss gorgeous herself, singer Viga. Wrapping up the evening, DJ Viandoks will spin only the finest in laid-back hip-hop and electronic dance music.

This year, the awards show will again conclude with a lucky draw. This is our way of thanking all of the people who voted for the Best of Kunming Awards and also everyone who helps make the Kunming community such a unique and special one.

Lucky draw prizes!

Each ticket-holder will be automatically entered into the lucky draw, the prizes of which have a combined value of nearly 40,000 yuan. Only one entry is allowed per person, and more ticketing information is included below. Throughout the evening, we will take a pause from the awards and live music to randomly select lucky draw winners. This will culminate at the end of the ceremony with the announcement of who wins the biggest prizes.

Shangri-la Beer

In addition to sponsoring our glittering bar set-up, Shangri-la Beer is happy to give away two cases of beer, one each to two winners. Shangri-la brews six fantastically unique natural beers using imported German hops, spring water from the Tibetan foothills and malted barley grown 3,000 meters above sea level. It's heaven in a bottle.

Yang Liping's Dynamic Yunnan

We will give away free passes to Dynamic Yunnan, the song and dance homage to all things South of the Clouds as envisioned by famed artist Yang Liping. Internationally renowned, the show blends traditional ethnic folk dance and musical traditions with modern choreography and has been performed 5,000 times in more than 50 cities around the globe. Three winners will each receive four VIP tickets to the show as well as a commemorative book. Each group of tickets and the book has a box office value of 2,020 yuan.

Anthura Flowers

The province's top flower cultivator for export will generously decorate the entire event space with rare flowers grown here in Yunnan. Dutch specialty producer Anthura will also give each category winner a specialized bouquet as congratulations. Three lucky draw participants will also win their own magnificent potted floral arrangement, each valued at more than 800 yuan.

Yutao Yoga Studio

We will also give away five individual membership cards to Yutao Yoga Studio, conveniently located in the heart of Kunming. Modern and gorgeously designed, the studio provides expert instruction in restorative, prenatal, power, therapeutic, Yin and Vinyasa yoga. Each card has a value of 2,000 yuan.

Silver Chest Boutique Hotel

Silver Chest Boutique Hotel is a gorgeously preserved mansion located in the heart of Kunming near the Bird and Flower market. The two-courtyard building was once the home of wealthy Yunnan merchants in the 1920s, and has been lovingly restored to its original state following years of work. One winner will receive a two-day stay for two in the hotel's expansive and luxurious presidential suite. The stay is valued at 9,760 yuan.

Wanda Vista Kunming

The Wanda towers are Kunming's tallest buildings, and house one of the best hotels in town. One lucky awards show attendee will win a one-night stay for two in one of Wanda Vista Kunming's deluxe suites overlooking the city. In addition, the winner will receive vouchers to the facility's gourmet buffet experience. This prize package is worth a combined 5,574 yuan.

Old Theatre Inn

Continuing with the travel prizes, one lucky draw contestant will win a two-night stay for two at the Old Theatre Inn located outside of Shaxi. This absolutely unique guesthouse was once a traditional Bai minority theater, and has now been lovingly restored. It sits at the heart of the Shaxi valley and is only a short distance from the old town and one of Yunnan's most historically important areas, Shibao Mountain. The stay is worth 1,200 yuan.

Crowne Plaza Kunming City Centre

One lucky draw participant will receive a one-night stay-cation for two at the Crowne Plaza Kunming City Centre. The hotel sits on the banks of the Panlong River and provides convenient access to shopping, leisure and tourism options right in the middle of Kunming. This prize includes a free breakfast for two, and is valued at 1,150 yuan.

Holiday Inn Kunming City Centre

Rounding out the prize list, we will hand out a night in a superior room for two at the Holiday Inn Kunming City Centre. Recently refurbished and upgraded, the hotel is nearby Dongfeng Square and the hotel's prime location puts the entire city at your fingertips. The overnight stay comes with two breakfast buffet vouchers and is valued at 1,100 yuan.

Advance tickets and directions

Advance tickets to the Best of Kunming Awards are 40 yuan each, while passes purchased at the event will cost 50 yuan. Proceeds from ticket sales go to the performers. The price of each ticket includes entry to the event, one free Shangri-la Beer and one lucky draw number. Raffle winners are limited to one prize only. A limited number of advance tickets are on sale now at Salvador's Coffee House, The Park Bar and Grill, and The Turtle.

This year, the Best of Kunming Awards Ceremony will be held at the ACMEC conference center. The location is a bit tricky to find, so please check the map included below. We've also put together a snappy time-lapse video with directions at the end of this article, as well as a map of alternate routes. Rest assured, the day of the awards there will be signs and volunteers clearly directing attendees where to go.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors, Anthura Flowers, Crowne Plaza Kunming City Centre, Holiday Inn Kunming City Centre, Old Theatre Inn, Shangri-la Beer, Silver Chest Boutique Hotel, Wanda Vista Kunming, Yang Liping's Dynamic Yunnan and Yutao Yoga Studio. Without them, this event would not be possible. Congratulations in advance to all of the winners for 2016-2017! Directions and a fun little how-to-get-there video are below. Click on the link below to enlarge the map. We hope to see you January 13!

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